Are "real" nurses as mean as my future instructors?

MedSurgeMess · Dec 10, 2009

I'll go read your post in students after this, but without knowing the details, I will say, as an instructor, we try to be supportive, but many students think they come to the table on day 1 and know everything, and should be allowed to do as they please. With the seriousness of this profession, it doesn't work that way. You will earn respect, not just get it handed to you. Once you start proving yourself through diligence, you will see a change. And the same goes for once you start work. I've seen many pass their boards that have absolutely NO business taking care of anyone.....again, you have to earn the respect, it won't be handed freely

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

well , hmmmm nursing instructors sometimes are like that... they are under alot of pressure to teach student nurses so that they pass boards and not kill anyone in the process... you can't judge all RN's by a few nurses .. i must admit i work with some mean nurses , but they don't bother me.. i am considered a nice nurse and i feel sometimes people are harsh , but we all are human and we all are different. you really shouldn't judge a nursing instructor or a nurse until you walk in their shoes... if they were huffing and puffing then maybe they have a right.... they want to steer you on the right path.. who said they were unprofessional? .. the students who are not professional's yet? just pay close attention to those huffers and puffer instructors because they will teach you all you need to know to passboards and be a competent nurse..... don't judge this early in the game..

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

I'll go read your post in students after this, but without knowing the details, I will say, as an instructor, we try to be supportive, but many students think they come to the table on day 1 and know everything, and should be allowed to do as they please. With the seriousness of this profession, it doesn't work that way. You will earn respect, not just get it handed to you. Once you start proving yourself through diligence, you will see a change. And the same goes for once you start work. I've seen many pass their boards that have absolutely NO business taking care of anyone.....again, you have to earn the respect, it won't be handed freely

amen to this !! please don't start the program with a sense of entitlement.. because you haven't earned it yet... i agree 100% with med/surgmess...

Jules A, MSN · Dec 10, 2009

I'll go read your post in students after this, but without knowing the details, I will say, as an instructor, we try to be supportive, but many students think they come to the table on day 1 and know everything, and should be allowed to do as they please. With the seriousness of this profession, it doesn't work that way. You will earn respect, not just get it handed to you. Once you start proving yourself through diligence, you will see a change. And the same goes for once you start work. I've seen many pass their boards that have absolutely NO business taking care of anyone.....again, you have to earn the respect, it won't be handed freely

This is exactly what I found also. They were pretty rough until they actually started seeing the nurse in each of us. By the end of it you should really understand and appreciate their contribution to your training. Its the same on the unit. I have found that for the most part my fellow nurses are incredible to work with but you do have to earn their respect. Good luck, in the end its really worth all the hoops you need to jump through.

silentRN · Dec 10, 2009

Yes, they are very mean.

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

Its never appropriate to be rude and huffy/puffy to people. This a course that you have paid to enroll in. The teachers should be able to impart to each of you the gravity and responsibility of nursing without behaving poorly. The school is intent on conferring a degree upon you, not inducting you into some society that you must "earn" your way into.

My guess is that you could probably look at the college's hazing policy and find that there are some similarities between the policy and the behavior you witnessed. (It wouldn't surprise me if they know how to "toe the line" though.)

In terms of whether they will continue to be like this, I would guess not. Most instructors loosen up when they begin to see that you and your classmates are serious and taking the work seriously. (as someone has already mentioned)

I have had quite a lot of positive experiences with nurses in the clinical setting and with my clinical instructors. It seems this particular issue can be occasionally isolated to a handful of faculty members who think they are the "stewards" of the profession and take it upon themselves to handpick future nurses.

