NC_Gal

I understand everything you are saying and agree with almost all of it. However, how do we justify any test answers that we may know are right but they are not in our textbook? Also, any justifications for correct answers on our tests are read from a piece of paper with rationales, and when asked to elaborate and explain she simply cannot or will not. This is just so frustrating.

We've had a lot of changes in our nursing program in the last year I have been enrolled. We are losing an instructor who is an incredible source of knowledge and has tremendous heart and passion for this field. The instructor who I am assuming will be stepping up is one in which we have a great deal of trouble with. She uses what she calls "student centered learning" and acts as a "facilitator." She comes to class without the textbook we are using, grades clinical paperwork during our lecture period, and acts suprised when we tell her information that comes from our book. We are broken into groups and told to discuss a disease/disorder from start to finish, what it is, nsring dx, tx options, labs, diagnostics, s/s, manifestations, etc. Somebody please tell me how a group of nursing students, who are all on the same pager are supposed to elaborate on and expand each others knowledge of the material. We simply don't know much more then what our textbook is telling us, which sometimes is not always clear. When you ask her a question she simply beats around the bush and does everything she can but answer it. I don't know if what she fails to see is that one day we might be taking care of her or her family or what. I don't understand how you are a nursing instructor yet fail to really elaborate on any course material. She has a MSN, yet cannot even utilize proper english when speaking with us, "I says" "I be thinking". Then talks about leukoplasia when we are discussing leukoplakia. I'm not a rocket scientist nor a graduate from a nursing program, so am I wrong in thinking that these are not the same things? Also, we have addressed the fact that this is not helping us, and she gave us a crappy matter of fact speech that she is not changing anything. So why pay for an education we are not getting? Then this very same woman wants you to take your medications off of the hospital floor and into the break room so you can sit down and discuss them with her. Shouldn't she be doing this before the meds are even pulled? I REFUSE to walk off of the floor with any medications, even if it be just a multivitamin. She cannot access contorlled substances, which is probably a good thing, so the floor nurses must get them from the Pyxis. She watched the nurse pull the med for a student and them walks out of the med room, doesn't even bother to watch the student draw up the med, leaving it for the floor nurse to do. Then has the nerve to tell the student that she didn't know what medication it was and she wasn't going with her to give it. Well DUH dummy guess you should have stayed in the med room and watched. What in the world can we as students do about this situation before it gets out of hand and end up failing out of the program or flunking our boards due to lack of instruction. Are there any good resources to help us. We only have one semester left after this and it would be a shame to do poorly due to her lack of instruction. We have had no support from the higher ups at the school, just told changes will be made, of course we have yet to see any action by them.

I was just curious what others would have done in this situation. This happened at a place where I used to work as a CNA, before the demands of nursing school. Because I wasn't in a position to educate, or really even tell her about her condition, I never said too much to the woman about her dx, when she would ask what was wrong, I would tell her that was something she needed to speak with the nurse or the MD about when he came to visit.

This lady was also a full code, which just completly blew my mind! With health deteriorating so rapidly, plus the dx of breast ca. Her family would visit her often, but they were very specific about her not knowing her dx.

I would be careful with this AA degree. If you are planning to transfer to another college to pursue a Bachelor's I would check to see how this AA transfers over compared to the ASN. I was required to take a humanities course (critical thinking) and a second english (science based research not literature based research)for my RN program.

Given the following situation how would you respond? An elderly woman, who's health is clearly quickly diminishing, is in a nursing home. Her dx is breast ca. She repeatedly asks what is wrong with her and keeps reminding you that she wants to go home. She yells for someone to help her, and you go to see what you can help her with. All that she says she needs help with is to know what is going on with her and what's wrong with her. But!!!, (BIG BUTT!! here) the resident's family, has made it VERY clear to everyone interacting with this woman, that she is NOT to know her dx of breast ca. How would you respond to this situation? Would you tell the woman what her dx is? Would you tell the woman that she needs to talk to her MD? Can they legally keep this woman in the dark about her own health an healthcare, since she is clearly askign about it?

Have you looked into scholarship opportunities offered by local hospitals? I know the hospital in my area will offer nursing students about 1000 every semester for the duration of their education. The catch is you either work for the hospital, or pay back the money, about $50/month, once you get out of school. I think there may be ceratin things you are required to do, such as attend tutoring sessions, if your school even offers these. But do look into the local hospitals as to what they may offer. Also, some hospitals may have their own nursing school, and will pay for your education if you work for them for 2-3 years, depending on how much money you get from them.

What are some ethical decisions you were faced with while working in the nursing field?