Waste of Time and Money?

[SueBee RN-BSN]

You know, nurses are really being taken advantage of by some organizations that teach classes, charge up to a full day's wage, sign the nurse off as being competent to practice, and the work place will not let the nurse practice. Saying the nurse is a liability-

These classes are like the ultrasound classes OB uses. Advanced Fetal Monitoring $$$, vs. Fetal monitoring $. NRP, in the military a nurse can carry out a full resus. until peds arrives. In civilian hospitals nurses are not allowed. The nurse can be the gopher, and hand out tubes and suction, while being abused.

There are many other classes that nurses don't need, or use. Many classes in degree programs are a huge waste of time and money. This causes dissatisfaction in the profession. Nurses are trained to do many skills, but are not allowed.

What do you all think?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

They are only being taken advantage of, if they allow themselves to be taken advantage of.

Nurses with common sense know to ask whether such a course's skills can be utilized at their workplace. One can learn in number of skills....but if the state or your facility does not have policies in place to allow you to utilize them, you will not utilize them. And as policies vary greatly from place to place, it is wisely up to the individual to assess whether the course is useful to them in their current circumstances.

For example, you will see ads for "chemo certified" nurses. While the ONCC has a two day course on chemo and biotherapy, it makes very clear that it does not "certify" one to give chemo. Virtually all good facilities will want to assess your skills/knowledge on chemo, before you are permitted to give it.

[SueBee RN-BSN]

Funny thing, nurses are given the day, by their unit, to attend many of these classes they will never use. Many of these classes are required for the job, but the nurse is never allowed to use the skills.

I'm getting at job dissatisfaction, and a huge waste of time and money.