Why are nursing instructors so intimidating?

[beeenieweeenie, RN]

Why do nursing instructors feel the need to be so intimidating and humiliating? I am really struggling with this in my nursing class. Is there a good reason for this that I am just not getting yet?

I was in a BSN program prior to LPN school, and those instructors were the same way. So I hoped that maybe it was just RN instructors that were that way, and maybe LPN instructors would be different. WRONG!

My instructors have pushed students to the point of tears, yell at students right in front of the nurses station, not to mention in front of classmates. Seriously these women will question you until they find something that you don't know the answer to and pounce on you like a freakin pit bull and make you feel like a total idiot for not knowing what your patient's RBC count was ten years ago.

I mean really, we are STUDENTS! Why does it have to be this way? I just don't get it.

This attitude from my instructors has really ruined my clinical experience, and makes me dread every single clinical day.

I have serious doubts about returning to school to get my RN, and am seriously thinking about going into another field entirely. I just can't deal with such a negative learning environment.

[missjennmb]

There's a huge difference between a horrible/"likes to flunk students" instructor and a tough instructor. HUGE

I love tough classes, always have. My favorite class ever in college was Earth Science. Every test was brutal. We had to memorize massive amounts of information, and there were no multiple choice questions. 100 questions on each test. A review before each test that gave us all a rough idea of what would be on the test, but it would cover ATLEAST three times the material that was actually tested. It was VERY hard. The subject itself was not something that I was ever interested in. BUT... along with these tough tests, our teacher gave us every tool we needed to make the grade. If we did not get it, it was because we did not work hard enough, not because we couldnt. There was never a need to ask him for extra help, because he provided everything we could possibly need. Granted, it would have been 'easier' if he had narrowed down what we studied or whatever, but then we would not have learned nearly as much.

What made this class so memorable though? Every day he greeted us with a smile. Every topic he shared with us, he thoroughly enjoyed. He shared parts of himself, his past experiences, his philosophies, and really helped us LIVE the content by his enthusiasm for it. He instilled in us an interest in a topic that most of us could have been bored to tears by. And when we passed those tests... when I walked out of that class with a solid A... I felt great about it. I EARNED THAT A. And that was what made it special.

This semester, I have a math teacher who is known through the school for being "scary". He is really tough. But what sets him apart in a negative way is the way that he treats his students... his utter lack of respect and speaking to people as though they were six and just stupid for not understanding what he is talking about. I overheard a student telling him she was thinking of dropping his class because she was not comprehending it and he did not say "lets see what resources you could use to help you understand" or "maybe I can sit with you blah blah blah or so and so is at the student lab and can help tutor you in math" or ANYTHING. Do you know what he said? "ok" thats it. He saw a student that clearly needed help, and refused to put himself out there. He took over for our other teacher half way through and 2 students dropped w/in 2 classes of it. For the record, I have somewhere between a 97 and a 100 for my grade so far this year (1 test left to grade plus the final and our writing assignment) so its not personal. It just goes to show the difference between a "good" tough and a "bad" tough. I've had a class in my favorite subject of the time (Computers) be so dumbed down and such an easy A that I almost complained to the school too, but this is getting a bit long already. :)

I just pray that the students in my class are interested in working together instead of against eachother... or at the very least are able to leave me out of the drama if they have to have it.

[KansasFNP]

Some nursing instructors feel as though they can "weed out" the students who don't have what it takes to survive in the field.

[p2o8]

the sad fact of reality is that some nurses eat their young! others have realized that you are the person who will be taking care of them during their twighlight years. think about that will you...who do you want to take care of you? the student who "just had fun and got by" or the student who was pushed and expected to be the best. personally, if your not on the top of your game and are not prepared, i am sure that instructors is hoping for a quick ending instead of a bafoon to take care them. the best thing you can learn in the field of nursing is confidence if you do not have that in yourself, your patient will know it and so will those around you!! people prefer confindence in what you are about to do, instead of what should i have done.

