Problem with instructors refusing to instruct!

[LexisMommy]

I am currently in the third semester of the nursing program, ready to tackle the fields that inspired me to pursue this career in the first place: pediatrics and L & D! Today was my first day of skills lab, and the instructor gave off such unnecessary animosity! She told us that each week we will be given a written quiz on the scheduled skill, given an opportunity to ask a few questions, then go into the ward to pass off on the skill! In the past, we have had the opportunity to practice a skill then we pass off on it the next week. This leaves the only opportunity to practice the skill we will be tested on during open lab times earlier in the week. The open lab is run by a student who may or may not know the expectations of our instructor, and she is definitely not being paid to each us the skills.

When asked why we were not being given time in class to practice skills before we are tested on them, my instructor replied that this is the semester they are going to stop "spoon-feeding us." I would hardly call doing one's job (i.e. teaching) coddling the students. Basically this makes me feel as though I should not be paying tuition. I understand when professors have us work problems or questions out on our own, but I definitely believe we should be taught necessary skills before we are expected to complete them perfectly for a grade. Do I have any rights as a student? Has anyone else experienced this? Is my professor just being lazy and unnecessary? Thanks for any input. I try to retain a positive attitude, but each semester just brings a worse problem!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Doesn't sound like an ideal learning environment, you can try and plead your case but it may cause more trouble than it helps.

On the other hand, I can't stress enough to take advantage of open lab time!

[Abigail612]

I felt the same way in one of my labs last semester, the teacher would go over some hand out (that wasn't to useful), gave us our check off sheet, and told us to "practice". Some of the students would ask her to demonstrate them for us and she would sigh and roll her eyes and kind of have an attitude about it. Apparently we were suppose to watch a video series that demonstrated the skills, and came with a bundle through the schools book store but nobody knew that so alot of people bought their books else were used (myself included). The video series cost nearly $100 when purchased seperatly. Also the videos themselves were not that good and some of the demonstrations were done improperly! At the end of the semester I left the teacher a review saying that we are paying for a three hour lab and we should be using that time better and recievig proper demonstrations from the instructor. And how we should not have to pay for videos that poorly demostrates the skills. I also told her that the textbook was not very good either and consistantly had poor rating on websites like Amazon.

She must have listened because she is useing a different book this year and it does not include a video series! :)

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you are over-reacting. It may not be the ideal learning environment, but it is sufficient. When I went to school years ago, we didn't even have a lab. It was "read the book" and show up in clinical ready to do the skill on the patient (with assistance from the instructor or staff nurse). Having actual instruction in a lab is a great thing, but it's not always needed. You have the lab that is open for you to handle the equipment and practice the skills based on the written materials -- AND -- you have the opportunity to ask questions of the instructor before the actual clinical experience. Use those resources wisely and you should be OK.

After graduation ... you will be working (hopefully) as a staff nurse, where you will be learning new skills "on the fly" all the time. In actual practice, there are rarely labs to practice ahead of time. Most of the time it is "See one. Do one. Teach one." As a student, you need to learn "how to learn" within the clinical arena itself -- as you won't have the luxury of having special labs for everything you will need to learn throughout your career. The need to be "spoon fed" is one of the big reasons why so many new grads fail in their first jobs. They expect a level of "hand holding" that is considered "coddling" by practicing professionals and that will not always be available in the workplace.

It sounds like your upcoming semester can serve as a great "transitional experience" for you. It's a "middle ground" between the protected world that students usually prefer and the reality of the workplace. Appreciate that opportunity to move gradually from one world to the other. It will serve you well in the long run.

[LexisMommy]

Perhaps I should have clarified. At my school (and I'm sure this is generally what is done in many programs now) we are required to "pass off" on each skill with an instructor in the lab setting before we can "pass off" on that skill with our instructor in the clinical setting. So technically we are graded twice on each skill. Our instructors are not allowed to speak, direct us, or correct us at all while we are completing the skill in the lab, and it is timed. Our grade is pass or fail and depends on us passing it the first time. Then we are graded again in the clinical setting, and these professors tend to walk us through the skill again ahead of time or intercede (obviously) if our mistakes will harm the patient.

So my issue is that we are expected to complete the skill correctly the first time completely on our own, without ever being shown the skill, and if we do it incorrectly it can ruin our chances of graduating. Believe me, there are students who've failed our semester who are nipping at our heels waiting for us to screw up so they can earn their spots back! This is what is irritating me about this semester. In the past, we were shown the skill or at least were allowed to practice in front of an instructor while she told us if we were doing anything incorrectly, and the next week we would pass off on the skill in the same fashion I previously explained. I am attending a baccalaureate program in order to LEARN so that I will not be a deer in headlights when I graduate and seek employment. I should also mention that I pay a hefty lab fee each semester!!!

I can understand where you are coming from. Of course I would never expect someone to hold my hand and walk me through this once I have finished the program. I just still do not understand why expecting our professors to show us a skill when that is what we are paying for is perceived as being coddled.

Thank you for the responses. It's great to have a place to go vent and see that some others might be in the same boat!

[LexisMommy]

Thank you for your responses!

[angelsy]

Another option you could possibly utilize is the knowledge of those in the year above you or final year. I'm about to complete my final paper and utilized their skills and knowledge on many occasions as they have being through it and can often give you very helpful tips. The majority of other students are more than happy to help those that wish to learn and use their initiative to ask for help and gives them a personal boost as well. Nursing is all about educating others whether it be our patients or fellow colleagues. :) All the best for your studies

[cbsncmom]

I don't think you sound like you deserved to be spoon-fed. "Back in the day" people knew there weren't any labs when they paid their tuition. You are paying tuition for the lab.

Is there any way you can read ahead to find out what skill you will be taught, and possibly ask a student that has already done the procedures, to explain it to you? I think if you complain it will cause problems for you. Good luck to you, and just do the best you can with the tools you have been given.

[CrazierThanYou]

I felt the same way in one of my labs last semester, the teacher would go over some hand out (that wasn't to useful), gave us our check off sheet, and told us to "practice". Some of the students would ask her to demonstrate them for us and she would sigh and roll her eyes and kind of have an attitude about it. Apparently we were suppose to watch a video series that demonstrated the skills, and came with a bundle through the schools book store but nobody knew that so alot of people bought their books else were used (myself included). The video series cost nearly $100 when purchased seperatly. Also the videos themselves were not that good and some of the demonstrations were done improperly! At the end of the semester I left the teacher a review saying that we are paying for a three hour lab and we should be using that time better and recievig proper demonstrations from the instructor. And how we should not have to pay for videos that poorly demostrates the skills. I also told her that the textbook was not very good either and consistantly had poor rating on websites like Amazon.

She must have listened because she is useing a different book this year and it does not include a video series! :)

You must have gone to the same school as me! The instructors I had for first year nursing never did any kind of instructing. We also had a hugely overprices video series to watch that we "learned" the skills from. Our instructors would also sigh and act like it was killing them if they had to do anything.

[runforfun]

How long are your labs? And how motivated are the individuals in your lab group. If you think you will have enough time, and your classmates are on board, starting now, get yourself a week ahead. The first week of lab might be rough, but after you've done your checkoff, STAY, and ask the professor to watch your demonstrate the next week's skill. You will get your practice, have time to think about it and any questions you have, and still follow the professors schedule. Would staying a week "ahead" be an option?

I realize this may not be a possibility, but it could be worth a try.