Thanks, Robert!

Thanks Robert for a very comprehensive blog on the sad situation at the USM school of nursing.  I wish that these were the only problems we have, many are small but much of our defeatist attitude is one of a depressed faculty that has lost its spirit and optimism.  The students feel it, they know what is going on and how different their education is from previous years.  WE can't say anything because many of us are on one year appointments, some of those are "Visiting" without voting privileges or security.  Most of us are not tenured and many are working on doctoral degrees and many looking to leave as soon as we complete those degrees (although no one talks about that to anyone who can't be trusted).  We want to stay here, this is the school that in the past was known as the most progressive school of nursing in Mississippi, not just the largest.  WE used to have nationally known visiting faculty, faculty from other countries in exchange programs, we sponsored educational programs and conferences, everything a real school of nursing with BS, MSN and Ph.D. programs SHOULD be doing.  Now, we are barely able to keep up with an undergraduate program.  We can only do that with part time instructors, some who have never taught before.  OUr building situation is dire, makes students and faculty sick with nothing in site for the solution.  Physical plant recently ripped up carpet and ceiling in some offices downstairs in adminstration and classrooms due to recent hot water flood but it is mainly cosmetic, as anyone who knows anything about mold/fungi/etc.  We are trapped in this building, no real way to repair it without costing a fortune (which won't happen in my lifetime) as we drag in one pathogen after another day in and day out from the hospitals and clinical agencies.  If you come to visit us, you might want to wear a mask and wash your hands frequently.  Thank you Robert and everyone for caring.  Based on the fact that NO ONE has even bothered to write any letters to the editor in reaction to the headline story last week just makes us feel even more insignficant.  Guess the community will find out eventually that hospitals and agencies can run with fewer MDs but not without nurses.  THen we will begin to see what is happening in other rural communities in Mississippi--recruiting nurses from places like the Phllippines to work in our State.  And poaching their nurses is not the answer, they need their nurses worse than we do. Ok, not such a good day.  Maybe next week someone will suddenly wake up and smell the lysol.

Thanks!

quote:

---

Originally posted by: Clara the Barton
"Thanks Robert for a very comprehensive blog on the sad situation at the USM school of nursing.  I wish that these were the only problems we have, many are small but much of our defeatist attitude is one of a depressed faculty that has lost its spirit and optimism.  The students feel it, they know what is going on and how different their education is from previous years.  WE can't say anything because many of us are on one year appointments, some of those are "Visiting" without voting privileges or security.  Most of us are not tenured and many are working on doctoral degrees and many looking to leave as soon as we complete those degrees (although no one talks about that to anyone who can't be trusted).  We want to stay here, this is the school that in the past was known as the most progressive school of nursing in Mississippi, not just the largest.  WE used to have nationally known visiting faculty, faculty from other countries in exchange programs, we sponsored educational programs and conferences, everything a real school of nursing with BS, MSN and Ph.D. programs SHOULD be doing.  Now, we are barely able to keep up with an undergraduate program.  We can only do that with part time instructors, some who have never taught before.  OUr building situation is dire, makes students and faculty sick with nothing in site for the solution.  Physical plant recently ripped up carpet and ceiling in some offices downstairs in adminstration and classrooms due to recent hot water flood but it is mainly cosmetic, as anyone who knows anything about mold/fungi/etc.  We are trapped in this building, no real way to repair it without costing a fortune (which won't happen in my lifetime) as we drag in one pathogen after another day in and day out from the hospitals and clinical agencies.  If you come to visit us, you might want to wear a mask and wash your hands frequently.  Thank you Robert and everyone for caring.  Based on the fact that NO ONE has even bothered to write any letters to the editor in reaction to the headline story last week just makes us feel even more insignficant.  Guess the community will find out eventually that hospitals and agencies can run with fewer MDs but not without nurses.  THen we will begin to see what is happening in other rural communities in Mississippi--recruiting nurses from places like the Phllippines to work in our State.  And poaching their nurses is not the answer, they need their nurses worse than we do. Ok, not such a good day.  Maybe next week someone will suddenly wake up and smell the lysol. Thanks!"

---

Clara,

Thanks for a very touching post.  I have always had enormous respect for nurses, so seeing you folks suffer is one of the saddest parts of what is happening at USM.

quote:

---

Originally posted by: Outside Observer
"....if it's true that Ole Miss is beginning a nursing program, you'd expect resources to be diverted toward it...."

---

Outside Observer: The information I heard says that Ole Miss will begin degree programs in Nursing at the Oxford campus in the Fall - at the undergraduate level, but also at the masters and doctoral levels. I also heard that their beginning undergraduate Nursing class will number 20. As you undoubtedly already know, Ole Miss already offer degree progams in Nursing in Jackson.

USM Alumni: Wake up or you'll wind up with only a trade school in Hattiesburg - if even that.

quote:

---

Originally posted by: Outside Observer
"have they always offered masters and doctoral level nursing degrees or are those new this fall?"

---

All of the University of Mississippi nursing degree programs have been
based at the Medical Center in Jackson. Ole Miss students in Oxford have
had to transfer to Jackson if they wished to study nursing. In the past,
USM has enjoyed the advantage of offering nursing programs on a
traditional college campus.