I first wrote this the other day when I was a little less coherent. Thankfully I had the sense to put off posting a few days til I counted to 100.
I have a few gripes with my program and nursing in general. In no particular order:
Why do we write so much? I ask because I am about to flunk out over a book report due Friday. I have 3 pages and she's asking for 10-12. So far in three clinicals I haven't seen more than a few incomprehensible scribbles on a nurse's notes page, or some computerized Y/N charts. In perfect APA format too please. In spite of the fact we have no APA training other than class essay writing (the sink or swim method of teaching). They said last year there wasn't a large enough groups to justify giving a dedicated course in APA composition writing for the nursing students. And yet a single essay is worth up to 30% in one of our courses. If it's important enough to fail a student, it's important enough to teach properly. Trouble is, no two instructors will come up with the same answer to an APA format inquiry.
Teaching. Is there such a thing as a genuine nurse educator, or are they all just laying claim to a title they have no expressed qualifications for? Just because I know how a gas turbine works doesn't mean I can call myself an engineer does it? Out of perhaps 2 dozen instructors at my school, I would give a passing grade to maybe 3. The rest in my opinion could not give a decent lecture if their lives depended on it.
I came into this because I wanted to help people. I find that people don't necessarily want my help. I'm a mature male student, and the degree to which patients will discriminate against me is rediculous. I though we were past this as a society. I'm in maternity now, and haven't done a full assessment yet. Because as soon as they see a male they cover up and my nurse mentor asks me to leave the room. Sorry, but this is 100% bs. If I were a doctor would they react the same way? I'm sure if I was a FEMALE doctor, I wouldn't be sitting here typing this right now. Here's a tip for males thinking about the profession. Just because you have no hangups about gender, don't expect your patients and fellow nurses to be as enlightened.
Rants feel good. I had more, but I seem to have forgotten.
Oh, I just remembered. Don't accept more students than you can place adequately. I was on a waiting list to get in, and if they had followed that advice, I would not be typing this. But the fact is, clinicals that don't reflect classroom training are close to useless. I take what I can from any situation, but I have my limits too.
In a perfect world that would be the case. But, wearing the scrubs with a lab coat over the top might not be a bad idea. I guess I'll find out if I can ever get the final pre req out of the way and actually get IN to nursing school! HA!
Depending where we are we aren't even allowed to wear our white lab coat. They say the patients tend to get confused and may think we're physicians. If I was allowed to wear it at the hospital, I would. I do feel like I am taken more seriously by patients when I'm wearing it. Just a thought.
....from some sort of program review board. (accreditation?)
One of our classmates told us last week they'd be coming, and asked that we attend a meeting only if we had positive comments or experiences to relate. Not sure what that's all about. I have heard some people worry that the university might lose it's 5 year accreditation (which is supposedly a rare thing?) if too many people complained. Well, no worries, I went and listened to the biggest crock of sh*t I have ever heard from this group of students. I've heard complaints from most of them over the course of the program, but this afternoon they all faded into a warm fuzzy glow about how great our program is, and how lucky we all are to have the experience. I had the definite feeling the deck was stacked today. Even the reviewers were asking questions slanted in such a way that the only reasonable response was a positive one.
Which nursing theorist stresses the ability to spew horsesh*t with a smile?
....from some sort of program review board. (accreditation?)
One of our classmates told us last week they'd be coming, and asked that we attend a meeting only if we had positive comments or experiences to relate. Not sure what that's all about. I have heard some people worry that the university might lose it's 5 year accreditation (which is supposedly a rare thing?) if too many people complained. Well, no worries, I went and listened to the biggest crock of sh*t I have ever heard from this group of students. I've heard complaints from most of them over the course of the program, but this afternoon they all faded into a warm fuzzy glow about how great our program is, and how lucky we all are to have the experience. I had the definite feeling the deck was stacked today. Even the reviewers were asking questions slanted in such a way that the only reasonable response was a positive one.
Which nursing theorist stresses the ability to spew horsesh*t with a smile?
That really really sucks.......but, you need to get through your program and make sure the program has accredidation when you graduate. I'm not sure if you can even take the NCLEX with out an accredidated school. Don't really know what to say. Is there another school you can transfer to? A ADN program...I can tell you the ADN program here has a higher NCLEX pass rate and is a little better than the BSN.
Many of the students probably realized they would be wasting their money if they complained and the school lost it's accredidation.
I understand where they're coming from I guess. I don't want to see anyone out for all the time and aggravation this program is causing people. I have thought of transferring, but you lose so much when you do that, assuming you can even get into another program, things being the way they are.
I have such a short fuse when it comes to hypocrisy. I think I need some anger management therapy
I had more, but I seem to have forgotten.
jenrninmi, MSN, RN
1,976 Posts
Depending where we are we aren't even allowed to wear our white lab coat. They say the patients tend to get confused and may think we're physicians. If I was allowed to wear it at the hospital, I would. I do feel like I am taken more seriously by patients when I'm wearing it. Just a thought.