Being screwed with by the Hen House

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2009

no, it is not a hipaa violation for information about you to be shared among the instructors. behavior and personality is very difficult to evaluate, let alone fire someone for, as i learned as a manager. i have never heard of an employer that had personal behavior rules involving anxiety, depression or eye contact with who you are speaking to. most behavior rules involve things like attendance or threatening another co-worker, so i can't image what behavior rules you have violated at this school. what behavior rule or rules have you supposedly broken? it must be able to be put in black and white and you must not have passed written objectives of the program. if you are failed and the reason cannot be itemized and proven to you, tell them you are going to the next step which is to file a grievance with the school administration. check your school catalog to see how this is done.

then again, this may be an intimidation tactic. you may be doing well grade wise, but they do not think you have the personality to be a nurse and all they are doing is applying pressure and stress to try to get you to quit voluntarily because they have no legitimate reason to fail you out of the program or they would have done it already.

littlebeach · Dec 7, 2009

It is a personality thing. They want quiet and submissive. It is a power game. I talked to the grievance counselor, and he told me to wait until they don't pass me to file a grievance. I just wanted to know if I had ammo with them handing out that psych evaluation.

They have made it clear that they don't want me there; I have an independent study course that requires 15 hours of work that is to assigned by the instructors. Two of us (students) took that class; the other girl has been contacted and almost has all of her hours done. No instructors have contacted me, and that is the course requirement.

I have a week of school, and have no hours. Now, with 4 tests (2 of them are NCLEX) left, I have to scramble in the last week to find 15 hours from instructors.

The sad thing is that this is just a personality thing. I am a strong, smart, capable, and compassionate person that will make a great nurse. AND I HAVE WORKED MY BUTT OFF. My kids have sacrificed their weekends in front of the TV for a year now.

They did write me up for not looking them in the eye and smiling. They even resorted to lying in the write up; they lied using other student's words "the post partum student reported that (me) was seen arguing and yelling at the patients." This is completely erroneous; I have NEVER yelled at patients. I have excellent patient care.

Now I am just discouraged. I am not going to let them win.

caliotter3 · Dec 7, 2009

If they have made up their minds about you, no mountain can be moved by you. More than likely your best bet is to make arrangements to find another program while you are still in good standing with this institution. I was handed the same garbage by the student grievance person at my school. Nothing can be done until they fail you. Of course, by then, it is probably too late to fight it and win without the help of an attorney. And even with an attorney, the school almost always wins. Good luck finding an alternative way to complete your nursing education.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2009

Everyone should be aware that with write-ups you have the right to write your disagreement with the write-up at the bottom and why you disagree. That documents your side of the situation. Never refuse to sign a write-up because it is proof of insubordination, which is usually a rule breaker, especially if they have a witness (another instructor) who witnessed you refusing to sign it.

If instructors are failing to respond to your efforts to contact them about this assignment, start documenting your attempts to contact them (such as sending e-mails that can be copied) and document your contact with the next person above them in the chain of command. Find out their office hours and sit outside their door if you have to. You sound pretty assertive. I would tell them that you are documenting their behavior and have no intention of letting them sabotage your chance at graduating by ignoring you so you can get a poor grade.

littlebeach · Dec 7, 2009

Thank you for your honesty. It really feels like it's time to move. The only bad part about that is my condo is paid for and I live on an island. That means that I have to now move my kids, and pay rent elsewhere. All I have ever wanted to do was be a nurse; and I know that I will make a good one. I make mistakes; but this is over me standing up for myself. Oh, and I did give a insulin shot last semester that was a big mistake, but I learned a lot from that.

The last write up that I disagreed with I signed anyway; even though I didn't want to.

My sister is an attorney in another state and if they don't pass me, then I guess I will invoke her help. I don't see myself winning a university.

Thanks you for your replies,

;0)

classykaren · Dec 7, 2009

I was told never to sign a write up it means you agree with it you can not be forced to sign that is extortion ask a lawyer . They are trying to get a paper trail against you. do not help them just say I refuse And like the others said you document their treatment of you Maybe consult with a attorney now Good luck

chickapea · Dec 8, 2009

I am sorry that you are dealing with this unfortunate situation. Especially when it is something that your heart is in and you've put forth so much effort and hard work towards your goal. Press on, you'll get there.

What in the world is up with some of these nursing instructors?? I have heard countless horror stories about mean/degrading counter productive instructors. It's so hard to get into programs these days maybe there should be more strict screening on the instructors that are hired to train the select few that are accepted.

