GinnyMi

I thinks we have beat this topic to death. Why don't we come up with solutions? Here is an idea! Lets bring back the Diploma programs. They were selective in admissions but a much cheaper way to go. Six semesters, no summers off. Two 8 hour days of lecture, three days of clincals per WEEK! The weeding process is done in school (75 grads out of 150 beginning students). Boards are the same. Ready to work at time of graduation. Plus, the clinicals would help relieve stress for the staff(if done well). Those that want to or are able to move to higher levels of education. Those that love the bedside can stay where they are with the option to further their education later. It’s time to look back at the history of nursing and acknowledge that the push for higher education, while worthy, has hurt the nursing profession. I believe the push was meant to increase our “professional” reputation but has that been the case? I think not.

Are you able to travel? OR nurses are in huge demand. My husband was set up, wrongfully terminated and blacklisted in our city. Travel nursing was a great choice for him. After a few assignments we moved to a different city where he was hired and appreciated. We choose to look at the situation positively but it was a difficult time.

i often wonder if the push for BSN has had something to do with new grads being unprepared for the real world? I graduated in 1985 from a Diploma program which, like most, was connected to a hospital. The program was six semesters and we spent 2-3 8 hour days a week in clinicals and had lectures/classroom time the other 2-3. By the time we graduated, we had "worked" in ICU doing everything on our own. At the time, team leading on med surg was the norm and we took our teams of 8-12 pts and had lpns and cnas on our team. The student preceptor was there in the background in case we needed him or her but we were basically on our own. Over the last 30 years, i have had many students follow me. "Clinicals" in icu were observation, not hands on. I noticed most students werent prepared and didnt expect to do the work ( most were thrilled when I would encourage them to try an IV, insert a foley, etc.). I am not saying that there is anything wrong with getting a degree, i just think we need to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinicals they offer now. By the time a nursing student graduates, he or she should know what they are getting into!

We saw an employment attorney...it you work in an "at will employment" state there is nothing that can be done. We tried the age descrimination (which we felt was accurate) route, but how do you prove that?

An ice bag that has been sitting on or near a fresh surgical site, or not so fresh infected site? Then filling water pitchers from the same ice machine? This is a problem!

Unions can only do so much...my husband was fired from an OR and then blacklisted in the community...we relocated and he took a position at a hospital with a strong union....he likes it and he is liked but really, same problems, different day....we are hoping b/c of the union he will not be fired due to his age/experience (he was 62 when he was fired...in excellent health and an awesome nurse). The hospital he was fired from set him up..no improvement plan, no sub par evaluations...I worked at the same place so it wasn't really a surprise...unethical to the core!

I am concerned that your preceptor is blatantly threatening you! Only you can decide whether or not you want to put up with this. If you decide to stick it out, i would advise you to speak with Human Resources and get things documented and be sure to let the, know you feel threatened.. i would normally suggest you speak to the person directly but she doesn't seem like a reasonable human being! As far as the confederate flags, i have lived in a southern state for many years...most people i know don't equate the confederate flag with racism, it's more a "proud to be southern" thing. I am sorry you are experiencing this! Please remember that most people don't see color anymore, some people are just jerks!

That is hysterical!!!!

I am an old Diploma nurse. Went to a 6 semester program in St. louis which has turned into a NP program. Most Diploma programs have been closed due to the push for BSNs. Diploma nurses take the same boards as ADNs and BSNs. Our program had a 99% pass rate. As a student, we spent 2-3 8 hour shifts a week in the hospital and the other 2-3 days had lectures. I get the push for the degree but imho, when we graduated, we were far more prepared to work than the nurse grads i have seen in the last 10-15 years. When we were in clinicals, we actually had ICU pts and did everything alone (once we were observed) except cardiac outputs/swan-ganz. The clinical students I have precepted just observed! We were trained in team leading and primary care nursing. Before we graduated, we took teams of patients. Many students dropped out of the program b/c we experienced what it was really going to be like during the program. I would love to see statistics on number of new grads who leave nursing now vs. then. My hubby is an ADN (Associate Degree in Nsg) from a community college and he was well-trained as well but had been an OR scrub tech for 15 yrs so it is hard to compare. ASN is an Associate of Science in nursing. Both ADN and ASN are 2 year RN programs. I am not anti-BSN, they are intelligent and catch up on skills quickly as long as they have good orientation experiences. As an example, i probably started 20+IVs in school, put in lots of foley catheters, titrated drips (with help) etc etc.