Online Practical Nursing Degree, Nursing Degree Advice Needed
Im currently undertaking the specialist pratice degree course. I am looking
for any articles relating tho the following:
(1) teaching and learning styles
(2) change management theory
If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be really grateful.
I'm a student nurse on a mental health asessment unit, and my mentor is
currently doing an essay about learning styles as part of her PP126. She
has covered subjects such as; andragogy and pedagogy (teaching styles), and
theories such as Transactional analysis. For managing change, try;
'Prochaska's Theory', forcefield theory, stages of change (by Manion, 1995,
Andrews, 1993 and Parrish, 1996), and; facilitating change (power-coercive,
empirical-rational and normative-re-educative). I don't have all
references, but if you type these words in to a search engine, you should
get loads of info.
I find it fascinating to read about all the various programs that eventually
lead to the longed for "RN". (I doubt that any of my instructors are
listening in, so I can speak freely). I go to a small community college in
NH. (The one that President Clinton selected for his graduation speech four
years ago - that should draw some ugly faces from Danno and Patti W.
right?)We bring our umbrellas to class whenever it rains, because the roof
leaks like a sieve. If you want to find a book in the library, you usually
have to crawl under the heavy plastic that covers the shelves. Don't forget
to bring a flashlight.
But - the drop out rate is minim, 98% of the graduates pass the NCLEX first
try, and everybody has a nursing job after graduation.
Our freshman class is 29 strong, and there is a strong spirit of hanging
together and being supportive of each other. We do gripe about some of our
instructors at times, but compared with what some of you have to put up
with, we are pretty lucky. Clinicals up to now were a pure joy, half the
nurses I've met came from our college and are extremely helpful and
cheerful. One afternoon we practiced giving injections to our oranges, the
next day I had to do it to a real person, no problem. The needle went in
just as calm and sweet as you would like it, and I got a compliment from my
patient. There just wasn't time to get jittery about it.
After the first semester, those of us who haven't got a CNA license, get
their paperwork filled in by the school, take it to the State Board of
Nursing, pay their $25.-- and presto, everybody is a licensed CNA now.
After the second semester, we have the opportunity to take the NCLEX for
LPN, good practice and adds a few dollars to your paycheck.
After two years, we go for the ADN - RN.
Those of us who want to continue studying for BSN, can then switch over to
the State University, where they get full credit for everything that they
had done at the college (and for which they paid half the tuition that
University students pay). Plus they will make the salaries of RNs while
getting their next degree.
The study pace is incredibly fast, like it is everywhere, and though we
don't always agree with the test questions, we have never had anything quite
as upsetting as Bonzai's IDDM - DKA question.
Kevin may call it the "New England Exile", but I quite enjoy it up here. And
now back to six more chapters of A&P for the finals.