I know that my words might not be what all people want to hear; however, I strongly feel that I must bring some issues into people's awareness. Nursing school is not always fair, but you will need to pick your battles very carefully if you actually want to walk across that stage and graduate. Nurses Announcements Archive Article
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Life is not fair, and neither is nursing school. After having dealt with various sticky situations while attending an LVN program, and later, an RN bridge program, here are my blunt two cents on this matter: suck it up, choose your battles very carefully, and focus on graduating. I know that my words might not sound therapeutic or convey the image of cyber hugs, but this issue is something that I feel I must bring forth into peoples' awareness.
I know of a middle-aged woman who once attended a practical nursing program and had a clinical instructor who was allegedly cutting clinical hours short without any good reason. For instance, he sent students home after five or six hours when the clinical shift for that day was supposed to be eight hours. The woman reported her instructor's actions to the dean of the practical nursing program because she rightfully felt that her learning opportunities were being shortchanged. Of course, the unethical clinical instructor denied shortening the length of any clinical shifts. Also, none of the other students backed up this woman's claims.
To keep a long story short, the instructor gave her a failing grade for that clinical rotation a few weeks prior to what would have been her graduation date. We all know that this woman's failure of the clinical portion was most likely a retaliatory act by the instructor instead of a true failing grade. It is also a cautionary tale to pick one's battles carefully and exercise the utmost tact when handling unfair situations. While it was certainly not fair for the instructor to cut the clinical shifts short without good cause, this woman may or may not have gotten more effective results by following the chain of command and privately approaching her instructor about the issue.
However, she royally incited the instructor's wrath by going above his head and reporting him to his superior, and she paid for her actions dearly by receiving a bogus clinical failure. She was right and her instructor was wrong. However, the dishonest person has moved on with his life while the honest, ethical person must pick up the pieces of her life and start over. This woman was figuratively kicked in the teeth. Life was not fair to her, for she would almost certainly be licensed as a nurse by now if only she had selected a different course of action. It really stinks to do the right thing and be punished for it.
Another common situation arises when students have inside knowledge and solid proof that one or more of their classmates are cheating. "That's so wrong!" they exclaim. "I have to report it!"
All instances of academic dishonesty must be reported. However, after the students in question have been reported for cheating, no action seems to have openly been taken against them. My controversial advice is to stop pressing the issue any further. You followed through on your ethical obligation to report the academic dishonesty. Now it is time to worry about your own studies and focus on the prize, which is graduation. Remember that life is not fair, and you might end up with a target on your back if you keep bringing up the issue, even if you have done absolutely nothing wrong.
Favoritism, which happens when one person is lavished with unjust favorable treatment at the expense of others, is another usual complaint in nursing school. Favoritism is going to be found virtually everywhere you go: at school, work, and even in some hiring practices. I know that my words might not be what people want to hear, but my advice is to suck it up and deal with it. No matter how good your performance is, people select their favorites based on features such as personality and other attributes not related to the work you do. Choose your battles carefully and focus your energies on things that are within your control. Do not get caught up in petty politics.
Always think before you speak, especially when interacting with superiors who can make decisions that affect your future. Always use the utmost tact with every interpersonal encounter that you make. And most importantly, do not waste excessive time and energy fighting every battle that crosses your path. Pick your battles very carefully because nursing school is not always fair, and neither is life. If you learn to walk the political tightrope, you will prevail.