Tired of never feeling good about nursing school!

Despareux · Feb 15, 2012

Yep. That about sums it up. I can appreciate the rigors of nursing school; if only my family felt the same way. My previous years of college were NOTHING like nursing school. I'm pretty sure schools just want to make sure we know our stuff; especially considering, a school can lose clinical spots if they produce too many students who make too many errors. Try to remember that you're only being treated like an idiot temporarily. My guess is, in about three or so years, maybe we will earn our spots for a little regard.

anonymousstudent · Feb 15, 2012

Sadly, I could have written a lot of this post. Sometimes I think it's the old way of educating nurses creeping into the present. Like bad parents, who are bad parents because they were parented badly, our instructors were poorly taught by Nurse Ratcheds and so they pass that along. I believe their intent is good - they have an urgency to create competent, safe nurses. That's great. But the face of medicine is changing. Instruction should be too.

I've not gotten to the build me up phase, and I'm not sure that it's coming, as I'm almost done. GL to you.

maccheese · Feb 15, 2012

I was sooooo just thinking the same thing yesterday. I made a comment to one of he professors that I am a student, but I feel like a student that has to get it for myself. I don't expect to have my hand held, but isn't it enough for me to take the lead on making sure I study, making sure I reorient my thinking about my lecture material, going to the tutorial lab just to have someone go over material with me, making sure I practice my skills, only to be told, well you should have know this basic stuff. Well, if it was never part of a lecture or never part of any of these online videos, I'm supposed to just pick it up because I happen to be in the practice lab, standing next to the right instructor, at the right time? Really, and if I don't, I'm held accountable for that?

Also, I feel you on the stressors that come from these instructors and the way they teach or convey information. I understand having to instill in nursing students the seriousness of the profession we are in pursuit of but, don't we already understand that if we've busted our behinds to make the grade to even get in the program. If you see me show up and clinical, every lecture, every practice opportunity, is that not enough proof that I am taking this serious? JMO

Streamline2010 · Feb 15, 2012

I concur with the original post, and the one that subsequently said old thinking creeping back in: The culture of nursing school certainly does lack efficiency, practicality, planning and organizational skills, as well as concern for and respect for the students. I think many of the women who run RN school lack specific training in education, and resort to tossing out work and a "Do as I say" instead of making the effort to boil it down, organize it, give you the big picture and tell you how this bit fits in,etc. And this obsession with not spoonfeeding nursing students? What IS up with that, anyway? When you are in the business of selling education, and nursing schools are doing just that, then it's your job to design and deliver a product that your client (student) can use, as easy and efficiently as possible. So, why is there so much disorganization, poor teaching, obfuscation of simple concepts, and condescending attitudes, and outright bullying of students?

After dealing with RN school for a year, I am convinced that the dreaded phrase "hard to work with" is merely codespeak for "Is not a doormat who will permit us walk all over her." I found the culture of the RN school that I attended babyish and far, far, retrograde compared to the current standards in business, science, and engineering. I was totally insulted by the way that those women treated students and non-nurses, not just the way they treated me.

I am one of the people who is thrilled to see men moving into the nursing profession, because that will to raise the bar for instructors to produce curricula and assignments that are concise, organized, well-planned, and practical. Men don't feel constrained by the need to always be a good little girl, and they will set ditzy and rude women instructors back on their heels, and will not be hesitant to speak up to administration, either. To men, and to women who've been trained to work careers that are not the women's world of nursing, disagreements and conflicts on the job are normal everyday occurrences, and a step toward change and problem-solving.

Other majors/professions aren't like this. Why must everything be made to be so difficult and stressful?

The simple answer to that is that the medical professions have a vested interest in limiting the supply of people entering the profession, in order to keep salaries high. I've read nursing instructors and verteran nurses on this board saying just that: Make BSRN the new entry-level and limit the flood of new nurses coming in. And let's face it: Lots of women are just spiteful toward other women. "It was hard for me; I had to take all the cr*p and pay my dues. So, everybody who comes after me shold have to do that, too." When I took college courses, I found that the younger women profs were very egalitarian but the older women profs wanted to make everyone grovel for everything. Male profs and young women profs were much more self-confident and at-ease with teaching.

maccheese · Feb 15, 2012

"It was hard for me; I had to take all the cr*p and pay my dues. So, everybody who comes after me shold have to do that, too." .....

