Okay, so I've been lurking on this site for over a year. Hi!
I've been working on my core classes and with each day now, I question everything.
I wonder if I'm doing the right thing in life?
I am working as a nursing technician (CNA) at a hospital here. I've been doing that since 2010. It's a tough job and I'm ready for a change.
So here I am, almost done with my core classes and thinking of applying for nursing programs and I still need to take that dreaded Teas V exam. Yes, I've purchased a study book to prepare for it. Your input on that is encouraged if you have any!
This semester, I'm taking 4 classes- Micro Lab , Micro Lecture, U.S. History, Art Appreciation.
The latter is the only one I'm taking online and the rest are strictly on campus.
The problem: In the first 3 mention classes, my professors are trying to weed people out it seems. They know the majority of us are there working on our Pre-Nursing classes and they've cracked down on everything. I'm starting to think that people need to stop telling colleges and their professors that they're nursing majors because if they find out, they're already trying to weed people out so most folks don't make it to the nursing program.
There's nothing I can do about that, but a little rant helps!
No matter what I do these days in my classes, all the tests are curbed and nobody seems to be passing. I have a good GPA! I've talked with other students and without me mentioning my grades, they're telling me their grades. Well what do you know? We are all being given the same grade in our classes. It seems they're giving a 57 to everyone in the class. Socialism and grading nursing students is a horrible idea.
I keep questioning everything. Why do I want to be in a program where nursing students aren't welcome? Why do I need to be there?
I would rather be in a program where students are welcome to learn and actually succeed while there.
Could it be just my college? It's pretty bad over here in Georgia. I've heard nothing but horror stories about how Georgia colleges weed the crap out of classes to make people want to drop out of classes and make them want to change their major. They're all for failing people it seems. I am not lazy. I work day and night on my studying and I talk regularly with my professors. I've done research on my professors as well to make sure I didn't sign up to take classes from a neo nazi.
I will be applying to nursing programs here and I am open to applying outside of Georgia. Does anyone know of a good nursing program that actually wants their students to pass and they have a great support system (great learning environment, great professors, etc)?
I know someone who said she can get me into a nursing program at a college she teaches at and she's a nursing clinical instructor. However, I don't want to limit myself to just that college and for all I know, I could be walking into another disaster. I have had my fair share of pain from the college I'm at now. We don't have open labs at all after labs are done. We get 7-10 minutes to perform 2-5 different labs per class and that's it. If we don't finish, we never get the chance to go back and work on it because "the school doesn't allow open labs for micro and they can't afford open labs for micro". Oh, the classes are 1.5 hrs long. Not learning anything!
I do all my reading before classes.
My brain is fried. No support here. The students in my classes are more motivated to pay someone $300 to do their work for them and they want to cheat off the work.
The next college I transfer to, I need a break from all this mess.
Is that even possible or are all/most colleges a power trip?
I wouldn't say it's weeding out so much as preparation. There's a reason there are required scientific and difficult pre reqs for nursing school, it's to challenge and prepare you for the actual hardcore work that nursing school is. When you get to nursing school, they're not 'weeding out', they're simply educating you to be the best you can be. Another part that you need to understand is that as a nurse once graduated you need to be able to think quickly on your feet. In some ways taking the hard classes and pushing yourself regardless of it being a nursing class or not is preparation for that. It's not fun, but it's realistic.
Finally, I did graduate within the last five years and while I do agree the programs are certainly challenging, the only changes they have made are to adapt to changes outside of their control (i.e., NCLEX testing, expanded nursing responsibilities, more autonomy depending where you are). They need to prepare their students as best as they can, and yes, that makes it more difficult for some.
If you are struggling with the prereqs I would urge you to consider part time to feel out how nursing school goes. It's a whole different ball game. At least you are able to take your nursing classes separate from prereqs/liberal arts, some of us had to take micro/AP2/art/sociology/etc in addition to maternity/medsurg/pharm/patho in a semester.
You're right and wrong at the same time. I'm sorry, when did you graduate again?
If you didn't graduate nursing school within the last 5 years, I promise you things have changed dramatically. Everything is way more strict and the pre-req's classes for the RN program are usually being weeded out because the professors are trying to give students an idea of what nursing school may be like. So either the students learn to handle the overwhelming load and demands during their science classes, or they'll think twice about that nursing major they had in mind. That is a fact.
You do realize that the NCLEX-RN used to be a multiple day, handwritten test, right? None of this computerized multiple choice stuff? My late Aunt Peg was a hospital-educated RN born in the early 1900s, so probably went to nursing school in the '20s or '30s. She passed away shortly after I began my nursing program in 2001, and you would not believe everything they had to learn. I have a feeling nursing school is not as toughened as you think it is. I graduated in late 2002, so back in the days when the kings of the Spear-Danes ruled with power and greatness... But we needed at minimum 78% in each and every class to progress -- from prerequisites to practicum. 77.99% and we failed. Again I'll reiterate, Cs were failing grades.
Actually, IMHO I think programs in general would do well to tighten their standards. Would you really want a C student caring for your premature baby, or your Dad after heart surgery (assuming a C is passing at some schools)?
Re: the statement I italicized, I fail to see the problem with this. Why in the world would someone NOT reconsider their nursing major if they demonstrate an inability to master the pre-nursing course material?
So before you start pointing fingers, you need to realize that colleges have severely cracked-down on classes these days because of there's a high demand for nursing school and anything medical field related.
