University trained RN's or Hospital Trained, which would you prefer?

boofrn · Apr 26, 2005

I am really bummed out being at University doing my RN training. There are many like me who dont have much information retained in our brains to prepare us for the real life nursing world. We get minimal practicals and more theory, I dont think its a fair combination. I prefer if they bought back hospital training as what we get taught at Uni some of it is irrelevant and what is irrelevant is like a quick fly by and the need to thoroughly know it, is right then and there and we move on with the next lot of subjects and forget what is crucial. It really puzzles me. Plus I just finished one lot of practicals a couple weeks ago and when I returned to uni, I felt incompetent, depressed and not wanting to be there.
I guess it has to do with the teaching as well. There are not many good nursing teachers out there. When u do come across good ones, I feel that should be with us for the rest of the training.
Like to know what you all think out there
:)

Please, let us not bring back Diploma education! :angryfire

I have first had experience as being a assistant director of a great diploma program. Faculty zeroxed pages of the texts for the students, taught them THE way to do each skill, and instilled a level of self-confidence that made the students feel like they never needed advanced education!

Yes, they were great at skills, they should have been after 300 BPs, Ps, etc. as a way to provide the hospital with free care.

you can't possibly mean this .. why do you think you are dissatisfied with the teachers? the shortage or nurses and faculty is astounding..how can we as nurses change things with diploma education and ADN programs.. We need a set standard of education in order to be a the bargaining table with legislatures to influence policy and decisions, you will not have that leverage unless you have professional degrees behind your name to get the respect that is deserved and wanted as nurse professionals.

z's playa · Apr 26, 2005

I consider myself lucky. At our uni and college we get all the theory and then we walk over to the hospital and apply it. Easy and everyone's happy :)

Z

Altra, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2005

Please, let us not bring back Diploma education! :angryfire
I have first had experience as being a assistant director of a great diploma program. Faculty zeroxed pages of the texts for the students, taught them THE way to do each skill, and instilled a level of self-confidence that made the students feel like they never needed advanced education!
Yes, they were great at skills, they should have been after 300 BPs, Ps, etc. as a way to provide the hospital with free care.
you can't possibly mean this .. why do you think you are dissatisfied with the teachers? the shortage or nurses and faculty is astounding..how can we as nurses change things with diploma education and ADN programs.. We need a set standard of education in order to be a the bargaining table with legislatures to influence policy and decisions, you will not have that leverage unless you have professional degrees behind your name to get the respect that is deserved and wanted as nurse professionals.

As I'm finishing up my initial nursing education in an area where diploma programs are alive & well ... and diploma grads have no problem competing for jobs and career advancement ...

All I can say about this post is ... WOW :stone

abmsam · Apr 26, 2005

Please, let us not bring back Diploma education! :angryfire
I have first had experience as being a assistant director of a great diploma program. Faculty zeroxed pages of the texts for the students, taught them THE way to do each skill, and instilled a level of self-confidence that made the students feel like they never needed advanced education!
Yes, they were great at skills, they should have been after 300 BPs, Ps, etc. as a way to provide the hospital with free care.
you can't possibly mean this .. why do you think you are dissatisfied with the teachers? the shortage or nurses and faculty is astounding..how can we as nurses change things with diploma education and ADN programs.. We need a set standard of education in order to be a the bargaining table with legislatures to influence policy and decisions, you will not have that leverage unless you have professional degrees behind your name to get the respect that is deserved and wanted as nurse professionals.

I second the "Wow!" Although I am not in a diploma program, I am in an ADN program. With the shortage of nurses in my state and around the nation, we don't necessarily need multiple degreeS behind our name. We need competent, caring, able and willing nurses that will care for our communities properly. If that can be achieved with a diploma or ADN, why not? Our ADN program is three years long. One year of core curriculum, two years of nursing curriculum. And we are sought after by employers just as the BSN grads are. That's not to say that a BSN is not desirable. It absolutely is. But for some, it is simply not practical at this time.

