Advice please re: evil clinical instructor

Trauma Columnist · Nov 13, 2004

Does your school have a grievance policy? I think I would follow it on up the chain. Supervising clinicals after a 12 hour night shift just isn't possible in my book...

memphispanda, RN · Nov 13, 2004

I would keep my mouth shut, and wait for it to be over. Having just finished nursing school in December 03, I learned from my fellow students mistakes. She who challenges the instructor or tries to "call them out" becomes she who has a "clinical failure". Half of nursing school is leanring to play the game.

obrnteacher · Nov 13, 2004

If you can't talk to the instructor, is there another member of the faculty that you can talk? I agree that it is unacceptable for an instructor to work 12 hours and then supervise students. It's really unsafe. I would also talk to the director of your nursing program. I know colleges are short on instructors but you and other students should not be treated this way. It was sad to hear that a patient actually commented on your mistreatment.

ps. I've been a clinical instructor for 6 years and know i would have been reprimanded for that type of behavior.

aruray · Nov 13, 2004

ive had a similar experience, in fundamentals no less. she wasnt as bad as ur teacher, she was sensible enough not to berrate us in front a patient (that makes her look bad isnt it, and she doesnt like that) imagine how much discouraged and my confidence hurt by this instructor when i barely even started the program. i struggled to get through our 12wk clinicals and here i am, still in the program and graduating soon. we've complained, cursed her out to our classroom instructor. but the most that they can do is remind that person, let her know that students are complaining. in short we still had to deal with her the rest of the semester. but one thing though, ive never heard her take on a clinical group again after our semester. they tied her up in the skills lab where no one wants to approach her, lol. i dont suggest a student confront her, bec u will risk getting ur group into more trouble. sometimes the more u act irritated, the more it feeds into their feeling of power. so take it easy in clinicals, laugh about it if can, show her ur not affected. hang in there. just think that u wont be seeing her again after the semester is over.

as for the mistakes, be extra careful treating patients while with the instructor. check with the floor nurses. most of them can be pretty sympathetic to students with a bad instructor. bring a procedures manual and a drug book.

redservo · Nov 13, 2004

I feel your pain....I graduated 8 years ago, and had a clinicla instructor from hell back then. She was innapropriate to the students AND the patients. We decided that as a group (our cluster of clinical students under her care) we would write a greivance form listing all the issues, and submit it to the Dean of the program. We did, the instructor was investigated and eventually dismissed.

Remember you are paying for this education, and deserve the best. Be asservtive and go through the chain of command (as previously suggested).

The event has stuck w/ be for my entire career....mostly because of what our Dean said to us.

"There are good nurses and bad nurses. Learn from the both" Probably the best tidbit of info during my education and beyond. Strive to be like your best example, and strive NOT to be like your worst example. :rolleyes:

Good luck to you and your future career.

LadyMadonna · Nov 13, 2004

I feel for you. But I wouldn't feel like I was in the position to reprimand her if I were in your shoes. You are in a precarious situation being a student, and if I were you I would do anything to get by. When she was nasty to me or talked to me like I was a child I would be like "Yes Miss Scarlett...anything you say Miss Scarlett..." Because you only have to deal with it through nursing school and when you are finished and a nurse it will be a different story. If you think she is truly dangerous I might leave the director of the nursing program an anonymous letter just to apprise her of the situation but if it's just the lousy attitude that is getting at you just don't do anything except kiss the instructor's rear end because that will get you through.

sharann, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2004

Basically you have been told to stick it out and keep quiet and you will get by and that will be the end of it. That's the nurses motto. Complain loudly to eachother but don't ever stick your neck out and be a good girl(or boy).You'll see a whole lot more of that in your nursing career. I am not saying to get kicked out of school, but you have some rights, though very few at this time unfortunately.Students are at the mercy of the instructors, and nurses are the same with their management.

You have 2 choices. You can ignore this "evil"(more like pathetic) behavior and pass clinicals....or maybe she will fail you just because she wants to? The other choice is to go higher up. You could always do what I did when I had a really foul clinical instructor in 2nd semester(years ago). She told us ALL on the first day "Nursing is a horrible proffession and you are all making a huge mistake". NICE don't you think? Two of us went in on the day after clinicals and spoke with the director "confidentially". We told her everything. You may want to keep a journal and write each incident with dates etc and save that as part of your grievance.

LEt your track record speak for itself, and just hang in there.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 13, 2004

When I had this probelm with one, I went to my instructor (our clinical instructors were different than our school instructor) whom I trusted and discussed the issue in a private setting with a box of tissues (I knew I would cry..and I did). She had a talk with the clinical instructor...then all the sudden I had another private meeting with both of them.....uhggggggg!

But you know what...she and I both got to vent, and I found out that she too had some issues with her job, and since no complained she didn't notice how her stress in her life and in her career came through to all of us! She had stress at home big time, then she was thinking of giving up clinicals and going back to work as a cardiac nurse, which was her passion. She really didn't realize her dissatisfaction with teaching was comming through so strongly..which is a suprise seeing as everyone was so intimidated by her!

She and I actually became quite close after that, and I encouraged her to go back to cardiology...which she did! It was a very hard choice for her, give up all the teaching she had done, which she had been doing for over 10 years...to take a risk being a floor nurse again! Took guts!!! Last I heard she was employed and very happy...a totally different person so I hear!

If I didn't have the courage to speak up to someone I trusted, and get this thing taken care of...no matter how uncomfortable it was for me (and believe me I was very very uncomfortable!!!)...well, I proably would have screwed up in clinicals being so nervous around her (she viewed me as her pet project before all this and followed me like a shadow...UHGG!), harmed a patient and expelled. She would have continued till she exploded and not followed her heart towards hearts!

