I have a question. I just started a BSN Nursing program this week, and parts of it seem pretty strange, I wanted to know if others had similar experiences.
We started school on Monday, and in our Intro class were told that our class instructors would not teach us skills. We have the Wilkinson and Treas DVDs, and that is the sum total of the skills instruction we will get--learning on our own time (this is not an online program). We have an open lab once a week where we can practice and get help from a lab instructor (but not our instructor) and some students.
We get tested on these skills every week in lab, but the instructors are explicitly told not to give us any instruction in lab (which is all day) because they want us to know everything by the time we get there. And, since the open lab instructor is different from our teacher (who is testing us), I have already been told contradictory ways to do things.
They tested us first week, second day!, on skills that we have never been shown. They were originally doing it for credit, but that seems to have changed, I'm assuming they heard complaints. While they made this week not for credit, they are pretty adamant that they are doing it the way they are doing it. This is all new this semester, students further along in the program tell me that they didn't start getting tested until much later.
I'm pretty worried! I did fine on my second-day-no-instruction test, but I feel like others must be getting taught skills better. I'm not even terribly concerned about my grades, but learning healthcare skills from a DVD doesn't seem like the best way to become a good nurse.
Is this how most nursing schools are? Has anyone else found strategies to work in this kind of environment?
Thank you for any thoughts you are willing to share!
TheCommuter - Thank you for your response, you have many great points. The graduation date being delayed is definitely something on my mind. At this point, I am considering applying to Accelerated BSN programs or even a BSN/MSN combo (as opposed to the traditional BSN program I have entered), since I already have a degree in a different discipline. It's good to hear that people are willing to teach a lot while you are on job. Have you found that people are generally willing to help with the skills? I've heard a lot about how the first year of being a nurse can be very trying.
It is odd, but understand you are not really learning these skills to prepare you for the actual nursing world. I'm in my fourth semester and the only time I have done a foley or inserted a night tube was in lab, in my first semester. Do you think I remember how to really do that. Nope. It's something I will learn on the job.
Nursing school is to prepare you to take the NCLEX, not to actually learn how to do the skills part of nursing. And even when I was taught in lab, we were still taught about 3 different ways to do it. They don't want to waste their time to be honest. But they probably have to do the check offs for accreditation purposes. There is a certain curriculum they have to go by.
Good luck. You will be fine, it's just a little overwhelming at first.
I have used very few of the skills I have learned in lab in clinical. It depends on the hospital, floor, and census that day. I've given a few injections, did several med passes, and tons of vitals signs. I've done lots of observation, lots of paperwork, and I've communicated tons with patients. Learning how to properly communicate with a sick patient and their family is probably the most important skill to learn.
I'm in critical care this final semester and im sure I will have more opportunities to practice some skills. With me not being the only student though, im not holding my breath that I will actually get to practice any of it.
You will find by your last semester that doing the skills falls off your need to do list and getting ready to pass NCLEX is very high up there. That's where I am at. Knowing how to start an iv doesn't mean a whole lot if I will never get to put it to use by not passing NCLEX.
Thanks for your response Heathermaizey! I have another question for you if you're around...did you/are you having skills tests each week? The way my program is set up is that you watch the DVDs & go test off skills (this week we have around 10 or so) within 1 week. This may be the norm (testing quickly on multiple skills), but with the only instruction being DVD related I have been wondering if other programs test that often too...
Also, I'd be curious to hear about this from anyone/everyone on this .... are skills test usually done fairly quickly in nursing school? Or has anyone been through a program where you practice a little more? In all of my EMT courses, there was a lot of time practicing skills before testing...but I also know that is a lower cert. with fewer skills in general.
sfrgirl
8 Posts
neogirl, I'm actually in Utah. Have you heard of a similar program?