Nursing instructor putting student through embarassment and singles out

[mjacobs]

In my nursing lab we have an instructor who does not teach us details (such as giving us different scenarios) on handling patients. She's impatient and is not very professional by the verbal and nonverbal actions she makes towards students(ie. negative comments and making faces of disgust. Lately, everyone has noticed she has been singling out one specific student. She constantly picks on her when we practice our skills. She has trouble making a bed perfectly and every week she makes sure to yell out to her to work on one, even if she is performing other skills such as vital signs, etc. She will say something like, "why aren't you doing the bed like I told you to." Mind you, this is a BSN program. She will make remarks about her to other students like," can you help her, she still is not getting it." Everyone in class has noticed how the instructor is focusing on her, it's become pretty obvious. I think the breaking point is when we had a skills exam and she was grading her very harsh, had her repeat it and still told her she needs to go back another day. Part of the skill was something the instructor did not really practice with us.(actually there was some things she told us we had to do the day we had our exam,wth right? so many people were deducted points for that. Anyway, instructor told her during her skills exam," why do you want to be a nurse?" in a disgusted face when she was nervous performing the task. Throughout the exam, the instructor would tell her everything is wrong. Who wouldn't get nervous if the instructor is being extremely negative? How can anyone learn through embarrassment and harsh criticism? The girl cried as she left the classroom after her exam with the instructor. I think if the instructor feels a student needs more improvement, she should talk to them personally and not do it in front of others. With the stress put on her by her very own instructor, how can anyone function? It's a freaking beginning nursing class!

What would you guys suggest? Emailing the professor about the situation. Email her higher superior. Or, talk to the dean? Or, email the professor and bcc the superior and dean to let them be aware of the situation? Nursing school is expensive, I am shocked an instructor would treat anyone this way..esp if the person is very smart, kind and courteous.

Any input would be very appreciated. thanks.

[Ms.SJnurse2b, LPN]

In my nursing class we dealt with this also. And to the horror of it all, it was both of our teachers at times. But AS A CLASS, we talked to our teachers and let them know how we felt and what problems we had with them. We also had classmates that went to the superiors also. But this wasnt happening to one girl, it was happening to many. So as a unit we dealt with it.

[leslie :-D]

Maybe a show of solidarity by her fellow students might help to get the instructor to back off. If a few of you got together and subtly let the instructor know that you are there and backing up a fellow student she might think twice about what she is doing to her. Doesn't have to be dramatic--just something to get her attention.

i'm agreeing w/kitty...

if able, get the 'agree-ers' together, and 1 person (speaking for the group) will share their perception of events.

my experience however, has been that most have no problems complaining but when it comes to actually stepping up to the plate, everyone runs.

so yes op, if you can get a group together and have 1 person speak, that'll be great.

i wouldn't approach her alone, and the more witnesses, the better.

of course, one can take an easier way out, and leave an anonymous note/letter under her door...

and have every person, sign it as "anonymous 1, next person-anonymous 2, and so on.

this way, she can see the different handwriting of each signer, and know she's in deep poop.

do something, though.

and thank you, just for being the sensitive person you are.

let us know how it goes, please.

leslie

[Ms.SJnurse2b, LPN]

I am witness to this happeneing. In my nursing class we deal with this, and it wasn't happening to one classmate, it was many. But AS A CLASS, we talked to our teachers and told them what was our problems and how we felt. Some students went to the superiors but it got handled by the students as a unit.

[Losingfaith]

Unfortunately this won't be the only time things like this happen. But as they teach in school and in life, when there is a problem with someone you speak to them first THEN move up the chain of command if things do not change. I would suggest approaching the subject in post conference so if things feel tense you wont see her again till the next clinical day, and hopefully she'll have some time to reflect on what was said. Be civil. Ask her what her expectations are for the group. Finally, express to her what the groups expectations are for her i.e. to be treated with respect, to build you up rather than put you down, for criticisms to be made in private etc. Hopefully you will see a change but if not, don't hesitate to talk to the professor overseeing the clinical bc if you wait till the end of the semester nothing will be done.

[Riseupandnurse]

No e-mails. That's just cowardly. You should make an appointment in person to talk to the instructor, at the most with one other person. Be respectful and concentrate on how the situation makes you personally feel. No group visits; that's too threatening. Maybe she needs several one on one or two on one visits. If that doesn't help, then go up the chain. That's the adult thing to do.

[imagenthings]

i am sorry to hear that this is happening. I wish i could offer a solution but am afraid to make it worse for your friend.

