Anticipated problem...

[BrightSide]

Hi everyone...

I am entering nursing school next month. I was soo excited. Everything finally looks on the up & up for me.

Then I went to the school to look at class lists...1st years were not posted, but 2nd years were.

A new instructor has been hired at the college and it is not in my favor.

Before my husband and I were maried, we split for a while. Saw other people, etc. Well, we still wanted to be with each other and started dating again.

Only, the girl he was seeing went crazy. Calling me constantly, denting my car, sitting in front of my house, telling people crazy stories about me ie: that I followed her home from work and started fighting with her brother in the street etc. I have no idea where she was coming up with these things but the stories continued to get stranger. This person worked at my facility, for my now mother in law in fact...

Cut to now...she has married one of my husband's old high school friends...and is facinated by my life, asking people 20 questions etc. on stupid things, where my new job was, how can I afford to work part time blah, blah blah. People slowly started to realize she is nuts, but her mom is her mom and of course believes her stories.

Her mom is the new nursing instructor at my college. She is a "job hopper" everywhere for a small period of time and then gets frustrated and moves on.

I don't even know what to think...everyone knows that I am there as a student, even nutty...so I am SURE that the mother knows...

I don't even know what course of action to take if any...do I just let it ride and say nothing...but what happens if I am assigned to her for rotations??? There will be problems, they are very sneaky people, I am worried that I will not be fairly judged on my abilities and knowledge and be made a fool of constantly.

Does anyone have any insights for me??? I am now dreading this experience but strong enough to forge through with this also.

Thanks,

Holly

[NurseStacey143, ADN, RN]

I would talk to the Director of the nursing program. You dont have to get into specifics, but just that your concerned there will be conflict....

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Oh man what a situation, I am so sorry. But, you need to privately talk to whomever is in charge (nursing director, dean, anyone) and let them know how you feel and that you'd rather put everything on the table now in case something does happen.

I sure wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted :)

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree that you should talk with the director of your program. I would avoid going into all the "gossipy" details unless you are forced. I would say simply that there were some serious problems with this woman's daughter who dated your husband before you were married and that her mother (the instructor) had become invovled in the situation. You therefore request that you not be assigned to her classes or clinical groups if at all possible.

I would put that request in writing and ask that it be added to your student file. I would say that you had no intentions of taking any actions against her or of filing charges against her if she would simply leave you alone -- but that you were prepared to file formal charges against her if she behaved inappropriately.

Then ... having officially notified the school of your concern ... I would wait and see what happened. I wouldn't go around telling the other students the story or anything like that. Such loose talk might get me in trouble for slander. I would wait and see how this instructor handled this situation. If she caused trouble, I would go directly to the program director to report it and to ask for her advice as to how to best handle it -- documenting every step along the way.

With any luck, you will be able to secure the program director as an ally who won't her school to be dragged into some legal fight between you and this instructor -- and she will give you some assistance and advice in avoiding any serious problems.

Also, if you have any evidence from the previous trouble, I would gather it and put it in a safe place -- just in case you need it. But I wouldn't "go on the attack" and/or spread rumors about this person. I would wait and let her make the first move. Perhaps she will want to avoid trouble on the job and will not make any move against you.

Good luck,

llg