Hi. I'm hoping some of you might be able to shed some light on an issue my class is having with a particular professor.
I am enrolled in a second-degree BSN program. This semester I am taking pathophysiology with an instructor who is only 25, so she's pretty young and inexperienced. I am not turned off by her age. But I am disappointed that my school would have someone who is so inexperienced teaching this particular class. My program is filled with students who have Phds and Master's degrees in other scientific fields, and we are all feeling very overwhelmed and finding her teaching methods difficult to follow.
Here are some of our issues:
Power points are very minimal, so we are fiercely writing and writing in class. She talks very fast.
The other day in class she wanted to get through the lecture, so she asked us to hold all of our questions to the end. The lecture was on acid/base balance. Many of us got lost in the first ten minutes of lecture, so we were lost the rest of the class period.
Many of us feel that she is not facilitating our learning. This is not the type of class where you can just do a straight lecture without providing some sort of guidance. It would be helpful if she would provide us withe some sort of outline that we can take notes on during class in some way to guide our studying. The brief outlines that she provides are just not helpful.
In another instance, someone in the class asked her to write down what she was talking about on the board, and her response was, it was in the book. My classmate had to insist that she write it down.
None of us are out to get our instructor. We want to be there and learn this semester. I don't think that she is trying to be unreasonable, but I think there's a huge lack of experience that is detrimental to our learning.
We are afraid to approach her about it, because it seems that she gets very defensive easily.
How do you suggest we go about talking to our instructor? Should we? Any advice you can give?
Wow- She is only 25 and already teaching pathophysiology?! That was the hardest subject in nursing school for me. I remember learning nothing from the book but had a truly wonderful pathophys instructor with years of critical care experience.
I agree that 2 of you need to approach her and explain how hard it is for you to follow in class.
Also things that can help:
-Form study groups: they are SO helpful, even weekly study groups to discuss that week's lecture, and form questions to ask the teacher.
-See her during her office hours to clarify points in class you didn't understand.
-Check out books about pathophysiology at the bookstore/library; the Nursing Made Incredibly Easy series really helped me a lot through pathophysiology.
How are you all doing? I have a suggestion to add-- check out the online resources that come with the textbook. I believe that these are often under utilized. Good luck!
I do not take your post as you being rude or insensitive AT ALL. You do make valid points. I take full responsibility of my own learning, but I do feel that the instructor has the responsibility of presenting the material in an organized fashion so that it is
a) digestible
and
b) topics presented in class form a foundation for the independent learning students must do on their own to understand the topic.
If that's not the case- THEN THERE IS NO POINT IN GOING TO CLASS!
Unfortunately I don't think that's happening in my class. As I stated above, I have two classmates with doctorate degrees in other fields and several classmates have master's degrees. Even they are frustrated. I think they serve as a good gauge since they are very used to independent, intense learning. This is a second-degree program, and we are all educated and highly-motivated.
I'm not trying to start a heated discussion. I appreciate all the responses I've received.
I agree with the other teachers who have posted. There are many ways to approach this issue. Taping is a good idea, especially with her talking fast! We have a lot to say and so little time!
Also, try making your own topical outline when you are preparing for the next lecture, leave room for notes. Write questions in the margins of your notes about areas you find challenging, and ask at the end of class.
Also make an appt. with the instructor to discuss concepts that you don't understand. I know that I would rather a student come to my office and let me help him/her instead of taking up classtime, especially if others are not seeming to have the same questions.
Just because someone has a Master's degree or a PhD in another field does not mean that they have any more insight into the class you are taking than someone without a degree. It just means that they may also be learning the new language of science as well.
Show your teacher that you are prepared, and not just expecting her to spoonfeed you. I know that I appreciate it when students come to me with specific questions, and not just wanting the whole lecture repeated.
The class you are taking is challenging, and I wish you the best of luck!
Specializes in RN Education, OB, ED, Administration.
This is a great discussion. I agree with the suggestion that reading the material prior to lecture will help you leaps and bounds in absorbing the lecture and also in your ability to ask intelligent questions during the lecture. A great lecture should enrich the students learning; however, it has been my experience that there is simply too much material in nursing curricula to expect that it can all be covered in lecture. Additionally, the material, as voluminous and complex as it is, will only be meaningful to those who apply themselves to studying the vast majority of time they are in nursing school. I become increasingly frustrated with my clinical students who require the same explanation about a drug class or action week after week. Many have cited that their lecture content was insufficient. I am firm in my belief that nursing school should truly prepare nurses to safely care for patients, think for themselves, and also to identify students who have the self-discipline to facilitate their own learning. Hearing in lecture about the sympathetic nervous system and the associated pharmacology is only a drop in the bucket in terms of being able to apply the knowledge to the clinical setting which is really the point anyway. Students will need to review this material on their own as many times as it takes to gain a firm understanding. You have an awesome responsibility as a nurse to be sharp in your skills and knowledge and ready to deal with an increasingly complex clinical picture. Always remember that your patients are counting on you and it matters very little whether or not your lecture prepared you.
I often tell my students that I am not preparing them to pass the boards or make an A on a nursing exam, although I will go to the ends of the earth to help them in any way I can. I share with them that I am preparing them to safely care for their patients. This is infinitely more important than passing the boards. Additionally, self-discipline, when embraced, will make you an amazing nurse in the future. Let me give you an example, I live in Georgia where nurses are not required to maintain any continuing education for their licensure. What this means is that aside from the yearly continuing education required at each individual facility, it is only the self-motivated and "interested" nurse who will continue to grow in terms of his or her knowledge. Let's be honest here, CEUs can be challenging or simply a means to an end. It is up to the individual nurse. In a rapidly changing healthcare environment, nurses must be willing to adopt a attitude of professional performance improvement and to seek out opportunities to enhance their knowledge-base.
Alas, if you are uncomfortable with any of the lecture content and need further explanation, always feel free to hit me up!
all the info above is good, but FYI: you will not learn A&P in a lecture hall. You need to read and find other resources, like an anatomy coloring book, to get it all. And do not abuse your lab time. Stay and ask questions of each other and of that instructor (hopefully, a different person). Lab is usually more relaxed. My instructor would write the lab assignment on the board and when you were done you could leave. After the room cleared out he would THEN start talking and talking and talking. Don't leave early
Honeybun1206
77 Posts
Wow- She is only 25 and already teaching pathophysiology?! That was the hardest subject in nursing school for me. I remember learning nothing from the book but had a truly wonderful pathophys instructor with years of critical care experience.
I agree that 2 of you need to approach her and explain how hard it is for you to follow in class.
Also things that can help:
-Form study groups: they are SO helpful, even weekly study groups to discuss that week's lecture, and form questions to ask the teacher.
-See her during her office hours to clarify points in class you didn't understand.
-Check out books about pathophysiology at the bookstore/library; the Nursing Made Incredibly Easy series really helped me a lot through pathophysiology.