Sounds like hazing to me. And that is a horrible feeling if you've ever gone through it.

I was actually thinking about if we probably had more male professors, they would probably not be so over ridiculously serious. Men are usually good and getting the job done without going over the top, (even though sometime is seems slack.) I could use some of that energy right about now.

I concur with the original post, and the one that subsequently said old thinking creeping back in: The culture of nursing school certainly does lack efficiency, practicality, planning and organizational skills, as well as concern for and respect for the students. I think many of the women who run RN school lack specific training in education, and resort to tossing out work and a "Do as I say" instead of making the effort to boil it down, organize it, give you the big picture and tell you how this bit fits in,etc. And this obsession with not spoonfeeding nursing students? What IS up with that, anyway? When you are in the business of selling education, and nursing schools are doing just that, then it's your job to design and deliver a product that your client (student) can use, as easy and efficiently as possible. So, why is there so much disorganization, poor teaching, obfuscation of simple concepts, and condescending attitudes, and outright bullying of students?
After dealing with RN school for a year, I am convinced that the dreaded phrase "hard to work with" is merely codespeak for "Is not a doormat who will permit us walk all over her." I found the culture of the RN school that I attended babyish and far, far, retrograde compared to the current standards in business, science, and engineering. I was totally insulted by the way that those women treated students and non-nurses, not just the way they treated me.
I am one of the people who is thrilled to see men moving into the nursing profession, because that will to raise the bar for instructors to produce curricula and assignments that are concise, organized, well-planned, and practical. Men don't feel constrained by the need to always be a good little girl, and they will set ditzy and rude women instructors back on their heels, and will not be hesitant to speak up to administration, either. To men, and to women who've been trained to work careers that are not the women's world of nursing, disagreements and conflicts on the job are normal everyday occurrences, and a step toward change and problem-solving.
The simple answer to that is that the medical professions have a vested interest in limiting the supply of people entering the profession, in order to keep salaries high. I've read nursing instructors and verteran nurses on this board saying just that: Make BSRN the new entry-level and limit the flood of new nurses coming in. And let's face it: Lots of women are just spiteful toward other women. "It was hard for me; I had to take all the cr*p and pay my dues. So, everybody who comes after me shold have to do that, too." When I took college courses, I found that the younger women profs were very egalitarian but the older women profs wanted to make everyone grovel for everything. Male profs and young women profs were much more self-confident and at-ease with teaching.

♑ Capricorn ♑ · Feb 15, 2012

i'm an intelligent person, pretty good student, and good with time-management, so i just don't understand why nursing school has to be so unrelentlessly difficult. i'm so tired of nursing school always being a downer and never being able to feel good about it. other majors/professions aren't like this. why must everything be made to be so difficult and stressful? the subject matter itself isn't that bad, there's just a whole lot of it in a short time but i'm talking more about the "culture" of nursing school. our program is filled with intelligent, hardworking students and yet we are all constantly feeling like failures, battling stress, and trying to get it together and push on. why? i just don't understand the reason behind the high pressure situations we are always put in, including huge last minute assignments, high pressure "validations" and istan experiences with threats of being kicked out if mistakes are made. is it to prepare us for the high stress environment of hospital bedside nursing? i'm sure not all of us plan to end up in that segment of nursing. i'm also thrown by the manner in which our instructors sometimes treat us. i feel sometimes as though we're being treated like naughty children instead of the hard working, capable adults we are. i've always heard that the military tears you down to build you back up again, if that's the idea nursing school has too i hope they get to the build you back up part soon! anyone else feel this way? or do any of you attend a nursing school that is more positive, and has more mutual respect?