In my state, diploma programs are not abundant. There may be one or two in the state. But ADN programs are everywhere, and the hospitals are proud to hire us.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 26, 2005

I am a graduate of one of the "old" Diploma programs and would not have traded my training for anything. I selected that program at the time vs. the university for the clinical experiences that I would have...........and already had a BS in Biology. Still to this day I am grateful for the training that I had back then........................and would do it all over the same way, if I were to be starting now.............. :)

And none of my instructors gave us pages xeroxed out of a book..............

witnurse · Apr 27, 2005

Please, let us not bring back Diploma education! :angryfire
I have first had experience as being a assistant director of a great diploma program. Faculty zeroxed pages of the texts for the students, taught them THE way to do each skill, and instilled a level of self-confidence that made the students feel like they never needed advanced education!
Yes, they were great at skills, they should have been after 300 BPs, Ps, etc. as a way to provide the hospital with free care.
you can't possibly mean this .. why do you think you are dissatisfied with the teachers? the shortage or nurses and faculty is astounding..how can we as nurses change things with diploma education and ADN programs.. We need a set standard of education in order to be a the bargaining table with legislatures to influence policy and decisions, you will not have that leverage unless you have professional degrees behind your name to get the respect that is deserved and wanted as nurse professionals.

:madface: If that is the education you were providing at your diploma school, 100's BP and P's then I am sorry for your students. I had a three year diploma program education and we were well prepared in technique and theory. In our senior years we worked in management and administration. Doing charge on all three shifts. We worked with the DON and educators at our facility and others. We were encouraged to go on with our education AFTER we had a good solid clinical base so that we would have more than theory and verse to pass on as educators of our future nurses or as mentors. I am sorry to read your feelings about diploma nurses and ADN nurses. We need front line nurses. Are front line soldiers any less valuable than their generals?

Without the soldiers the generals would look pretty silly and vice versa. Fine, there is a place for BSN, MSN, PHD etc. but if I am sick and in danger of dying without good hands in nursing care I will let you guess whether I would prefer a doctorate level nurse who has very little clinical experience or a diploma nurse who has plenty or an ADN who has worked on med/surg for a time and had excellent mentoring.(the mentoring goes for the diploma grad as well.) Professionals need to act like professionals in order to be heard. Have you any idea how many presidents of the United States have not had advanced degrees or legislators for that matter. Someone has to stir the soup as well as write the recipe. Again we divide ourselves and get conquered instead of embracing all levels of nursing including aides or techs and LVNs. IMHO. :angryfire

Rock, LPN, RN · Apr 27, 2005

If that is the education you were providing at your diploma school, 100's BP and P's then I am sorry for your students. I had a three year diploma program education and we were well prepared in technique and theory. In our senior years we worked in management and administration. Doing charge on all three shifts. We worked with the DON and educators at our facility and others. We were encouraged to go on with our education AFTER we had a good solid clinical base so that we would have more than theory and verse to pass on as educators of our future nurses or as mentors. I am sorry to read your feelings about diploma nurses and ADN nurses. We need front line nurses. Are front line soldiers any less valuable than their generals?
Without the soldiers the generals would look pretty silly and vice versa. Fine, there is a place for BSN, MSN, PHD etc. but if I am sick and in danger of dying without good hands in nursing care I will let you guess whether I would prefer a doctorate level nurse who has very little clinical experience or a diploma nurse who has plenty or an ADN who has worked on med/surg for a time and had excellent mentoring.(the mentoring goes for the diploma grad as well.) Professionals need to act like professionals in order to be heard. Have you any idea how many presidents of the United States have not had advanced degrees or legislators for that matter. Someone has to stir the soup as well as write the recipe. Again we divide ourselves and get conquered instead of embracing all levels of nursing including aides or techs and LVNs. IMHO. :angryfire

DIPLOMA by far!! Better prepared and lots of clinical experience. Although not diploma myself, I had a very good start as a LPN for a few years, then RN college trained.

z's playa · Apr 27, 2005

I don't see what everyone is freaking out about. The OP wasn't bashing any other program but her own ! I can see where shes coming from. I too wish there was more "on hands" training as opposed to all theory class. We get taught everything we need to apply to nursing and then...not enough time in clinical to honestly apply it subjectively. According to many people . I understand we need the theory but it does get tedious at times.

Z

To the OP: Our instructors are great. AND I like my course. I know I said its all good but there are moments like everywhere. I just choose to look at the greener side for the most part :)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2005

Actually, I prefer educated nurses not "trained" ones.

z's playa · Apr 27, 2005

Actually, I prefer educated nurses not "trained" ones.

I agree ..sounds too much like monkeys.... :chuckle But the term is known as "training" here so training it is.

Z

kimberlyrb · Apr 27, 2005

I'm diploma educted and wouldn't trade that experience for any thing! Thank the Lord that the program was available to me otherwise I wouldn't be a nurse. I later went on to obtain BS in Health Sciences. As, professionals we are learning everyday. Life is an ongoing education.