Help Me Understand! UCD Grad Student Reflections

[babaloo8]

I need the help of my fellow nurses to unravel a problem that I am struggling with in our profession. This may be unique to my working world, but I suspect it's not.

After 20 years as a nurse, I have decided to take advantage of a fantastic, grant-funded Master's of Clinical Science and Health Care Leadership program at U.C.Davis. I decided to take the plunge because I am in desperate need of professional inspiration and renewal. I need to step out of my unit as a staff nurse and submerge myself in new ideas and perspectives. Stretch myself beyond my comfort zone. I believe that under the best of circumstances, the pursuit of higher education can be transformative and I, as well as my cohorts, have grown in many unexpected ways this past year. I'm not sure what I will do with this, but if nothing else, I am a stronger writer, public speaker and critical thinker. I know how to look for evidence in the literature to support or enhance nursing practice. I have broadened my understanding of what an exemplary leader is and the ways that I can support and nurture the leadership capability within my nurse colleagues. It's an incredible amount of work, but I feel tremendously grateful for the opportunity. I share my journey (both good and bad) regularly with my fellow nurses in hopes of inspiring, even one, to take advantage of the program.

So...at this point you might be thinking "That's great!" "What's the issue?"

Well...Let me explain.

"So...does this mean you are going into management?"

In general, my nursing coworkers have been supportive of my journey and have in many cases agreed to an adjustment in their schedule to accommodate my educational needs. But, I am struck often by the lack of interest in advancing ones education and by the suspicious tone that permeates the attitudes of many nurses and nurse practitioners to the value of an advanced degree. This seems to include a B.S.N. as well. I find myself deflecting comments about my presumed intention to enter an administrative role or to teach. The latter always comes with a statement about the cut in pay one would incur when choosing to educate the next generation of nurses. This fact is unfortunately true, but illustrates an inclination by nurses to de-value education outside their clinical nurses training.

Recently, a nurse chairing a committee questioned the validity of the Institute of Medicine(IOM, 2010) report on the Future of Nursing. She did so because of its recommendation that academic nurse leaders should work together to increase the number of nurses with a BSN from 50-80% by 2020. She felt the entire document of recommendations was suspect because this aspect is not supportive of the many associate degree nurses who are doing a great job without a BSN. What? Why are we resistant to any efforts to suggest that setting a minimum degree standard(such as is present for a PT, OT, etc) for nurses might result in a greater number of nurses in decision making roles, such as public health policy. Also, within this document are many important recommendations such as, the desire to see nurses to be full partners with physicians and other health care professionals in redesigning healthcare. There is a clear alignment of these recommendations to achieve the ultimate goal of advancing the field of nursing.

The bottom line for me is that our health care system is broken in the U.S. Reevaluating how we deliver health care is essential. Nurses need to have an equal and active voice in the collaborative improvement efforts that are on going in our daily workplaces. Do we need to have an advanced degree to obtain this? Not necessarily. But, I believe it raises the bar of our profession and increases the chance that we will have a seat at the table of important decision-making.

Now, let me be crystal, clear. I do not believe a great nurse is defined by the degree he/she has obtained. Nursing is both science and art. The vast array of skills a nurse possesses is honed with practice, over time. Experience has shown me this time and time again. But, we want nurses to lead us, rather than an MBA without clinical experience. Don't we? If so, nurses need some essential tools that we didn't necessarily acquire in our undergraduate work.

So, what's at the heart of the fear or suspicion I sense from within my fellow nurses?

My hearts desire is to encourage, support and help equip nurses to practice to their full potential and understanding some of these dynamics might help.

So, has anyone had these same experiences? I would welcome your perspective.

[babaloo8]

Yes JPCummings! Many possibilities. Nurses have an important skill set beyond the technical/clinical aspects of the job that are desperately needed in other arenas, such as public health policy. Take an experienced nurse, add the tools and leadership skills a good graduate or PhD program provides him/her and you will have a VERY marketable individual with great potential.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments

[hecallsmeDuchess]

One of my co-workers always says it's not worth it to get an advanced degree. Every time (without fail) I mention interest in advancing my education, she puts it down citing the immense debt not worth it or the remuneration afterwards not worth it. She does it, not minding the fact that she is in a masters' program herself so I fail to understand her 'putdownism' and displeasure with someone else aspiring for higher things. I said the above just to say that you can't explain why some people can't be happy for others. All the best to you...

[wfperseus]

I don't know whether you've ever run across Josephine Ensign's blogs, but I've always found nurse's to be anti-intellectual. I'm very interested in research, which my floor mates have never understood. Following is an article by Ensign: https://josephineensign.wordpress.com/2010/12/22/conservative-nursing-and-why-it-matters/#comments

[BonnieSc]

I think there's an element of inferiority-complex that plays into this, as well. If you dig deep with many nurses who say they're not interested in higher education or don't plan to go back or even ask why you would, you'll find that they're hiding fear that they're not good enough to go back to school or get an advanced degree. Someone mentioned certification--I think there are any number of nurses who are afraid to try for certification because they think they might not pass the test.

I think there are multiple reasons for this (in my experience) common attitude. Women (of course most nurses are women, and I hear this attitude more often from women) tend to be more likely to struggle with inferiority feelings than men in the first place. And then, working with doctors and sometimes even patient families, we are continually challenged on our knowledge--it doesn't do a lot to build confidence. But also, I don't think it's surprising that many nurses are "anti-intellectual". Many of the people who are attracted to nursing like it because it's a hands-on job. It's only recently been considered anything other than a blue-collar job, and after living in several different regions, I would say that in some places in the US it is still basically a blue-collar job. Because of that stigma or because of a lack of knowledge about what nurses really do, many "intellectual" types turn away to other professions... or become nurses who never really do bedside work at all.

[babaloo8]

I think you are absolutely onto something here BonnieSc and I truly appreciate your thoughtful response.

[eagle78]

I worked in a non-nursing field for 20+ years, when I got the inspiration to pursue nursing alot of my then peers thought I was remarkable. To them I was making a complete 360 degree turn, yes but it was a dream. This is unique for me, as I had always felt I was comfortable with what I was doing and the pay was good. Sometimes we get this urge to do more, as the OP has, and it just will not leave us alone until we pursue it.

Well, that did not work out. But, despite not being able to pursue nursing I was able to get a BS in biology and am now in graduate school pursuing my MS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Now my hope is to pursue research, with an approach of hopefully providing you nurses and other HCP's with the tools they need to tend to the patients. My point in this is that sometimes we are content in what we are doing. I was always fascinated with people who pursued higher education but just never saw it as something for me. I am amazed that I am in graduate school, something I looked at other people doing but never saw for myself. Good luck to you in your goals and always keep your dreams in focus. Peace