Unmasking Osmosis: Establishing Healthy Boundaries within Advising

1
Unmasking Osmosis Establishing Healthy
Boundaries within Advising

• Ovuke R. Emonina
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Taking Advising to New Heights
• 32nd Annual NACADA Conference-Chicago
• October 4, 2008

2
Objectives for this session

• DEFINE BOUNDARIES
• DEFINE THE ANALOGY OF OSMOSIS AND BOUNDARIES
• IDENTIFY THE THREE TYPES OF ADVISORS AND ADVISEES
  BASED ON THE ANALOGY
• EVALUATE SELF-CARE

3
WHY BOUNDARIES IN ADVISING

• TO KEEP CONTACT WITH ADVISEE (S) PROFESSIONAL
• TO ENSURE PROTECTION FOR YOURSELF AND THE
  PROFESSION

4
OSMOSIS and Boundaries.hmm?

• Osmosis

• boundaries

• An animals cell semi-permeable membrane which
  allow water and molecules to move from an area of
  low concentration to high concentration.

• Your own invisible fence line that help you
  determine what is your responsibility and what
  isnt (Cloud Townsend, 1992).

5
Healthy is Necessary

• Osmosis

• boundaries

• This invisible fence line allows you to establish
  healthy limits for yourself which can prevent
  unhealthy things to pass through (Cloud
  Townsend, 1992).

The semi-permeable membranes are very thin layers
that allow some things to pass through them but
prevent other things from passing through.
6
Outside can effect inside

• Osmosis

• boundaries

• inside factors (cell concentration)
• outside factors (water concentration solution and
  molecules)

• inside factors (you)
• outside factors ( people, situations, and etc)

7
Three types of situations

• Boundaries within advising

• Animal Cells
• within Osmosis

• 1. Isotonic- Balanced
• 2. Hypertonic- Drains
• 3. Hypotonic- Swells

• 1. Isotonic advisor/ Student
• 2. Hypertonic advisor/ student
• 3. Hypotonic advisor/ student

8
Hypertonic Characteristics

• ADVISOR

• REASONS

• AVOIDING STUDENTS
• NO RAPPORT WITH ADVISEES
• 4 Ds- Dry, Distant, Disassociated, and Drained
• Not effective

• Lacking in physical, spiritual, social, mental,
  or financial health
• Lack of interest possibly in the profession
• Limited support from department
• (Skovholt, 2001)

9
Hypertonic advisor/ isotonic student
Isotonic Student Can you sign my recommendation
letter for nursing school ?
Hypertonic Advisor Look I am busy with my
solitaire game, can this wait!
10
Hypertonic student

• DOES NOT VIEW ADVISING AS IMPORTANT RESOURCE
• CAN VIEW AN ADVISOR AS ANOTHER STEP IN UNIVERSITY
  BUREAUCRACY OR JUST AN ANNOYANCE
• SEES THE ROLE OF ADVISOR ONLY CLASS SCHEDULER
• OFTEN WAITS TO THE LAST MINUTE BUT EXPECT
  EXCELLENT AND IMMEDIATE RESULTS
• Has no desire to establish rapport with advisor

11
Hypotonic characteristics

• Advisor

• REASONS

• CONSIDERS THEMSELVES LIFESAVER, GIVER, OR FIXER
  OF ALL THINGS
• TAKES ON OTHER ROLES IN THE ADVISEE/ ADVISOR
  RELATIONSHIP
• TAKES ON RESPONSIBITIES FOR THEIR ADVISEE
• DOES NOT DELEGATE

• NEEDS TO BE NEEDED
• THE INABILITY TO SAY NO
• Inadequate SELF-CARE
• Likes time occupied with other people
• Dependency ( Skovholt,
  2001)

12
Hypertonic student/ Hypotonic advisor

Hypotonic advisor I am so happy that you need
me! What can I do for you today?
Hypertonic student Look, I dont have much time
to talk, I just need my probation hold CLEARED!
13
Hypotonic student

• CONSUME ALL RESOURCES AND TIME OF ADVISOR
• NOT ABLE TO RELY ON OWN AUTONOMY
• EXPECT ADVISOR TO OTHER SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN
  THEIR LIFE
• RELIES ON ADVISOR FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
  SUPPORT
• Visits are very frequent

14
HYPOTONIC STUDENT/ HYPOTONIC ADVISOR
Hypotonic student I love to stop by your office.
You always have the latest nail color for me!
I know but I will also have show you my perfume
collection the next time you come in.
15
ISOTONIC Characteristics

• ADVISOR

• REASONS

• RESPECTS AUTONOMY OF ADVISEE
• DOES NO HARM
• UNDERSTANDS THE CORE VALUE 6 OF NACADA-Advisors
  are responsible for their professional practices
  and for themselves personally.

• APPRIORATE SELF CARE
• SUPPORT FROM DEPARTMENT AND COLLEAGUES
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
• JOB SATISFACTION IS HIGH

16
Isotonic Advisor/ Hypotonic student
Hypotonic student PLEASE HELP ME! I know I have
seen you 6 times in the past 3 weeks...but I
dont know how to write a paperor talk to a
professor.or set goals!
Isotonic advisor I know this first semester can
be difficult adjusting. Let me provide you with
some resources to help you have a successful
semester.
17
Isotonic student

• Understands the role of an advisor
• Attempt to secure information for themselves with
  assistance
• Are well prepared for advisor meeting
• Makes adequate appointments for the semester to
  provide updates and check their progress

18
ISOTONIC ADVISOR/ ISOTONIC STUDENT
Isotonic student Thank you for your assistance
with establishing my education and career goals.
Isotonic advisor Congratulations! I am excited
on your acceptance into nursing school.
19
Group Activity

• IN GROUPS OF FOUR, YOU WILL DISCUSS AND CREATE A
  SKIT FROM THE SCENARIO PROVIDED. YOU WILL ALSO
  DETEREMINE THE NEEDS FOR THE STUDENT.
• SCENARIOS WILL BE SELECTED TO BE PRESENTED.
• THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE AUDIENCE WILL HAVE THE
  OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF ADVISOR/
  ADVISEE RELATIONSHIP BEING PORTRAYED.

20
Self Care

• We are responsible to others and for
  ourselves.-Cloud Townsend,1992

HYPERTONIC
ISOTONIC
HYPOTONIC
SELF CARE- BALANCED LIFE- Physical, spiritual,
social, mental and financial health ( Skolvalt,
2001)
ADVISING
21
Your advising gauge
ISOTONIC- balanced and relaxed
HYPERTONIC- Isolated and disconnected
HYPOTONIC- overwhelmed and just ready to burst!
22
Take Advising to New Heights

• Identify your own limits and recognize your
  boundaries
• Evaluate your self-care and work back towards
  becoming balanced.

23
References and Resources
Cloud, H., Townsend, J. (1992). Boundaries.
Philadelphia Running Press. Skovholt, T.M. (
2001). The Resilient Practitioner. Boston
Allyn Bacon.

• http/www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIss
  ues/Core-Values-Exposition.htm/
• www.nsta.org