Infuriating Responses To Questions

Nursing Students General Students

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Are any of you frustrated when your instructor answers your question with a question?

Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

I often wonder if instructors don't think I read the material. I ask a question because I didn't understand it in the reading or I am trying to think outside the box. What infuriates me more is when I ask a question and the instructor dances around it and eventually moves on leaving me with the original question unanswered. This is the 2nd class I've taken where the instructor does this. The first time, I felt a bit like an idiot (meaning, did I miss the answer somewhere in all that fluff?). But, then after class I would have other students come up and tell me they never got the answer out of the fluff either. Unfortunately, most of us now don't ask anything because its pointless. The instructor can then stick to her powerpoints and go home feeling like she taught us that day. Rather sad, I know, but some instructors don't seem to like it when they have their class day planned and for fear of veering off subject, don't bother to be a part of the class.

Now, most of my instructors have been wonderful. I just chalk the last two up to bad luck. Still don't like it though. :banghead:

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could it be way for the C.I. to focus student's attention on important points like reading?showing authority towards the students to learn values of obedience.?

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

I'm not sure, but I'm a wee bit past the phase of 'obedience'. I truly am wanting to learn, but no matter, I'll figure it out as I go. I also understand that ns is the hoop I have to jump through to become a nurse. I can learn from my colleages as I progress. NS is the first major I've taken up where some instructors just don't answer the question. Assuming we are there to learn, just answer the question. It's ok to get me thinking by asking me more in depth questions, but just don't dance around it. If time is an issue or the fear of off topic conversation may occur, please let me know and I'll see ya after class. Sometimes, the best learning comes from participation from students and instructors actually conversing. :twocents:

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our impression of others(C.I. to students, students to c.i.), whether accurate or inaccurate, influences how we interpret their behavior. one c.i. who is intelligent enough should be aware of this fact so that in the beginning he/she would have made impression of how he/she wants the students look at her/him(as initial basis of students respect). A student asking question, intelligent, thoughtful or going beyond existing structure is always a job for one c.i to handle intelligently. frequency of one c.i behavior to throw question as answer to one question would be fair enough maybe to be judged as incompetent. in which, if this is the case, i believe the students should also be intelligent enough to relate collective instances and request for their rights to be given a more intelligent c.i to deal with their teenage "know it all, care less attitude". somebody they could squeeze a lot from. otherwise the idea that effective instructional process is based on the assumption that students learn through interaction among themselves and the c.i is closed or slightly opened.

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As a nursing instructor I had to smile when I read this message. Personally I do answer my students questions 90% of the time. The other 10% I make them research the answer and present it to the group in post conference. I was somewhat offended by the remarks that some made about instructors not knowing the answer that's why they answer your question with a question.

Personally I believe that if I give you, the student, the answer all of the time you are only going to remember it for a short period of time (clinical day or for test). I also believe that if you have to research the answer that you will remember it much longer, because it was your sweat equity that was used instead of my knowledge. I also know that there are some questions that it may be hard to find the answer to and if I know that you put the effort forth to find the answer, then I don't mind giving the answer to you. :up:

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Thank you wilber's mom.:up:

As an instructor with over 10yrs experience and a nurse with over 30yrs experience, I wish I had an instructor that made us think outside the box. I had "those" instructors that would refuse to answer questions both in class and outside, and it was extremely frustrating.

In clinical now I take the opportunity to get the students involved in conversation concerning a question that has been asked and make them think outside the box. It is a great was to get all of you to critically think.

I also let my students know if I'm not sure of an answer and then tell them that I will also be looking up the answer after clinical (usually too hectic on the floor).

Soo I guess that I am also "Guilty as charge." :bow:

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Specializes in Dental/chiropractic.
I find it irritating. You can bet if I ask the instructor a question, I've already looked for the answer in my textbooks...I've googled it...I've probably searched allnurses for it...

So no, I don't know the answer, help a student out!

I agree. In addition to that, if I ask a question during lecture, its usually on a key point for me to fully understand what is being discussed. If the instructor gives me the run around, I am usually left with more questions than the original one I started with.

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Specializes in Quality Management.
NS is the first major I've taken up where some instructors just don't answer the question. Assuming we are there to learn, just answer the question. It's ok to get me thinking by asking me more in depth questions, but just don't dance around it. :twocents:

When I was in Pharmacy Technician school, I had a Chem instructor who would look up keywords from your question in the textbook index, in real time up in front of the class, and then proceed to read the paragraph out loud, whether or not it actually answered the question.

So there >> is

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As a nursing instructor I had to smile when I read this message. Personally I do answer my students questions 90% of the time. The other 10% I make them research the answer and present it to the group in post conference. I was somewhat offended by the remarks that some made about instructors not knowing the answer that's why they answer your question with a question.

Personally I believe that if I give you, the student, the answer all of the time you are only going to remember it for a short period of time (clinical day or for test). I also believe that if you have to research the answer that you will remember it much longer, because it was your sweat equity that was used instead of my knowledge. I also know that there are some questions that it may be hard to find the answer to and if I know that you put the effort forth to find the answer, then I don't mind giving the answer to you. :up:

i believe so what you said is true...personally i also advise my students to as much as possible make use of different books to have in depth understanding of the particular/specific subject matter in question. two or three books with their varied presentations and explanations makes one undertands better. as compared to using only one book.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

As a student, I can say that if I asked a question and the instructor told me to research and present the answer to the class, I have to admit it would be the last question I'd be asking. I guess that would have to come after the 200 plus pages that I have to read before the weekly exam, in addition to the case studies, in addition to the papers, in addition to the other assignments that are due. All in this 8 week course. Most of us are adult learners with jobs and families outside of school. I have enough to do already, so I'll just be keeping my mouth shut and flying under the radar.

I just wish that some instructors would realize that most of us are adults and please understand that I'm asking because I want to increase my knowledge base. Many of my classmates will go to another instructor who will hold a discussion with us, for answers that some instructors refuse to give. This type of instructor is rare, but worth more than gold to us students. This is the type who remembers what its like to be a student and thinks outside of the school and connects their discussions to real life settings. This instructor fuels the desire for higher learning. To connect a question to a scenario you might come across as a nurse, is priceless and most memorable. Just my :twocents:.

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I find one learns better when the prof's force you to find the answer yourself instead of just telling you.

:twocents:

PLEASE QUIT BEFORE YOU START SOMETHING YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FINISH!!!!!:redpinkhe WITH ALL THE LOVE I CAN SEND, your republican friend ;)

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