Was your nursing school like this?

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itsmejuli

2,188 Posts

Specializes in Home Care.

Does your school have a lab where you can get assistance with skills? What about a tutoring center?

allnurses Guide

Nurse SMS, MSN, RN

6,843 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

My school starts from "scratch" in terms of health care, so it seems there are lots of different schools that teach lots of different ways.

You sound very mature and ready to accept this is going to fall in your lap to catch up on. Good for you....that is awesome. I know it sucks when the workload is already intense, but it sounds like you need to put in more time in the lab and reviewing a med. dictionary while studying when need be. I don't think it will take very long for you to be up to speed with the others. I do suggest you look at your syllabus a week or two ahead and if there is a skill coming up you have never seen before, do some basic research. Then find someone kind in your class who will be patient working with you to help you get up to speed. After all, everyone benefits from teaching, both the teacher and the student. Keep your chin up. You do sound very capable and ready to take responsibility for yourself and that is fantastic.

BellsRNBSN

174 Posts

Specializes in LDRP.

No, that is definitely not the norm for all nursing schools!

I am in an accelerated BSN program, so everyone already has a bachelor's degree, but even we start from the very beginning. We spent a whole day learning how to take vital signs and the teachers are usually very nice about explaining certain terms and abbreviations to us. We are expected to pick up things and learn VERY quickly because our program is only 12 months, but we at least go over the concepts first, and it is never assumed that we already know how to do any of the nursing skills until we learn them in our skills lab.

Each of us comes from a different level of experience. We have some EMTs in our class, previous hospital volunteers, teachers, but no PCTs/CNAs. One of the guys in my class didn't even know what a code blue is (although he does now because I explained it to him!). So don't beat yourself up over it! Follow the advice given by the other posters, and good luck!

kponderRN

70 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry.

At my school EVERYONE is on the SAME playing field regardless of previous training or expertise in the field. We came into the classroom and we started with the basics of nursing and we didn't step foot on the hospital floor until 2 weeks of being in the lab at school where we learned how to do a head to toe assessment, BP, bed baths, linen changes and all the basics of patient care. So, yes, I think your feelings are totally justified. Like the other posters said, maybe you can try to pair up with a fellow student that knows how to perform the skills that you need to know so you can stay with the class. Good luck!

peas&carrots

77 Posts

I don't think your post sounded whiney in the least. Your school should have set requirements to get into the program. If you need to have certain skills learned before you enter than that should be a requirement for entry. At my school if you were a CNA you didn't have to take Fund. for the first 8 weeks. That is the time where we are learning all those basic skills and we had alot of practice taking vital signs. Is there a tutor or learning lab where you can kind of get that one on one practice? I don't think taking a BP is something you should have to learn on your own. There are basic safety measures that should be practiced before ever touching a patient.

DeliveryRN2007

33 Posts

Specializes in Labor & Delivery.

Were there not pre-req courses? All of the nursing schools I looked at required at least 2 years of pre-reqs for an RN program.

So, because of this, we were required to know everything from those courses. When test time came around we were pretty much told "this stuff is from your pre-reqs so get out your notes and brush up on it! This is nursing school, we aren't gonna teach you anatomy and physiology. We are gonna teach you how to take of a patient, what to look for, patho... etc..."

However, things that we were gonna be required to do on the clinical floor we went over and had the chance to ask questions regardless of who already knew how to do it. My only suggestion is to talk to someone higher up and see if there is anything you can do to catch up

Jevell - AMPNN

31 Posts

Wow, sound like a terrible situation. I know I checked with programs and current students before I applied....just for that reason. However, you are currently in a program that is moving a little too fast for you right now, so I would advise you to speak with the instructors about your situation ASAP. See if they would spend a little extra time with you or if there is material they can offer to get you up to speed. Hope this helps

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