This tactic might work for prison guard training maybe, but nursing... it's bizarre to me.

littlebeach · Dec 8, 2009

Thanks for your replies. This OB teacher takes the cake. I can't understand why the director takes her side; she has countless complaints of being rude and sarcastic and humiliating. Unfortunately, I stood up for myself. I just can't take humiliation. I don't think anyone should be humiliated; it is bad enough walking around in the "student" uniforms:" that in itself is an invitation for slap downs....

I hate the games they play. Unfortunately, they have the power. Today I waited for 2.5 hours for independent study work, and the teacher never showed. I have the NCLEX and 2 last ob tests to study for.

With regards to that write up, they told me to sign it or I don't go on. I have just worked my butt off for the last year; of course I am going to sign it. But it was filled with lies and "see doctor for depression and anxiety." Hello? There was absolutely nothing to do with anxiety in that situation; they just used what was in that eval against me.

classykaren · Dec 8, 2009

If they said that to you contact a lawyer or legal aid

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2009

thanks for your replies. this ob teacher takes the cake. i can't understand why the director takes her side; she has countless complaints of being rude and sarcastic and humiliating. unfortunately, i stood up for myself. i just can't take humiliation. i don't think anyone should be humiliated; it is bad enough walking around in the "student" uniforms:" that in itself is an invitation for slap downs....
i hate the games they play. unfortunately, they have the power. today i waited for 2.5 hours for independent study work, and the teacher never showed. i have the nclex and 2 last ob tests to study for.
with regards to that write up, they told me to sign it or i don't go on. i have just worked my butt off for the last year; of course i am going to sign it. but it was filled with lies and "see doctor for depression and anxiety." hello? there was absolutely nothing to do with anxiety in that situation; they just used what was in that eval against me.

with regards to that write up, they told me to sign it or i don't go on. i have just worked my butt off for the last year; of course i am going to sign it. but it was filled with lies and "see doctor for depression and anxiety." hello? there was absolutely nothing to do with anxiety in that situation; they just used what was in that eval against me.

hate to be the bearer of bad news, but i was a manager and supervisor for many years and this is exactly the same thing that goes on in the real world. it's part of the red tape and doesn't just go on in nursing school. they are documenting your actions and behavior and creating a paper trail for the future. if you want to get in on the game you have to play by their rules. it's only a school and you are only there for a few short years. why are you making this so hard on yourself?

thanks for your replies. this ob teacher takes the cake. i can't understand why the director takes her side; she has countless complaints of being rude and sarcastic and humiliating. unfortunately, i stood up for myself. i just can't take humiliation. i don't think anyone should be humiliated; it is bad enough walking around in the "student" uniforms:" that in itself is an invitation for slap downs....

i hate the games they play. unfortunately, they have the power. today i waited for 2.5 hours for independent study work, and the teacher never showed. i have the nclex and 2 last ob tests to study for.

i am really worried for you. you may hate the games these people play, but they have all the power and no matter how hard you are fighting for some of that power you are going to get none. i am wondering how you will fare when you get into a facility and work for people where you hate the games they "play" too. my whole career i have had to play by somebody's rules and many of them i didn't like either. every place had some kind of dress code. but nursing is about service to other people. i can give service or learn my school lessons and still follow somebody's rules and wear a rag. why can't you? now, i am retired because of multiple illnesses. i jokingly say i am a professional patient. the longest i have waited to see a doctor in an office was 3 1/2 hours. i

always

take something (book to read, puzzles, crocheting) to do with me to appointments on the chance that i may have to wait a while. stuff happens. always have a plan b. i learned that working as a nurse for 30 years. nurses have to learn to be ready to change gears at a moment's notice. this is a profession, not just a 9-5 routine job you are preparing for.

littlebeach · Dec 8, 2009

I completely understand everything you said. I don't want power, I want to pass. I am a good student, and I feel that this is because I stood up for myself and they don't like me. This isn't about not playing to their rules; it is about not kissing their butts. I know that sounds like I can't be reflective of my behavior, but really, in this situation, that's what it came to.

I did my best to humble up to this teacher, but she had her mind made up before clinicals.

I know about the real world; I am 36 and have been working in the real world for 20 of those years.

I can take responsibility for my faults; I shouldn't have told her that she was sarcastic, and I didn't appreciate the humiliation that she doled out the day before to me an another student in front of other nurses, parents, and doctors. I should have just apologized. But I don't feel that I did anything to apologize for.

I just can't take being publicly humiliated. NO one should.

In any case, I just want my nursing degree. I may have to move to get it. I just wanted to know (I guess I already knew) that I have no recourse except legal.

They have nothing to fail me for; I have committed no serious violations, am well prepared, and pass all of their tests.

Thank you for your help and replies.

PS THANKS FOR THAT FACT THROWING THREAD; IT IS AWESOME! THANKS TO ALL THAT DID THAT; IT REALLY HELPED ME REMEMBER THINGS!