Clinical Instructor Dilemma

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Hello, I'm a nursing student in my last quarter of nursing school and I'm really excited to graduate since I've already passed my exit hesi. My problem lies in my clinical instructor and I don't know what do to. She has been extremely mean and intimidating to her students. How you may ask? She has been picking on me and the other students for no reason for the past few weeks and it's getting to the point where I can't stand it anymore. Let me give you an example. She pulls us off to the side at clinicals to drill us on different medications and what they do to the body. Well, I can handle that. Then when she asks, no one answers her because they're scared of her so I decided to try and answer every time she asked a question and no one else wanted to answer it. She turns to me and tells me verbatim "Shut your mouth, I don't want to hear from you anymore" and physically puts her hand over my mouth. My blood boiled because I know I can't say anything. Then later on the same day I was with my nurse following him around constantly and I was at bedside providing care so much that I couldn't do my paperwork for our care plans due every week. So I decided to sit down at the computer to get into the chart to look up patient history for exactly 10 minutes at the end of a 12 hour day. My instructor came over and told me to get off the computer because I had plenty of time that day and she "saw" me at the computer ALL DAY. Well, I asked my nurse how long I was on the computer that day and he said "maybe 15 minutes tops because we've been providing care all day" (He is in ICU so we had critical drips going). Then after I go to post conference, the instructor says that she'll send home the next person that she catches on the computer next clinical and give us a bad evaluation so we can't graduate. I know I can't say anything but she has been verbally abusive to me and my peers since day one. I have 4 more clinicals with her and I'm done but i dread it more than anything. I've had tough instructors but there's a line where you need to stop. I just need advice please, I feel so alone...

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This instructor needs to be setting a better example of professionalism and RESPECT. It's obvious she is being unreasonable with threats and a poor facilitator of meaningful group discussion. Quite honestly, it sounds like she may be super stressed and/or overly strict. Instructors like these deserve poor exit evaluations and need to be reported.

Is there a policy at your institution for reporting verbal abuse? You need to follow the chain of command & talk to someone at the institution who can help. It is good to network with fellow students that were witnesses so you know if you have their support if/when the complaint gets investigated.

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Bless your heart. I went through the same thing with my instructor. She was horrid!

Many of the students complained on her to the dean and NOTHING was done. She was free to destroy our lives as she saw fit. She failed some because she didn't like them and passed others bc she did. When they prob shouldn't have passed at all.

Very unprofessional and to top it all off, she really wasn't that smart.

I wish I had an absolute answer for you to make it stop but I don't. All I can tell you is this. M

Stay quiet. Give her what she wants and he will move in to the next person and try to pick and fight. Just stay off her radar.

And remember that it's not you, it's her.

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

I dont know why you can't say something. I'm pretty sure your instructor cant physically touch you in that manner.

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Specializes in Med/ Surg/ Telemetry, Public Health.

I say just stay low under the radar and graduate. After graduation I would write an anonymous letter to the dean of nursing or department chair and let them know how this instructor treated you.

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Specializes in Hospice + Palliative.

Like others have already said, I would try to just keep your head down and plow through the last 4 clinicals with this instructor. I would also, however, keep a journal (facts only, keep out opinion or dramatization - think of it like charting your clinical day) of negative interactions with her just in case she does try to pull any funny business before you graduate. I'd write down the incident with the hand (OMG, that is AWFUL!) and also document which nurses you work with and a general outline of how your day went. This way if she tries to block your graduating, you'll have a record of the days and will be able to refer back to the nurse you were with if needed for corroboration.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Covering my face, heck, coming near me beyond acceptable is a no no or me-can you say, "personal space?"

I would collaborate with my cohort and say something, even anonymously; I would go to the dean and let them know what negative behaviors that this instructor has; at least preventing other group to endure such foolishness. :no:

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Thank you guys for answering me because it means a lot. I've always been a respectful student and I always try to answer questions even if I'm not exactly right. I think that the best thing for me to do at this point is just write down factual information of our interactions and keep track of the nurses I work with. I've also thought about getting a written statement from the nurse I was working with if need be to prove that I was doing as I was told. I just think it's ridiculous that she wants us to get on the computer to get our information, yet she shames us when we do. I'm also the youngest of the group and I feel like she's treating me like a child. I will keep my mouth shut and only speak when called upon, even though I'm very outgoing at heart. I just don't understand what her deal is because I feel like she's not providing a safe environment to learn. Every time I ask her an honest question wanting to know more about something she says "I'm not going to tell you, look it up". I can understand why she does this but sometimes there are alternative uses for different medicines or procedures and it isn't always "by the book" when you research it. Just 4 more clinicals I say!!!! Only 4!!! I will say something after evaluations are completed so that she can't fail me. Don't worry I'll take pictures of it as well just in case she "loses" my evaluation. I know something needs to be said but I can only do so when I'm in the clear.

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I'm a little surprised the staff at the clinical site haven't noticed and said something. I know I would if it happened at my facility.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I'm a little surprised the staff at the clinical site haven't noticed and said something. I know I would if it happened at my facility.

Me too. :yes:

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Like others have already said I would try to just keep your head down and plow through the last 4 clinicals with this instructor. I would also, however, keep a journal (facts only, keep out opinion or dramatization - think of it like charting your clinical day) of negative interactions with her just in case she does try to pull any funny business before you graduate. I'd write down the incident with the hand (OMG, that is AWFUL!) and also document which nurses you work with and a general outline of how your day went. This way if she tries to block your graduating, you'll have a record of the days and will be able to refer back to the nurse you were with if needed for corroboration.[/quote']

You have a very good idea. Agreed.

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Another reason you want to report it to the dean is that she can be jeopardizing your college's ability to use that hospital as a clinical site. If the staff on the floor can contribute to your report (which you will not send until you have your diploma in your hand) that will help the dean make a decision.

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