I'm in my 2nd quarter of nursing and in only just 4 weeks of clinicals my instructor gave me 3 clinical warnings.
The 1st one was reasonable because I didn't have my hair up nor had a pen and didn't bring my papers to orientation.
The 2nd one was because I forgot to do the Pathophysiology assignment for my patient (last quarter my clinical instructor didn't require it to be done on the day of care for your patient until turning in the assignment, only your plan of care for your patient and face sheet, but was reasonable because she said I was the only one that didn't do that).
But I don't agree with this recent clinical warning she gave me today which was because I didn't know how to give an IV bolus to my patient which was Pantoprazole (Protonix).
We have 2 times in successfully passing medications to our patients the whole day in clinical (which is 9 hours) and today was my first schedule to give out meds. to my patient with a pass or fail mark. I administered 2 medications today: Insulin and Pantoprazole. She passed me when I gave insulin SUBQ in the abdomen in my patient but didn't pass me when I gave Pantoprazole IV (I froze in the part where I had to disconnect the IV from my patient, I paused because I didn't want to hurt the patient and didn't know which port to disconnect it from which made me and my patient nervous/scared so my clinical instructor grabbed the medications out of my hand and administered them herself).
After that she told me to go talk to her post-conference alone and that's when she said she was going to give me another clinical warning because I didn't know what to do (even though I have 1 more chance to give meds. with a pass/fail grade in 4 weeks from now and that's why I pleaded with her to give me 1 more chance since my next/last chance in giving out meds. to redeem myself is in 4 weeks from now but she said that it was my responsibility to practice this/be prepared in knowing what I should do when my schedule for passing out meds. was today so I asked her if I can object to this clinical warning and she told me that I can see the head instructor of my clinical class and talk with both of them about it).
So my question is, is my clinical instructor set out to fail me from the course because in the first 2 weeks that I had her, I had already gotten 2 clinical warnings?
Is she biased towards me because of that?
I asked her if the others passed giving out meds. so far and she had said yes (but I think she's being a little more hard on me although she could've sent me home for not bringing my Patho sheet from the 2nd clinical warning).
It's too late now to withdraw from the class because last day from dropping classes was this week on Monday so is that why she's being more hard on me or am I just being paranoid)?
Any comments/advices/constructive criticism is greatly appreciated! I really can't sleep/study and I've been crying/worried since this evening today because I feel like this clinical warning is the last straw (in the 2nd clinical warning I already had a 10% reduction in my grade so I'm scared/worried that for this 3rd one she's going to do another -10% reduction in my grade again which I don't think is fair).
I think OP gets the idea. Here are some tips for the basics:
1. At the beginning of the semester, I bought enough hair ties that I could lose one every day and still have one on the last day. I probably could have lost 2 per day. :). The hair ties went in my clinical bag that I brought with me every day. Those start times are early, so I try to make things as easy as possible.
2. Similar to (1) above. I have a couple packages of black pens in my bag. I could lose 'em and still be prepared.
3. Do yo have to prep the night before? We did. If there was anything in the MAR or care plan I wasn't familiar with, I looked it up, watched YouTube, and/or asked someone before I got to clinical. Things change, so sometimes you don't get that luxury (or even if you do, sometimes you still have questions) so if something is new to you, just ask beforehand. As others have indicated, a good way is:
Instructor, I have to X. Before we go in, I want to review it with you. From class/lab, I understand I should (outline procedure). Did I miss anything? Do you have any tips that you have found helpful? I'm unsure about the X step. Can we go over it quickly? Then thank the instructor for their help and go be confident. :)
Most instructors want to see you succeed. They generally welcome questions, even the ones you think are "stupid." They know you are new and this is one of the first, if not the first, times you have done it. If you are trying and look prepared, they will mostly likely help. (Yes, we have all had that one instructor who is mean, that's another post!)
Hi there! I can totally relate to what you are going through. Last summer, I had a really tough clinical instructor and she would get mad at me for silly reasons. I was so nervous many times, just as you probably were during your medication administration. We ALL make mistakes so don't feel bad, okay? Everyone's clinical experience is different. And I did end up getting kicked out of the program lol...but I was granted entrance to a much better nursing program recently.
Do you know who I have by my side each and every day? God. I'm not sure if you know that there is a God, but there is. And God loved you so much that He gave Jesus, who died for you 2000 years ago on a cross; because of his great love towards us. God is my friend, and we have been through a lot together. Do you want God to walk with you throughout all of your life? All you have to do is to receive Jesus! Your WHOLE life will change. God provides and makes a way were we can see no way. In my case, God has always worked out all things for good. I have told various people about Jesus in my nursing program; students and patients. Jesus said he will NEVER leave us nor forsake us and that nothing can separate us from his love. Open the door of your heart to Jesus, and you will be made new. Listen to Dr. Charles Stanley on YouTube. He is a phenomenal speaker about God. Bless you :)
I agree with you on the preparedness issues, they were probably in the right on those, as I'm sure dress code and equipment was addressed before clinical started. The "near miss/medication error" thing has me stumped. If they are standing there watching you, neither of these should happen. They are there to guide and teach, otherwise you would already be graduated. Even the worst clinical instructors I have encountered would not stand by and watch you nearly or all the way make a med error, just so they could ding you for it after. That's a pretty ******* thing to do, and dangerous to the patient. Even the meanest ones know to some degree that students are nervous, and if you already knew it all you wouldn't require their services.
