Hey, Greg--
Impressive post, the statistics are pretty impressive, and except for the character assassinating passive aggression, not too bad an effort. Your post was a better presentation than some of my university students' work when I was an adjunct professor.
Where did the stats come from? Tell ---- hi from me. LOL
Incidentally, in "evidence based nursing" which they weren't teaching when I was there, but if they are now, great!, we give the whole statistic. And we also include any disclaimers such as conflict of interest. People often want to portray themselves as being objective but they cannot be--they are in the mix with the rest of it. An outsider with nothing to lose or gain, who has access to the whole picture, that's an bit of data that can be counted on to be (at least mostly) dependable. This will make more sense when you are in graduate school, and I think you probably will go in that direction--based on the minimal bit of evidence I have (your post).
So, when you talk about 85% of this, 97% of that, is that of the graduating class? Oh, yeah, that's right, it is.
So if your statistics are based on graduating class numbers, what is the attrition rate? That means, what percent of the starting students never finished?
If you look at, for example, the data of students passing the NCLEX compared to the students who start the course, you do not find those glowing statistics.
I didn't see any reference to the fact that the nursing school was on probation and had to make some major changes and be reinspected in order to keep their credential. That happened after my time there, which would lend some credence to what I said--apparently the NLNAC agreed with me about the quality of the education there, or they would not have put CCCCD on probation and required changes. That's pretty objective, huh.
Incidentally, the more you spout and the more you post, doesn't change the fact of what is and what was. Individual experiences are "evidence." What I posted and will continue to post is "evidence." I don't lie and I don't cheat. And I will most certainly share my experience and knowledge when asked, because "all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." I'm not a man but..... If I am asked, I help when I can. If my experience helps people avoid what I wasn't protected from, good, I'll share it.
If you are truly open to "evidence based" critical thinking, rather than take pot shots at my personality (admittedly, you did it less than your classmates, but it is still there), you will take my experiences in as evidence.
While you are learning "evidence based nursing," were you taught about how to judge the quality of the evidence? Here's something to consider: you are employed there. Your future depends, even more than most students, upon the good will of persons who have power over you.
This is called a "conflict of interest" and casts a pall on anything you might write or say or do, except that which is objective and can be substantiated. And you did that pretty well about most of what you wrote. (I'd give you an A, no question.)
Now, your experiences are your experiences, and I have no doubt of your affection for and admiration of everyone there who can either make your day pleasant or a living hell. I also have no doubt that the staff and such have a vested interest in keeping you happy, because what happens if the lab assistant isn't there? Chaos. And stress. And, because they are human beings, chipping at other people, including students, and it just gets to be one big unfortunate mess. Incidentally, the RN who runs the lab, she is tremendous. I didn't realize the damage done by the mistreatment I experienced until I ran into her on the street, and we greeted each other and I called her Ms., and she said, no you are my peer now. She actually was friendly. And then I realized, I had learned to be self protective of the staff at CCCCD. We don't do that because we feel safe and it is a good place to be. We do that because it is not safe, and if "they win," we lose in a big, big way. (this is OT and definitely not nursing, so if you are interested in clarification of that dynamic, email me, I'm out here...)
So you all have within your desire and interest the smooth running of the lab and the school, and happy students who will go out and spread the word. And that's fine, it is your experience and once you graduate, you have nothing to lose or gain, so presumably, you will feel even freer to tell the truth and the whole story. Good! If it is a good school, if instructors are kind and intelligent, yea! I will say this. They have done an excellent job of building the program. The place is huge. That's great.
So while you quote statistics, and that's impressive for a freshman or sophomore (I'm serious, it's impressive, even if you did get them from Nell or some other staff person), you are manipulating those statistics by not portraying the whole picture. I can take, for example, a piece of apple pie and put ten pecans in it. I can then assess that piece of pecan pie based on the extrapolation to the rest of the pie, and make the assumption that since there are 8 pieces, there must therefore be 80 pecans in that pie. But you and I both know, without looking at the rest of that pastry, that the only pecans are in the piece we are showing off.
That, my friend, is the responsible approach to evidence based discussion, nursing, whatever. So you may be taught something that they are calling "evidence based," but because you are the student, and you do not know how narrow the sample (or piece of pie) is that you are being told is the whole shebang, you are limited in your understanding. No problem though. You sound like you care enough to continue to grow. You won't become a line worker type nurse, you'll be one who has enthusiasm and who cares.
We can use many more like you.
Nice job, though as I said, the character assassination. That still looks like the Collin County I knew and loved. You should do whatever it takes to graduate, that's your goal and must be your goal. So if potshots help, I have a pretty strong skin.
Glad to know some things never change!
