Got new job as LVN/LPN instructor

[1996RN]

Hi all,

Hopefully someone is still reading this forum and can help me out. I'm an ADN RN working towards my BSN (will receive this fall) and my MSN in nursing education which I'll receive in 2012. I was recently hired as a LVN/LPN instructor- both classroom and clinicals. My back ground is OB, as you can tell by my name, so much of this will be 'new' to me since I haven't worked med/surg for 11 years. I have a few weeks before I start, and I'm trying to find out if there are any textbooks or programs specifically for LVN/LPN instructors, some guidelines for teaching, tips, etc that I can study up on prior to starting. Thanks in advance.

[or.nurse]

the students were very cut-throat and if you didn't basically tell them everything that was on their quizzes and exams, they went straight to the DON and complained on me. I received a lot of attitude and mumbles of how bad of an instructor i was. i took it a little bit personally but not too bad. there was a lot of stumbling and then intimidation by the students. after my first go round, i became better and better, totally comfortable teaching the lectures. i always wanted to tell these interesting stories in the OB class since i've seen some really bad OB emergencies. i figured it would be interesting (they loved it!), but i always ended up running late on my lectures. they will do anything they can to intimidate and take control of the classroom, but you have to set the bar from the beginning. establish control and reprimand from day 1. dont try to get their approval, teach them that you are only telling them how it is in the real world, and that type of behavior is not acceptable as a professional. they will walk all over you and push you to find your limits. just dont lose control during class. okay, hopefully you have a better population than i did. mine was the type of vocational school that was really expensive but they never turned down anybody and financed anybody, regardless of credit history. so it was a last resort for many of them. it was all about the numbers. anytime you told them they needed to read a chapter in their book, they were all quick to moan and groan about how much $$ they were paying to be TAUGHT or TOLD the material on the tests. and management needed to maintain the passing rate to keep the funding coming in. my job was truly a business, not a school. i can only hope you have a much better experience than them. oh yeah, and dont EVER think any of your students is your friend. they will turn on you SO quickly. Don't let your guard down and keep those boundaries up. It will bite you in the butt as it did to me my first go round. i quickly learned that you cannot trust anybody. sad but true.

OMG!!! I REPLACED SOMEONE VERY SIMILAR TO THIS SITUATION. IM THE REPLACEMENT TEACHER AND IM GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK. LOL. not only is it my first time teaching but i entered at a very hostile time. ugh im trying to learn the school policies & procedures, learn different learning styles and figure out how to create lesson plans and effectively come up with a system. i have no one to turn to. other instructors dont teach a medical class. They teach IT. just overwhelmed. i would love help with anything i can. From a policy/procedure manual (for my lab) to assignments for any course you may have taken. anything is appreciated.