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Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

I am genuinely perplexed about something, so maybe someone can give me insight. One of our ADN instructors (who has only been at the cc for 11 months and is leaving at the end of this month) is extremely competitive for the students' affections. She feeds off feeling "popular" by the students. She jokes around with the students and often behaves inappropriately--let's just say she's not the best role model. Recently, she had a MAJOR disagreement with the DON and now she has created a big rift with the students against our director. The students fall into this manipulation so easily. This behavior is so obviously dysfunctional. Why then, do the students fall for it?

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"Herd poisoning". It's the phrase Aldous Huxley used to refer to people who go along with the group, not thinking for themself. My husband calls people like that "sheeple".

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when i did my dental assisting program we had a teacher that everyone loved. She acted much the same...she was always late, she made sexual comments and just did things that you don't expect a teacher to do, esp when your paying for it!

One day we had a potluck at christmas time and a student from another class brought in a pie. Someone, during our clinical time, stuck their finger in the pie. the girl came in and yelled at the whole class. I was pissed because I don't like being yelled at when there's 1 no evidence just speculation and 2 i know i didn't do it!

This popular teacher wrote a letter admitting that our class was responisible for the finger in the pie (no one knew if this was true or not there where several other classes in the building at the time) No one wanted to sign the letter but she begged and pleaded, I was the only one who didn't. I don't want to be made to admit guilt when I wasn't guilty. Like she said "Heard Poisoning)

Needless to say I called the school all pissed off and she was no longer working the next week:imbar I'm not sure if it was my complaint or a combo of all the things she did, but I don't feel bad. We got a new teacher that was 10X's better, she proved to the class that she was good enough and everyone excepted her. It was rough for awhile, ppl where mad that she was gone but we didn't learn anything!!!!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

We had an instructor that fed off the popularity. She was fired the last day of school last year.

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The students who fell for this teacher's manipulations were probably flattered that she was sucking up to them, and responded with (misplaced) loyalty when she got into a fight with the DON. Unfortunately, not everyone can identify inappropriate behavior and not fall prey to it. I don't know if it's a maturity thing, or a life experience thing, but it is frustrating when you feel like a helpless bystander!

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

This is how I perceive an ideal nursing instructor to be (aiming, not claiming :D):

One whose desire is to instruct and mentor: mold the students into the best graduate nurses they can be.

One who imparts critical thinking skills and knowledge for safe, effective patient care and to pass the boards ;).

One who doesn't use the students for personal gain or emotional support; rather, one who supports the students in their endeavors to become great nurses.

One who is not "friends" with the students, but is empathetic, kind, fair, impartial, and keeps professional boundaries.

One who has a attitude of service ("How can I help you?"), yet can be firm and decisive.

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