Of course there are high standards for nursing school. Nursing is a huge responsibility
I didn't read most of the other replies yet, but I want to insert my experience here. I was in nursing school as a young 20 yr old in a college that HAD to weed out their students each semester because there were not enough teachers to allow for everyone to pass. Well, I got pregnant with twins and had to drop. Thank God when the next year rolled around and I applied to be reinstated, they denied me based on 'no room for another student"
Fast forward a few years, I applied to a completely different school, knowing I'd have to relocate if I was accepted. The first thing they told us in class was. .."we're not here to fail you. We're here to help you become the best nurse you can be". There was a huge difference. I suggest you look for those programs! They're out there!
Ok so I have a BS in chemistry from 2002, MPH from 2010, and now have ventured into nursing school. From schools in different states. I can assure you that the "weeding out" process hasn't "changed" curriculums aren't "harder" and professors aren't failing students just because they want to [emoji23]
I am currently in my second semester of pre-nursing courses. I already have a bachelors degree - so I know that I have a leg up. I will say this. Anatomy was one of the hardest classes I have ever taken. You literally are glued to your materials for the entire semester. I learned that the hard way after the first two practicals, after that - I was golden. I managed to skate by with a B. Right now I'm in physiology and microbiology. I am rocking these classes. You cannot just go to class and read the book and expect to do well. You really need to like do the work. I get it - there are some classes you can fly by the seat of your pants in, just doing the reading. But if you want to do well you need to re-write your notes, then copy them to flash cards, then use quizlet, then re-write your notes again. You need to talk out loud when you study read the stuff off...they are weed out classes for a reason.
Specializes in Early Intervention, Nsg. Education.
I disagree with the claim that classes are harder than they used to be. Has there been such an enormous change in human anatomy that classes have had to revamp their objectives? When I took A&P in 1990-91, "way back in the day that it was easy," I recall memorizing muscle names and their origins/insertions, names and functions of cranial nerves...exactly the same info that is required in my son's A&P class. I work on contract at the local CC, tutoring D/HH students in everything from ESL to GED prep to 100-200 level gen-ed classes, as well as guest lecturing single classes, 6 week rotations, capstone advising, and more. I love what I do, and I've met many amazing students who have fought their way into programs that essentially serve as tickets out of poverty.
However, a concerning trend I've noticed is that students who attended at least HS following NCLB and high-stakes testing don't always have the basic reading and math skills required per placement exams. These students end up taking developmental English and Math courses before entering 100-level courses, which is fine...until it's not. Students who squeak by with a C in 080-095 level English and math courses will eventually pass into the prerequisites, but they're at a disadvantage before they even start.
In addition, many students who have been exposed to the "chew and spit" learning method that works pretty well for earning passing grades on high-stakes testing may be quite proficient at "being taught," but don't always have the foundation skills necessary for truly independent learning. Obviously, most of the students do develop these skills, but it comes at a steep cost. It's becoming very common for students to take 6 years to complete a 4-year degree. I searched through the community colleges in my state and was unable to find a single direct admit ADN program. My sister and I work at the same community college. She is the director of the [blank] program and has seen students struggle with independent learning, as well. She's received complaints because some members of the [blank] program faculty don't provide review sheets outlining every concept that will be addressed in an exam. (All PPT's are available on Moodle, and she offers open sim lab hours every week. Guess which students show up?). Last semester she had a very angry student complain that she received a B- in clinical because "The CI was only a "B" instructor, so there was no way for her to earn an A, which wasn't her fault!"
The son I mentioned earlier? He has Autism plus a form of muscular dystrophy. He can't write by hand, and he uses a Dynavox or laptop to communicate. Hubby and I have invested countless hours teaching him that he owns his work, both the good and the bad. He's withdrawn from 3 online classes, because he didn't have the self-discipline to complete assignments by forming his own deadlines. He earns A's or F's; no middle ground with him. He's not alone, though. If you're ever looking for excellent info about study skills, pacing, self-learning, social mores in college classrooms, check the MIT website. They've got it all! (I don't know whether I should take that as a sign of encouragement, or feel even more frightened! [emoji33][emoji33][emoji33])
"We are all being given the same grade in our classes. It seems they're giving a 57 to everyone in the class. Socialism and grading nursing students is a horrible idea."
Grades are not just handed out at random. Y'all got a 57 for a reason. I suggest you talk to your instructor and find out why. If someone can pay $300 and get a passing grade then it's also possible for you to get a passing grade. By the way, how exactly are people paying $300 for someone else to do the work for them? You still have to do the testing on your own, right? Are you sure that your school is accredited?
"I've shared my homework info with my RN and Doctor colleagues at work and even they're shocked about what hoops I jump through these days for my core classes. I wanted to know how school was for them "way back when". Sure enough, they all had it easy."
This is all part of nursing becoming a respectable profession. If you read up on what a professional in healthcare does education wise you will see that they all have a strong background in the sciences. True, it was not always required to have the prerequisites before you are admitted to the nursing program, but that's when nursing was not viewed as a profession (this was around the 1960's though), and was more of a trade.
But we needed at minimum 78% in each and every class to progress -- from prerequisites to practicum. 77.99% and we failed. Again I'll reiterate, Cs were failing grades.
Hoosier_RN, MSN
3,968 Posts
OP didn't get the answer that s/he wanted and flounced...hmm