YE

on

VOLUME XI, NUMBER 12

INNOVATION ABSTRACTS

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STAFF AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT :THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

   

ae

SUPPORT FROM THE W..K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION AND THE

 

Om Mea Oa te Srl Oe L188 We OLN

 

Survival Strategies
for Nursing Students

A new class of nursing students is admitted to your
two-year nursing program—a new troop of rookies
who do not have a clue as to how to survive the next
two years of an intense nursing program.

The Midland College Associate Degree Nursing
faculty wished to ease the transition from citizen to
nursing student enrolled in an intense program of
study. The co-founders of the program, having had
teaching experience in other nursing schools, agreed
that these students were older and non-traditional and
that most attrition was due to the “reality shock” of the
nursing curriculum. Adult students were overwhelmed
with numerous responsibilities, little free time, tension,
inadequate child care, and lack of financial resources.
Observations revealed that spouses/ families/signifi-
cant others also were not prepared for the changes
which would occur within the family unit as a result of
having a nursing student in the household.

With this information in mind, the faculty introduced
“Survival Skills for Nursing Students.” Spouses, chil-
dren, parents, and significant others were invited to this
session, held in the Simulation Lab, with faculty and
staff. The purpose of this location was two-fold: This
setting introduced the students’ support systems to the
learners’ “home away from home” and allowed the
students’ children to view and/or manipulate some of
the equipment—i.e., electric hospital beds, wheelchairs,
mannequins, etc. Introductions included the faculty
and their teaching responsibilities and the nursing
department secretary who would know the students’
whereabouts in case a family member experienced an
emergency and needed to get in touch.

The Survival Strategies session included specific
information about:

1. Student responsibilities
A. To attend clinical labs which begin as early as
6:30 a.m.

B. To utilize audio-visuals and periodicals within

the Learning Resource Center

C. To limit the number of allowable absences in class

and clinical

D. To prioritize obligations

E. To recognize heavy time demands
2. Potential role conflict within the family

A. Spending more time at school or in study, with

less time available for the family

B. Providing for child care—i.e., sick child and/or

taking the child to the pediatrician

C. Scheduling one day of the week strictly for

activities not related to school
3. Peer support

A. Big Brother/Big Sister as a resource person

B. Interpersonal skills

C. Time management (including lack of sleep)

D. Written assignments

E. Stress control

The initial Survival Strategies session (1982) began
what has become a tradition at Midland College. Since
its inception, however, the program has been designed
and offered by second-year students during the first
week of each fall semester. The program has been
expanded to include spouses advising spouses and
children talking to children. Innovative presentations
now include videotapes, skits, spoofs, and tours. As
well, it is at this session that Big Brothers and Big Sisters
are introduced to designated first-year students.

Each year the presentation is evaluated by the first-
year students. Faculty and students continue to give
the session high marks and feel that this sharing of
information early in the educational process has con-
tributed to the average (and remarkably low) attrition
rate of 17% in the nursing program. Of the students
who choose to leave the program, only two stated that
they were overwhelmed and not prepared for the
amount of time required for program completion.

A Survival Strategies session is a cost-effective
investment in the education of nursing students. Only a
little time and creativity is needed to develop a family
atmosphere of caring and trust enjoyed by the Midland
College Associate Degree nursing students.

Eileen Piwetz, Chair, Health Sciences

For further information, contact the author at Midland
College, 3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX 79705-6399.

 

 

EDB 348, Austin, Texas 78712

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STAFF AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (NISOD)
Community College Leadership Program, The University of Texas at Austin