because, nursing is a health profession. it would be the same way in medicine, and probably even more so. why? people's lives are in our hands. our responsibilities and duties far outweigh those who simply work in a office who don't have to deal with types or stressors nurses deal with on a daily basis. am i saying people who work in offices do not have stress? no, of course they do. but, on what level?

i personally would rather have that difficult, hard, challenging professor who will allow me to make mistakes now, and ask questions. i will learn something from them, respect them, and be thankful for their instruction and experience. i don't want my professors to baby me or sugar-coat things. i want them to be as hard as nails. no one is going to give me a pat on the back for a med error. no one is going to console me if i forget a doctor's order, or forget to document something or do it incorrectly. no one is going to plan my day for me, or take care of patients for me, that's my responsibility. i will be accountable and responsible for my actions once i'm out there in the real nursing world. i can't go running back to my instructor just because _____ happened.

i want an instructor who will allow me to gain confidence in my nursing abilities. i want an instructor who will correct me when i am in the wrong, and explain why. i want an instructor who will be a leader, a mentor, a confidant, and a role model. i want an instructor who is honest, a realist, who is fair and equal to all of his/her students, and not just myself. i don't expect my professors to be my friends. they are there to teach me and i am there to learn.

do i believe nursing professors are all as bad as they seem? no, i don't. a future instructor of mine is an old personal friend of my husband and myself from years back. i know how she is and what she is like when she is not in school or not working. she is sweet-as-pie and funny as all heck. do i expect her to treat me any differently just because i know her on a personal level? no, of course not.

as students, we sometimes forget that these instructors have also gone through what we are going through. they know what we are going through and are preparing us physically, emotionally, and mentally for what the real nursing world is and like. all of that self-doubt, negative self-talk, sleepless nights, anxiety, stress, pressure, lack of confidence...you don't think they experienced all of this themselves at one point? i can't answer for them, of course, but they are human beings.

i enjoyed this post meghantk. i'm glad you said something about it, because it only reinforces how i feel about the whole thing. i know i'm not perfect. i have a lot to learn and will learn. i know i'm an intelligent person. i was smart enough to get into nursing school and i do believe my school believes in me, or they wouldn't have accepted me in. my strength in character is what is going to help me get through this.

rn4me2be · Feb 15, 2012

I guess I'm the oddball. My school is not like that at all. I was expecting it to be, though. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that we are all treated with a very high level of respect. Sure, there is a lot of work, a lot of stuff to do, a lot of studying, but we all expect that. I was surprised after our first exam and many people didn't pass, the instructor said that she'd have to do something differently to prepare us better for the next test. She knows we all are very smart, have very high gpa's (or we wouldn't be there) and want to do well, know how to study, work hard.

I was thinking that it's almost like they are acting towards us as nurses towards their patients, in a way. Not at all spoon feeding us but like we all have this goal and it is their job to to help us achieve that goal in a respectful, caring manner. One of my instructors told our clinical group the other day that he and the other instructors have the privilege of teaching us and helping us to succeed.

Don't get me wrong, it has been crazy with all the reading and studying I've been doing! And my school is in the top 5 in my state for NCLEX pass rate. It's just that the instructors have a great amount of respect for us at all times. Anyway, I've been pleasantly surprised. Hope your experience gets better!

maccheese · Feb 15, 2012

From what I read, this post is not about the amount of work and being pushed to be the best you can be. No, this post is about the attitudes of some of the instructors. Yeah, I failed a vital signs skills check because I honestly did not know why I could not hear out of my stethoscope. I'm tapping on the bell, um, can't hear anything. As a result, I ran out of time. I was told that the way my stethoscope works is basic knowledge. Um, I'm only 4 weeks into the program. Not one time did anyone teach that you can switch the steth from the bell to the diaphragm and you wouldn't be able to hear. So where was this basic knowledge supposed to come from. Oh, as I stated earlier, I am a student that's supposed to get if for myself and somehow I was supposed to come across this information. This has happened with several other concepts. I just want instructors to understand that I AM A STUDENT. A first semester student at that. You are supposed to teach me these things, not expect me to pick them up somehow because I am now a nursing student.

