Not to go into nursing? If so, how? here's my dillemma...
I work in my school's tutor center- I see a LOT Of people who are barely making it through pre-reqs, have to re-take them as many times as is allowed, etc. I'm not making judgement's about their intelligence, 99% of the time it's a lack of commitment on their part, not willing to put foth the work, etc. All they seem to see is that this is a job that pays well and is stable, etc.
One girl wrote an essay for a pre-nursing class about why she wanted to be a nurse...she brought it in for profreading, and I heard my co-worker say to her "Umm, you didn't put anything in here about wanting to be an RN because you like to work with people, you only talked about the $$" :0!!
My usual "gut-check" for this is to ask myself "Would I want this person at the bedside of one of my loved ones?"
If the answer is "NO!" that's my criteria.
Beyond the fact that I am truly frightened about the thought of some of these people ever being RNs, there's also the fact that I go to a very expensive private University- it's heartbreaking to me to see so many people go through the stress and heartache of nursing school, only to end up tens of thuosands of $$ in debt with nothing to show for it when they finally flunk out for the last time.
So you just assume any nurse that is obese doesn't know the importance of eating well or is obese from not eating well?
Although majority of obesity might come from unhealthy eating, not all of it does. I would say something hypocritical would be a nurse telling the patient the importance of not smoking after coming back from their smoke break smelling like an ash tray. Even then I am sure the nurse is fully aware of the negative impact smoking has.
Good point with the smoking :) I obviously wasn't referencing an actual genetic or pathologic condition with obesity. "Hypocritical" is inherently referring to something one actively partakes in, any action that is contrary to a "standard" would have to be intentional to be hypocritical.
Um, this rant is ridicules. So a nurse that is over weight should just omit patient education on diet because otherwise she would be a hypocrite ?? God, hope the patient ins't diabetic.
I never said that. This isn't an ethics class. Drinking 6 bottles of beer in an hour and a half is bad for you, I would advise patients against it...doesn't mean I haven't done it and if this was two years ago (before having a family) I would still be doing it---even though it isn't healthy. Would that make me a hypocrite, yes it would. Would I omit alcohol consumption during patient education, no way.
: Unfortunately, the fact is that some people are not cut out for it. Just like I may not be cut out to be a Rhodes Scholar or a professional athlete-- life goes on.
Did you have tutors telling you not to try to be a Rhodes Scholar or professional athlete, or were those paths you opted not to go down based on your own assessment of your talents and interests?
I tend to agree that it would be inappropriate for you to make this judgment as a tutor. Nursing school and/or working for a while will help people make the decision as to whether or not nursing is for them.
Nursing classes take some getting used to, sciences included. For some students, pre-reqs are the first time they're really exposed to this type of thinking and level of difficulty. To me, it actually says a lot that they're willing to put the time in to re-take a class and seek tutoring. Helping them find their strong points and recognize their weaknesses seems preferable to telling them to forget their goal entirely.
One of the best things I've ever heard a prof say, is in my med/surg class in regards to studying and preparing for tests. "Don't pray to God to get you through this test, this class, or to pass the NCLEX. I am praying just as hard that only the people who should be nurses, are. Not everyone is meant to be a nurse, and God protects those of us who will come in contact with the would-be-shouldn't-be nurses."
The other day i told a classmate he should get out now, after another one of his insanely idiotic comments/questions (we'd just had a rape counselor give a talk, and after hearing her say "no means no" about a dozen times, he still wanted to interject that "some women want it") and he got very upset. He didn't even understand that what he was saying was not only wrong, and offensive, but inappropriate to say to this nurse. completely clueless. I'd had it up to here with his wasting class time with offensive and dumb questions. I couldn't hold it in any longer. Plus, he's one of the cheaters in my class, so I don't even give him the "no such thing as stupid questions" reprieve.
So yes, in my opinion, please tell someone they shouldn't get into nursing, but just doing it for the money doesn't a bad nurse make. That's not your place to say. I'm in it for the money. No one is not in it for a paycheck. It's a hard job and deserves appropriate compensation. I don't know what this one dude's motivation is. Maybe he does care about people. Wouldn't that be a stinker? He say's all the "right" things on an application for nursing school, or a job, but he's unfit (IMO) to even be taking a seat in the program? Meanwhile, a financially motivated student who would actually do a good job loses out.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
So who decides who should be worthy of going into nursing. You are saying that people SHOULD tell someone that, who gets to decide that (besides the schools that as since they obviously have policy's about who should get in and facilities that decide on the hiring).
Although the student you mentioned obviously needs to have a come to jesus meeting, going along the first post, I probably would have been someone the tutor said, maybe nursing isn't for you and you should go into something else, based off my science grade, and here I am doing better then a lot of the kids that had 4.0's on their pre reqs.
One of the kids in my class had a 3.9 GPA on her pre reqs and she failed Pharm and Fundamentals. She even had tutoring for the Pharm
Specializes in 5th Semester - Graduation Dec '09!.
I never said that. This isn't an ethics class. Drinking 6 bottles of beer in an hour and a half is bad for you, I would advise patients against it...doesn't mean I haven't done it and if this was two years ago (before having a family) I would still be doing it---even though it isn't healthy. Would that make me a hypocrite, yes it would. Would I omit alcohol consumption during patient education, no way.
No, advising your patient about health issues is your job! You are the main source of health education and promotion for your patients. It has ZERO to do with your person life or your personal habits. All you are doing is disseminating information.
The word hypocrite has a really negative connotation-- it's when a person falsely portrays themselves as virtues, not simply educating patients about facts based on evidence.
Specializes in 5th Semester - Graduation Dec '09!.
Did you have tutors telling you not to try to be a Rhodes Scholar or professional athlete, or were those paths you opted not to go down based on your own assessment of your talents and interests?
No, I have never had a tutor tell me "not to try to be" a Rhodes Scholar or professional athlete, just as I have never told anyone what they should "not try to be". But, as I stated before, I have suggested to a few students that they may want to reconsider whether or not nursing is for them if they can not get past A&P, one of the most basic foundation of the profession.
I think Ila's comment would be a tactful way to address this. It is the student's money however, & some folks just have to find out the hard way. As far as personal motivation, you can not really be judgmental about that. if they are not cut out for it, they will find that out.
I would not tell anyone that they should not peruse a carrier in nursing. I believe that those who would and think they are all that are setting their self up for a very large fall.
The only thing that is needed to be a nurse is to endure till the end of their nursing program and pass boards. There are nurses that passed with straight A’s, flew through the boards who are still dumb as a rock and dangerous in there patient care, others who have to struggle at each step and are better nurses hands down. GRADES have nothing to do with nursing and do not predict who will be a great or poor nurse. I am sure all have had classmates who had no problems in school but who could not transition from being a student to being a nurse in the real world.
Nursing changes people’s lives, some positive and others in negative ways.
: Unfortunately, the fact is that some people are not cut out for it. Just like I may not be cut out to be a Rhodes Scholar or a professional athlete-- life goes on..thumb.jpg.5aa4d55557c0228e31b94de19666bbbb.jpg){kind=small}
Adams_Mama_07
59 Posts
Good point with the smoking :) I obviously wasn't referencing an actual genetic or pathologic condition with obesity. "Hypocritical" is inherently referring to something one actively partakes in, any action that is contrary to a "standard" would have to be intentional to be hypocritical.