How to deal with program politics?

[traumanurse2b?]

I am trying to figure out how to approach a situation in my program in which a nursing assistant course from last year (Fall of 2012) is being retroactively added to my BSN gpa. To keep things short and sweet (and not provide too much identifying information), the course was considered a prerequisite to the program. Our grade would not be added to our GPA for the BSN program, we just needed to pass the course. Now, almost a year later, we have discovered (by accident as no notice was given) the school has retroactively added that course (worth 2 nursing courses in credits) to our BSN gpa. I have already emailed my advisor to ask about it, but I am wondering if its something that I should follow up with the Dean. Thoughts?

*Edit: I am concerned about this because it has dropped my GPA significantly*

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

First, technically you're students not professionals until you graduate and obtain licensure/a job.

Second, just wait until you are working as a nurse and you will see how many employers talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Hospitals say one thing and reverse that/do something else all the time.

Last, I don't see it as worth your effort to pursue this.

To the OP: This is why, in the future, you need to make sure that whatever you're promised is put in writing and construed as a contract. This gives you recourse should something go sideways. Contracts are very much a double-edged sword. While you can be effectively guaranteed something, if it's not in the contract, then they can basically SOL you on that.

This kind of things isn't just seen in hospitals, it's very much evident elsewhere too, in both union and non-union shops. If you have a great relationship between employees and management, there's no big deal with anything... but if relations are strained at best, things can get adversarial about everything that's not in the contract.

And true, students are not professionals yet... that doesn't mean that we can't act in a professional manner.

[traumanurse2b?]

First, technically you're students not professionals until you graduate and obtain licensure/a job.

Second, just wait until you are working as a nurse and you will see how many employers talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Hospitals say one thing and reverse that/do something else all the time.

Last, I don't see it as worth your effort to pursue this.

KelRN215, thank you for the response. I suppose I misspoke (or rather mistyped, haha). I should have said we are learning to be professionals (Professional Nursing anyone?) and I feel that perpetuating this "Say one thing, do another" thing isn't professional. I'm not a newbie to the real world, I've experienced this attitude in my big girl jobs. I guess I'm just a believer of "Be the change you want to see," so I suppose I feel the need to acknowledge this behavior. I have only emailed my advisor at this point to ask about the change, so as I said before I guess I will see what happens and take this as a learning opportunity. Thanks again for the response :)

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

KelRN215, thank you for the response. I suppose I misspoke (or rather mistyped, haha). I should have said we are learning to be professionals (Professional Nursing anyone?) and I feel that perpetuating this "Say one thing, do another" thing isn't professional. I'm not a newbie to the real world, I've experienced this attitude in my big girl jobs. I guess I'm just a believer of "Be the change you want to see," so I suppose I feel the need to acknowledge this behavior. I have only emailed my advisor at this point to ask about the change, so as I said before I guess I will see what happens and take this as a learning opportunity. Thanks again for the response :)

I used to be that way too... and then I realized that I'd rather just do my job and go home. I spent the first 5 years of my career at a hospital that would tell you it invented pediatrics and believed that everything it did was already the right/best way to do it. After years of speaking my mind I realized I was wasting my breath.