Dispelling desperation in nursing education

This analytic commentary is intended to promote dialogue about dehumanizing practices in nursing education which affect students as well as faculty. The commentary focuses on nursing education practices as they affect student distress and desperation. Such desperation is related to multiple educational factors, including the relative lack of minorities in nursing, expectations of conformity, hierarchical dynamics, and increased work expectations of faculty. Through selected review of literature and personal observation, patterns in nursing education are identified and related to student distress and desperation. Ideas for change in nursing education, as well as preservation of what is working well are discussed.