It was a total win win situation, only because I spoke up as nicely and matter of factly as I could! And no, not in a million billion years could I have expected the outcome...heck no! But I will tell you, I feel so good about helping her even to this day! Who would have thought, I sure didn't!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to you!

leslie :-D · Nov 13, 2004

i think most of us have had the instructors from hell.

i recall one particular one that just tried to break me down and would not let up.

at the end of the semester, she was giving me my evaluation.

when she was done, she asked if i had any questions.

i then took the opportunity to evaluate her in narrative form as well as give her advice.

she sat there speechless then asked if there was anything more i had to add.

i said no.

when i finally graduated, she said that was the most meaningful advice she had ever received.

that particular situation with that particular instructor worked out well.

but in gen'l, i encourage having a 1:1 w/the instructor. if that doesn't help, go to the next higher up, noting that pts had also questioned her demeanor.

much luck to you.....

leslie

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 13, 2004

i feel your pain....i graduated 8 years ago, and had a clinical instructor from hell back then. she was inappropriate to the students and the patients. we decided that as a group (our cluster of clinical students under her care) we would write a grievance form listing all the issues, and submit it to the dean of the program. we did, the instructor was investigated and eventually dismissed.

remember you are paying for this education, and deserve the best. be assertive and go through the chain of command (as previously suggested).
the event has stuck w/ be for my entire career....mostly because of what our dean said to us.
"there are good nurses and bad nurses. learn from the both" probably the best tidbit of info during my education and beyond. strive to be like your best example, and strive not to be like your worst example.
good luck to you and your future career.

basically you have been told to stick it out and keep quiet and you will get by and that will be the end of it. that's the nurses motto. complain loudly to each-other but don't ever stick your neck out and be a good girl(or boy).you'll see a whole lot more of that in your nursing career. i am not saying to get kicked out of school, but you have some rights, though very few at this time unfortunately.students are at the mercy of the instructors, and nurses are the same with their management.
you have 2 choices. you can ignore this "evil"(more like pathetic) behavior and pass clinicals....or maybe she will fail you just because she wants to? the other choice is to go higher up. you could always do what i did when i had a really foul clinical instructor in 2nd semester(years ago). she told us all on the first day "nursing is a horrible profession and you are all making a huge mistake". nice don't you think? two of us went in on the day after clinicals and spoke with the director "confidentially". we told her everything. you may want to keep a journal and write each incident with dates etc and save that as part of your grievance.
let your track record speak for itself, and just hang in there.

i would either approach the instructor as a group...say at the beginning or end of post conference. write an anonymous letter to her & cc a copy to your nursing director. write an anonymous letter to your nursing director directly without your instructor's knowledge (though this really doesn't sit well with administration...you should try to solve this problem among yourselves...it'll only goes towards your groups ability to be able to *fix* problems later as perspective charge nurses). you could arrange a meeting with your clinical instructor & say your class coordinator or nursing director (this way, there'll be someone from the facility that can moderate & *see* for themselves how you both communicate). lastly, i would contact the dean of students regarding the matter if the problem hasn't been properly addressed by the nursing dept director. having a clinical instructor work 12 hr shifts prior to supervising 10 hr clinicals *is* mad :angryfire!!! that only speaks volumes of her arrogance, pride/egoism, resulting in poor judgment & placing patients at risk. this clinical instructor may very well be a friend of someone within the nursing dept, & you won't want to piss anyone off. that said...i don't think the nursing dept facility will be wiling to sit by & allow a colleague to work such hr prior to clinicals. they'd *have* to address that conduct.

writing a clinical log is also a excellent idea & a good practice to have during your career as a nurse later. just keep patients' identity confidently by only using initials. be factual & keep personal feelings out of it (those are good for your personal diary & not a professional clinical log).

also, you've mentioned that a few patients commenting on your instructor's way of speaking to you & your group. no doubt the staff has noticed as well...if not then...i'm sure since *she'd* made a mistake/error with tpn & lipid administration! since this is a fact, i would ask those witnesses if they wouldn't mind writing a letter of complaint to your school's nursing dept director. doing this will also take a lot of weight off of you the student. hospital administration & nursing dept administration don't like complaints from patients, their families, & staff regarding students/clinical instructors. it make their program/hospital look badly. believe it or not, there are many folks who will write about what they've witnessed without even being asked. as far as you know, the patient(s) who complained about your instructor could've already sent such a note to the hospital ceo :)!

i think this instructor needs reporting...for nothing else...for *knowingly* placing patients (& students for that matter) at risk ! this person worked enough years & have enough education behind them to know better than to work 12hr shift prior to supervising & supposedly teaching 10hr clinical shifts. that to me says this person is selfish & has no disregard for others! remember, you (you & your clinical group) as a prospective nurses have the responsibility to protect & advocate for patients! keeping quiet about this dangerous instructor just to *get* by this clinical rotations will speak volumes of your character, honor, & integrity (which are values many folks lost over these last 30yrs due to being scare of doing the right thing!!!). my question to you is, will you be able to look yourself in the mirror knowing what you know about this instructor? how many other patients should be at risk before someone bite the bullet & take a stand? how many other students & patient will have to be at risk before someone intervene? so you & your clinical group keep quiet & *slide though* this clinical rotation...but what about the next group & the group after that...don't you care about them too? if not...then by all means...keep quiet & let the cycle of abuse continue :rolleyes: !

cheers,

moe

VizslaMom · Nov 14, 2004

I had a TERRIBLE instructor for my first clinical class ...almost made me quit.

Yes, you are right, THIS TOO WILL PASS. Stay strong.

I would try to make school administration aware of the problem. There is no reason to belittle students.