Tutoring?

[KateRN1]

I left nursing education a few years ago, thoroughly disgruntled with nearly everything about it. The attitude of my holier-than-though program administrator (a Bible-thumping Christian who once cried to me about knowing her best friend didn't go to heaven because she wasn't a virgin when she married), the students who wanted me to open their heads and pour in the knowledge, the ones that I had to pass or we'd lose our state funding, and the school board that didn't think our program was worth paying for, meaning no increases in teacher's salaries for several years. Anyway, I have been perusing my local bookstores for publications that might help me in my current position as a PRN home health nurse and case manager, when it dawned on me. All these books are geared towards students. A good majority of allnurses members are students. There are oodles of nursing programs in my local area. I could hang out my shingle as a nursing tutor! Everything from the pre-reqs to math-for-meds to pathophys. But I have to wonder if anyone out there has ever done it and is it ethical? I'm no longer in the state where I was teaching and am no longer licensed to teach, would that make a difference? Thoughts anyone?

[caliotter3]

I don't think it matters that you don't have a teaching license. The fact that you used to have one and your license are enough. The only problem I could see would be what kind of guarantee you would give in your contract with your student. After all, you can only do so much, then the rest is up to the student. Sounds like an excellent idea to me.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Do any of the local schools have Student Services Departments that help students get hooked up with qualified tutors? You might be able to do some sort of orientation with them ... and then have them send students your way. It might be worth a phone call to investigate.

[KateRN1]

Thanks so much for the ideas! I never thought about contacting the local schools and enlisting their help. I was just thinking about posting on Craigslist or somesuch.

As for guarantees, there are none in real life, and I would certainly have a contract to that effect. Something like, "Tutoring is no replacement for classroom attendance and hard work. Students must earn grades, they are not given, and tutoring is only intended to supplement and clarify nursing lessons." I dunno, I can't really think of any better way to put it, but you get the jist. What would be a reasonable yet affordable rate to charge for tutoring do you think?

[RNTutor, BSN, RN]

I'm thinking about starting a tutoring service in my area as well, and have started investigating my options. I was wondering if you ever ended up going that route and how did it work out for you?

[bkst1222]

Are you in the St. Louis Area?