Wrong call maybe??

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I need some advice.. I am in a very small class in my first semester ... 1 student passed our 1st catheter demo... then 4 passed our 2nd demo.. 3rd demo 4 passed... I failed along with 3 others.. so we were dismissed... my instructor said I was not suppose to touch the back of my non sterile drape that goes between the patients legs, and that I only am allowed to touch the one inch border that applies to the non sterile backing as well... I contacted the Dean over this because my text book states we can touch our non sterile backing... for one both instructors were teaching two different ways they wanted it done so I believe people struggled for that reason... long story short the Dean reviewed my catheter demo and I received an email stating that it has been determined that I passed my 3rd demo and that I may continue the program starting Monday!!!

Problem is the class has had issues out of the program because we aren't being taught our medication dosage calculation curriculum it is self taught... so I'm considering applying to a program elsewhere because I'm unsure how I'm going to pass my medication administration demo ... and I feel like I will have a target on my back now that I went above them and out of 3 instructors it took the Dean to see that I passed my Catheter Demo!! How am I suppose to trust my instructors from here on out during my skills check off??

Input would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!!

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As a nursing student, you are supposed to trust your instructors. I trust mine and if there is a difference in teaching methods the instructors would find a common ground. As I remember, we can touch the back of the drape and the one inch margin applies to only the top when place the sterile drape between the client's legs. As long as you don't contaminate your sterile field you are fine. A sterile drape can be placed between the client's legs without touching the backing though so that would be an easy fix. Not saying you're wrong as a student because I'm a student too and I follow the textbook as well but sometimes textbook nursing is completely different than real word nursing. My take is that your instructor is attempting to teach you how to imagine yourself in a real life situation. For medication dosage calculations its about using dimensional analysis and knowing the formulas and plugging in numbers where they go and doing conversions when needed.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I would think about another program. If its that difficult to get through the catheter demo what are the more difficult skills going to be like. My class has 24 students, no one has failed any of the skills check off.

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I would think about another program. If its that difficult to get through the catheter demo what are the more difficult skills going to be like. My class has 24 students, no one has failed any of the skills check off.

This program was on the verge of losing accreditation last year... they only accepted 12 this year... I didn't find out about their troubles until after I was already in the program!! I believe I'm not going to return and test for other programs !! Thank you for your input... I think my mind is on the same page!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
As a nursing student, you are supposed to trust your instructors. I trust mine and if there is a difference in teaching methods the instructors would find a common ground. As I remember, we can touch the back of the drape and the one inch margin applies to only the top when place the sterile drape between the client's legs. As long as you don't contaminate your sterile field you are fine. A sterile drape can be placed between the client's legs without touching the backing though so that would be an easy fix. Not saying you're wrong as a student because I'm a student too and I follow the textbook as well but sometimes textbook nursing is completely different than real word nursing. My take is that your instructor is attempting to teach you how to imagine yourself in a real life situation. For medication dosage calculations its about using dimensional analysis and knowing the formulas and plugging in numbers where they go and doing conversions when needed.

The problem is that her instructors FAILED her. Going over their heads to the Dean (because it is her money and her education at stake) and with the Dean's findings, this has indeed created an awkward environment for her. If she feels as if she will not receive a fair shake at this school, it is best to transfer while there are no failures on the report card.

Instructors and higher-ups do not like to be proven wrong. Although we as nurses do not know everything, it is better for all involved to admit the shortcoming, especially if there is documentation to show misinformation. But her instructors would not accept that they were incorrect, forcing the student's hand. Hopefully the Dean had a meeting with the instructors. It would be nice to receive some sort of reassurance from the instructors that this was an isolated incident. Without it, I'd be on my way down to the student center with my backpack securely strapped on my shoulders and request an immediate release of official transcripts to go to ABC School of Nursing up the road.

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The problem is that her instructors FAILED her. Going over their heads to the Dean (because it is her money and her education at stake) and with the Dean's findings, this has indeed created an awkward environment for her. If she feels as if she will not receive a fair shake at this school, it is best to transfer while there are no failures on the report card.

Instructors and higher-ups do not like to be proven wrong. Although we as nurses do not know everything, it is better for all involved to admit the shortcoming, especially if there is documentation to show misinformation. But her instructors would not accept that they were incorrect, forcing the student's hand. Hopefully the Dean had a meeting with the instructors. It would be nice to receive some sort of reassurance from the instructors that this was an isolated incident. Without it, I'd be on my way down to the student center with my backpack securely strapped on my shoulders and request an immediate release of official transcripts to go to ABC School of Nursing up the road.

You are right instructors and higher-ups do not like to be proven wrong. Right when you said "isolated incident" that does place the situation upon the instructors themselves. I do hope that there was a meeting between the Dean and the instructors and it's unfortunate it has to come down to this and you are right as nursing students we are paying for education and nothing is given. Meetings should happen. For example, we had a skills lab final last week and while we were practicing and receiving a demonstration from an instructor on how trach care is done which is completely different among instructors and thus led to confusion from the students which then led to a faculty meeting where they discussed the proper techniques and such. So with that said, I re-iterate that hopefully there is a meeting of some sort.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Yes, and it doesn't end with passing nursing school or the NCLEX. This is why we must take inservices, CEUs and Train-the-Trainer courses seriously...no matter how many years of experience we have or degrees we possess.:yes:

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Exactly. Hopefully I can pass my program this time around. My cousin who's an RN said school just gets you to where you want to be and in the real world is where you really learn.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Your cousin is correct. While you do learn theory and the basics, nursing school only prepares you to enter the field.

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Duplicate threads merged

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Of course you can apply to any other nursing program you wish to. But your clinical courses will not transfer - you'll have to start over from the beginning unless they have an articulation agreement with your current school. Many programs are also very reluctant to admit a student who was unsuccessful in another program.

It's a shame that you are stuck in a disorganized program with questionable quality (accreditation issues), but it's important to consider all of the consequences of making a change.

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I am still within the withdrawal period.. so I may be in luck after all

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