Specializes in Nsg. Ed, Infusion, Pediatrics, LTC.
The instructor isn't failing you. YOU are failing yourself by being unprepared, failing a skill, and causing emotional jeopardy to the patient. Look back and re-read everything you wrote.
You're mad and understandably so...as the student. We, too, never agreed with everything our professors did/said. However, somethings cannot be contested especially when you are in a fast tracked environment. I went through a four year course study and the professors did not hold our hands nor did I expect them too. When I learned a new skill I practiced on everyone I could get my hands on the moment I left campus, from my soon to be in-laws to my co-workers, heck if I would've held a conversation with you for long enough I may have asked you(lol). Especially, anything to do IV, IM, and just meds in general. We had to make time in our schedules to go to our clinical site to gather information on our patient the day before. The next day we needed to have a care plan, we needed to know the meds(esp. Any that we were administering), peak and trough, how to administer the med, if it was a IV push(over how many mins.), etc. You have to gather your focus, or surely you'll lose the way. I would shadow my patient's nurse, and everything the doctor had ordered I would ask if I could help/do, then I'd go ask my professor if it was ok if I could do so. Most of the time it was, sometimes they would say they wanted to be present, but it didn't matter. The only way you can become proficient is through gaining experience. Never be afraid to ask for help, but never be unprepared. You can't rely on others in the real world for knowledge and not all the time what they know is right. You have to know for yourself.
Most will say you deserved the clinical warnings etc.. I will take the other side of the coin for practical sake.
A clinical warning is intended to do one of two things: motivate you, or count as a log against you which can affect your progression in the programme.
It is wise to take the motivation side and work to better yourself. In the long run, you will be a better student and in essence,
a better nurse for it.
That said. Often, clinical warnings are punitive and could likely be avoided with clear, cut directives by the faculty or having the instructor discuss individual issues with their students. I have found from teaching nursing and pre-med students for 11 years, that no two students or situations are alike. Instructors are not very good at allowing individualism and even discussion amongst students.
The other issue I wish to raise deals with qualifications. Just because an instructor is a good nurse, has been a good nurse for 200 years, or has a master's degree in some obscure nursing field, DOES NOT QUALIFY them to teach students. I have six college degrees and one of them is a master's of education. I don't have all the answers but I know enough to know that students DO NOT all learn the same way. Some work best in group study, some do well in track simulation, others do best with computer guidance, and a few still prefer long hand. A uni-didactic approach will fail some every time. In some cases, professors are expected to fail a student or two because they are pressured to keep the learning curve ( and tests scores) elevated.
I don't think a professor should ever fail a student. It is the STUDENT who fails him or herself. As a seasoned instructor, it was my task to seek out each student and give them a chance to succeed. Have any of my students failed before? Of course. Some did not put forth the effort needed to pass. Some chose to not study well and therefore weren't safe in the field, and finally, some were not interested in nursing or medicine but merely attracted to the field for the wrong reasons.
Do not let an instructor decide your fate. She/he has too many tasks at hand. Take matters into your hands and choose wisely. Do you wish to pursue nursing/medicine or is this a path that doesn't seem right for you anymore...?
Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.
I can actually sympathise with you here.
Most will say you deserved the clinical warnings etc.. I will take the other side of the coin for practical sake.
A clinical warning is intended to do one of two things: motivate you, or count as a log against you which can affect your progression in the programme.
It is wise to take the motivation side and work to better yourself. In the long run, you will be a better student and in essence,
a better nurse for it.
That said. Often, clinical warnings are punitive and could likely be avoided with clear, cut directives by the faculty or having the instructor discuss individual issues with their students. I have found from teaching nursing and pre-med students for 11 years, that no two students or situations are alike. Instructors are not very good at allowing individualism and even discussion amongst students.
The other issue I wish to raise deals with qualifications. Just because an instructor is a good nurse, has been a good nurse for 200 years, or has a master's degree in some obscure nursing field, DOES NOT QUALIFY them to teach students. I have six college degrees and one of them is a master's of education. I don't have all the answers but I know enough to know that students DO NOT all learn the same way. Some work best in group study, some do well in track simulation, others do best with computer guidance, and a few still prefer long hand. A uni-didactic approach will fail some every time. In some cases, professors are expected to fail a student or two because they are pressured to keep the learning curve ( and tests scores) elevated.
I don't think a professor should ever fail a student. It is the STUDENT who fails him or herself. As a seasoned instructor, it was my task to seek out each student and give them a chance to succeed. Have any of my students failed before? Of course. Some did not put forth the effort needed to pass. Some chose to not study well and therefore weren't safe in the field, and finally, some were not interested in nursing or medicine but merely attracted to the field for the wrong reasons.