A friend of mine had that same situation last semester. She was always crying in a corner somewhere. She followed the rules about reporting abuse by clinical instructors and now all the professors "know her name" and are talking to students about this student who did abc and d. Almost like if you speak up that is what will happen. It feels threatening.

Students are terrified of the power of the pen. The going fear is that the P can easily become an F. An F in clinical means you fail the course regardless of exam perfprmance, and have to wait a year to do the class over.

I am so sorry that she is going through this.

[kittykatty]

There are so many good suggestions here that I know it will be hard to choose. Only you have the benefit of actually knowing this instructor so I hope you can come to some solution to help this girl out.

But just to simplify it for you----Your instructor is a BULLY--this is her way to gain some kind of control over her life because believe it or not she is a very weak person--so weak in fact that when she sees the reaction from your poor classmate it gives her strength and a feeling of power--all absolutely necessary for her because of her low self-esteem.

Believe it or not she is much weaker than any of you in the class--I know it doesn't look like that to you but it is true.

The way to stop a Bully is a 1 on 1 showdown--but I think your classmate is so demoralized now that she would find it hard to get the courage to have a face to face with her.

The next best thing is for her to have some backing from you guys because a bully always goes after people they perceive that are alone.

So the next chance you get in clinical or skills class when this girl does a skill for this instructor you guys react and jump in and praise your friend right in front of the instructor. Go up and pat your friend on the back, give her a hug, let the bully know she isn't alone. I think it will work--just try it.

And take a lesson from this--if someone treats you badly and you know that you did nothing to deserve it--stand up for yourself then--right at that moment--not days later--because nobody--not even an instructor--has the right to put you down. Demand respect and you will get it--even if you are scared out of your mind.

Remember you guys--work together and the BULLY can be stopped.

[Karynica, RN]

The instructor in question sounds just like all the nursing instructors I had back in the

90's. Our skills instructor actually got under the bed to check how wrinkled the sheets were. (we didn't use fitted sheets then). It was a nightmare. We would have to re-do the beds repeatedly. Instructors jumped onto us for the simplest of things and made us feel worthless. It's a wonder any of us made it through. The ADN program started out with 50 students and 28 graduated.

It's not easy being in nursing school. Sometimes I think the instructors act too much like drill sergeants. They want to weed out as many as possible. I really feel bad for your classmate. It isn't fair, but it's what I had to deal with during both my LPN and ADN program.

If she really needs to say something, just let her know it might come back and bite her when she least expects it. Talking to the instructor may be the best avenue.

[jollygirl098]

its very common these days in nursing schools. Nursing schools sometimes due to lack of funding or resources are not able to find qualified teachers for BSN students even though they have enrolled certain amt of students in new batches. This teacher will probably fail or or will give very low grade to this student whom she picks on always.

Your friend should approach the teacher and talk to her, if it does not works then talk to the head of the school and then lastly should approach the nursing dean etc.

I agree with kittykatty that this student should stand for own self in the best possible and sincere manner. This is not a public elementary school but university level education where heavy loans are borrowed for one's education.

good luck to your friend.

[Sirapples]

I had a similiar clinical experience. Every patient that was given to me was the most sick on the floor, my instructor was the supervisor at that hospital as well and knew it. All the other students would tell me that everytime they see me, Im giving iv medications around the clock. 2 patients that I had got sent to the icu within 20 minutes of me getting them. She would tell me daily that I could never be a nurse, that I should give up and save my money and go to school for something else.

One day she wrote me up because I didnt do a bed bath on an alert oriented patient who was 38 years old, who's husband was in the room with her. (at the time I was a 24 year old male).

I just toughed it out and made it. I hate how nursing schools are like that.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Your instructor is out of line, but talking to her could backfire; she could simply fail all of you.

I was in this situation with a non-nursing instructor; it only stopped when a bunch of students went to the dean. That would be my first stop.

[nursecass]

If my first semester instructor had not retired I would SWEAR you were writing about her!

Unfortunately I think this is a fairly common issue in nursing school. It is not ok and something should be done, but know that if you are going to try and change this that it is going to take a LOT of persistance on your part. Be aware that you may place a bit of a target on your head if you speak out (happened to me when I spoke up in your situation), but I truly believe it is worth it to stand up against something you know is wrong. Like a pp said-be ready with facts and specific examples when you do speak up. Leave how you feel about the situation out-it will only weaken your argument. Good luck, and know that it will get better!