Is my clinical instructor picking on me or am I overreacting?

[crunchytaco]

I am on my last semester of nursing school. There are 8 of us in my clinical group. We had 3 clinicals days so far, and we have 5 more to go. I'm not sure if I am being overly sensitive, but I feel like my clinical instructor likes to pick on me or embarrass me in front of others. One of the clinical days, during post conference, after I spoke, she tells me I'm missing something. She tells me what I missed. I didn't think much of it because I am here to learn. However, other students had things missing too while they spoke, but she didn't say anything of it. I let it go. Then we were going over some questions she assigned us that can possibly help us out. For 1 question, I over thought something and chose the wrong answer. She said it makes sense as to why I chose the answer, but I over thought it. I was the only one who got a question wrong. Then she says everyone did a great job, EXCEPT, and looks at me and says my name. She says read the question next time. I got 1 question wrong out of 3 questions we each had to answer. Is that so bad?? I got so embarrassed. Then she says, in directly, how slow I was. I have never felt so embarrassed during clinicals. Every other clinical instructor complimented me and said how I would be such a great nurse. But this professor just picks on me. I never did anything wrong. I would always be in the patient's room trying to help out or trying to help others out. I don't see her talking to other students that way. I just don't know what to do.

[DawnJ]

I'd approach her privately and say I felt that I may not be doing as well this semester as in prior clinicals and ask what her suggestions are. Then I'd set followup times to meet privately to just get a "temp check". That way, you can build your skills, build your relationship with her, and hopefully she will save her constructive criticizms for the private session. It also shows you are taking responsibility for and charge of your learning.

[RockinChick66]

I had an instructor like that in my pedi rotation. I wouldn't say anything to her if I were you. Nothing. IMO, youll be more of a target if you approach her about it.What I did was dig in and pick harder more complex patients during clinicals. I wouldn't pick any easy patients. I needed to prove to her that I was a good student nurse and that I did.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It doesn't sound so much like a "picking on" or "bullying" situation as it sounds like a situation in which this instructor has standards that you are not meeting -- and she is not hesitating to call you on it. That's painful, but it doesn't necessarily mean it is unfair. She may be simply a tougher instructor with higher standards. Try to figure out what she wants and give it to her. You only have a few more days of clinical left with her. Meet her standards and you will probably be fine.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

What llg said. No, she isn'ts picking on you. You just need to work harder and get through the next few weeks. Put your head down and get through it. Give her what she wants and there will be no way for her to fail you. Take your ego out of it, don't compare yourself to others and use it as a learning tool. You can do this. Just get through it by giving her what she wants and be enthusiastic to learn.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

That is hardly picking on you. That is them trying to make you better. I had an instructor do that to me and didnt realize what she was doing until it was too late.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I think feeling offended or hurt over anything that happens in the few short days a student is in clinical (or even in nursing school) is overreacting. This is a short, short, ugly process that all nurses have to go through. Many teachers/clinical instructors suck like hell, and so do many students. But it's over in the blink of an eye, and you move through it and then move on with your life.

[Hygiene Queen]

I think you're being overly sensitive.

Perhaps the instructor senses a weakness and is trying to pull more out of you.

Think about what she is trying to tell you and then think about what you can do about it.

You already learned that you tend to over-think questions... now stop doing it.

Don't get hurt... listen.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

With each semester you should be moving further along the curve, so the level of performance that was acceptable last semester is not necessarily sufficient later on. Does that make sense?

If you are "always in your patient's room" that indicates that you've achieved a comfort level interacting with patients and that's good. Now think about what you are actually accomplishing while you're in there. How many patients are you assigned for this rotation? Are things happening with your other patient(s) while you're elsewhere? This may be what she's trying to convey to you.

To a very beginning student, all information is new and valuable ... but progressing students develop prioritization/judgement skills by beginning to filter/sort information and act on what is most important and discard what is extraneous. Consider that as a potential source of your difficulty of "overthinking" questions.

Keep your eyes on the prize ... and never pass on an opportunity to get better. Good luck to you.