MinorityNurse.com

 

Online Nursing Programs vs Traditional Nursing Programs for Black Nurses

I am a Black non-traditional MSN student and I need to vent. Recently, 3 weeks ago I began another MSN program . Last , year I had wrtten a paper on cultural competency in nursing. It dealt with promoting more miniority nurses in front of the class as nurse educators. More minority nurses as directors of nursing prograams. The paper was firey.It talked about the discrimination in the undergraduate nursing programs and how this contributed to fewer Black nurses.Further that minority nurses are not coached,or mentored . Essentially you are left on your own to 'catch as catch can'. I found that one of my Professor had published an article on African American nurses and how they were treated in the nursing program. So when I applied and was accepted into the MSN program I knew things would be different.

To my surprise nothing had changed. They were still practicing avoidance /when it came to forming groups for class projects. Your contributions were not valued even when I was better prepared than the person trying to put me on the spot. People I am tired. But ,I was relieved of my obligation as a result of failing a class becasue I did not know how to write. Now , this is after I had submitted my manuscript to NLN for publication. This is after , I had hired an editor to review my work before submission for grading. Actually this is after , one of the professors had suggested I have my work reviewed by and editor. I am through.

This was after  I had fought with another prof. who had acused me copying my information without giving credit. I challenged her becasue another student who was Black had informed me that this is how she failed the Black students in her class. Well , it took nearly a year and serval re-writes before she was forced to give me a passing grade C+ in a master's program.Later she sent me an email which I kept that cursed me,and called me "a hateful person" . I was told that I had been expelled from this MSN program and since it was a fellowship program I owed them over $20K.I am so tired of this mess.

I have since started a MSN program online and what a difference. Could it be becasue the students remain anonyamous. An online education ,is this the future, for miniority nurses seeking advanced degress. My class at the traditional school will graduate in May 2009 , I was removed in Jan. 2009. It hurt , but only for a short time. I will graduate either in Dec. or 2009 or May 2010 depending on whether I want to double -up on the classes. I have thought of doubling up becasue I learned everything from the traditional program. The online program has the same courses. I remember looking at the DON and my graduate advisor and mentally asking why are you doing this? There are people in the class that I know not only can not write , but most of them sit silently and pretend that they understand . After class the group website is alive with , " I did get it, and I don't know what she is talking about . But, they are white.

So, today I am in an online MSN program, while being seriously considered for a teaching position, started volunteering in the community ( I give speaches on helath and healt realted issues), and I am starting a teaching focused business. Yes , the only thing the traditional program taught me is that I have talent as a teacher. I plan to develop and use that talent.It feels good when you have found a niche' for yourself.