Being screwed with by the Hen House

[littlebeach]

Hello all. I need some help. I am almost an LPN (I am in the last two weeks of the first year.) I started an OB/Peds class that had the witches from hell as the teachers. In the second day of newborn training, I was sent home because the "instructor couldn't work with me." She was evil, humiliating, and sarcastic the day before, and the second day when her nasty attitude started up again, I told her so. Well, I found this to be not so smart. But I am not 18, and have raised three kids. I don't believe anyone should be treated the way she was treating us.

Anyway, my question is this: They used a supposedly confidential psych (I went in the summer to be tested for ADHD) eval against me when writing me up. The director gave my psych eval (it came out that I have anxiety/depression..who doesn't..I am a single mom in nursing school) to the nasty teacher. I was assured that the eval would never see the light of day, much less any other teachers eyes when I did it last summer. The director's excuse for giving it to the nasty teacher is so "she could understand me." Is this a HIPPA violation?

Also, they wrote me up the next day for "not looking at them in the eye and smiling at them." This came under the guise of "ongoing problematic non-verbal communication."

I have passed all of their tests, done all of my work, made every clinical, but it stands now that I might not pass.

What recourse do I have? I have a strong personality but have toned it down, way down. I am never disrespectful until disrespected first.

Any help?

[NurseKitten, MSN, RN]

Print this thread and keep it as documentation of what's gone on from your standpoint. Sounds like you're going to need it.

Good luck.

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

OK I have a lot of energy about this situation and none of it is positive...this stinks!

I think, as far as the psych eval these people are in the wrong (seriously bloody wrong and it makes me see red). I suspect that you may have been a little inappropriate too in how you approached the instructor but IT DOESN"T MATTER NOW.

You need to play the long game. You need to graduate. Make an appointment with them tomorrow and apologize. Years ago I would have said get a lawyer and fight them until they are bloody. However, once you start looking at legal options you are stuffed.

I don't care if you have to agree that you need to see a doctor for anxiety or depression -- tell them you will. Tell them whatever you need to in order to get them off your back and finish school. Do it tomorrow. Then suck it up (and keep a lid on your reactions) until you have your diploma in your hand.

Would you rather be right? Or would you rather finish your LPN?

The only thing you have control over in this situation are your reactions -- this will always be the case. I had to get past the whole give it to 'em with both barrels when people were out of line. People consistently get out of line. What I needed to learn was how to school my reactions because my reactions got me in trouble -- not dissimilar to what you are experiencing now.

Later on once you have your diploma in your hand I would look at who did this evaluation. Why did it get into the directors hands in the first place? There is a chinese wall between our student disabilities center and faculty (including administrators). If you require an accommodation you go to them and they verify it with your MD and write up a letter for your instructors ONLY stating the accommodations (not the reasons for them). Also, they can't have it both ways. If you do suffer from anxiety and depression they cannot use manifestations (symptoms) of those medical diagnoses as evidence of a communication problem. I suspect that the Americans with Disabilities Act would come into play here.

[Aurora77]

Wow, this is just insane. There's absolutely no excuse for your teacher missing an appointment. That's not the OP being unprepared, that's just unprofessional on the part of the teacher. I wonder if she believes in making patients wait.

OP, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. We're dealing with similar things at my school. DolceVita is right. Keep your head down, get your degree, and get the heck away from such a toxic environment. Document everything, so if you do have to pursue action while you're in school, you've got proof you aren't just another whiny student. I really hope things go well for you in the future.

[AOx1]

I would NOT print this thread. Not that you don't have valid points. But the title of it alone does not come across as professional, and I fear it would work against you. If you file a grievance, you want to appear completely calm, rational, and professional.

The first thing you will want to do, as others have mentioned, is to document in a very factual and objective manner what has happened. If you are asked to sign a grievance, one thing you can do is to insist that your perception of events be included as an addendum. For example, you could sign next to your name- see attached rebuttal. This would show that although you do not agree with what is in the grievance, that you have received notice. I agree with Daytonite, refusing to sign it just makes you look difficult. I would sign it, but on my own terms.

Also, look in your student handbook and follow the grievance policy TO THE LETTER, even if that means you need to have papers/grievances sent by certified mail. I am certainly not an attorney, nor will I attempt to exceed the scope of my practice by offering legal advice, but I would make sure I could document that I followed the policy fully.

I think just in the future, you might consider apologizing if you insult someone and call them sarcastic. This is not to say that you should not stand up for yourself, or refuse to be treated badly. But this can be done without insulting someone. If you know you are dealing with someone very difficult, take a few minutes to compose yourself and say "Mr/Mrs Smith, I would like to have a professional communication, but I find that difficult to do when you (fill in the blank with whatever is appropriate, ex- shout, call me names, etc)." I don't know that particular instructor, but most people don't find it very entertaining to pick on people who don't give them what they want, such as a reaction. Just be factual, and repeat ad nauseum.

Also, I am not clear on the comment made by the other student (the postpartum student). Did the student not make the comment, or did they make it, and you disagree with it? I read and re-read but am not clear on this point. Also, are they bringing your past issue with the insulin injection into this grievance, or was that just a comment you made in passing? I am trying to get a big picture of what the grievance consists of in its entirety.

I would consider saying what you would do differently (ex- not calling her sarcastic) if you are allowed a verbal appeal. I would ask what, in her view, you could have done differently at the clinical setting. This may help mend some bridges and allow you to pass through LPN school

One other factor, I don't know what your school's accreditation is, but if they are NLN accredited, they are required to show as part of their accreditation process that their appeals process is consistent with that of the school/university and that grievances are handled in an impartial and consistent manner.

Finally, whether this goes your way or does not go your way, I hope you will use this experience productively. There are great nurse educators out there and not so great ones. I used my own personal nursing school experience as the impetus to try to become a good educator, to treat students in a way I would like to be treated and mentored. Sometimes it is those who have had the most difficult time in life that can be the stimulus for great change.

[caliotter3]

A classmate of mine went to the Student Disabilities Center and got help from them. Instead of using the information against her, the nursing school administration complied with the requests and paved the way for her to graduate. You are being discriminated against. How involved you want to get in fighting for yourself is something you will have to decide for yourself. Sometimes the path of least resistance is the better road. The school certainly is aware that you don't have a goldmine of cash at your disposal to fight your case. They know that they pretty much have this situation won. I hope that you are able to salvage something from this.