Do not let an instructor decide your fate. She/he has too many tasks at hand. Take matters into your hands and choose wisely. Do you wish to pursue nursing/medicine or is this a path that doesn't seem right for you anymore...?
Best of Luck
S..
Did you read the part about this being the third clinical warning? How many chances should there be? I mean after the first warning, a prudent student would be actively trying to improve and trying to prevent any more issues. A second time, the student should be on top of their game all the time. A third one shouldn't even ever happen. But here we are with three warnings, all warranted from the information we were given.
And when you're having this many mistakes, it really isn't the instructor failing you, it's the student that's failing themselves. So really, is there a need for any sympathy? There comes a point where if a student isn't even trying or doesn't see the issue that they're causing, then what can anyone else do. It's the whole issue with the current generation and their participation awards, except in this case there isn't even participation involved with the unpreparedness that is displayed.
I , for one, is grateful and respectful of all the work and effort that my teachers and instructors contributed. They shaped me into who I am. I am tired of the new generation and their parents finding fault in the teachers when it is their own son/daughter that isn't doing their job. Time was it that the students were held accountable for their grades, now it seems like the teachers are being held accountable for the students poor grades as result of the student not doing their work.
You probably won't like what I have to say. You describe a pattern of incomplete and inadequate preparation for clinical. (three incidents in four weeks is a pattern) Your response to this is to go online and ask if your instructor is biased and out to get you. I have taken groups of 10 students to clinical twice a week for 20 years. If 9 of 10 students are regularly prepared, and the 10th student has three incidents in 4 weeks, you'd better believe I'd be watching #10 extra carefully. You need to own the fact that the instructor is not the problem. I suggest you prepare to the max for each clinical day. I also suggest scheduling a private meeting with the instructor where you (in a non defensive way) take responsibility for your performance so far and commit to improving. Nursing faculty are not out to get students, but more importantly are trying to prepare safe nurses. I truly wish you well.
Do you know who I have by my side each and every day? God. I'm not sure if you know that there is a God, but there is. And God loved you so much that He gave Jesus, who died for you 2000 years ago on a cross; because of his great love towards us. God is my friend, and we have been through a lot together. Do you want God to walk with you throughout all of your life? All you have to do is to receive Jesus! Your WHOLE life will change. God provides and makes a way were we can see no way. In my case, God has always worked out all things for good. I have told various people about Jesus in my nursing program; students and patients. Jesus said he will NEVER leave us nor forsake us and that nothing can separate us from his love. Open the door of your heart to Jesus, and you will be made new. Listen to Dr. Charles Stanley on YouTube. He is a phenomenal speaker about God. Bless you :)
Oooo...kay...
This is a smidge off, especially for those on this website who hold different beliefs than you. Just to let you know. And a lot of places do look down on students and nurses going around proselytizing to patients.
OP, you've gotten a lot of good advice on this thread. Use it, and be prepared to be under the proverbial microscope from this clinical instructor for the rest of the semester.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
OP bailed 3 days ago; doubt she saw anything past post 22.
Actually, OP was here within the last 14 hours.
OP, while you may not like reading what's been written, it's the truth. You need to be prepared for clinicals- the first warning should have been the wakeup call; it was for me. The second and third? You really need to up your game.
I didn't read the thread because I don't have time to but I don't think it was right. It seems this instructor is primarily working through military/ scare tactic. The school setting should be a safe environment to learn in. Now you weren't killing your patient... You were just second guessing yourself. As a student this should be normal! Even if you know the process down COLD it seems normal to hesitate when your performing with a patient. I think your instructor is wrong. She should be encouraging you... Not looking out to kill you.
beekee
839 Posts
I think OP gets the idea. Here are some tips for the basics:
1. At the beginning of the semester, I bought enough hair ties that I could lose one every day and still have one on the last day. I probably could have lost 2 per day. :). The hair ties went in my clinical bag that I brought with me every day. Those start times are early, so I try to make things as easy as possible.
2. Similar to (1) above. I have a couple packages of black pens in my bag. I could lose 'em and still be prepared.
3. Do yo have to prep the night before? We did. If there was anything in the MAR or care plan I wasn't familiar with, I looked it up, watched YouTube, and/or asked someone before I got to clinical. Things change, so sometimes you don't get that luxury (or even if you do, sometimes you still have questions) so if something is new to you, just ask beforehand. As others have indicated, a good way is:
Instructor, I have to X. Before we go in, I want to review it with you. From class/lab, I understand I should (outline procedure). Did I miss anything? Do you have any tips that you have found helpful? I'm unsure about the X step. Can we go over it quickly? Then thank the instructor for their help and go be confident. :)
Most instructors want to see you succeed. They generally welcome questions, even the ones you think are "stupid." They know you are new and this is one of the first, if not the first, times you have done it. If you are trying and look prepared, they will mostly likely help. (Yes, we have all had that one instructor who is mean, that's another post!)
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