Advice for a New Clinical Instructor

nekhismom · Feb 2, 2004

Sorry I don't have any ideas for you, but I would like to applaud you for actually WANTING to have a good rapport with your students and for CARING enough to seek advice. Many of my instructors were HORRIBLE and absolutely did not care about anyone. Others were great.

From a new grad's point of view, I just want to remind you how important it is that you remain available to help students. Remind them that you are there to help. Don't embarrass your students unduly if they make mistakes. Try to encourage your students to learn and do well, and to come to you if they have problems or need help. Just making your students aware that you want to help goes a long way.

Hope things improve for you.

findingmywayRN · Feb 2, 2004

I can tell you what I remembered from nursing school clinicals. One site had a rather difficult nurse mgr, so our instructor found out directly from her what she expected from the students, and her floor rules (ie. she didn't like more than two nursing students at a time getting their assignment the night before our clinical day (and don't come during shift change!), she didn't want to see us congregating in the hallways, etc.). The instructor then briefed us all on this info ahead of time, which helped us relate better to the staff and mgmt. Hope this helps!

live4today, RN · Feb 2, 2004

I know a clinical instructor who has the same problem as you do with cooperation from the staff on the units where students perform their clinicals. I don't know for the life of me why certain staff mistreat the instructors and their students........as if they were never a student once upon a time. :rolleyes:

My life motto is to stay true to myself, be myself, be mindful of always showing professionalism......even if that calls for having to show assertiveness with a "stop the abuse" logo attached to it.

Don't be intimidated by the staff. Don't try to win them over by sucking up to them either. They will just take advantage of you when they have a need for you and the students.

If you continue to have problems with them, perhaps it is time to talk with the DON over that unit about the negative reception you and the students receive when you are on their perspective units.