"Concerned" about MH teaching

[TCASII, ADN]

I finally passed my OB, Peds, and Pharm with two Bs and an A respectively. Exciting since I didn't think I'd pass at all based on the talk among students and the subject matter.

So next we enter mental health (psych) and I'm a little bothered by the material presented that I've previewed so far online (we can DL Power Points before the class starts).

On the first slide it states that bipolar I is more common in men than women. Where is this info coming from? Every single resource I've ever read about bipolar I states that the prevalence is 1:1. Only bipolar II seems to have some differing ratios (DSM-IV-TR states that women might represent more bipolar II patients IIRC). Also a presentation on genetic disorders that make children aggressive was given in peds and the psych teacher wanted to listen in. Well when the classmate mentioned using fluoxetine (Prozac) for aggression, the psych teacher interrupted and tried to find out where they got that info. She had never heard of that because Prozac is only an antidepressant. One classmate said it's used to treat anxiety and she shot them down as if they were wrong! SSRIs are a mainstay of modern treatment for OCD, panic disorder, and nearly all the anxiety disorders. Does she not know anything or is the NCLEX not wanting us to know that kind of information?

I don't like misinformation, especially when I know the subject very well and feel like I'm gonna have to wipe my brain to pass the exams.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Our book said bipolar I was a majority man thing with bipolar II being a girl thing. I don't know which is right. Doesn't matter. You'll still use the same diagnostic criteria via DSM-IV-TR.

Sadly, many nursing instructors are not content specialists unlike previous instructors you've had in life such as in biology, chemistry, psychology, etc. Most of them (all mine) just teach from what is in the chapter of the book and you walk away as a student thinking "****, I could've stayed home and just read the **** book."

Psych drugs are often a mix and match. You don't have to wipe your brain. Do what I do when I take the test. Say to yourself, "What would THIS instructor put?" I find that in my faculty if you ask something you got four different answers, lol. Just play the game and finish.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

I agree. We hear the occasional instruction that is completely wrong. We go look it up and sometimes it is different from the textbook. Sometimes it is only in our textbooks and no where else. Since the test questions come from the publisher, I just go with what the book says and I also think, "how would this instructor answer this question?" The good thing about questionable instruction is that it makes the inquisitive students go to their books or internet sites to find the real information.

[TCASII, ADN]

I hear ya. I also think the frustration with this instructor is that she was a psych nurse and even has a degree in counseling! You'd think someone with a mental health background and education would know her field. Our OB instructor was an OB nurse for years and knew her stuff. That was nice, and she would tell us when the book or Evolve/HESI wanted something a little different than what the real world would be in practice.

But yes, the misinformation and erroneous data in nursing is frustrated, especially when the instructor won't accept a different answer because you studied from more than one resource and forgot the specific assigned book's information.

[cheezwhiz]

Do what I do when I take the test. Say to yourself, "What would THIS instructor put?"

This.

This is solid advice for all of nursing school actually. In my experience, instructors contradict other instructors, other nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, textbooks, NCLEX review materials, the CDC and other public health and medical organizations, and other health and medical references PRETTY D*** OFTEN. But whatever, just get through the class, I say.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Sometimes it really sucks to have to put what you know that instructor is wanting yet it's so absurd. I have only had one teacher that I didn't care for and I hated her tests. The most unrealistic absurd questions would be asked. I can't even give an example because it would than be easy to identify it for anyone at my school. I would take the test and know what she was getting at, but it was just so beyond absurd I refused to put the answer I knew she was wanting.

Yea didn't work out too well for my grade. I should have just sucked it up and put what I knew she wanted.

[merlee]

DO NOT EVER CORRECT OR CONFRONT AN INSTRUCTOR IN CLASS. NOT EVER.

Instead, send an email, citing your other source, and state that you are confused. Gives the instructor time to do some research and to save face.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

DO NOT EVER CORRECT OR CONFRONT AN INSTRUCTOR IN CLASS. NOT EVER.

Instead, send an email, citing your other source, and state that you are confused. Gives the instructor time to do some research and to save face.

I'm not concerned about your self-esteem.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I'm not concerned about your self-esteem.

LOL! Is the PP an instructor?

Anyway, it is the way to "play the game," though. It also avoids confusing other students with a conflicting source. :) No concern about an instructor's self-esteem here; just agreeing with the smart way to handle things.