Weeding Out the Weak?

[Ajcapri]

We have to stay over not minutes, but frequently hours in my nursing classes, with very little notice if any at all. One student tried to explain how her daycare charges her so much money when her child isn't picked up on time. Our instructors response, Well, that's nursing school for you.” Basically suck it up and deal with it. Is this really how other programs are?

I'm willing to do whatever I need to to be successful in my program but I feel like there is a little lack of consideration on their part when it comes to pre-planning.

A lot of talk circulates that our program tries to "Weed out the weak," but I really don't like the idea that instructors are more like drill sergeants, than advisors. Furthermore, our program is rather small. I live in a rural area, so they only take applications once a year and only 24 students in each year.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I have never heard of a class being kept longer than about 10 minutes. You are in school, not working as a nurse. Classes are scheduled a certain amount of time. Classroom instruction should be kept to that time frame.

When you graduate, have a license and are working, you expect to have to stay late and plan for it. You don't expect that when in school. You may have to speak with your Dean of Nursing about this issue.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Uh no. Matter of fact if our instructors are late or run over even a few minutes they are very courteous about it. Being held hours over is not right.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

We follow a very specific schedule. I've never stayed more than 15 minutes. On some rare occasions, we even leave early.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

There's a saying I've learned:

"Your lack of preparation is not my emergency."

Perhaps your class can go to the instructor as a group with your concerns. If they won't listen to you, keep going up the food chain.

Staying hours past the end of a class is NOT the norm.

[Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN]

Wow, that is really unusual. We very rarely have to stay late in class, and if it goes a few minutes late, the instructor won't be angry if a few students leave due to prior engagements.

As to the "weeding out the weak" thing, I think most nursing schools have that philosophy. That doesn't meant that they don't want to help or work with you, but they do try to weed out students that they don't think will pass the NCLEX. That's why you have to make >78 to pass.

[anewsns]

Nursing school by it's nature weeds out the weak, but staying over hours after class is unnecessary.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

Is it really hours ? I'm having a hard time believing that. I have always been one to work hard and keep my head down but I would say complain. My daycare charges $1 per minute if you are late.

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

My classes have run over from time to time, however the professors always apologize when this happen and it is usually just to finish their last thought/ comment about the content. I've never stayed more than 10 minutes extra. If someone has a commitment, they are allowed to go without question as it is a class with clearly posted start and end times.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

Never had an instructor ask us to stay more than a few minutes late and it was usually to allow for a student to finish a presentation. Then they would always make up for it by letting us go earlier the next time by the amount of time that we stayed over. You made a commitment to the schedule that you were given...unless they change the hours of the program then I don't see how you could be forced to stay. Like others have said, I would take this up the chain and see what can be done to fix the issue. Time management is something that is highly stressed in nursing-your instructor needs a refresher. If you happen to be lucky, there's a class scheduled immediately after yours so the lecture would have to stop or she'd be sitting on another instructor's turf at that point (my school had different classes many times only 10 minutes or so apart). I hope this gets straightened out for you.

[rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN]

My classes have run over from time to time, however the professors always apologize when this happen and it is usually just to finish their last thought/ comment about the content. I've never stayed more than 10 minutes extra. If someone has a commitment, they are allowed to go without question as it is a class with clearly posted start and end times.

I had the same experience when I was in nursing school a couple years ago. The late times were infrequent and were usually 10-15 minutes in length.

Is this class lectures or clinicals, skills lab, or simulation lab? The times for lectures were set but we were told that the times for skills labs and clinicals were only guidelines. They frequently went over in length of time. I do not think we were ever more than 30-40 minutes late on those days and we learned to make other arrangements. Once I was 2 hours late leaving clinicals but this was because there were patient issues and I wanted to see through the interaction/emergency. My choice not the schools.

As far as weeding out, come on. This idea is a little childish if you think about it. Yes, those who cannot maintain minimum accountability or proficiency should not pass. To assign the descriptor of "the weak" only reinforces the idea that nursing school administrators have chosen those who they want to pass. Those who struggle usually start this vocalization of emotions because they feel the pressure of not measuring up to academic or personal expectations. If this is you then don't waste time exclaiming that you are one of the "weak" and make changes to be proficient. Take the emotions out of it and buckle down.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

As others have stated, this is NOT okay. Weeding out the weak is done by having strict grading standards, e.g. >/= 78% to pass.

Take this all the way up to the president of the school if you need to. In the meantime, the entire class needs to refuse to stay past the posted end-of-class time. They can't legally force you to stay.

Parents need to be especially vigilant about this, because daycares and schools DO NOT CARE that you're in nursing school. They expect children to be picked up on time. No way in hell would I risk CPS being called because I abandoned my children there, just because my nursing instructor happened to have power delusions. (To be clear, I am not saying the parents' time is more important--only that failing to assume care of their children has real consequences. My advice to leave on time stands for those leaving to get to their shift, or Grandma's birthday dinner, etc. on time.)

And yes, as a practicing RN we do sometimes have to put limits on our time. I have done bare-bones charting if I'm exhausted and physiologically need to get home. I have planned on doing late entries after 7-3 shifts because I must be on time to get my children from school. Again, the school doesn't care what I do for a living--only that children are picked up at the end of the day.

Achieve passing scores so they cannot fail you. And stop allowing this behavior from your instructors. Like a PP said, they are responsible for managing their time in class--just like you are for studying.