Are nursing instructors really that bad?

Nursing Students General Students

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I am not in the program yet but I really enjoy reading through some of these threads to keep myself motivated and get an idea of what I am in for.

Something that I noticed and frightens me a little though, is how there are an awful lot of comments about bad instructors that tear you down. Are there really that many out there like that? Do most of you have experiences with these kind of instructors that condem you to a life of unnecessary difficulties and challenges while in the program? Is this really a common occurance among nursing schools to encounter such vile instructors?

Please tell me this is just a one off thing and doesn't happen as often as it seems! I don't think I have enough big girl panties to deal with that much negativity!

instructors i've had so far have been great! I love their knowledge... is that weird? hahaha

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
I didn't have a single nursing instructor that was mean, hateful, or 'out to get me.' Not to say that those people don't exist, but I certainly didn't have any. One in particular I remember being tougher than the others, but she certainly didn't get any glee out of failing people.

I found my program to be the same. However, some students would say "such and such failed me..." But---- No... "you failed, it's not the instructor's fault". They want to make sure we are safe in our nursing practice.

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The Nursing Instructors, aren't really that bad. They want you to learn, and be able to possess the skills that it takes to take care of people. Your dealing with life and death as a nurse, so they want to make sure your competent. Until they realize you are competent, they can be a little hard on you.. but that is what they are there for. You will never find 2 nursing instructors who will give you the same answer to a question; but that is part of being an expeirenced nurse and coming into your own. They are also there to answer your questions; never forget that!

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Specializes in Neuro.

I think for the most part, it depends more on your outlook than the instructors themselves.

I had a clinical instructor who was awesome, and yes, she did tear me down a time or two but it was completely necessary. She was showing me that I needed to acknowledge my deficiencies and do something about it. She also gave me challenges the other students didn't have to deal with (repeated uncooperative patients and post mortem care), but now I know I can handle those situations. When she did almost the exact same thing to another student they reported her and complained that she was unfair.

I could not love her more for making me prove myself. We will have peoples lives in our hands.

So, as long as you understand the gravity of your career choice and use each challenge as a chance to prove yourself, you will do fine.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Is this really a common occurance among nursing schools to encounter such vile instructors?

Some thoughts on this: No, it is not a common occurrence in nursing school.

I have only had one clinical instructor who was unprofessional and downright mean. Thing is, this kind of experience could happen in any degree program, so it's not about nursing at all. Besides the instructor I mentioned above, I really haven't had any other instructors with problem behavior of a significant degree. Just go in knowing your class material, be prepared, professional, and open to learning and correction. It will be fine.

Nursing instructors are just like people in any other professional field, but they have have more knowledge and experience of nursing. There will be good ones and challenging ones and the occasional bad one. Don't abstract the nursing instructor role into something frightening and dehumanized in your mind. Keep in mind that some (maybe a lot) of the ranting you see on this board comes from students who don't accept responsibility for their learning and/or failure.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Nursing instructors aren't bad people as a whole. Some of mine have been phenomenal (sp)...actually, I can't really complain about any of them.

I think why most people complain about them is that they're not the pushovers you may have seen during the rest of your college career. Their rules are clearly set in stone, and they expect nursing students to be intelligent enough to understand and follow them...and with rare exceptions, they don't tolerate otherwise. Students trying to get around/bend/break the rules often find themselves losing the battle.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Nursing instructors aren't bad people as a whole. Some of mine have been phenomenal (sp)...actually, I can't really complain about any of them.

I think why most people complain about them is that they're not the pushovers you may have seen during the rest of your college career. Their rules are clearly set in stone, and they expect nursing students to be intelligent enough to understand and follow them...and with rare exceptions, they don't tolerate otherwise. Students trying to get around/bend/break the rules often find themselves losing the battle.

Couldn't agree with you more! I got to be a student coach for the incoming nursing students this summer where they learned the basics ( bed bath, transfers..) So because I was a 2nd year they of course bombarded me with questions, about what the upcoming fall term would look like.

I told them that if you have children have a back for you back for your back up for your childcare, and know what you are going to do if your car breaks down. One student said, well dont they understand those issues and allow for those? They were amazed when I said no that you need to be prepared and have back ups

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