Nuances for Nursing Students:  The Video

Stacy Shipway BSN RN PHN

CSUSB Department of Nursing

video introduction by Dr. Stoner

Title slide

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Title: Nuances for Nursing Students: The Video

Creative commons license

(Featured at the end with reference information)

Content description

Overview: Stressors reported by nursing students; program rigor, family responsibilities

Objectives

Video with Stacy speaking

Nursing students across all continuums experience significant stress.  This video will provide recommended support for nursing students to enhance learning environments, reduce attrition and to aid in recruitment and progression of nursing students.

All of above 1 minute

Timeline

2-3 minute

Stacy talking at home

Program rigor was identified by Weitzel and McCahon in 2008 as one of the primary stressors associated with attending nursing school. Program Pace including; the amount of daily reading assignments, anxiety related to test taking, and the number of group assignments were discussed.

Additional sources listed overall program workload; the number of written assignments and the scientific nature of the content.

3 minutes

Stacy doing laundry

Family responsibilities were also listed by student respondents as challenges associated with full time nursing programs. Child care, financial constraints and employment were sited as elements competing with student time and energy necessary for academic success.

 Overcoming these stressors requires commitment, perseverance and at times sheer will power.  Students across continents through multiple studies identified common themes useful in the completion of their program.

4-6 minutes

Video of stacy talking

Organization skills were identified as one of the main components that students cited, according to Olsen (2010), as essential for success during nursing school.

I have a calendar that I mark all of my assignments on. I have it hung in the kitchen where everyone can see it. Then everyone knows when I have a test.

The Research suggests; adhering to a strict routine, starting your calendar the week before class begins, checking on-line resources twice a week and scheduling study time, time for yourself and family time were all important factors associated with program completion.

Basic Study skills were included by nursing students surveyed by Bickhoff, Strong-Wilbe, and Woodward in 2012 as components of success.

Katz, Carter, Kravits and Bishop suggest identifying study styles prior to the onset of classes in  Keys to Nursing Success published in ’09.

Are you a social learner----then join a study group

Are you easily distracted-----then study alone.

Do you procrastinate----then go to the library and study.

Are you a visual learner?----try drawing ideas out in charts and concept maps using colors.

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Stepford family scene…family coming in to offer support

Olsen (2010) identified Support Systems as another essential components of survival throughout nursing school. I was fortunate enough to have both financial and emotional support from my family support throughout my academic career.

 It’s important to remember to identify the areas that you need help with.  For example cooking, or transportation.

7-9 minutes

According to Olsen’s study 29.9% of respondents reported Friends and networks were instrumental support. I myself will Call, email or Skype a friend when I need help.  Sometimes a coffee break with my friends that are not students helps provide a place for me to vent.

I found study groups helpful for reviewing material and comparing notes. But remember limit group size to 3 or 4 members, meet weekly, and establish rules so your time is spent well.

All members should come prepared to a study group, so choose members carefully. Spend time quizzing each other on facts, but also ask members to compare and contrast material for a deeper understanding.

Mentors were also identified as inspirational and supportive. A mentor is can be defined as a relationship between two people a senior and a junior designed to assist the junior member in adjusting to a career or employment position. Mentors could be community nurses, staff at clinical sites, or senior RN students mentoring freshmen Entry Level students.  Mentoring programs are most successful each student has access to a mentor.

Faculty Support was discussed in several studies. Qualities identified as most supportive included; clear expectations with consistent timelines, a non judgmental attitude in the clinical setting, and overall faculty organization.

10 minutes

Video of stacy taking a walk

Supportive environments helped students complete programs and aid in over all feelings of well being. Bickhoff, Strong-Wilbe, & Woodward stated in their 2012 publication that nursing is a physically and mentally challenging career. Students need to establish a healthy standard early for greatest success.

Managing Stress was listed as a vital instrument to success reported by 26.8% of the nursing students Olsen surveyed.

Taking care of self was a common theme in the research.  Noted Strategies included; regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and spending quiet personal time to reflect on clinical experiences.

11-13 minutes

Let’s take a few minutes to practice relaxation.  Close your eyes and think of a beautiful place that fills you with happiness.  Breath in those feelings of happiness and exhale the stresses of your day. Breath in happiness and breath out stress….breath in and hold….breath out and hold it.

Taking just a few minutes throughout your day to practice deep breathing has been shown to reduce stress.

For me moderation is key, spend the time studying but not at the determent of your physical or mental well- being.

14-15 minutes

Video of Stacy talking

Maintaining personal motivation was a primary factor listed by graduates leading to program completion.

Sometimes getting up and getting to class requires shear will power.

If you start thinking that you can’t do it you’re sunk.  I keep telling myself..I got this

My mom is a nurse and I don’t want her to think that I can’t do it.

I would let my husband down if I quit, he’s counting on me.

Research indicated that Motivation for program completion relied on positive self talk, inner strength, and validation from family and faculty.

I wanted to be a nurse since I was in grade school.  The challenges of completing school took me longer than some students, but I was determined and I’ve never regretted it.  Nursing can be a hard job.  But it’s the hardest job I’ve ever loved and I wouldn’t do anything else.  Good luck !!!!

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Acknowledgements  

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Nuances for Nurses by Stacy Shipway is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Acknowledgements

Thank the CSUSB Faculty; especially Dr. Stoner

My Peers in Nursing 660

My family

The LVN students at Baldy View ROP

Permissions

none needed

c

References

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Bickhoff, L., Strong-Wilbe, T.  & Woodward, J. (2012). Student survival guide. Australian Nursing Journal, 19(10), 22.

Birks, M. , Chapman, Y. , & Francis, K. (2006). Baccalaureate nursing studies: Voyaging towards discovery. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 12(5), 267.

Depremont, J.A. (2011). Success in nursing school:  Black nursing students’ perception of peers, family, and faculty.  Journal of Nursing Education 50(5). 254-260. Doi:  10.3928/01484834-20110317-03

Haitana, J. , & Bland, M. (2011). Building relationships: The key to preceptoring nursing students. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 27(1), 4.

Katz, J.R., Carter, C., Kravits, S.L., Bishop, J. (2009). Keys to Nursing Success (3rd Ed.). Philadelphia, PA:  Saunders Publishing.

Olsen, J.K. (2010).  Self-reported factors that contribute to the success of the nontraditional student in a five semester nursing program. American Psychological Association.

Pardue, K. , & Morgan, P. (2008). Millennials considered: A new generation, new approaches, and implications for nursing education. Nursing Education Perspectives, 29(2), 74.

Sharples, K. (2007). Supporting nursing students. Nursing Standard, 21(50), 64.

Stepney, P. , Callwood, I. , Ning, F. , & Downing, K. (2011). Learning to collaborate: A study of nursing students' experience of inter-professional education at one uk university. Educational Studies, 37(4), 419-434.

Weitzel, M. , & McCahon, C. (2008). Stressors and supports for baccalaureate nursing students completing an accelerated program. Journal of Professional Nursing,24(2), 85.