Advice: Instructor used to be my nurse

[hikeclimb44]

Several years ago, long before I was in nursing school, I was a mental health inpatient at a local hospital. Fast forward into nursing school, and there’s a new nursing instructor at my school who I immediately recognized as one of the nurses I had while I was an inpatient. During one of our classes recently, this instructor shared a story of a patient she had several years ago, and I immediately knew that patient was me (the details were spot on). The instructor did not reveal any identifying characteristics that would alert my classmates to knowing that story was about me, however, it made me extremely uncomfortable. I don’t know if that instructor even realizes that the patient was me, and I’m not sure if I should say something. I don’t really want to disclose this to this instructor, but I also can’t stand to hear someone speak poorly of me during a time when I was unwell. That experience several years ago was also very traumatic for me and is something that I have been trying to move past. Anyway, this has been such a weird situation, and certainly one I never thought I would have to deal with. Thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

[TheNursingdoll, CNA]

I would write this incident down and if it was repeated I'd report it , but I would also try to possibly tell her that it made you uncomfortable 

[londonflo]

1 hour ago, hikeclimb44 said:

During one of our classes recently, this instructor shared a story of a patient she had several years ago, and I immediately knew that patient was me (the details were spot on). The instructor did not reveal any identifying characteristics that would alert my classmates to knowing that story was about me, however, it made me extremely uncomfortable.

Did the instructor give good guidance on strategies to help the patient? Providing directions for nursing care? Hearing the patient's story might have helped the nursing student identify with the trauma and nightmare of a mental health illness on someone. Maybe your classmates will internalize "there but by the Grace of God go I".

 

I am sorry this happened to you. You are very right to feel uncomfortable.

1 hour ago, hikeclimb44 said:

That experience several years ago was also very traumatic for me and is something that I have been trying to move past.

What a great outcome for you as you are moving past that mental health episode and into a profession where you will have a great deal of empathy, no matter whatever area you specialize in.

[happyhippopond]

Unless your stay at the hospital had some sort of very unique event or circumstance attached to it, I find it very odd that your instructor gave that specific story. I feel like she must’ve known.

If she does indeed recognize you, then that is a serious problem, and she should have requested for you to be moved to a different group due to ethical concerns. This would be really disgusting honestly, why would she say that? That’s a firing-worthy offense imo.

If she’s given the benefit of the doubt and it’s assumed that she doesn’t know you, this is still a problem, especially since you’re still trying to recover from this event. Every time you see your instructor, you may be retraumatized by and reminded of your experience in the hospital. Most importantly, this may have major effects on your mental/emotional health, but it also may interfere with your learning. I would hate for that to happen to you, especially since our learning experiences are limited by the pandemic.

You definitely don’t need to talk to your instructor directly, but I would definitely talk to a higher-up like the clinical coordinator about this. In my opinion, I don’t think you should wait until the circumstance is repeated for you to report that your clinical instructor said this and was your previous nurse, because there’s still a major ethical dilemma there. I’m so sorry this is happening to you. You deserve the opportunity for a positive learning experience just like every other student!!