Student needs help (Tulsa OK schools)

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2006

moderator note:

thread moved to ok forum.

thread title modified.

happy posting :)

- roy

allnurses.com moderator

LanaBanana · Sep 27, 2006

Well, I can tell you that my school (Tulsa Tech) is a lot of independant learning. We do have skills labs where we learn the hands-on stuff but my instructor is available for any questions we have. We do have some lectures, but they are few and far between. There is a woman in my class who turned 50 last week and when we first started class she had never used a computer. Well, all of our testing is on the computer so she had to learn. But she is working through it and can now use a computer. We have a pretty diverse class. Don't give up on the independant learning - there IS help when you need to ask questions.

I think the tech school in Okmulgee has more of a lecture style, but don't really know.

BabyRN2Be · Oct 8, 2006

The schools in Tulsa, whether they be LPN or RN have excellent reputations and from what I've seen, they are very hands-on types of schools - which is how I learn best. For me personally, I'm a very visual learner, and I need to do the work myself. I can't learn from diagrams in a book, I need to be out doing things. You'll find that the schools in Tulsa teach that way. I understand what you are talking about, I had gone to a school that taught that way. Didn't learn anything, and of course, true goes nothing by the book.

Best of luck to you and I hope you find a school that suits your needs. I know you will in Tulsa.

P.S. A little off topic, I had never heard of Rentiesville until today. Ha! My dh and I drove to Lake Eufala for the day and on Highway 69 we passed the exit to Rentiesville. I asked my hubby if he knew anything about the town, and he didn't know about it either. I saw your name and I thought it was a little ironic since we had passed that town today. Sorta funny in a way.

I'll stop rambling. :)

Buckyxj · Oct 18, 2006

My school Green country tech. center in okmulgee is currently a self paced but next class is supposed to be more of a teacher taught class. might be worth checking into. let me know if you need any info on the class.

OURN83 · Nov 6, 2006

I would like to share my dillema. I am currently a nursing student at TCC and this semester (level 2) I have really felt inadequate and unconfident in my ability to be a good nurse. I feel like I am moving through all of this way too fast considering I haven't had any healthcare experience prior to going into this program. I feel sick each week when I have to go to the med/surg clinical because I feel so slow and all the million bazillion things that are running through my head that I have to remember. Also, I have 2 boys who are still very young (2 and 3) as well as a husband that I need to spend more time with. I'm thinking about transferring to Tulsa Techs LPN program. My rationale being that at least the first half of it will be more like a review to me and during that time I can refine my skills. Basically I'm hoping it won't be so stressful and I like the idea of independant learning. And if I could get in the program in January, I could graduate only a month later than I would at TCC. Of course I would be an LPN, not an RN, I don't mind the idea of becoming an LPN and while working taking classes for a bachelors in nursing.

I hope this makes since! My mind is flooding with ideas right now and I can't think very straight :)

LanaBanana · Nov 6, 2006

You should probably put this in your own thread, but I'll go ahead and include my response here.

If you finish level 2 at TCC then you will actually have completed the equivalent of the LPN program already, so I'm not sure that going through the entire LPN program would be helpful. I think every nursing student feels incompetent at times, some just feel that way more than others! Perhaps you could talk to an instructor about either some remedial-type work or about going part-time next semester. I know the program is stressfull at TCC, that's why they weed out so many students every semester. But I'm not sure that things would work out the way you're hoping at Tulsa Tech. They don't have classes that run on a regular semester basis so there aren't any classes starting in January. You would probably qualify for advanced standing since you've completed level 1 at TCC, so they would probably stick you in a class that was already in progress and let you start part-way through the program. This is just a guess as I know they allow some students from other programs advanced standing.

If you can stick out this semester and complete level 2, you can take the NCLEX-PN and work as a LPN for a while if you wanted. But remember, wherever you end up working and in whatever position, you will have an orientation period where you are working 1 on 1 with a nurse. We have a couple of RNs on my floor at the hospital that are orientating and they usually do that for about 6-8 weeks before starting on their own. I've watched them start out feeling overwhelmed and unprepared and now they're flourishing and taking their own full team.

I guess I said all that to say this...if you have an instructor you feel comfortable with, talk to them and get some advice before jumping in to a decision. Goodluck with whatever you decide! I'll be praying for you!

