are undergraduate degree's too focused on research??

Morgan, I also feel strongly about this topic, esp as one of the old school hospital trained nurses.

I think moving the education of nurses into university was definitely the right move, but my view is that the undergrad course should be extended by a year with a much greater component of clinical experience.

The question of research is a vexed one, as clinical practice should definitely be founded on evidence based practice. Therefore, reviewing, interpreting and applying research should be, IMHO an integral part of the degree. However, it shouldn't take over so that there remains little time for the thorough examination and understanding of various conditions and effective nursing practice.

It is worth noting that Adelaide university will be offerring a new undergraduate programme next year.You can take a look at

This programme according to the information on the adelaide website will have students on placement several days a week for the entire academic year rather than in blocks and as such provide a much better comtinuation of clinical learning as the course progresses.Even more interesting is our head of school has resigned to take a new position as head of school at......You guessed it!

Morgan

Hi, As a recently graduated RN, I can certainly agree that the focus is more on research than practice. In fact, my University kept pushing that they are preparing us to be novice nurses, and that the hospital has to give us the experience to consolidate that knowledge. Unfortunately, I don't think that is what the hospitals expect when we get out, and I have heard a lot of complaints of the 'sink or swim' attitude that some of the wards have, rather than supporting the new grad. I was very interested to hear of the new nursing course on offer at Adelaide University - it is something my fellow students and I (as armchair experts) have suggested at our University. I hope it goes well, and other Universities follow suit.

Hi I am just about to finish my third year studies, and have been on a DEU placement that expects students to work 2days a week for 8 weeks then 3 days a week for 6 weeks and finally one 5 day week. I dont think it matters wether you are doing block or continuous practical 2days aweek. what matters is the support you get from the hospital and staff around you. My previous rural block placement was more educational , independant and freindlier with great support, compared to the private city hospital that I am presently in. The staff have been so horrible to each other and completely ignored the students for the first 8 weeks. It has been widely researched that students are dropping out in the first year. i believe this is because they are not exposed to the task orientated nature that nursing really is all about. As a profession nursing needs to come along way to be more attractible.

Hi guys I have a follow on question from this topic. Should there be a compulsory paedeatrics component to all undergraduate nursing courses.I ask this because in two years of study I am yet to even be taught the normal heart rates for children of various ages! (I have learnt these through a helpful nurse on one of placements)There is an option to undertake your specialisation in thrid year in paedeatrics.............however there are 20 or so places for 600 odd students. This also does not take into account the vast majority of students who, whilst not wanting to work in a childrens hospital, will encounter a paedeatric patient at some point in their careers.what do you guys think?Morgan

Hi priscillasmum Thanks for your response....however I am not entirely sure I agree with what you said. Your response may be true for nurses in the major teaching hospitals but what about the sigificant number of other nurses in the following areas"* Rural/ Remote (approximatley 30% of Australia's nursing workforce!!)* Accident and emergency* Theatre/ Day theatre* General practice* ICU nurses in venues such Royal Darwin hospital* RFDS flight nurses*Too an extent Royal district nursing service (SA based service)I am aware that not all nurses are a fan of paedeatric nursing however it does form approximatley 25% of the human life span. I can't help but feel that nursing training is based around the needs of the major teaching hospitals and their specalties areas at the expense of the large numbers of more "generalist venues".My perspective may be skewed in the sense that I have a particluar interest in R/R nursing and have encountered children on all 3 placements but still......cheersMorgan

Hi Debthanks for the support:) I should emphasie though that this is not an across the board problem, but rather an issue with some universities only. For example the new Adelaide university course appears to have a compulsory compenet based soley around kids. (ps: I won't even start on my uni. dropping rural/ remote as one choices for specalisation next year leaving only aboriginal health which is apparently the same thing?!.... I am aware a lot of aboriginals do reside in country areas but last time I ckecked so did "other races"!!!!!!. Now I have had my whinge I will be off ;))cheersMorgan

It feels like too much research, needs some balance. But if more clinical or longer courses then they should look at paying final year students as ENs or similar - because the old hospital way paid them and it's a long slog as it is...

Re paeds, 3 of my four last placements had mixed ages including paeds. One a country hosp, the others outer metro where separate wards not practical. There should be more taught at least. Or maybe more elective choices. This is where I found our rural health club handy - they offered courses the Uni itself didn't - which all looks good in the resume!

Hi, I am new to the forum and came across this thread. I feel and most of us students feel that at my University in Brisbane there is not much clinical placements given to us. We get less practicals within the 3 year period and particularly myself where I have finished a two week placement, gotta go back to uni and I feel so depressed. I feel hospital training is the way to go and the majority of people ie patients and other nurses that i have come across feel that hospital training should come back in focus. I agree, for a practical profession I feel that University holds too much emphasis on research and theory. Its great to have theory but too much of it can drown a person. There are many careers in nursing and for those that want to stick and help the profession out with doing research material, then they should go for it and wish them well on that.

Anyways that is my opinion :)

Hi, I noticed you all feel you lack clinical exposure during your course, may I make a suggestion. Send out your resume, as it stands, state clearly you are nursing student, and send it to every nursing home in your area. If you get no offers, send it out again. Be persistant and someone will employ you.

My daughter felt the same way and sent out her resume, cold, to 4 different nursing home in the area, and got a phone call and a job. She is very happy and feels the extra experience is very valuable.

Joanne