Why are nursing instructors mean?

Nursing Students General Students

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I am not in nursing school yet, but am hearing horror stories from other students about the instructors. I've heard it from many students and they say that some (I realize NOT ALL), will pick apart certain students, fail them in a clinical without explanation, etc. They have even gone to the dean of students, and nothing is done. I don't quite understand this mentality of teaching, and I am terrified to start my clinicals......

Any insight on this?

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I guess instructors are mean for the same reason students are. People do not assume different personalities because of their job or aging. I know I get frustrated by students not being prepared, expecting their tale of woe to be different than everyone else's, texting during class, ----------

You have to realize that everyone's nursing school experience is going to be different. Don't let someone else's experience decide your fate. When I was in nursing school, I also heard the horror stories and found out that all of them weren't true, even most of them weren't true. The most hated instructor in the program turned out to be someone I highly respect. She was tough in nursing school because there is a life at stake. DUH!

For the few that are just plain mean, they probably got more problems going on in their lives than you. So just overlook them and kill with kindness and good grades. They can't hold a good nurse back!

Also take a look at who your advice is coming from!

Ask yourself dear do you really want to be a nurse? their are some complete sweethearts in nursing and their are many critical, nasty back-stabbers. And unfortunately the second category controls the 1st. And the nasty ones never get mental help they just continue to victimize the sweet ones. If you really know deep in your heart that u are meant to be a nurse then read some books on assertiveness early on. But yeas if u are a serious student and take the profession seriously, you will do fine. Even with the crumpy teachers. work hard and they have nothing to say. And clinical only last a few months. Try to choose the sweet emotionally even teachers.

Specializes in ICU.

I think in Nursing school I had one mean one. That's it, the rest were awesome.

i am not in nursing school yet, but am hearing horror stories from other students about the instructors. i've heard it from many students and they say that some (i realize not all), will pick apart certain students, fail them in a clinical without explanation, etc. they have even gone to the dean of students, and nothing is done. i don't quite understand this mentality of teaching, and i am terrified to start my clinicals......

any insight on this?

certain students need someone to hang over them and grill them because they haven't done the work needed to be safe in a clinical setting- so they're seen as either inept or lazy- both of which result in being failed in clinicals- you can't go to clinicals in your instructor doesn't feel you're prepared.... do the work, have no problem :)

Specializes in Psych.

I was in the second round of students of my last sememster for the "mean" instructor. We heard all kinds of horror stories about mulitiple clinical warnings, yelling etc. Well guess what, she was the best. :) The warnings she gave out, were for what people did very wrong and should know better not to do. She stuck up for us many times especially when one of the LNA's on the floor had her knickers twisted because our baths/showers were not done by 9am. She let us know when we were doing well, she stopped us when we were having trouble. We even had a good laugh when for the first time, I got the IV pump all set up and programed with no help and pushed start, (I'm so awesome, I thought to myself) I did a 360 because I realized I forgot to hook the guy up.

The best teaching she gave us was learning how to prioritize.

Another instructor sent a classmate back to the lab to properly prepare for clinicals as 2 weeks before graduation she didn't know what electolytes to look out for in a dehydrated patient. Mean, I say no.

They are there for us to learn from, to teach us.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I am entering my last semester and have yet to have a "mean" instructor. I have had some very tough ones and ones who I didn't understand the grading - something that was right one week was wrong a few weeks later. So I screwed up my courage, sat down with her and the two grading sheets and asked why one was right but the one a few weeks later wrong. She looked me in the eye and said "Because you are improving and I am raising the bar. Think deeper." Hmmmm......interesting! ;)

I think most instructors are just people wanting to feel good about what they did at the end of the day. And I think MOST of the time, the horror stories come from someone passing the buck or rabble rousing or refusing to take responsibility. Are there bad teachers? Yep, probably in the same ratio that there are bad people everywhere. So most teachers are fine. Some are better at teaching than others, but all the ones I have met love an eager, respectful student who is genuinely intent on working hard, being safe and learning.

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/LDRP/Ortho ASC.

My teacher told us that she might come off as "mean" sometimes in clinicals because she worked hard for her license and she wasn't going to let us kill someone under it because we were being careless or lazy. She goes around all day saying "My SN's are safe and competent." and then she makes us say "I am a safe and competent student nurse." When we are about to make an error she says, "You are competent, now is that safe?" I have seen her go off on people but it's mainly been for stupid things they knew better than to do, and they're risking her license and our school's clinical relationships by doing so. I honestly think that teachers don't just want to be mean, but as wonderful as nursing is, it isn't rainbows and giggles if you aren't paying attention and seriously injure or god forbid kill someone. I think they're trying to instill a sense of the seriousness that comes with the job. Safe and competent!

Specializes in Neuro/ MS.

There are great instructors and not so great instructors. People carry their personalities over into instruction. Everyone is intitled to their opinion of an interaction with another person. I have to say that MOST of my instructors were wonderful. I also have had instructors that were not so great. One was finally fired over her behavior at the clinical site. Students went to the head of the department to discuss the clinical instructor who was being unsafe. They were reprimanded for even bringing their concerns to her. The hospital eventually called the president and dean of the college regarding her specifically. There were letters on each floor stating that the instructor was not allowed to be on their property.

"Nurses eating their young" happens in nursing school and on the work floor. Look at how many AN post are on the subject. Nursing instructors can choose to be professional or not. Most of the time when they're unprofession with students there is very little recourse. Imagine if some of the nurses people are describing were instructors too. I am not saying that some students do not overexaggerate an interaction with an instructor. However, I have been told about instructors that are hateful and unprofessional and they have been. I try to form my own opinion because my relationship with a person may be better than the last persons.

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