is my school normal? skills teaching for clinicals

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I am having a VERY HARD time with the skills portion of my nursing program. I'm an A student normally, excellent study skills, responsible, and organized. This is my 1st semester in a RN program, but I feel so lost.

Today, I just finished a clinical lab skills test, and I really did a poor job.... I need help!

The way they do it here is have you buy a textbook and a different company's videos. You're given a list of skills each week. You must figure out where they are in the book/videos and learn them completely on your own, with nobody demonstrating them. The book contradicts the video, and both might be contradicted by tidbits they give us in the lecture class. Then we go in for Test Out and get deficiency points if we don't know the skill well enough. It's as if we're set up for failure, not success. :confused:

I can't learn skills from a book. The video is a little help but it doesn't cover all the skills or it shows some things in a different ("incorrect") way.

The lab is open for us to practice on our own. However, in two weeks I've had two different lab partners totally flake out on me. If others want to be C-students and barely squeak by, that's their choice..... but me being forced on depending on uninterested people is killing me.

Is this normal: to send students home with only a textbook, in order to do procedures and hands-on skills?

Is it normal NEVER to demo ANY skills to students first?

I feel a bit resentful and abandoned. If they're not teaching the material they're testing on, why am I paying them tuition? Why should I be scolded by them when I do poorly when questioned?

It also doesn't help that access to their (small) lab is extremely limited, and it's been closed most of the times I've dropped by. It is undersized for the number of students (70) who use it every week. When it is open, sometimes every seat is filled, and we're waiting in long lines for a turn at the mannequin, lift, and other equipment.

I am going to meet with my Nursing adviser for help. I don't want to graduate still feeling I don't really know what I am doing. Any suggestions on what to tell her? Is this just how nursing schools work? Am I wrong for being concerned?

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

You are not being wrong for feeling this way. I am too a first semester nursing student but we have the book, corresponding videos, and demos during clinical every week. Our clinical instructors have also been helpful by coming in during other times to assist us. Talk to your instructors and advisors because that is your tuition you are paying and you should be getting your monies worth.

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Specializes in LTC, M/S, CCU, ER.

We went over every skill with the mannequin, as well as book, video and lecture, before testing out. Some things were covered far more quickly than others, but we went over everything, and if we had questions our lab instructor worked with us. My program was (LPN) is (RN) a small rural community college, and we have at least five mannequins in lab to share, with class sizes never over 25 for a lab class.

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We have our books and then we go online to ATI to watch the videos modules which also have quizzes and a bunch of different resources. But our labs are very regimented, we watch them in class together. We then go over any inconsistencies between the book and the videos. Then when are given a ruberic that is our guide as to exactly what we will be graded on for every skill check off. We then have at least on supervised practice session during lab before our check off. It also helps I have a really great lab partner and we have aced everything so far.

I would suggest finding someone who is as motivated as you, and you work good with. Then latch on to that person.

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mikeyjsc: we do not get any online videos. The 20-cd video package we bought does not have all the skills in it, so about half of what I was tested on last week was missing. We don't have a lab instructor. We have a "supervisor". If she's not busy, she'll watch if a fully prepared student runs through a procedure. But she doesn't demo it and she's not keen on watching people who aren't already 99% of the way there.

So here I am with a huge lecture Exam on Monday and a clinical lab Test-Out on Wed, and I don't have a single person to study or practice with. :banghead:

I don't get it -- what am I doing wrong?? I've got a high-A average in this semester's Microbiology lecture & lab classes so far. I did my Nursing Calculations exam today, and if I didn't score a 100% I'd be suprised. However, in these Nursing classes, where I am expending far more energy & time, I feel completely adrift and not learning a darn thing. I'm terrifed I'll be lucky to get C's the way things are going. What is wrong? Am I doomed?!

They encourage us to stop in regularly with advisers/faculty. I met her on Tuesday, before my terrible clinical Test Out happened. She won't be available again until next Wed, which is after the next round of tests.

Thank you all for listening and for keeping me from going bonkers.

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Specializes in LTC, M/S, CCU, ER.

This is very strange. You have no guided instruction with a teacher? 70 students in a class? What school do you go to? Nursing school requires that one be self-directed and disciplined, but that's above and beyond.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

We had no skills lab. We were supposed to read a procedure book and show up for clinical ready to do it for the first time on a real patient.

Really. I am not kidding. But that was many years ago.

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Specializes in none.

We have a skills lab but the teacher demonstrates it on a nursing student to show us how its supposed to be done. But we also watch videos and go to our books for reference. We have open lab to practice with 1 or 2 faculty member around to show us if we have questions. We also get another demonstration before check-offs. Its a bit odd to me that your intructors dont demonstrate it :confused:

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Wow that sounds terrible. i learn best from someone showing me and then me doing it back. Oh and trust me on it wont ever get any better on your skills. No one way is correct but find from your instructor which way they will be testing it.

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We had no skills lab. We were supposed to read a procedure book and show up for clinical ready to do it for the first time on a real patient.

Really. I am not kidding. But that was many years ago.

pretty much, but if you werent quite right....you were corrected, not flunked.....sometimes i have a hard time remembering basic nursing school, because i had taken the EMT course prior....so doing VS was not new....

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Specializes in HCA, Physch, WC, Management.

We got textbooks and videos and that was it. We had opportunities to go into the lab and ask our instructor to demonstrate skills or help us out and those who didn't take advantage of that were S.O.L.

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Specializes in LTC, M/S, CCU, ER.

This thread makes me appreciate my nursing program more and more.

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