I'm in my last semester (4th) and my clinical instructor has been bullying me and making fun of me (even cussed at me) in front of my clinical group during post conference.
I've had positive clinical evaluations from all my past clinical instructors. But now, I'm feeling discouraged...She favors some students even though they don't give good SBAR or can't answer critical thinking questions about their patients or even do assessment on time. I still get chewed out even when I answered questions about my patient or give my SBAR or during my med administration she will ask me total random question or something to throw me off. She makes me feel nervous. When I go to her and update her on my patient (like any new reports) she will angrily say You're bugging me or You're hovering over me. And then later she will yell at me and say why do i never communicate with her. I'm so confused. I'm lost and feeling depressed because no matter what i do, she is never satisfied. I have only 3 weeks left and almost ready for graduation and she told me there is no hope for me in passing her clinical.
I'm gonna have clinical this coming Tuesday and she said she will be with me and if she isn't satisfied, I will be dropped.
Why indeed. Well, in hindsight I can say that this CI was also one of the very best I have ever had. Tough, demanding, difficult, hard-to-please, pick your adjective (including a few colorful ones) and you'd be describing her well. BUT she also made some really outstanding nurses by the time she was done.
I had the good fortune of being with nearly all the CIs by the time I graduated; I can honestly say that the students who spent the most time with the "Mean CI" probably got the best education of the lot. Did she fail some? You bet. Maybe even failed ones that other CIs would have passed. But while I had doubts about the quality of some of my classmates, I had NO doubts about the ones who I knew were primarily with that CI, even CHOOSING that CI because of her standards.
It's never ok to abuse anyone. But would we be willing to put up with a tougher time of it if we knew we were going to be better off in the end? That when we began work as a nurse we could handle the pressure better because of it?
Just food for thought.
I think nursing students deserve to have BOTH. We shortchange ourselves when we keep our heads down or are afraid to ask important questions for fear of retaliation or ridicule. For some reason the trope of the "clinically skilled" nurse as a stern, tough, feared, respected, and thus more legit nurse/educator seems to persist. I'm NOT saying that's what you're advocating for RNsRWe, I'm saying that I disagree with putting up with it when it serves no purpose except to belittle and humiliate or destroy the self-esteem of strong students. Strong students who trust their professors to instruct and guide them to a healthy place, one where learning is encouraged, not ridiculed. And IMHO it seems that these types of professors don't encourage this.
"Well, in hindsight I can say that this CI was also one of the very best I have ever had. Tough, demanding, difficult, hard-to-please, pick your adjective...."
Sounds like Stockholm Syndrome's got a pretty good grip on you. I'm so tired of people getting on forums anywhere complaining about abusive behaviors by authority and being told some variation of, "They're mean, but it's really good for us." Serious eye roll at your comment. I guarantee you if you had been one of the diligent academics that were failed you'd be singing a different tune.
I think nursing students deserve to have BOTH. We shortchange ourselves when we keep our heads down or are afraid to ask important questions for fear of retaliation or ridicule. For some reason the trope of the "clinically skilled" nurse as a stern, tough, feared, respected, and thus more legit nurse/educator seems to persist. I'm NOT saying that's what you're advocating for RNsRWe, I'm saying that I disagree with putting up with it when it serves no purpose except to belittle and humiliate or destroy the self-esteem of strong students. Strong students who trust their professors to instruct and guide them to a healthy place, one where learning is encouraged, not ridiculed. And IMHO it seems that these types of professors don't encourage this.
I totally agree with you. I've seen an underlying--and very toxic--theme in nursing schools NOT to ask any questions. Project confidence even if you don't have it. One of our own instructors told us to "fake it until we make it". This is one of the worst pieces of advice ever. If you are unsure about something, you should be able to ask. This will perpetuate both confidence and confidence. If a student is not able to ask for fear of looking stupid or (worse) being placed in academic jeopardy, the patient is the one being put at risk in the long run.
That's completely absurd. I don't believe my nursing school has switched to that philosophy. At least I hope not.
The concept is absurd, but I've seen it happen. If questions are encouraged, good for you (and your school). I can only speak for the one I went to, and it was awful, that environment. Totally stifling.
The concept is absurd, but I've seen it happen. If questions are encouraged, good for you (and your school). I can only speak for the one I went to, and it was awful, that environment. Totally stifling.
Hi Horseshoe. I agree that it is absurd and I also agree with Whateverworks that it does and is happening in many nursing schools. Of course, I don't know what goes on in *every* nursing school. I can only speak from my own experiences and those of close friends who attend other nursing schools. It's a very disturbing trend and since nursing school is already overwhelming without having to deal with that, the first step in making it better is to name the behavior when it happens. I think we owe it to ourselves, the students who come after us, and our patients.
I had to comment on this despite being an old thread. There is a difference between instructors that are difficult (want you to succeed) vs. bullying (abuse in power). During my last rotation with a clinical preceptor (who was the manager in the hospiral dept) 6+years ago in nursing school, I encountered such a bully. She was degrading, rude, humiliated me in front of staff and at the end told me she felt I should not succeed in nursing but will let me pass because my future was not bright! (I graduated cum laude btw lol and made it to grad school!). She passed me along to every nurse on the floor, and did not want to help me at all lol. She was horrid to most clinical staff. I did not report her in the end, she was friend's with my clinical instructor and they would of ruined my future. I remember every time I had clinical, I was anxiety ridden and crying afterward...she damaged my self confidence and it was hard to focus on my final exit exams. My advice is pray, try your best, and please surround yourself with uplifting people. I honestly wished these people didnt exist in nursing...but they do. Their behaviour is not about you, its about how they feel about themselves. My sister is going through the same right now with her CI. I hope for the best in you all and for us nurses, this is a reminder to be kind and helpful than eating our young.
I'm in my last semester (4th) and my clinical instructor has been bullying me and making fun of me (even cussed at me) in front of my clinical group during post conference.
I've had positive clinical evaluations from all my past clinical instructors. But now, I'm feeling discouraged...She favors some students even though they don't give good SBAR or can't answer critical thinking questions about their patients or even do assessment on time. I still get chewed out even when I answered questions about my patient or give my SBAR or during my med administration she will ask me total random question or something to throw me off. She makes me feel nervous. When I go to her and update her on my patient (like any new reports) she will angrily say You're bugging me or You're hovering over me. And then later she will yell at me and say why do i never communicate with her. I'm so confused. I'm lost and feeling depressed because no matter what i do, she is never satisfied. I have only 3 weeks left and almost ready for graduation and she told me there is no hope for me in passing her clinical.
I'm gonna have clinical this coming Tuesday and she said she will be with me and if she isn't satisfied, I will be dropped.
Maybe you can go to the dean or chair, instructors don't have a right to fail you in your last semester, you put time and money in to this and you have proven to be safe and ethical. They should have a policy on this. Sorry but if an instructor harassed me, and prevented me from passing because they are 'unsatisfied', ask for a refund and expect a big heavy lawsuit on your desk.
LocoLefty
4 Posts
I think nursing students deserve to have BOTH. We shortchange ourselves when we keep our heads down or are afraid to ask important questions for fear of retaliation or ridicule. For some reason the trope of the "clinically skilled" nurse as a stern, tough, feared, respected, and thus more legit nurse/educator seems to persist. I'm NOT saying that's what you're advocating for RNsRWe, I'm saying that I disagree with putting up with it when it serves no purpose except to belittle and humiliate or destroy the self-esteem of strong students. Strong students who trust their professors to instruct and guide them to a healthy place, one where learning is encouraged, not ridiculed. And IMHO it seems that these types of professors don't encourage this.