I have a Clinical instructor (Medsurg3) who is unlike all others I've had. She is an employee at the hospital where we do clinicals and let us know right off the bat that she doesn't "hover" over her students. When we need her, we are supposed to call her on the phone. She does not stay on our floor but spends her time on the floor where she works. In three weeks time the only RN level skill I have performed is giving oral meds once. I had an opportunity to do a wound dressing change but she "wasn't able to make it" to oversee me. Then I had an opportunity to insert a urinary catheter. Once again, didn't get to do it. All I am doing is bed baths, feeds, linen change, assessment, chart assessment. Other MS2 clinical groups in our class have two patients. Our CI only gives us one and here's why: She pulls us off the floor by 10:30. (Really early) We are done with post-conference by 12 noon or earlier. This violates the rules of the program and when I asked "what do we say if we run into someone from our program who asks why we are leaving the floor so early" her response was "tell them I had a family emergency." She is unable to make it to clinical this week one day. We have been told that she is going to tell the course coordinator that we will add time onto subsequent clinicals to make up the lost time. She then told us that we wouldn't be doing that and that if we all keep quiet, it can be our little secret. She is glued to her cell phone at all times and answers e-mails while we are in the midst of pre/post conference. She's good at working the system but a lousy clinical instructor. I feel as if I am being manipulated into working the system with her and am completely uncomfortable at being asked to participate in group lies. The underlying message is "If you show up and do a little CNA work for three or so hours and leave me alone" then we'll all be happy.
I feel so completely frustrated at not learning practicing any RN level skills. I am also anxiety ridden by the fact that clinical instructor holds a lot of power over me and my future. I do not trust her enough to go and talk to her about all of this... Her behaviors : avoidance of work, lying, asking me and others to engage in the lying is really upsetting for me. By the same token, if I whistleblow, she could make my life hell. Nursing school is stressful enough when all is going well but I'm tied in knots here. Comments/Input/suggestions?????
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Thank you for all of the thoughtful replies. I did discuss this with some of my clinical buds today and they all see the problem but no one wants to rock the boat. One of them suggested that I talk to the instructor first. The fact that she has honesty issues makes me reluctant. I'm still trying to sort this out....woke up at 3:30 and couldn't go back to sleep.Resolution is not coming easily!
That's usually how these things go, so I would be extra careful if you are considering a group approach of some sort. Resolution may not come easily, but in reality, you don't have to make a snap decision. Just ruminate on the feedback you've gotten so far and I'm pretty sure the "better" path will become clearer. Sorry you're going through this so soon in your chosen career path. Sorry your instructor is robbing you of valuable experience and incorporating her students into her dysfunctional behavior.
To all of you who care to bear with this saga: sorry so long but I sure would appreciate any of you who can get through it and give feedback. After days of ruminating, losing sleep, wrestling in my head over what was the right thing to do about my clinical instructor and her behaviors I decided to try to approach her first. This was tricky because my deepest level of upset/sticking point were the lies we were asked to engage in regarding the actual amount of time in clinical. I tried to give her an out and wrote her to express that I was bummed out that we would miss an entire clinical day and I really felt I needed the time to practice my skills. I asked if perhaps we could have a substitute instructor for the day or could I possibly join a different clinical group for that day. I received a quick response that this was not possible but that I could come onto her floor and take a patient to make up the time. (This is when she's on the hospital payroll, not the community college.) I responded with "This sounds fine. But I need to make sure it is ok with the school and with the course corrdinator. She quickly e-mailed me that SHE would contact the course coordinator, not me, and would let me know. It turns out she didn't (big surprise). I reached maximum stress, "I can't do this anymore" point and made an appointment with the course coordinator. I went in and explained that I was having difficulty with clinicals but if I could get a few questions asked, perhaps I'd find out all was ok and it was much ado about nothing. Instead of simply reporting her behaviors I asked the cc several questions about clinical expectations for this semester. It became apparent that my clinical instructor was out of line in a number of ways.and I reported the realties of my clinical experience this semster. The course leader was slack-jawed at what I told her and asked me to put facts into writing. She was very supportive .I was very scared and nervous but she assured me I had done the right thing and that these were grounds for termination. I left feeling very relieved but pretty terrible about the whole thing. Her last words to me were "Do not be surprised if she's not there tomorrow."
I walked into clinical today and she was there. She announced to us that post-conference would be very different and made several statements which revealed that she was very bothered...deduction: she got talked to. Well, she actually stayed on the floor today and but was openly hostile to to many of us. She took two people aside (I was not one of them)and said, "Whatever I say in post conference is not directed towards you."
