ltrnkoczy

You are not crazy. But I am afraid this is not unusual to BSN programs. I graduated over 7 years ago, and it wasn't until my very last clinical day as a senior BSN student that I had 2 patients, and one was a walkie-talkie ready to be discharged. I, too, was stupified by the lack of real nursing experience we were getting. When I mentioned this to the head of the program, I was told that though they knew we were getting less in the way of hands-on experience, we had more in the way of "critical thinking" (don't even get me started on that buzz phrase) skills than the ADN students (please don't shoot the messenger). This meant that though we would start out lower on the curve, we would quickly surpass our ADN peers due to our superior "well-rounded" education. I was so offended by these comments ... and knew that, really, it was a lot of bunk. Nursing is ... well, nursing - i.e. it's one of the most hands-on professions that I can think of. Without adequate training of the hands-on, we are left quite unprepared for the real world of nursing that awaits us. To add salt to the wound, hospitals, though purporting to have great graduate nurse orientation, can't come close to making up for the nursing education we didn't get while in school. It's not fair for them to have to ... so, what you often have are super green nurses being pushed off orientation because of the reality of hospital finances. I likened my first 8 or so months of nursing to going to war without the benefit of bootcamp. It was just awful ... and the level of stress that I felt at that time has been unrivaled even to this day. The truth of it is, there is a shortage of nursing instructors out there to help teach and guide nursing students on how "to do" nursing. Nursing academia is so full of itself that it limits the numbers even more by requiring clinical instructors to have master level degrees. Somehow suggesting that the ADNs or the BSNs have little worth in providing experienced nursing education. Honestly, it's just a shame and an embarrassment. Just look at the push to have APRNs educated on the doctorate level. Again, intimating that all those master prepared APRNs are somehow less than adequate. In my humble opinion, if nurses want to be called doctors, they really should go to medical school. Clearly, this has touched a nerve in me. Just remember, that when you get out there, you will be a good nurse ... in time, because you are smart and capable and because you are one of the very few who question the inanity of thinking that books and shadowing will make you a good nurse versus actual having a chance to practice being one.

I could not agree with you more. I thought we had it good- 6 pts on a med/tele floor! And still I think, please, please, stop complaining and whining ... it comes from everyone, even those who really aren't aware of the true reason for the complaints. I get it, really I do, I feel it too. Sometimes we feel taken advantage of ... sometimes we feel as if we aren't heard ... often times it seems as if "patient safety" is a buzz word bandied about for appearances rather than as part of the mission when we run short on the floor due to a questionable management/coordinator staffing decisions, but complaining and whining really get us nowhere. It brings down the morale ... it feeds upon itself ... and, honestly, it becomes a cancer that eats away at what was once a fairly healthy place to work. Perhaps it's human nature ... no, it is human nature, but I also know that it is within us as humans to think intelligently and act rationally. So, please, let us do it ... try to understand the "other side"(would you really want to be a manager or coordinator - do you really think you could do better? Squeezed from above and below?) ... and if it still makes no sense, then try to convey this to the powers that be in a rationale, intelligent, and respectful manner .. it may not work ... but in my experience, it has. And if it doesn't, it may just be time to move on...

Help! I've learned all of the heart assessment auscultating spots ... but sometimes, I just can't hear a darn thing? I'll hit all the marks ... and still nothing... the stethoscope is working ... the patient is breathing, so I know the heart is beating. I mean, I hear nothing ... even if they turn toward the left? It doesn't matter if the pt is obese, though that probably compounds it, or thin. There are times I just can't hear it. Is this a technique thing, a hearing loss issue on my part :) (I do doubt this, but am open to the possiblity), a hardware problem (standard cardiac littman), or is it possible that some patients' heart sounds are so faint that normal breathing silences it... Can I tell you how silly I feel even asking this question? So, Silly. Would appreciate any help, suggestions, or corroboration of this problem... Thanks...