Did I goof?

[CountrifiedRN]

I am now on winter break, but this question has been on my mind.

On our last day of classes we had to fill out evaluations of the hospital floors we worked on and of our class curriculum and setting. Usually everyone in class does not fill out the evaluations pertaining to our nursing program honestly because it is well known that out instructors do not take constructive criticism well. But since they had envelopes that all the papers were being put into, I thought, what the heck, and I shared my true feelings about the class. The content does not always match what we are doing in clinicals and since the beginning we have been forced to move from classroom to classroom with inadequate lighting, temps that are too hot or to cold, and inadequate seating.

By the time I had finished, the envelope for the class content had "left" with another instructor, and one of our hardest instructors was collecting the last of the hospital evals. I told her I would take the eval sheet to the office to put it in the envelope, but she took it from me and said she would eventually read it anyway, so she would take it. I was upset, and told her that since it was supposed to be anonymous, she shouldn't take it by itself, but she said it didn't matter. I said "so much for anonymity" and left it at that. But Ihave been feeling like I should have stuck to my guns and took it myself to place it in the envelope. Now I feel like they are going to hold that eval against me next semester.

Many of us are unhappy with our program, but those that have spoken out before have been failed out of clinicals for what I would consider reasons that are insignificant. Most of us are waiting to give our true feelings about the program until the end of the last semester, when there will be no time for repercussions. Now I am just so nervous about how next semester is going to play out for me. Up until now, I have always been in the good graces of the instructors.

Any advice?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Well...it's not a good situation but really unavoidable. Since you expressed your concerns about anonymity perhaps she'll have the decency to treat your remarks that way. Feedback of any kind is a favor to her and helps to improve the program, maybe she'll see it that way.

You didn't say anything negative about that particular instructor did you? Otherwise I think you might be OK.

[CountrifiedRN]

The instructor evals are seperate, so I didn't say anything about any particular instructor, which I am hoping will be my saving grace. But there are some who would take unfavorable comments about the class content as a personal affront, so I guess it depends on whether or not she keeps my anonymity intact.

I just wish now that I hadn't done it. Maybe I am being paranoid over nothing, but only time will tell.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Oh wow.... good luck to you!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I would be upset too. Being from an academic mindset, she should not have done that.......it takes away from the point when they know who wrote it.

renerian:(

[emily_mom]

I would have grabbed it out of her hand and proceeded to eat it....:)

When we do ours, there is a class appointed moderator and the instructor leaves the room. The moderator collects all the forms, puts them in the envelope and then gets the instructor. They (mod) takes the forms to the office. At no time is an instructor in the room or does anyone leave. Geez, I would be a tad p.o'd about that!

Kristy

[memphispanda, RN]

We had to do 13 evaluations. They gave them to us the day of our final, and we had to return them to our clinical instructor when we got our semester evaluations. I guess if she wanted to go trhough them and read all the comments she would have no trouble knowing who wrote what-after all, she's been reading our writing all semester. I figure the people I had less that great things to say about probably wouldn't recognize my writing, so I was honest and wrote what I felt. The only way the bad things will have hope of getting better is by letting people know what the problems are. I think what you did was fine, and if they try to hold it against you later, just act ignorant. It sounded like your complaints were more about classrooms and settings than instructors, so maybe that won't get them all bent personally.

[maire, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by emily_mom

When we do ours, there is a class appointed moderator and the instructor leaves the room. The moderator collects all the forms, puts them in the envelope and then gets the instructor. They (mod) takes the forms to the office. At no time is an instructor in the room or does anyone leave.

Same here. Your name isn't on it, so it's not like they can call you on any comments later (I shouldn't think so, anyway).

[cakarol]

jeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzz...if they don't take critisism well...and obviously don't want to hear it...then why even do evaluations!?!?!?

:)

[Gator,SN]

I know how you feel right about now. I was frustrated all semester about certain things and I filled out all the eval sheets as honestly and openly as I could.........then I too had to catch up with the envelope. Fortunatly, it was already in the office and I handed it to the nursing secretary. She ASSURED me that it would be annonymous and that she would put it in for me with the rest. I thought, OK, cool.

BUT- the very next day the instructor that I wrote the most negative comments about- right out of the blue started talking to me....I started to PANIC!!!!! she never said a word to before, WHY NOW??????? I have her as a clinical instructor next semester.....AHHHHHHHH!

I don't think that they can hold these things against you, but I do feel like, who will stop them???

I am just hoping that the long winter break will help her forget, if the secretary did happen to tell her it was me!

Gator

[MidwifeWannaB]

Originally posted by emily_mom

I would have grabbed it out of her hand and proceeded to eat it....:)

heehee

Good idea...

thanks for the laugh...I need it. finals start today.

aimee

[Love-A-Nurse]

we filled ours out after our final this morning.

hope all goes well.