Am I paranoid; or do all my clinical instructors dislike me?

[cincin1]

I know that I have to try to get along with everyone, especially teachers. I have made it through 3 semesters with B's, I am never late/absent, I don't talk back, am NOT a know-it-all, and try not to disrespect anyone. However, I am an older woman(40+), a little on the large side, sometimes not the sharpest tool in the shed, and laugh a little too loud. Now, I feel like my last two clinical instructors are not very friendly towards me, have little patience, and are sometimes downright rude. It kind of hurts my feelings-because I feel that most everyone else gets treated with more respect, even down to more eye contact or engaging conversations. Is it my age? My weight? I feel if it were my clinical performance that was lacking, then I wouldn't be passing at all. For instance, today I had a real exciting day(and good day, per my RN I worked with) at clinical; I did alot of procedures that other students have not done; and when it came my turn at post-conference to report, it seems like all my teacher wanted to do was to pick apart everthing I said to make me sound inept. Everyone else got the "great job" treatment except me. And this always happens! My motto is starting to be "less info, less criticism" at post conference. My classmates sympathize with me because they see it happening to me too; and I try to tell myself that as long as my patients like/trust me, I do my work well, and pass, that is all that matters. Anyway, I would appreciate any suggestions on how to deal with this...am I really unlikable?

[Pierrette]

I like you!

[caliotter3]

The chances of all your instructors not liking you is unlikely, but possible. Even if it were true, you still must meet standards and get through school so that you graduate and move on. So counter your paranoia, well founded or imaginary, with hard work and concentration on what is important. Good luck to you.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i like you !! no they don't dislike you , maybe they are just having a bad day . don't take their rudeness personally. in this business you meet alot of rude people , don't let them bother you. just get through the clinicals and pass and you will never see them again. you will be fine !! how much longer do you have? just get through it. i send you hugs !!

[inland18mempire]

It sounds like you are preceiving something that is not there, and you are trying to use your weight as a scape goat. If that's not the case, perhaps it is your preception/attitude of "not being liked" that is causing the instructor to not be friendly.

[vashtee, RN]

I don't know what the problem is, but I doubt it's the age. Very often, the nurses and instructors seem to FAVOR the older students.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I agree that instructors seem to favor older students sometimes. I was an older student and found that to be the case. I also found that they sometimes had higher standards for older students--maybe that's in play with your instructors too. One suggestion is to tone down your loud laugh. You might consider approaching them privately too, to talk about it.

[hatingthewaiting]

Try not to think that way, most likely you're being oversensitive. If you convince yourself that he/she dislikes you, you may act/react in a way that might actually elicit such a response, making it a self-fulfilling prophecy. In fact he/she could actually see a lot of potential in you, that's why you get pushed harder. Maybe you are misinterpreting how you were presented at conference. Do your best and don't let this get you down.

[*LadyJane*]

Yes, tone down the loud laugh. You might be having a great time on your clinicals, but it's likely that someone nearby in a hospital bed is suffering. You might be perceived as inconsiderate to suffering patients to be having such a jovial time.

But really, just try to fly under the radar and just get your license. Just get through.

Nursing school can just be the pits sometimes, and sometimes those times last longer than other times.

(snort) Did I just say that?

Oh and yes, I have had clinical instructors like that. Nasty, just nasty.

[Riseupandnurse]

Have you asked your clinical instructor, in private, what you should focus on to do your best in clinical? Instructors are secretly suckers for the student that respects them and cares about their opinions. You are probably doing something that really rubs them the wrong way and if you show you are open to hearing about it they may very well let you know what it is and maybe it's something you need to hear.

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

I agree with the poster who recommended you just get through and get your license, you don't want to be liked. You in your heart of hearts want to pass and be done with it, period!

Look how far you've come! If you have any inkling in your blood to ask for spiritual assist to get these instructors to be a little bit more on your side, pray nightly for a better professional relationship with them. It works!

If you have any time to read Echo Herons account in Intensive Care, the Story of a Nurse about her scary time in school with a patient who was terminal and the instructor who tested her by asking her if she would push a larger than within reason amount of morphine to kill the patient swiftly and put them out of there misery with this cool calculating evil persuasion. OMG.... It curdles my blood just remembering this. Now that's an instructor from Hell I would rather not have! Having an instructor not like me is one thing, but have one make me go to uncomfortable (unlawful and scary) places too early, before one is ready is downright cruel.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

The mistreatment of students is happening in our program as well and it's rampant.

I'm in the same age group and to me, it makes the instructors look very unprofessional. Sometimes I think they are trying to show off in front of the staff.