appropriate to befriend an instructor?

allnurses Guide · Oct 24, 2008

Friendly and courteous attitude, but the professional boundaries need to be maintained. "Befriending an instructor" is inappropriate.

Teachers, instructors, professors need to remain impartial with the entire group, not allow any accusations of favoritism to ever come up.

TiaKay · Oct 24, 2008

I know it isn't possible while still in school, but I've met some amazing women, and we have a connection through another avenue not related to nursing school. While we can't be "buds" just yet, we are friendly, cordial, and we'll definitely become friends once I'm out of the curriculum. Granted, I'm an older student, and these are (age wise, etc.) my peers. But for now we're student and instructor. These are folks I'd be glad to have as friends. I've met some wonderful people in school, both students and instructors.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

IMO, it's not appropriate while you're still a student and she's an instructor, because it has the potential to get awkward for you as well as for your classmates. They may feel that since they're not friendly with her as you are, that she might not like them and/or look less kindly upon them in class.

Neverminding the accusations of favoritism that may crop up when she never (or always) calls on you in class, or you do better on a test than your classmates, or you somehow lucked out in getting the clinical rotation you wanted, whatever--even though the friendship may have nothing whatsoever to do with these things, others are still going to speculate. And once rumors start...

After graudation, you are both two adults who are free to do as you like.

caliotter3 · Oct 24, 2008

Part of nursing school is to learn professional behavior. It is just as inappropriate to engage in pursuing this type of relationship while the student-instructor roles are active as it would be to do so in an employment scenario. Maintain boundaries.

Jules A, MSN · Oct 24, 2008

I agree that while you are in school under this instructor it isn't appropriate but I have maintained a 'lunch date' type friendship with one of my previous clinical instructors and also a gen-ed professor that I had years back.

Sunshyne2008 · Oct 24, 2008

I think it is inappropriate. Professionalism needs to be maintained while in school. Some may perceive your relationship with the instrutor as bias since none of the other students have that type of relationship with the instructor.

uscstu4lfe · Oct 26, 2008

a friend from class became really good friends with one of our instructors during nursing school. so good, in fact, that the instructor went to her wedding and bought her a really expensive gift! They remain really good friends to this day.

SunnyAndrsn · Oct 26, 2008

Would it be inappropriate to befriend a clinical instructor or someone who was teaching you?
Taking into account the other students as a whole. Would it be fair to them?

Absolutely not! After you're done with school, be friends with whoever you want to be, but keep the playing field level in school.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2008

Would it be inappropriate to befriend a clinical instructor or someone who was teaching you?

Yes, it would be.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Oct 26, 2008

One of our instructors went out for drinks with her clinical group..part of it anyway. Odd.

sunray12 · Oct 26, 2008

It's inappropriate and I wouldn't go there with it until after graduation.