Clinical Instructor sucks...

[FutureNurseInfo]

Hi there!

So I am in week 3 of the first semester of nursing school. Btw, it is an accelerated BSN program. So, so far I have had 2 clinicals on campus, and I will have my third one tomorrow. I am actually going to the hospital next Friday! Anyways, my issue is that our clinical instructor is non-existent.

On the first day of clinical she was late. When we finally split into stations, she was running Vital Signs. When we showed up she said she was tired so we were kicked out. The next station was Infection Control and we had to wait for an hour and a half to enter. Out of 10 hours on campus, 2 hours spent doing procedures, and 8 hours spent wasting time.

Last Friday's clinical was no better. The clinical instructor did not show up! Sixty or so students were split between the two CIs that did show up. Like the last time we pretty much spent time talking and talking and talking, without actually doing anything.

The way the two clinicals went I can only assume how tomorrow will go. My beef is this: our clinical instructor did not bother to get to know us, not once in three weeks! The only time she saw us she looked bored, yawning, running out the building.

I feel like when we do show up at the hospital, I (not sure about the others) will not feel prepared to do even basic things. Btw, I am not the only one who is annoyed by such disorganization and clinical instructor's lack of interest in her students.

What should I do?

[Sour Lemon]

You should keep your head down and get a passing grade, IMO. Not every clinical instructor is stellar. Very few new graduates are ready to hit the ground running. Your first actual job will likely be your clinical learning experience.

I'm not saying that's the way it should be, but that's the way it often is.

[elkpark]

You're spending "clinical" days in lab on campus, and not in a clinical setting with live clients?? That sounds fishy to me.

[FutureNurseInfo]

You're spending "clinical" days in lab on campus, and not in a clinical setting with live clients?? That sounds fishy to me.

Well, the first couple weeks we are supposed to learn the basics before we practice the skills on actual patients. So, next Friday we are going to the hospital.

[FutureNurseInfo]

You should keep your head down and get a passing grade, IMO. Not every clinical instructor is stellar. Very few new graduates are ready to hit the ground running. Your first actual job will likely be your clinical learning experience.

I'm not saying that's the way it should be, but that's the way it often is.

I agree. That is what I keep telling myself, that the job will be the real learning.

[blenderbottle]

You're spending "clinical" days in lab on campus, and not in a clinical setting with live clients?? That sounds fishy to me.

I would love to spend clinicals in the lab, I am sick of washing buts all day long

[Miss.LeoRN]

Assuming this is an adjunct instructor? Either way it doesn't matter. Talk to your program director or whomever is above her on the totem pole. You're there to learn clinical skills. You're PAYING for her to be there and teach you. If she's pulling this crap now with you only being in lab I wouldn't imagine it being any better on a real site.

[Chrispy11, ASN, RN]

You're spending "clinical" days in lab on campus, and not in a clinical setting with live clients?? That sounds fishy to me.

I just graduated with an ADN. That's not uncommon. We had clinical on campus first to learn skills we'd need to attend clinical. Had them all four semesters. It was maybe two or three times out of the entire semester.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

You're spending "clinical" days in lab on campus, and not in a clinical setting with live clients?? That sounds fishy to me.

In my state, simulation activities can be counted towards a certain percentage of the required clinical time. My school had labs that ranged from dummies/dummy body parts to practice procedures on to high-tech ICU/OB simulations with dummies that talked, had breath sounds and heart tones, gave birth, went into abnormal rhythms, and just lots of stuff that we didn't see in real life during school.

[FutureNurseInfo]

Assuming this is an adjunct instructor? Either way it doesn't matter. Talk to your program director or whomever is above her on the totem pole. You're there to learn clinical skills. You're PAYING for her to be there and teach you. If she's pulling this crap now with you only being in lab I wouldn't imagine it being any better on a real site.

I agree. But I feel like complaining will only make matters worse. I guess I will try to make the best of this situation. This coming Friday we are going to the hospital, so I will see how it will go.

[Black Coffee, MSN, NP]

It is unfortunate to have a clinical instructor like that. I remembered all my clinical instructors in school were very skilled at their teaching job because they are all experienced nurses with at least five year nursing experiences. I was lucky that I learned so much from them. My advice is try to pass by these days and to focus on your days at the hospital.

Best of luck!

[Medic_Murse, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Pro Tip: Clinicals suck.