Try to stay positive and believe you will win them over. :twocents:

Midwest4me · Dec 10, 2009

obviously the title is meant to have a little humor to it, but after today i'm questioning that. i had orientation for a community college rn program and the instructors were very unprofessional. it was 2 1/2 hours of them huffing and puffing like 6 year olds toward us, and basically acting like we were below them. i posted a more detailed explanation of todays events in the "student" section, but i'm just wondering if this type of attitude is something i can expect more of in my new career? i come from a field where from the get-go everyone treats each other as a professional and there is a lot of support and encouragement, and after today i'm hoping i don't have to prepare for the exact opposite of that. give me some hope people! lol

what kind of question is this? of course real nurses are as mean as your future instructors! hahaha---just kidding.... you've been fortunate if, as you say, you've come from a career in which "from the get-go, everyone treats each other as a professional."

seriously, i haven't found professionalism to be the norm in nursing....and i've been in it quite a few years and in several specialties(maybe not the right specialties! :). you need to strive to be professional and courteous at all times but you will find those "bad apples". frankly, i imagine there are bad apples in all careers. this is just a really stressful occupation; some specialties more so than others, of course. if you report the "unprofessional behavior", then it can back to haunt you, labeling you as "not being a team member". better to keep your mouth shut and take the behavior with a grain of salt....or move on to another job.

i do wish you the best of luck; i do hope you land in a specialty in which you get the support and professionalism that should be characteristic of nursing.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

Your description of their behavior is very general and vague. Can you give some specific examples?

Dakovich · Dec 10, 2009

I in no way expect to be just given respect, I just don't believe a person in any position such as theirs (any professional person) should act like a two year old. Rolling of eyes, huffing and puffing is NOT professional. I don't care what field or situation you are in. It could be a social situation and it wouldn't be accpetable to act they way they were. I come from an aviation background, and when I say we were treated like professionals from the get-go I mean that we were never give any slack. You are expected to know EVERYTHING and to perform flawlessly at ALL times. From the beginning they expect you to act like an adult, and to act professional. In that expectation they treat you as such. If an instructor, I don't care what field of study, wants you to be a professional they need to treat you like one. You don't treat a person like a child by yourself acting like a child, this is unacceptable. This IS unprofessional. Of course you have to earn respect and trust but you shouldn't need to earn professional courtesy be it a peer or an instructor. Maybe I expect too much.

p.s. obviously I was joking about nurses being mean

sunnycalifRN · Dec 10, 2009

Obviously the title is meant to have a little humor to it, but after today I'm questioning that. I had orientation for a Community College RN program and the instructors were VERY unprofessional. It was 2 1/2 hours of them huffing and puffing like 6 year olds toward us, and basically acting like we were below them. I posted a more detailed explanation of todays events in the "student" section, but I'm just wondering if this type of attitude is something I can expect more of in my new career? I come from a field where from the get-go everyone treats each other as a professional and there is a lot of support and encouragement, and after today I'm hoping I don't have to prepare for the exact opposite of that. Give me some hope people! lol

Hahaha! I remember being in a similar meeting a number of years ago! I started nursing school at age 52 (my 4th career change, I think . . . lost count) so I found some of the antics rather amusing. Yes, there was some ranting and raving by some instructors but here's the reason:

the instructors were "short" with the new students who were asking STUPID questions . . . or asking questions that had just been answered . . . for example: The instructor says, "tomorrow, class starts at 7:00 a.m. sharp . . don't be late!" then, a few minutes later . . . someone in the back asks "uh, what time does class start tomorrow?" So, the "mean" instructor "tore them a new one" , so to speak. And, they deserved it, IMHO!

During the nursing program, the instructor will be explaining the importance of understanding IV drug compatibility . . . and if students are texting away or talking to each other . . . the "mean" instructor may be

"mean" to the students who were not paying attention . . . BECAUSE, mixing incompatible drugs can KILL your patient.

So, basically, the instructors are attempting to teach material that is very important and if the students aren't taking it seriously, the students will learn the hard way.

karenchad · Dec 10, 2009

My answer to this question is -YES. and alot MEANER, I'm sorry to say. prove yourself, earn respect?? I thought everyone is basically entitled to respect- no matter who you are. I don't think some mean "bag" ( lack of a less profane word here) you work with has the right to determine if you are deserving of respect or not. then if some one treates you disrepectfully, give them the direspect back- that they have 'earned ' and asked for. This is nursing it's not the doctors- blame needs to be put where it belongs!