Karen, Tell us about the student nurse convention

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 18, 2002

Cut n paste only 2 night as scout Eagle Dinner and work project ongoing today. Answer in full this WE.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 21, 2002

Oramar:

I was the the Pennysvlania Nurses Association booth talking about nursing in PA and benefits of joining the Professional association, ANA.

Over 3000 students attended the convenion. PSNA was one over over 400 exhibitors at the Phila Convention Center ( same place ANA will hold their convention in June). Over 2000 students passed by our booth Thursday of the convention. Anyone who was a PA student received an informational flyer on PSNA and State tuition reimbursement. We had info on Liability Insurance and scholarships too. Also, they got a chance to sign up for a drawing for our "MADE IN PA" gift basket.

I talked to many nurses from across the US. Most wanted to stay in their areas to practice; a few wanted to move to be near family. One NY nurse wanted to move to Vegas and wanted to know about job situation there. From the many posters comments here at allnurses. I was able to tell them about some possitive hospital environments and the general state of nursing. Also plugged this website when I could.

Was surprised to find out that most students had done no job interviews, even though graduating in May. Was told by my educator colleagues there, they all recomended studying and taking NCLEX first, rather than divert attention to learning ropes of job.

In the dinnosaur days, the 2day paper test was scheduled only few times a year and you took it first cahnce you could. What the students and educators told me was that some students wait as long as a year after graduation to take it and some NEVER...

which looks bad for the school rather than reflecting on an individual. Have trouble believing someone would spend all that money for school and time out of their lives, not to follow thru with testing; but after some of the posters here, I could undrestand their concerns. Still think some practical workday experience would be helpful answering questions. Beginning to see the need for a 3 mo. clinical practicum of 4-6 patients prior graduation as a way to have solid precepting and good foundation to practice.

I was expecting more student nurses to be in their 20's and 30's; those attending were more in late 30's to 40's, even 50's. I can see that we are in for a DEEP nursing shortage. With burn out and shortened work life due to advanced age entering this profession, 10 years down the road, few nurses will be around. Hospital care will be forever changed and not for the better.

Hope students attending will discuss their experiences.

SandyLV · Apr 21, 2002

Hi Karen:

I am a Nursing student in my early 30s and I considered myself a bit old for it when I started. In our program, the majority of girls (only 2 guys) are in their 20s but it seems that most of them don't have the patience or common sense required when it comes to clinical situations. From the little I have seen, the students in the 30s and 40s are more in tune with the patients' feelings and have a better, kinder way of handling situations.

I do like and appreciate all your information about the NCLEX dilemma, you would not believe the pressure you receive about taking the exam as soon as you graduate; however, I completely agree with you on getting some hands-on experience first.

I am very new to this site, but I love reading your postings, they are very informative and honest and you still manage to keep them positive.

Thanks :)

-jt · Apr 29, 2002

I dont get why you feel pressured. You have to take the test so why wait? We graduated in May & our instructors had us right back in class the following week taking old state boards as practice tests 3 days a week all thru June & then we took the 2 day test in July. You only had to take the October test if you failed the first one. 99% of our class passed the first time. Working experience would not have helped. It was book knowledge. The questions were set up for you to answer "the best response as a reasonable and prudent nurse would be......." & the choices included the way you might do it in real life at work & the way the books say to do it. The right answer is the way the books say. What you do at work is not always the way the books say to do it so as far as the test went, work experience had nothing to do with it. It wasnt about how to do tasks. It was about anatomy, physiology, medical disease process, medications, psych responses. It was best to take the test at the first sitting after graduation while the book knowledge was all still fresh in your mind.