[Bumashes]

Very angry right now at one of the instructors at my school. He/she has been a problem for a long time. You know, the one you're always warned about? "Ooooh, don't get so-and-so for clinical. They're terrible." Well, that's who I'm writing about. He/she seems to make their own rules and is ALWAYS backed by the faculty. Anyway, besides the long list of past grievances everyone has, which include intimidation and verbal abuse bordering on threats, the thing I want to vent about is a girl getting ousted from the program because of this instructor's pettiness. She did her assessments on her pts, turned in her assessments the the CI, and the next thing she knows, she's being accused of falsifying documents! The CI went to pt and questioned the pt about whether or not the student had performed some of the things such as lung/heart sounds. Now, hello, the pt wasn't a medical professional. She can't be expected to know one way or the other. But, the CI asked anyway and took the pt's word that it hadn't been done. The greatest stupidity of all is that the CI had actually been present when the student did the auscultations. The CI left when the student was about to give the bed bath. So, the CI witnessed the auscultation, forgot about it, asked the pt (who can't be relied upon), and then confronted the student and sent her home. The CI pulled her from the floor and into a room with the manager of the floor and proceeded to strip away the student's dignity. When finished, the CI handed the Unsafe Form to the manager and asked if she would like to add any comments and to please sign also. The manager refused! She said she didn't understand why she was asked by the CI to be present, and was not going to sign the form. Then, when the student was on her way out, the CI stopped her and told her, "Don't you say anything about this to other students." I'm sorry, but that sounds like a threat to me. It's her life experience. As long as she doesn't discuss pt particulars, then what does it matter if she talks about it? Anyway, this is but one in a series of events that has happened to this student and most of my class. She decided she couldn't take it any more and just never came back to have the "conference" about the Unsafe, which the CI was sure to make clear that it was grounds for termination. After, at post-conference, the CI said to the rest of the group, "She won't be coming back." Can't help but feel helpless at this school. If you complain, you get toasted. That's what happened to this student. She had a concern earlier in the semester that she brought through the correct chain of command, and ever since then, it's been like a manhunt to eliminate her from the program. Ridiculous! We pay our money to have our self-worth raped! Anyway, just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

[GNiteNursingStdnt]

That is HORRIBLE! I fear the same thing is going to happen to me because of my calling out something my C.I. did that was wrong. Lemme’ tell you though, I have learned SO much from the UNethical actions of some of this faculty - always document document document. I also have learned to NEVER back down from what I believe is an injustice. I will not let these people intimidate me, and they DO try their dammed’est don't they! I'm telling you, I hear ya on this. It's so disconcerting!! Nursing professionals acting like that!!

[allthingsbright]

Originally Posted by Bumashes

Very angry right now at one of the instructors at my school. He/she has been a problem for a long time. You know, the one you're always warned about? "Ooooh, don't get so-and-so for clinical. They're terrible." Well, that's who I'm writing about. He/she seems to make their own rules and is ALWAYS backed by the faculty. Anyway, besides the long list of past grievances everyone has, which include intimidation and verbal abuse bordering on threats, the thing I want to vent about is a girl getting ousted from the program because of this instructor's pettiness. She did her assessments on her pts, turned in her assessments the the CI, and the next thing she knows, she's being accused of falsifying documents! The CI went to pt and questioned the pt about whether or not the student had performed some of the things such as lung/heart sounds. Now, hello, the pt wasn't a medical professional. She can't be expected to know one way or the other. But, the CI asked anyway and took the pt's word that it hadn't been done. The greatest stupidity of all is that the CI had actually been present when the student did the auscultations. The CI left when the student was about to give the bed bath. So, the CI witnessed the auscultation, forgot about it, asked the pt (who can't be relied upon), and then confronted the student and sent her home. The CI pulled her from the floor and into a room with the manager of the floor and proceeded to strip away the student's dignity. When finished, the CI handed the Unsafe Form to the manager and asked if she would like to add any comments and to please sign also. The manager refused! She said she didn't understand why she was asked by the CI to be present, and was not going to sign the form. Then, when the student was on her way out, the CI stopped her and told her, "Don't you say anything about this to other students." I'm sorry, but that sounds like a threat to me. It's her life experience. As long as she doesn't discuss pt particulars, then what does it matter if she talks about it? Anyway, this is but one in a series of events that has happened to this student and most of my class. She decided she couldn't take it any more and just never came back to have the "conference" about the Unsafe, which the CI was sure to make clear that it was grounds for termination. After, at post-conference, the CI said to the rest of the group, "She won't be coming back." Can't help but feel helpless at this school. If you complain, you get toasted. That's what happened to this student. She had a concern earlier in the semester that she brought through the correct chain of command, and ever since then, it's been like a manhunt to eliminate her from the program. Ridiculous! We pay our money to have our self-worth raped! Anyway, just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

Ya know, I have to agree with you. We basically all live in fear of the ax falling. And I have seen people failed for what I think is "no reason. " I dont know what to tell you except that I understand your frustration and feel the same.