I did get some relief with the steth thing. Other students were having this same problem and my program coordinator came to me and said "we as experienced nurses think knowing how to use a stethoscope is so basic to us that we don't have to teach it." What other concepts are they going to think are basic or common sense that they don't feel they need to teach, but expect us to know. If I haven't had it in a classroom, I don't know it. Please remember, I AM A STUDENT.

BelleNscrubs04 · Feb 15, 2012

Now I feel like I could have written your reply. Maybe we go to the same school, Maccheese : )

Thanks for responding everyone. You've all given me a lot to think about. I would like to say that the instructors at my school are good people and I have no doubt that they believe the way things are structured is for our benefit. It's why I think of it as more of a nursing school "culture" issue. It goes back to what Capricorn was referring to in one of the replies. They think that they are preparing us for the stress of nursing, and helping us to become better nurses. I just wonder why in this profession/major that kind of attitude goes so unquestioned. Does it really help prepare us? How? Do any studies show it to improve the quality of nurses that graduate? I'm a very logical, reasonable person so I want to understand how this manner is helpful to our preparation. I'm not sure that the fact that it is a health profession means that this kind of culture is helpful or needed. There are other professions that can be dangerous to the public when mistakes are made, that are high stress that don't have the same kind of culture. I know a couple of scientists who work in situations where it its extrememly important that they avoid mistakes and make good decisions. One is married to a RN and he can't fathom the nursing school way of doing things.

On a personal level, I know I would feel much more comfortable asking questions in a different environment. I've heard classmates say the same thing. We're eager to learn and in a more supportive environment I think we'd master even more. I respond very well to postive feedback and can be motivated by praise. I'm getting that support from family and friends and it helps keep me going but it would be great to get some from school as well. I've always loved school and It just makes me a bit sad that I'm not able to really love nursing school as well.

BelleNscrubs04 · Feb 15, 2012

I guess I'm the oddball. My school is not like that at all. I was expecting it to be, though. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that we are all treated with a very high level of respect. Sure, there is a lot of work, a lot of stuff to do, a lot of studying, but we all expect that. I was surprised after our first exam and many people didn't pass, the instructor said that she'd have to do something differently to prepare us better for the next test. She knows we all are very smart, have very high gpa's (or we wouldn't be there) and want to do well, know how to study, work hard.
I was thinking that it's almost like they are acting towards us as nurses towards their patients, in a way. Not at all spoon feeding us but like we all have this goal and it is their job to to help us achieve that goal in a respectful, caring manner. One of my instructors told our clinical group the other day that he and the other instructors have the privilege of teaching us and helping us to succeed.
Don't get me wrong, it has been crazy with all the reading and studying I've been doing! And my school is in the top 5 in my state for NCLEX pass rate. It's just that the instructors have a great amount of respect for us at all times. Anyway, I've been pleasantly surprised. Hope your experience gets better!

That's great! I hope more schools will see the success your school is having and the way things are done at other places will change in the future. Like I mentioned in my earlier reply, my instructors are great people and are doing what they think is best. If they knew that they could be different, get good nclex results, and help shape great nurses in a different way then I'm sure they would. I think it's interesting that you say they act almost as they would with patients. That's awesome! It's disturbing to me how we are suppose to be compassionate, respectful, and professional to patients but not to each other.

Eagle2110, ASN, BSN, APRN · Feb 16, 2012

Wow, I guess this is another blessing I should count! My professors are very supportive and never talk down to us. Nonetheless, they do expect the best from us and are direct about those expectations. We also have a lot of work but our instructors are available ANYTIME; At the beginning of the semester they provided us with all their contact information (including home phone numbers). And they never try to embarrass you or make you feel inadequate. If you mess up in clinical, they pull you aside and discuss it privately instead of in front of everyone else. Even though I'm a studennt, I couldn't imagine being treated as less than an adult.