Clinical instructor that will not teach?

ThatBigGuy · Oct 23, 2014

It seems like the instructor is fulfilling his basic duties by monitoring med pass. Not every instructor can be a super nurse, educating every student at every possible moment.

That being said, it seems like you have a great attitude and have figured out a system that allows you to learn via the actual nursing staff. You'll learn more in that manner anyways, because the nurse you latch on to just has one student to teach, not a dozen or whatever number is in your clinical group like the instructor has.

Of course, it may seem that the instructor isn't teaching you because he recognizes you're somewhat of a go-getter and are maximizing your educational experience by latching on to a nurse, so he's focusing on other students who may be struggling. If that's the case, I would take that as a compliment and realize that you're actually doing very well, perhaps more so than your peers.

Don't stress it, it seems like you're ahead of the curve.

tsm007 · Oct 23, 2014

To be honest I pick my battles wisely in nursing school. I, personally, would let it go and continue to seek out learning opportunities every place I can. I had a bad preceptor once and I worked right around her. I helped all the other nurses out as often as I could and many of them would offer the kind of instruction you are looking for. Just ask them. "Hey, how do you operate this pump?" or "The alarm is beeping? What should I do when the pump is beeping on the alarm?", etc. I figured out how to turn off the pump if the bag was done running and find the nurse and let him/her know that it was done running or add an extra 10 minutes if there was still fluid left in the bag and then of course find the nurse and let him/her know. This was from asking the nurses on the floor what to do and how I could help. There are lots of little things you can find to learn on the floor just by offering to help the nurses and jumping in as much as possible. I'd stop worrying about trying to get the instructor to be different and seize the opportunities you can find on your own.

MAJ_15 · Oct 23, 2014

Thanks! It helps to actually know what they are suppose to do. I thought that I was going to rely on just the instructor to learn. I never wanted to feel like I was annoying the nurse by following them around. My whole group actually said the same things I'm saying. So it helps to get other views! I'll just continue to do my own thing then :)

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 23, 2014

If he is trying to help a whole group of students pass meds ... and document those meds ... co-sign your documentation ... write notes for grading purposes ... give a little extra attention to those students who are not doing well ... etc. He may not have time to personally "teach" those students who are doing OK. Remember, he has to research all those patients and meds: he can't be just handing meds out blindly.

He may have to choose between letting you all give meds and not having time to help with much else or else only letting a few of you give meds each day so that he can have spare time left to teach you other things.

He might be the worst teach in the world or the best. We can't tell from your post. But don't assume he is a bad teacher or that he "won't teach" because he is spending his time allowing you to give meds rather than spending time on other things.

NuGuyNurse2b · Oct 23, 2014

To add, what's stopping you from seeking out the answers yourself? You're putting the responsibility on the instructor when clinical is the opportunity for you to learn and make the most out of it. But you also need to be realistic - you're not going to learn how to read a tele strip or an EKG in 5 mins. Our curriculum had a whole 2 hour lecture dedicated to that area (not just the reading part, the whole physiology of it).

MAJ_15 · Oct 23, 2014

Thank you for the reply. I do seek out answers myself this is why I always find a nurse that is willing to answer questions. I did not expect him to do a complete teaching but students asked him to do a review of Tele strips plus go over iv pumps and he did not do either. There's only 4 people in my group maybe I was asking too much of him. Thank you for your opinion!

JessyHsn · Oct 23, 2014

Do you guys do a midterm and final evaluation for the instructors? If you do, id say include something in there about it

psu_213, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2014

Out of curiosity, what does he say when you ask about, say, a rhythm on the cardiac monitor? Does he flat out say "no, I refuse to talk to you about this?" He really shouldn't put it to you like that; however, he should be teaching you how to use your resources (including more experience nurse and your reference texts) rather than just saying "this is what it is."

Plus, as others have mentioned, he has to monitor the med pass of each student and guarantee the basic safety of the patients being cared for by his students--it his rear on the line if something happens.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 24, 2014

equipment varies from facility to facility so teaching you how to operate one IV pump may not carry over to another pump. I realize that was just your example. I think you are on the right track to focus on how else you can learn what you need. Find out how nurses prioritize their work and manage their time. Those are the important things to learn. Equipment is a snap compared to critical thinking.