According to the rumor mill, we just had a class mate of mine accussed of "cheating" by using someone elses notes to study by and learn material for a check off (crazy--long story) and another student told to delete her myspace page or be kicked out (she had some objectional stuff on it but still!)...the list goes on and on. Most of the time I just tell myself I dont know the whole story and stay out of things--because I have to practice self preservation in order to pass. Sad but true. Plus rumors abound and half the time its hard for me to believe things are so bad...I just want to graduate. I am learning to stay out of stuff and I think that will hold true in my new job.

I have 3+ wks and I am OUT! Thank you, God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then it's on to hospital drama, eh?

Hang in there...

[MBA2BRN]

Originally Posted by Bumashes

Very angry right now at one of the instructors at my school. He/she has been a problem for a long time. You know, the one you're always warned about? "Ooooh, don't get so-and-so for clinical. They're terrible." Well, that's who I'm writing about. He/she seems to make their own rules and is ALWAYS backed by the faculty. Anyway, besides the long list of past grievances everyone has, which include intimidation and verbal abuse bordering on threats,

WHAT??? You have one of my faculty as your CI???? Oh wait, you wrote "bordering on threats." My problem instructor will make out right threats after screaming (I mean literally in a high pitched Marine Drill Instructor way) at students during clinicals and in lecture!! Two more semesters with this so-called professional and I am out of here!

I do not know how programs manage to get the insane nurses that probably should have been fired a dozen times with NO bedside manner to teach, but mine has managed to pick a few winners (mostly CIs)! So, hang in there because you are not alone. <- I have to laugh or I will think I am dreaming at times.

[CRNA2BKY]

That student should bring a lawsuit against that CI, and get actual and punitive damages brought against him or her. You see, students do have rights, and if a student is treated unfairly and gets thrown out of a program, then that student has a right to get their money back and have that instructor's nursing license taken away. If the student pressed this and got attorneys and the BON involved, there could be hell to pay for the school and CI. I wouldn't go out without a fight, that's for sure.

[Alois Wolf]

What I don't understand is how someone could tell another student to take down their myspace just because it has "questionable" material on it... That's in violation of the first amendment if you ask me. Personal life has nothing to do with professional or academic.As for the OP, my goodness that's horrible. She should have gone to that meeting. =\ All I can say is that you guys have to stick together, if they are on a witch hunt act as a team and fight for your rights and dignity. If enough of you say something they WILL listen.

[allthingsbright]

Originally Posted by Alois Wolf

What I don't understand is how someone could tell another student to take down their myspace just because it has "questionable" material on it... That's in violation of the first amendment if you ask me. Personal life has nothing to do with professional or academic.

And according to this student, insult was added to injury when she was told that she should rethink going into nursing r/t the myspace page and her physical appearance. Of course, I wasnt at the meeting, so who knows what really happened, but if what this student says is true, I would think she has a real beef with what is going on in terms of her rights being violated. I also dont know if she erased her page or not.

[APBT mom]

What documents were falsified. We don't put our assessments in the computers because we are not employees at the hospital. If we even get caught giving our assessment to a nurse we get in trouble because that's the nurses job not ours. The only thing that we can tell nurses about our assessments is if we find anything that hasn't been noted in the chart (red spot on buttocks...). Even if she didn't do it the worst thing should have been a 0 for the day/grade IMO because in some cases that drops you a whole letter grade.

As for the myspace thing I find that hilarious. Our instructors know that a group of us have myspace pages and mine's has all sorts of things on it that could be interpreted as inappropriate. It has nothing to do with how I act or what I do at school nor does it affect my ability to care for a patient. What I want to know is what right do they have to tell her she should rethink anything because of her looks. I have 16 piercings in my head alone and the instructors have seen me with them outside of clinicals. The only thing that I can say that could be negative is one of them told me it would be hard to find a job that would allow me to wear them. Whether my piercings are in or out I act professional.

She should have spoken up when the appearance thing was said to the director of the program and if that didn't work she should find a lawyer because her appearance wasn't factored in when they were cashing her tuition check did it.

[Bumashes]

The "falsified documents" were the assessment forms we were given to record our assessments on. It's just a paper chart that you make marks on and short comments. It is NOT used as part of the pt's real medical chart. It's only for our instructor's review.

[futurecnm]

Originally Posted by nurse2bKY

That student should bring a lawsuit against that CI, and get actual and punitive damages brought against him or her. You see, students do have rights, and if a student is treated unfairly and gets thrown out of a program, then that student has a right to get their money back and have that instructor's nursing license taken away. If the student pressed this and got attorneys and the BON involved, there could be hell to pay for the school and CI. I wouldn't go out without a fight, that's for sure.

Never happen. This is how nursing school is. They seem to be able to pick students they want out and get them out. The best bet if you want to get through school is to stay under the radar and get through it. It may not ever be fair or just but that is the way it is in many nursing schools. Ideally students have rights but in reality a lawsuit would never happen and the CI license would never be taken away.