what do i do about a clinical instructor who embarrassed me in front of others?

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I'm in my psych clinical right now. It's been only day 5 and I have a lot more clinicals left. I am a quiet person and I am not not talkative or outgoing like others in my group. I've had 3 clinicals before this, and my clinical instructors have all said I would be an excellent nurse. However, this psych clinical is different. The instructor first lets us do 1 hour of group activity with the patients and then gives us time to speak to different patients. We have about 1.5-2 hours of post conference. She always says she has a lot of experience in psych and is an expert because she went into psych right after graduation which has been about 30 years. However, once you ask her direct questions pertaining to psych, she doesn't know the answer. She goes..hm...let's look it up in the book or she would direct the question to us, asking what we would do. I thought maybe she was tired for that day, but she doesn't know. even in class, other students would ask a question, and she would just direct the question to us or just say some bs.

i am quiet, but i do talk to patients. i may not be very talkative, but when i'm 1:1, i talk and ask questions. in post conference, in front of everyone, she says i'm too quiet and that i will never be a good nurse. i was extremely upset. how would she know when she hasn't even seen me in the med-surg clinicals. this is just psych and maybe some people are not cut out for psych. she says i'm too quiet.

yesterday, i overheard her speaking to another instructor about me. she was talking s*** about me. how do i overcome this when i have so many days left of clinical?

i'm crying..i don't know what to do..

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think I would just let it roll off and forget it. Another option is to confront her and say "What can I do to make this clinical experience more meaningful?" "What do I need to accomplish here in clinical." Something along the lines that you know there are deficits but you are willing to work on them.

For what its worth, I have been a nurse for 20 years and absolutely hated hated hated psych clinical. It still brings back awful memories.

However, its just another step to getting the RN.

Also, I'm going to move this to the general nursing student forum for more responses. Good luck.

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People are not always going to be nice to you. Criticism will not always be given constructively and won't always be sandwiched with compliments so you don't feel too bad. Sometimes those in leadership and supervisory roles are not fair.

You've posted a lot about being shy and quiet in group situations. Your clinical instructor seems to think this is a problem. Does she have power to fail you in the class? If so, then you need to act like you are not a shy person. Talk more in post conference. Share details and thoughts on your time with the patients. Look closely at the behavior of the students she praises and do what they do. Approach this as a skill to master the same way you have to learn to take vital signs and give injections and insert foleys, etc.

You can let this defeat you or approach it like a challenge to beat.

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Yup, you basically need to learn to lie, not be whom you are.

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I agree with hiddencat. Sometimes you have to show them that you aren't going to let them get to you. Chances are the other instructors don't take her seriously if she acts in that manner, but I would confront her exactly the way hidden cat suggested. If you know the other clinical instructor, I would also ask her for her feedback on your performance, and see what she tells you (without saying you overheard anything or had an issue with the other instructor). I actually can't believe an instructor would say that instead of approaching you like a professional to explain how you might need to improve. Especially if she's a psych nurse, they usually are big on therapeutic communication.

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Specializes in Long term care.

I agree with the nurse who told you to approach it like its a skill. If you are determined you want to be a nurse then you will succeed. I have been amazed at my own personal growth in my 2 1/2 years as a nurse. You must speak up! I tell myself to speak up whenever I am feeling shy or scared and it works each time I do this and get results then my confidence in myself gets stronger. Remind yourself that you cannot help your patients if you do not speak up..this is nursing life you must talk discuss and relate to others. Your teacher is probably trying to get you all to learn how to find the answers yourself I had an instructor like that and she did us a great favor by telling us to look up the answers. In nursing world you will have to do this.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Just want to add - as to the separate issue of "she doesn't know the answer" could be a teaching style I've seen many times. She knows the answer and says "let's look it up" is modeling what you need to be doing when you don't know the answer and don't have an instructor standing next to you.

Redirecting and asking the class "what would you do?" is intended to get you thinking.

edit - annlewis I didn't see yours first - we agree! :)

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Just want to add - as to the separate issue of "she doesn't know the answer" could be a teaching style I've seen many times. She knows the answer and says "let's look it up" is modeling what you need to be doing when you don't know the answer and don't have an instructor standing next to you.

Redirecting and asking the class "what would you do?" is intended to get you thinking.

edit - annlewis I didn't see yours first - we agree! :)

...And the OPs reaction is what you get when you OVER use this teaching method. The more honest approach would be "You need to look that up"....but what can we expect from a PSYCH instructor!!?? Deviousness.

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I would be really upset if I heard my instructor talking about me like that too. I'm also in my psych rotation and my instructor is "challenging", but after 4 weeks now, I'm starting to understand and appreciate her personality and motivations. Something she says to us pretty often is "pretend this is a drama class". Play your role like a good student nurse. Act like you are more outspoken. Maybe you could go to her and talk. Just make it all about you - "I'm worried about my performance in clinical. I'm having a hard time because I'm a naturally quiet person. What can I do to improve?". She will likely recognize your maturity and effort and if she sees you following her advice, both of you will feel accomplished and more appreciative towards each other. Show her that you're willing and determined to meet expectations and hopefully she will go to that other instructor next time and say how amazed she is at the way you've changed.

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do you think it's a good idea to email her today regarding this?

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However, once you ask her direct questions pertaining to psych, she doesn't know the answer. She goes..hm...let's look it up in the book or she would direct the question to us, asking what we would do. I thought maybe she was tired for that day, but she doesn't know. even in class, other students would ask a question, and she would just direct the question to us or just say some bs.

Not spoon feeding you the information doesn't mean she doesn't know the answer.

She's showing you where to find the answer to your questions and making you think for yourself, what any good instructor will do.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Tread lightly....She has the ability to make your life more miserable than it already is. The reality is that not everyone is going to like you and you aren't going to like everyone else. I would ask to meet with her and then address face to face that you overheard her the other day and that it made you feel uncomfortable. That in the future you would appreciate if she has issues with you that she come to you so that you both can grow and discuss about your individual style and personality so that there are no misunderstandings.

Ionce had a nursing instructor tellme that I would never be a good nurse as I was too independent and didn't delegate well........that was 34 years ago. Take the higher road and prove to her you are better than her gossip.

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