Is it me? Serious disorganization in class and clinicals...vent

[DolceVita]

OK second semester student here. My big deal is with the clinicals...

School started 3 weeks ago and we just had our first clinical day and been that was largely a waste of time -- we spent an hour in a conference room coming up with a team name, logo and motto. Argh!

The other semesters (3 and 4) and the other sections in my semester started their clinicals 3 weeks ago. Even this week we had no clinical on Tuesday -- no idea why. Half a clinical yesterday -- presumably because we had no data collection the day before (or whatever) and today we will be doing CNA stuff.

So essentially we start clinicals next Tuesday -- I am so annoyed. I mentioned this to a fellow student and she was thrilled to have to show up less.

So is it me? Am I supposed to be grateful that I have some 40 hours less hands on clinical time than other classes/sections? What happens when I get to next semester we have a different clinical instructor? Won't they have an expectation that we will have reached a certain level of proficiency?

I feel like this puts me behind. Aren't their a strict minimum of clinical contact hours required?

Of course I'd say something but apparently someone already wrote an anonymous letter to the Dean about this instructor already -- complaining that she changed the start time of one of our classes from the scheduled start time (true she did because some people had trouble with work commitments and such). The letter also had stuff about her being disorganized and changing a clinical site 24 hrs before clinical were due to start (last semester). The instructor told us about the letter and lectured us that she couldn't trust someone in the room. The ensuing drama and witch hunt has been crazy.

I am concerned if I complain she will think I wrote the letter too.

Oh yes and in class we do only case studies that get presented by my fellow students -- this is the way we will be learning this semester. I did not sign up to be taught by my fellow students -- love them -- don't want to be taught by them all semester.

Just needed to vent.

[LovebugLPN]

Allnurses is here to vent. If venting were so wrong it would be awful quiet around here. You go ahead and keep on telling us about your clinical days. We will listen. We can't do anything to help you but if it makes you feel better we are all ears. Actually I think that a lot of people could tell you they have been through the same bull crap with their clinicals.

[caliotter3]

I think your thought out consideration of the possible consequences of you making a formal complaint and choosing to vent here instead of taking further action at the school is a good decision on your part.

[CharlieT]

To the OP, I feel your pain. Nursing school claims that we should be a patient/coworker/self advocate. Of course when you go trying to improve nursing school by making a suggestion or two, you are labeled a troublemaker by the powers that be. Those that go with the flow and stay under the radar seem to be rewarded, while those that rock the boat catch **** for it. Go ahead, ask me how I know.

[HappyMeNow]

I had a really really relaxed instructor last semester. She expected us to do nothing and she spent the entire time either chatting or just goofing off. A lot of my clasmsates loved it. I liked the fact that we weren't terrified about patient care our first clinical, but at the same time I knew I would be in trouble my next semester when I have a stricter instructor.

Well that's exactly what happened. We started the second round of clinicals with almost everyone else in my clinical group knowing exactly what to do and when to do it, while I struggle just to hold my own. I don't expect my new instructor to care about why I suck, all that matters is that I suck.

I feel your pain.