Student Nurse

Sorry for not writing in a while. I've been extremely busy as I have returned to undergrad school & have not wanted to broadcast this fact, until now.

I have returned to school to get my BSN/RN. This has been a dream of mine for at least 3-4 years now and due to circumstances at my former job... it was a decision easy to make. Whether or not I immediately go into grad school or wait a few years doesn't matter right now... I will eventually become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Anyone out there who thinks nursing is not challenging or nursing school is easy - is a damn fool that should immediately be sterilized & have their frontal lobes removed! We have enough stupid people in this world making decisions (case in point - Golly Gee Dubya Bush). We don't need more.

As part of the expected course work we must maintain no less than a 3.0. We must also pass clinical calculation tests that become progressively difficult or be held back (you must pass with a 95 or better). In addition to finals, we must pass several standardized tests (per semester) in order to progress through the program. You are only allowed to fail the standardized tests twice before you are either (1) dropped back in the program and must repeat the specific course, or (2) dropped out of the program all together. So it doesn't matter if you aced the regular class exams & final. If you fail the standardized test... you fail the class. This is ultimately good for society and sucks for the student... haha!

I am very happy to report that I passed all three of my standardized tests by comfortable margins (scores must be no less than 5 points above current national average).

If everything goes well this week (finals) I should pull a 3.5 to 3.625. I've long given up on the possible 4.0 for the semester. I'm taking 5 classes. I have A's in 3 classes and B's in the remaining two.

-WARNING!-- B*TCHING ABOUT TO COMMENCE SO STOP NOW OR SHUT-UP-----
Now I am a firm believer in personal responsibility and "owning" the grade I've earned. BUT with that being said the two classes I have B's in were taught by the worst instructor I have ever had in my years of undergrad school (I have over 200 credit hours & a bachelor's degree). This instructor shows up to class unprepared, is unable to stay on topic, & on test days... is so unprepared & disruptive it is damn near impossible to concentrate!

A typical test day begins with the instructor arriving anywhere from 10-20 minutes late, tests sporadically handed out as they arrive out of the Xerox machine, and then the instructor stands in front of the class interrupting us as the test is EDITED. This results in (on average) 10 disruptions per test.

I approached this instructor after the first test & the instructor seemed genuinely open to listening to my concerns. It appeared to have some effect as the second test for the 4-hour class went much smoother. I wish I could report the remaining tests went as smoothly but they slowly deteriorated into chaos as the semester wore on.

For the 2-hour class the same instructor was so indecisive about choosing a textbook it was decided that BOTH textbooks in question would be required for the class. THEN, after the first test, the instructor decided that it would be a good idea to go with only ONE textbook. Of course it was too late to get a refund at the bookstore.

While taking the second test I noticed that the topic for several questions were unfamiliar. This alarmed me since I had studied longer for this test than the previous one. Sure enough when I got my second test back - I missed more than expected. I decided to compare the questions against both textbooks and discovered that most of the questions I missed were on specifics that weren't even in the chosen textbook... they were from the ABANDONED TEXTBOOK!

Now one would think that if this were brought to the instructor's attention in a discrete manner the professor would correct their embarrassing mistake. But no. The response received was, "you know... I just won't put those questions on the final."

Needless to say the last exam for the regular semester was a total disaster as I was interrupted with the now standard editing of the test, an announcment for a free basket of candy, AND a sudden announcement from another faculty member (allowed in by the instructor).

I have lost much of my respect for this instructor.

So here is my bit of advice for this instructor:

1. Be prepared for each day especially since you insist that your pupils be prepared. You can't berate students for being unprepared when it is blatantly obvious that you are not prepared.
   
2. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and admit to those mistakes (this will go a long way with keeping student trust & loyalty).
3. Have respect for your students & they will respect you. True respect from students is earned & not just demanded. Test day should be an organized & quiet environment controlled by the instructor.
4. Do not treat testing material from different texts as interchangeable. They are not interchangeable!
5. If you do not like being in a classroom setting - trust the words of someone who spent years miserable at a job he hated. "It is time you found your happiness." I mean that with respect and kindness.
   

-B*TCH SESSION OVER ---------------------------------------------------------------

Now... hopefully I will have lots of happy things to report later this week.

Have a nice week!