Nursing Education, Not Training!!

[scoochy]

I have been a nurse for thirty-one years. Throughout this time, I have had many people ask me, "Where did you do your nurse's training?" This question pushes my SVR way over the edge. I want to respond, " I went to the AKC Kennel Club," but I politely reply, "I received my EDUCATION from___________," emphasizing the word education. I am sure there is no ill intent, but the word "training," in my opinion, is not synonymous with the word education. How do you feel about this question?

[elkpark]

I'm an old diploma grad (who went on to graduate school and has taught in ADN and BSN programs), and "training" used to be the standard terminology. In fact, "Where did you train?" used to be the standard question and a sign of respect to older/senior nurses (of course, this was back when we all wore our caps and you could often tell where someone trained just by looking). I find the "nurses are educated, not trained" camp rather pretentious and annoying. I understand the point they are attempting to make, but I hardly think it's worth making a fuss about. Ironically, nurses came out of school better educated (in nursing) and prepared to practice as nurses back when we were "trained" rather than "educated."

[llg, PhD, RN]

Good topic for a thread.

I, too, prefer to use the word "educated" in an effort to help the public understand that professional nursing requires intellectual skills and a considerable knowledge base. In society in general, the word "training" is a term usually more associated with learning a particular skill or task.

Nursing requires both types of education and I like to honor both our traditional training and also our need for advanced education. So, I am not offended by the use of the word "training" unless it is used to imply that physical skills training is all we need.

[elkpark]

This discussion has reminded me of a funny (heart-warming, for me) experience from my past: I attended a prestigious, "big name" graduate program that made a big deal of its high expectations and standards. Many, if not most, of the faculty were nationally-known nursing leaders whose names I had known long before I ever thought about applying there. I was feeling rather intimidated starting school (frankly, I was amazed I had gotten accepted) -- but, the first day of orientation, I was talking with the professor who was head of my specialty track, and it came up in conversation that I was an "old diploma grad" (which, for some reason, is the phrase we all tend to use, even when we're not old). She came to a complete dead stop and got all excited -- "I'm an old diploma grad, too -- where did you train?" I told her, and asked her, "Where did you train?" She told me about her old school, and then proceeded to drag me through the entire building, introducing me to all the other faculty -- "This is my new student, XYZ -- she's an old diploma grad!" The other professors would get all excited, and say "I'm an old diploma grad, too!! -- where did you train?" And I would tell them, and ask "And where did you train?" And we all stood around all morning, bragging and reminiscing happily about our diploma programs. I'm still amused that that was my introduction to the loftiest nursing "groves of academe" -- all these nationally known, PhD'd, scholars and researchers standing around, saying "Where did you train??" "And where did you train?" without the slightest hesitation or trace of selfconsciousness. Not one person in the group objected that we were educated, not trained. :) The "where did you train" question is like a secret handshake or password among older diploma grads, which, unfortunately, is dying out now.

[dura_mater]

To me, training refers to my clinical experiences while education refers to the classroom so I'd list the various places I did clinicals in response to where I trained and if asked where I went to school or got my education I would mention the university.

I agree with this. When I heard the question you were being asked, I assumed that the person asking was refering to where you did your clinical rotations, not where you went to school.

I don't find the question offensive, but maybe that's the novice in me shinning through....:)

[sharpeiluv]

My initial nursing education took place in a hospital school of nursing, and I earned a Diploma. I considered myself educated (first year coursework included A&P, Microbiology, Sociology, Psychology, English, Chemistry at a local community college) and my second and third years built on those foundations as well as the first year nursing foundational courses I took in addition to the college courses. But I was also "trained" to not only perform the duties of an RN but to think critically based on knowledge as well. The clinical work helped me to apply what I'd learned in books to the patient care and advocacy at hand. It was an education that served me well for many years. I have since completed my BSN and am presently completing my Masters degree (thesis to be completed) to work as an NP or CNS. It will be a great way to cap my career, having worked over 30 years as a staff nurse in adult critical care and 5 years in adult Med-Surg. So I consider myself to have been both "trained" and educated. As a career, both training and education in nursing has provided opportunities for me to be a nurse in some way in each stage of my life.

[jzkfel]

You would have to try much harder than that to offend me!

[mamamerlee, LPN]

Oh, the things we fuss over! There is a lot of training - hands-on skills - that is part of our education.

No disrespect is meant by asking that question, and the answer 'I went to school at XYZ University' is the best answer overall.

Choose your arguments wisely - why waste time and energy on the small things?

[cmw6v8]

I'm going to be a student nurse in the fall, and this topic is interesting, me being a linguistics nerd---it does seem like "Training" is more of a generational thing, or it could be a safe word to use in case the nurse did a vo-tech LPN/LVN program or had other non-college education. Of course, they were still educated, but they may not possess a degree. I would probably respond by saying "I got my XX degree from XX College and I did my clinical rotations at XX Hospital."

Generational differences in vernacular are kind of fascinating, I think. I wouldn't be offended, I would just use it as some insight to that person's background.

[Moogie]

The only time I was ever offended by a comment about "training" vs. "educated" was when a non-nurse friend informed me that I did NOT have a college education (ADN in a community college, then BSN in a state university) because I went to TRADE school, not college. Hmmmm. Okay, so I didn't have the benefit of a liberal arts education, which I regret, but I think I had a damn good nursing EDUCATION at the COLLEGE level in both of my programs.

Considering that this person, despite a liberal arts education, worked at an entry level position, I don't think it was terribly appropriate to disparage my education...

[happy2learn]

I just don't see why this is an issue. I would just tell them what school I went to, and not emphasize it in a sarcastic and/or rude manner. Why do we let such silly things bother us?

The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies

A synonym for training is education Look it up if you don't believe me. training Synonym

Just because you think of training as not good enough, doesn't mean other people see it that way.

Now what I'm saying doesn't include Moogie cause that's just a different issue, as in an ignorant and rude friend.

[scoochy]

One of my instructors( trainers ?)always said " Animals are trained, people are educated.".

My point, exactly!

[scoochy]

I'm an old diploma grad (who went on to graduate school and has taught in ADN and BSN programs), and "training" used to be the standard terminology. In fact, "Where did you train?" used to be the standard question and a sign of respect to older/senior nurses (of course, this was back when we all wore our caps and you could often tell where someone trained just by looking). I find the "nurses are educated, not trained" camp rather pretentious and annoying. I understand the point they are attempting to make, but I hardly think it's worth making a fuss about. Ironically, nurses came out of school better educated (in nursing) and prepared to practice as nurses back when we were "trained" rather than "educated."

I, too, am a diploma graduate, but I also had to take college courses along with clinicals. The question is just a pet peeve of mine. We all have them.... Thanks for your post!