No Oncology Lecture ADN Program

[Charlotto]

Hello - Just wondering if this situation is odd? Our class just finished an exam on the GI Tract where more than half the class failed. Now, Oncology is up. Instead of getting a lecture on this very important subject - we have been placed in groups who will present a 15 minute presentation on a particular type of cancer.

Many of us feel we are not getting the lecture/learning/direction we should be. It seems odd that so many students failed our last test and then the faculty pulls this out of their butts, on what obviously is a very important subject. All they've told us is to just read the book.

Signed,

Frustrated....

[headinsandRN]

OP I don't want to add to your anxiety or fuel any animosity you have for your school at present, but that is strange fruit.

I agree with you, if I fork out the money I would like to get a decent lecture too. Heck, I can google and read a book on my own for the low low cost of free.

For the sake of comparison, I want to share with you that my school did a long lengthy lecture on oncology and that exam was worth a nice big chunk of our grade.

I loved every minute of it!

We covered everything from different types of cancers, who is at risk, the respective tx, grading and stages, radiation, drugs, thyroid disorders, sickle cell, aplastic anemia, etc.

As a student, there is no way I could have covered that large of scope of information on my own in any research project. Ever.

[kyboyrn]

In my last semester of nurse practitioner school most of the last main FNP class was taught by the students. Even though the teachers lectured some, each week a group of students (2 or 3) was assigned a particular topic covering a number of chapters from our books, and presented the material. They also had to present a case study that they had seen in clinical that related to their topic for that week. It was actually a great experience. As the presenter, you learn a considerable amount on the topic you are lecturing on, and learning from your fellow classmates tends to keep your interest. We were soon to be master's prepared nurses, so I feel like we were getting to the point that we should be able to prepare a well developed, well thought out lecture on a given topic. I think it's a great idea. For some, it's just good to get the experience of actually presenting. It's something that students really need to be comfortable with, especially if they are going to move forward for additional and advanced degrees in the field.

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

So much of nursing is about teaching. While I don't like these kind of assignments, nor do I like relying on people when working in a group, it is a good idea.

[Orange Tree]

This might sound horrible, but I hardly ever listened to lecture or took notes in class. I preferred to read for myself. The only lectures that were interesting were the ones that included personal experiences/points of view.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you remember content better if it is not spoonfed. Just think of it as another loop to jump thru to get that license

[leslie :-D]

I agree with you, if I fork out the money I would like to get a decent lecture too. Heck, I can google and read a book on my own for the low low cost of free.

keep in mind however, that many schools have a curriculum that require independent learning.

many.

it's really not a far-fetched concept.

leslie

[eaRNed]

I happen to be adjunct faculty in a BSN program and staff nurse working in oncology... I think the student presentations are an EXCELLENT idea and I am sure that you find them a lot more interesting then what your theory instructor would lecture on... However, especially with cancer, I think there are certain aspects that need to be covered by someone working in the specialty because there are some complex concepts... When I was in nursing school, one of the instructors (team taught courses) worked as an oncology NP previously and did a fabulous job with the lecture... I am primarily a clinical instructor, but I was a guest speaker for the junior med/surg class and provided a 3 hour overview lecture on cancer...

And, yes... you are often going to teach yourself!

There are a couple of things I agree with in this person's post. First off, I work on a Med/Surge floor with an entire wing dedicated to Oncology patients. I think that this will be beneficial to you in just understanding the impact and varied treatments of different cancers. The theory behind cancers can become quite complex quite quickly and most nurses will not need to know more than a basic understanding of the more common cancers to succeed. There is plenty of additional learning available after you achieve the elusive RN title and I do feel this is best left as a specialty (there are not going to be many, if any, questions on the NCLEX over this so don't fret).

Secondly, as a relatively new nurse, I can with absolute certainty tell you that you WILL teach yourself a LOT. I would know absolutely nothing about anything cardiac related if not for my own reading and studying. My teacher for this section was pathetic and spent more time speaking about her crippled leg and grandkids rather than covering possibly the most important section to my nursing career. Do not depend on your teachers to tell you everything you need to know, or even everything you need to know to pass the NCLEX. Learn to weed out what matters from what doesn't and take your education into your own hands. Call light in reach. Will monitor.

[Fribblet]

You could probably spend 4 years just studying oncology and not cover nearly everything. Nursing school can't teach every speciality.

I'd be willing to bet you won't have an in depth lectures on emergency nursing, OR nursing, clinic nursing, school nursing, etc.

An overview of oncology (understanding of how cancer works and the pharmacology of the treatments) is a necessary foundation. You can learn on your own the specifics when you need to for your practice. But you should have already learned that in pharmacology and pathophysiology. That's pretty much the point of pre-rec's.

[leslie :-D]

An overview of oncology (understanding of how cancer works and the pharmacology of the treatments) is a necessary foundation.

while i agree with above, so many don't seem to acknowledge or appreciate the psychosocial issues that accompany cancer, or any other potentially terminal disease.

it's crucial to understand the meds given, se's, actions, etc...

but it's equally as crucial to understand how the pt is dealing with the implications of the disease.

it is not only a medical issue.

leslie

[eaRNed]

while i agree with above, so many don't seem to acknowledge or appreciate the psychosocial issues that accompany cancer, or any other potentially terminal disease.

it's crucial to understand the meds given, se's, actions, etc...

but it's equally as crucial to understand how the pt is dealing with the implications of the disease.

it is not only a medical issue.

leslie

Amen. I currently work on a cancer floor and this could not be more true. Once you have worked with cancer patients and their families (and you WILL work with their families haha), you will never treat your job the same.

[Fribblet]

while i agree with above, so many don't seem to acknowledge or appreciate the psychosocial issues that accompany cancer, or any other potentially terminal disease.

it's crucial to understand the meds given, se's, actions, etc...

but it's equally as crucial to understand how the pt is dealing with the implications of the disease.

it is not only a medical issue.

leslie

I agree, but delving deep into that is something that is very specific to oncology. I see CA patients in the ER, but I don't deal with them and their families like the nurses on the oncology floor. The student should (and I'm sure already has ) be learning quite a bit about therapeutic communication and a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship that is applicable to ALL areas of nursing.

Should she decide to specialize, or should she find that her particular pt population includes a lot of CA patients, she can re-focus and adjust her practice accordingly.

No nursing program can cover all specialties and the unique nuances specific to those specialties.

One would hope, that the students who are presenting would be presenting on the patho as well as the holistic approach a nurse must make with a patient and that they would include the unique struggles a particular cancer can present a patient (i.e. body issues after mastectomy)