BabyRN2Be · Nov 6, 2006

OURN,

I'm really sorry that you are feeling this way. Have you talked with your clinical instructor? Don't feel you have to answer this here, but is this something that's perceived by yourself - that you feel inadequate and not confident? The TCC program has so much stress. High levels of stress can make you perceive yourself in a negative light. If this is not an objective problem (that you are getting good grades) rather than a subjective problem, I suggest that maybe you just take a breath, step back, and look at the situation, maybe over break. Take evaluation from there, OK?

I'm definitely feel for you. Remember, I'm sure that you aren't the only one in your class who feels this way. :)

OURN83 · Nov 7, 2006

Thank you for your replies, it makes me feel a whole lot better to be understood. The instructors at TCC have told us that we can't take the NCLEX-PN until after completing level 3. They must have changed the curriculum because last semester I'm almost certain they told us it was after level 2. I know they have added another 8 weeks of med/surg into level 3 and moved psych to level 4.

Just about eveyone I have talked to in my class are failing or just barely passing theory. And if you fail theory then they don't even add in the other stuff like lab or clinical practicum. Right now after 3 tests of 5 I have a 77.3. Passing is a 76.5.

I have until Friday to drop if that's what I decide. I would really hate to not do so well on the next two tests and fail.

What is the LPN program like at Tulsa Tech? When does the next class start? I would just like to get an idea of what I might be looking at.

Thank you so much for the replies.

BabyRN2Be · Nov 7, 2006

OURN,

Lana knows more about the actual program of Tulsa Tech than I do, but I will say that everyone else I've talked with has had nothing but good to say about TTC. If you feel that you need to attend the LPN program to get a start on experience as a nurse, I think that's an excellent way to go. Maybe you can work for a bit as an LPN, gain some experience, then bridge over to RN/RN-BSN (if that's what you'd like to do).

Lana knows so much more about this than I do. Hopefully she'll see this soon and respond.

I just feel for you because I know from your previous posts that this is something that you really want to do, and I just felt so bad to see that you were so discouraged. Hopefully things will get better for you! :)

LanaBanana · Nov 7, 2006

Wow, sounds like you're in a tough spot, but you are still passing! I talked to my teacher yesterday about a hypothetical situation of if a TCC student who had completed level 1 wanted to transfer to our program. She said it does put you in advanced standing, but she was pretty sure that there was already a waiting list of TCC level 1 students wanting in. Just as there is a waiting list to get in the regular program. I know that's not what you want to hear.

What is so overwhelming about your clinical situation? Is it the number of patients you are assigned? Or the clinical paperwork required? Or trying to remember medications? See if you can figure it out and focus on that. Did you guys start out with just 1 or 2 patients or were you given a whole team? We started with 1 patient and had that for a couple of weeks and then get 2 and when that's going well it increases to 3, etc. I make up a 3x5 notecard with a time schedule on it for when each patient will be due for meds or dressing changes, etc. If there is anything on it that I don't recognize I look it up immediately. I don't know if that helps at all but it seems to keep me from running around frantically and feeling overwhelmed. Is there another student who is doing really well that you could work with?

Another thought is that maybe you could complete this semester and then take a semester off and get some work experience as an aide or PCT, which might make you just feel more comfortable in the hospital environment.

I don't know if any of this is helping. Just be sure you look at all your options before you make such a big decision (which I know you already are!)

dottimur · Nov 7, 2006

I would like to share my dillema. I am currently a nursing student at TCC and this semester (level 2) I have really felt inadequate and unconfident in my ability to be a good nurse.
... ...
I hope this makes since! My mind is flooding with ideas right now and I can't think very straight :)

I am hoping you had an overwhelming day which is understandable considering everything you have going on in your life. Small children can be overwhelming in and of itself.

I wonder if you would be able to get into TTC in January as I was told they had a year and a half waiting list. I checked other programs and their waiting lists were the same. The TTC/TCC 1+1 program I am in let 13 of us in for fall but I wonder if you left TCC now and tried to get in the 1+1 program if TTC/TCC w/b willing to do that. I am assuming another 1+1 class won't start until Fall.

I feel overwhelmed at time too. The LPN curriculum at TTC is very hard once you get mid-way. I get worried that I will do the right thing but I watch other people who are actually working in the field and they aren't always doing things perfectly. You sound conscientious or you wouldn't be concerned. It is usually the people who are the really hard workers who think they aren't going to do a good job who push themselves to do the best job possible and then they excel above everyone else.

Talk to your instructor and tell her your concerns. Talk to fellow students. I hope you will hang in there. Best of luck with whatever you decide.