Things you "should" be taught in nursing school

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I'm about 1 week from finishing up my 2nd semester in a BSN program. In my skills portion of Med-Surg, on our syllabus it stated that we would learn how to apply 12-lead EKG's. But we never did. I mentioned that to one of the instructors, and she said waved it off and said "Well your employer will teach you that once you get a job".

I understand that, but wouldn't some employers expect you to know that (i.e., basic skills?)

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Yep (re: basic skills.... EKGs were never something I had to do myself). That's why they've had to resort to internships/preceptorships that last for months.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Nope. I've been a nurse 30 years and have never done an EKG. Although I'm hoping to get to learn how and do it at my new job.

But even though your instructor was right about being taught by your employer, it's still a bait-and-switch. If your syllabus states you will be taught this skill, you should be taught it. What else did they promise that they're planning to renege on?

[KatsieRN]

Kimberly, this exact subject was posted with tons of comments very recently. I would suggest doing a search for this topic to get some good replies.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

No! In fact, you don't want nursing school to teach you too much. Too many employers will just re-teach you a lot of it anyway. No employer assumes you have 12 lead ekg experience. It's also not rocket science. There is a diagram on the machine.

[alby_dangle]

I never learned EKGs in school either. I started volunteering at a clinic before I was ever hired anywhere and THEY taught me, lucky me. Weirdly enough, my school also did not focus much on IVs, which I think is very important.

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

Nursing school should teach that there is no shortage of nurses and it may be very difficult to get employment as a new nurse...and that there are far too many nursing schools turning out far too many nurses right now....

[Kiwidanni]

So I always wondered with the "K" stood for in EKG - considering it's an electroCardiogram (we call it - more accurately - an ECG here in NZ). Today I wiki'd it and discovered that the K is for the german version ... electroKardiogram. So congratulations America on randomly adopting a Germanism instead of sticking with the English version lol.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

So I always wondered with the "K" stood for in EKG - considering it's an electroCardiogram (we call it - more accurately - an ECG here in NZ). Today I wiki'd it and discovered that the K is for the german version ... electroKardiogram. So congratulations America on randomly adopting a Germanism instead of sticking with the English version lol.

It wasn't a "random Germanism" that we adopted. The first version of the modern EKG machine was developed by a German, and he called it an "electrokardiogram." For many medical professionals, it stuck. It also helps differentiate it from an EEG in when spoken.

Source: Rapid Interpretation of EKG's by Dale Dubin, MD, 6th ed.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

twelve leads are an advanced skill that i wouldn't expect a new grad to be familiar with. what i want my new grads to know:

• professional conduct: be at work on time, correctly dressed and ready to work. your nose ring may be perfectly charming, but if your dress code says not to wear it, don't.
  
  
• be responsible: if it's your job, do it. if it's new to you, look it up -- don't just stand there and expect someone to teach you; be responsible for your own learning.
  
• recognize that as a new grad, you're expected not to know much. it's ok to say "i don't know."
  
  
• but the third time i ask you to hang blood, you'd better have at least an inkling how to start.
  i'm willing to go over something as many times as it takes you to "get it" as long as it's obvious you're trying.
  
• yes, i'm older than you, probably even older than your mother. but that doesn't mean that i'm "over the hill" or "an old dog who can't learn new tricks" or "a dinosauer who ought to just retire and get out of your way." be respectful. (i do have a lot of input into your evaluation, after all.)
  
• know how to look things up, and be proactive about doing so.
  
• understand that we all have bad days . . . a preceptor who doesn't leap to her feet and bow at yours may just be having one of those. it doesn't mean she's nasty, eats her young or hates you.
  
• the first year of nursing sucks. honestly, it just does. expect that.
  

[beast master RN]

if you have to do youll have a picture or something

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

twelve leads are an advanced skill that i wouldn't expect a new grad to be familiar with. what i want my new grads to know:

• professional conduct: be at work on time, correctly dressed and ready to work. your nose ring may be perfectly charming, but if your dress code says not to wear it, don't.
  
  
• be responsible: if it's your job, do it. if it's new to you, look it up -- don't just stand there and expect someone to teach you; be responsible for your own learning.
  
• recognize that as a new grad, you're expected not to know much. it's ok to say "i don't know."
  
  
• but the third time i ask you to hang blood, you'd better have at least an inkling how to start.
  i'm willing to go over something as many times as it takes you to "get it" as long as it's obvious you're trying.
  
• yes, i'm older than you, probably even older than your mother. but that doesn't mean that i'm "over the hill" or "an old dog who can't learn new tricks" or "a dinosauer who ought to just retire and get out of your way." be respectful. (i do have a lot of input into your evaluation, after all.)
  
• know how to look things up, and be proactive about doing so.
  
• understand that we all have bad days . . . a preceptor who doesn't leap to her feet and bow at yours may just be having one of those. it doesn't mean she's nasty, eats her young or hates you.
  
• the first year of nursing sucks. honestly, it just does. expect that.
  

ruby vee, i hope that quoted correctly (i've never done that before), your post is the best thing i have read on these boards! i've been very nervous lately, half way through third semester, i was really feeling that i'm just not going to be ready to do this whole patient care thing a mere seven months from now. reading your list of "expectations" for a new nurse was very reassuring. i can definitely handle those. i hate the feel like an idiot thing, and i was hoping that somehow i'd manage to skip that part, but i'm coming to realize that's just not a realistic expectation. i hope i'm fortunate enough to work with nurses of a similar attitude to yours. thank you for your reassurance.