[beeenieweeenie, RN]

Update: I made it through the rest of the semester with the old woman and now have the best clinical instructor ever.

While she would never let us get away without being prepared and knowing our stuff, she doesn't not intimidate us or try to make us feel stupid. She helps out when we need it without yelling at us and she instills confidence in her students.

I have learned more from this instructor than any other instructor I have had and now I am actually starting to feel like a real nurse.

Just proves my point that you don't have be a complete ***** to teach nursing and have your students actually learn something.

[jiggybrown]

I really can't say why they are the way they are.I have had plenty of teachers (not nursing) who were very kind,and left a lasting impression on me.I do think it is possible to be kind and stern at the same time.There is no need to belittle and humiliate anyone.I find that I just yes ma them all day long....lol.If it makes them feel good, so be it.I know what my goal is and I wouldn't let anyone get in the way of that.I will say this, once I am done with school I would not subject myself to the abuse in my place of business. But you are right beenwee there is no need for it.I mean we are supposed to be compassionate people in the feild.I think that compassion should also be found in the classroom.

[Natls80]

You think instructors are bad... wait until you have a Doctor yell at you.

[chechi22]

I agree, don't let them get you down. I am grateful because all of my instructors are awesome and very easy to approach. Just remember the goal and try to look past them;)

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I think they do it because they can and most enjoy it. I understand that we hold lives in our hands, but if they teach us with respect, I'll learn so much more.

C'mon, if your boss ever treated you the way so many instructors do, there would be an abundance of lawsuits out there. During clinical I've seen previous nursing students actually tell one particularly Jekyll and Hyde type instructor how awful they were and that they would prefer the instructor not engage in small talk with them. No use trying to be buddy buddy when they made it so horrible. She really was Jekyll & Hyde, you never knew which one would come out and why and when. It was a nightmare!

[mintygirl]

Well I'm sure everyone gave their two cents to 'toughen up' but have you ever thought about speaking up?

In my CNA program I had a RN instructor who had a strong way of talking to just about everyone, but it didn't sit so well with a few and they simply told her that the way she was handling them felt demeaning instead of constructive criticism.

In the end she explained to them that she was tough on us because it'd just better help prepare us. No one is going to really pamper you when you go into the medical field and yes, instructors are under stress to help you pass to - it reflects on them, you reflect on their ability to work if they turn out good students.

Everyone has a way of learning and before you go saying you can't learn her way.. Well then you will have to toughen up or speak up and voice it.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

Well I'm sure everyone gave their two cents to 'toughen up' but have you ever thought about speaking up?

In my CNA program I had a RN instructor who had a strong way of talking to just about everyone, but it didn't sit so well with a few and they simply told her that the way she was handling them felt demeaning instead of constructive criticism.

In the end she explained to them that she was tough on us because it'd just better help prepare us. No one is going to really pamper you when you go into the medical field and yes, instructors are under stress to help you pass to - it reflects on them, you reflect on their ability to work if they turn out good students.

Everyone has a way of learning and before you go saying you can't learn her way.. Well then you will have to toughen up or speak up and voice it.

I've seen one student in all of my clinical days speak up, she wasn't around to finish the clinical. I would never speak up to my CI unless she misunderstood something. I actually want to finish and pass. Usually most of my fellow students just take it and cross out one more day on their calendar. Most of us tend to just get through it.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Two words: EGO TRIP

Being mean, nasty, sarcastic to students, do not make them better nurses and has no place in a professional setting.

The instructors need to lead by example.

[bthsp]

wow daytonite---what a response-but i agree with the rest a unprofessional instructor can make you question yourself (what the h--l am i doing here) as you see I have three such instructor but iam a firm believer in karma--what goes around comes around and my instructors times are coming..there is no need to talk about the students (like how stupid they are) play favorites to some and to hell with the rest..BUT AS you see these unprofessional instructors are NOT going to get me down..I will beat them at their game...