Driving too far to simply avoid a clinical instructor?

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My nursing school orientation for this fall is this coming Monday May 16th. Hard to believe this year I've been waiting for has quickly come and gone, and now I have my chance to redeem myself....*sighs relief*:coollook:

However, I have a big decision to make before Monday. And that is to which hospital I should sign up to do my clinicals. The most logical choice is hopital #1 which is only 45 min from here. It's closer than the college is, which is 80 miles. Hospital #2 is 125 miles from here.

I know it should be a no brainer-but it's not, and here's why:

At the closer hospital, #1 the clinical instructor is drill sergeant or something. I'm not kidding or exaggerating. This past school year she had to be reprimanded for berating a student so bad that a doctor complained to the school. The student was crying so hard that they said the whole floor of the hospital could hear her, The year before that this instructor flunked the entire ob rotation and another instructor had to be brought in to re-teach the ob class. There are a million horror stories about her. And I've tried to be realistic, gossip may be a big part of it, that surely she can;t be that bad, but after being in one of her pre-req's for only a month last year I tend to believe they are true. Everyone was hoping she would retire, or if enough complaints were brought forth that she would be gone after last year's incidences, but today I found out she is set to come back..ugh

So if I go to the hospital #2 it will be a 2 and a half hour drive two days a week for clinicals. My friend who will be my study buddy got in this year and she lives about 10 min from the school. She wants us to do our clinicals together so she also is afraid to come to #1 because of the clinical instructor and wants us to got to #2. It's only about an hour for her to either hospital. She says If I drive to her house which is an hour and a half for me that I can ride the rest of the way with her to #2 And this hopital is more state of the art, has computerized charting, etc.

So I'm torn..lol logically I should go to the closer hospital I know, It'll be ok either way, just another decision to make.:rolleyes: I just want to learn as much as I can and learn to be a great nurse. Anybody have any opinions? Suggestions?

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Geriatrics.

About your problem...first let me say that when I was in LPN school, the instructor that was the hardest on us as students was one of the best clinical instructors I had. She was tough but she was trying to make us become good nurses who knew what we were doing. I ended up liking her the best of the clinical instructors we had. We did not have choice as to where we went or who was instructor, we were assigned to a place and that is where we had to go. But, if you feel like you just can't deal with her, since LPN school is stressful enough without the added pressure of a head-hunter for a teacher, you could ride with your friend. Maybe you could spend the nights with her on clinical days and then that would cut your drivetime down in the AM...we had to be at clinical at 6am...so that is a long trip when you have to get up early just to drive...plus if you're up late studying for tests...something to think about! :uhoh3:

Best wishes!!

crjnursewarrior :rolleyes:

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Yes that is definitely something to think about, the early morning hours. Thanks for your advice. I thought I had posted this in the nursing student discussion so I'm going to "attempt" to move it over there.:imbar Thanks for the reply!

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Your thread has been moved as you requested......... :)

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Your thread has been moved as you requested......... :)

Thank you.:)

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Geriatrics.
Yes that is definitely something to think about, the early morning hours. Thanks for your advice. I thought I had posted this in the nursing student discussion so I'm going to "attempt" to move it over there.:imbar Thanks for the reply!

I'm not sure maybe your post was in the nursing student section. I was reading the posts in there as I am currently in school in pursuit of my BSN degree, so technically I am a nursing student, as well, even though I have already finished LPN school... :) Anyhow best wishes!

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I would go with the 2nd instructor; longer drive. Why take the chance on the bully teacher deciding to fail your entire class! Don't worry too much about whether the tough teacher may be also a great instructor in her own way. Your real education will begin after graduation anyway. Do what you need to do (legally & ethically) to get through school, jump through the hoops, fly below the radar to get through.

It's great that your friend is willing to split the drive with you, will give you guys extra time to prepare for clinicals in the morning. It's only a couple days a week.

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Go to school number TWO. Tape your lecture and listen to it on the way home or on your way there. Think of it as extra study time-bring alarge notbook. Scribble some little tips the teacher or any questions to you ha..d. Do not read these read these when you get home.After taking care of you and your families needs. Find a quite space and start a study style that work for you. do not let one nurse ruin your term. If she were your instructor try to remember this women has issues with everything, Do not give her a chance To destroy your hope and dreams. And you get to listen to your class again and make sure the instructor is try get across. Write notes to you self when stopping traffic or at a light. Later transpose the litte notes in your outline and you will be amazed at how much you could get out of a lecture

Record all classes so that you have your own sources.

:balloons: :Melody: BEST OF LUCK TO YOU

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This is kind of where my thinking was headed. I don't want to seem weak or like I'm just trying to take an "easy way out" but I know nursing school is very rough without any extra stress.

I would go with the 2nd instructor; longer drive. Why take the chance on the bully teacher deciding to fail your entire class! Don't worry too much about whether the tough teacher may be also a great instructor in her own way. Your real education will begin after graduation anyway. Do what you need to do (legally & ethically) to get through school, jump through the hoops, fly below the radar to get through.

It's great that your friend is willing to split the drive with you, will give you guys extra time to prepare for clinicals in the morning. It's only a couple days a week.

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Thanks :)

Go to school number TWO. Tape your lecture and listen to it on the way home or on your way there. Think of it as extra study time-bring alarge notbook. Scribble some little tips the teacher or any questions to you ha..d. Do not read these read these when you get home.After taking care of you and your families needs. Find a quite space and start a study style that work for you. do not let one nurse ruin your term. If she were your instructor try to remember this women has issues with everything, Do not give her a chance To destroy your hope and dreams. And you get to listen to your class again and make sure the instructor is try get across. Write notes to you self when stopping traffic or at a light. Later transpose the litte notes in your outline and you will be amazed at how much you could get out of a lecture

Record all classes so that you have your own sources.

:balloons: :Melody: BEST OF LUCK TO YOU

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Specializes in School, Camp, Hospice, Critical Care.

However, I have a big decision to make before Monday. And that is to which hospital I should sign up to do my clinicals. The most logical choice is hopital #1 which is only 45 min from here. It's closer than the college is, which is 80 miles. Hospital #2 is 125 miles from here.

Avoiding a toxic instructor is worth the drive to anywhere.

What you lose in time/sleep, you will make up in emotional energy.

If you must have this teacher, prepare well for each clinical day and fly well under her radar. My experience with such instructors is they pick their targets (those whom they perceive as weak, for whatever reason) early in the rotation. If you make a strong professional showing early on, and then just plain avoid her, you may escape her ire.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in ER.

I am the type that refuses to be bullied..there is no way in HECK I would drive ten hours a week, JUST to get to clinical, to avoid an instructor. School is time consuming enough without adding that kind of drive time.

I also only believe about .02 percent of what I hear from other students. I have had plenty of instructors I dreaded having because they are so "horrible", only to have them turn out to be one of my favorites.

Whatever you decide, have a great year! Good luck! :)

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