What they SHOULD teach in nursing school . . .

ER-RN-2B · Mar 21, 2005

HA HA HA! :chuckle The first time I tried to put a Foley in a female I wasn't anywhere near the urethra, my instructor must have thought I was such an idot. They showed us on a diagram, but every woman is so different. Now I just aim high and never have a problem. I agree they don't teach you what you really need to know. My program is a community based BSN program. This means I spend literally 8 to 16 hours a week sitting in an office pretending to work, or filing papers for my clinical rotations. I am better equipped to make a poster or write a 10 page paper on some obscure nursing topic than I am to assess a patient or give a medication. I guess that's how they get the BS in BSN. I'm sure I'll learn what I need to know eventually.

I am just afraid of how many times I am going to look like an idiot in the meantime! :imbar

Did anyone have any embarrassing moments as new grads they would be willing to share?

nursenatalie, ADN, RN · Mar 21, 2005

Let me just expand your education,when inserting an NG if you are in the lung look at the patient they will turn blue and cough lots, no water required!

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2005

Oh my, this brings back an embarrassing memory. I graduated from high school early so I could go to nursing school, so I was a 17 yr old innocent babe when I started. I was in my first rotation and had the opportunity to put in a foley. Now, I will put this delicately, but I was NOT familiar with female anatomy, certainly not her sexual anatomy! I was told to aim high, which I did. The patient squirmed a little, let out a little giggle, then another squirm as I am trying to insert this foley where it would not go! The nurse who was with me tried not to die laughing as she told me to try a little lower, and this time I was successful, but the patient was dissapointed that I did not work harder to get it in the first spot!

I was mortified when I found out what I had done, and still get a laugh when I tell the story now. Oh, how I long to be young and stupid again! Now I am old and stupid!

bcjams · Mar 21, 2005

Pharm and Patho will save your behind almost every time but dont forget its the nurse who does a large part of the pt teaching about meds and side effects and when the pt should call the MD once they get home. So your RN program should concentrate on those 3 things...If they ask alot what is the best thing to say to a crying patient...run.....if they ask how different cardiac meds work and the different side effects of antibiotics and when the side effects need to be reported then stay. If the syllablus has disease process and pt teaching as the core material and very little on how mangaement theory then your getting your moneys worth.

I never read one page of my transitions or management books...I memorized my pharm and patho books....I know how things work...I am still weak on pt teaching and that almost got me on my NCLEX last week but that will come with time...I blasted the pharm/patho type questions but pt teaching almost made me cry....it was and is my weakness...and now I think I really only have 2 legs on 3 legged stool....must read some now.....take care and good luck

Sheri257 · Mar 21, 2005

I'd also like to add what they shouldn't teach ...

There's a bunch of gooble-de-gook that's, quite frankly, worthless.

It's almost like they put a bunch of worthless junk in the textbooks so they can justify the outrageous prices they charge. And the teachers teach this stuff because it's part of the "cirriculum."

Don't get me wrong. Some of it is useful, but too much of it isn't.

Personally, I'd rather have extra days in clinical than in class. You learn a lot more clinical. And the charts are much more educational than any textbook.

:rolleyes:

z's playa · Mar 21, 2005

I'd also like to add what they shouldn't teach ...
There's a bunch of gooble-de-gook that's, quite frankly, worthless.
It's almost like they put a bunch of worthless junk in the textbooks so they can justify the outrageous prices they charge. And the teachers teach this stuff because it's part of the "cirriculum."
Don't get me wrong. Some of it is useful, but too much of it isn't.
Personally, I'd rather have extra days in clinical than in class. You learn a lot more clinical. And the charts are much more educational than any textbook.

Hear hear! Even my professors shake their head at some of it. :uhoh3:

rn29306 · Mar 21, 2005

Oh my, this brings back an embarrassing memory. I graduated from high school early so I could go to nursing school, so I was a 17 yr old innocent babe when I started. I was in my first rotation and had the opportunity to put in a foley. Now, I will put this delicately, but I was NOT familiar with female anatomy, certainly not her sexual anatomy! I was told to aim high, which I did. The patient squirmed a little, let out a little giggle, then another squirm as I am trying to insert this foley where it would not go! The nurse who was with me tried not to die laughing as she told me to try a little lower, and this time I was successful, but the patient was dissapointed that I did not work harder to get it in the first spot!
I was mortified when I found out what I had done, and still get a laugh when I tell the story now. Oh, how I long to be young and stupid again! Now I am old and stupid!

That is one of the best stories I have heard. I had to read it twice just to make sure what I was thinking at first was what you meant.

That should be a medical based "Priceless" ad.

Thanks for the humor.

gerry79 · Mar 21, 2005

A self defense course.

jrring1019 · Mar 21, 2005

What I think is missing is teaching to organize and prioritize! When I got out of school and was handed 5 -7 post open heart pts on telemetry I was a little overwhelmed. In school I remember doing A LOT of PR papers and nursing diagnosis crap. Instead we should have had to juggle more than 1 pt and figure out how to get the work done!

NO ONE cares about nursing diagnosis in the real world. :)