Postconference was the strangest and most uncomfortable one I hope to ever be at. She announced at the beginning that she was going to talk and no one would talk till she was done: She talked for a long time....She was hostile and aggressive and revealed to the group that she received a phone call from the head of the program that sent her blood pressure up to 185 (which was the reason we left early TODAY because she needed to go to the doctor.) She talked about her life and its stressors including her father in law who has been jobless for 6 months.She maintained that letting us off the floor early was to give us more study time because the ultimate goal of all of this is to pass the NCLEX. She attempted to refute each of the points having to do with why we only have 1 patient (Because until we can get our assessments in the computer by 0900, we are unfit to handle more than one pt.,) why we leave the floor at 1030, why she uses her cell phone to text/send e-mail messages during postconference (they are very important e-mails and texts.)/ why she's not on the floor....she lied on this one and maintained that she is always in the conference room. MOST IMPORTANTLY: she never addressed the fact that she asked us to lie twice. She was out of control, hostile and wouldn't let anyone speak. Two people were murmuring along the lines of"Who could have done such a thing!" When she was done she buttonholed each of us to give our responses. Two people sucked up and expressed how they really agreed with her that she's providing a wonderful experience and if they ever had a problem with her they would go right to her and talk to her about it. When I was buttonholed I simply said "I'm a bit stunned here. You are clearly extremely angry and your anger is palpable and filling the room. I'm not sure what more to say." Two others said basically, they needed time to process.
It's pretty clear that I'm prime suspect here. I have 4 more clinicals with this woman. I cannot believe I find myself in this situation.
I am very shaken....This is the worst week I have had in nursing school. I feel completely demoralized.
I hate to say it but the responses that many of you made to do nothing and get through it were probably the way to go. Sad.
Well i commend you for getting up and saying something. Notice how she STILL blamed it on other things and was still willing to make excuses of why you left early to study. The reason for your assessments and one pt is simply bull****. A good instructor would help you guys, keep you longer, heck even the whole time, to make you get to the level if it was true. The reason you arent at that level is she wont give you the time to thrive in clinicals. Dont give up now, take what happened and report it again. It gets rough trust me, but you started it now finish it. Just remember you have done nothing wrong in demanding you get a great education
Wow, what a story. I'm so sorry you have such a HORRIBLE clinical instructor...I don't care what her justifications are, it should not be that way. You are being cheated out of precious time and clinical experience. You are so brave! You spoke up for the right reasons.
My heart goes out to you, those are going to be 4 very uncomfortable clinicals. Maybe some of your class mates will grow a spine and speak up too...your CI is trying to intimidate everyone into keeping quiet. I don't know what your relationship is with your peers, but if the situation allows for it I'd ask them individually how they feel about the CI and what's been going on. If they're already thinking you came forward, maybe they'll be willing to as well. If not then they are truly cowardly for pretending to be allied with your CI.
I'd keep in touch with the class coordinator (or whoever you approached about this). If you haven't discussed it already, you should make sure there aren't going to be repercussions for reporting your CI. I'm sure the nursing faculty will look into the situation and come to some decision but your primary concern should be that it does not affect your status in the nursing program.
And of course watch yourself in clinical...be on time and be BUSY. Obviously you are there to learn and mistakes are part of the territory, but don't give your CI any reason to weaken your claims against her.
The good news is, you did the right thing. I don't know if you have an Honor Code at your school or not, but you certainly sound like you're following your own personal Honor Code and in the end, that's what really counts.
The bad news is, you may be in for a Hell of a ride until you complete school. Keep doing good work, being prepared for class, taking excellent care of your patients, and documenting your care. All I can really say is what you already know: Doing the right thing isn't usually easy and you may never be recognized for it this side of Glory.
hmmm..I told you so. These instructors can be very vindictive. If she knows that you were the one who reported her, you are certainly going to feel her wrath! Please be careful in everything you do. Be very cautious. She will be watching you like an owl. You did the right thing but nursing college is different, those instructors will chew you up and spit you out like nothing.
I think it much better to be able to sleep at night, then to have to deal with 4 difficult and uncomfortable clinical sessions. You did the right thing and I think you are very brave for having done it :)
I am sorry for your outcome. I was one to suggest being a leader, and standing up for your education, and I do think you did the right thing. I don't want to suggest anything that will get you in trouble, but I just want to throw out there that the course chair at my school made several unannounced visits, unexpected by the students AND instructor. Just a thought, but do what ever you see fit with the idea. I think your courage is commendable, and don't let this instructor beat you down. I am a true believer that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, and your spine will come into use in the future if you need to stand up to someone in your career, whether it be a physician when you are advocating for a patient, or when you are an RN needing to delegate. Again, best of luck, and sorry for your dilemma.
I appreciate all of the responses you have given. I'm guessing stuff like this happens more than we know. Maybe when the dust settles I'll feel as if I did the right thing but right now it seems it's only made a bad situation worse.
On the other hand, I have felt a lot of support from all of you and I am very grateful for that!!!!
I think it much better to be able to sleep at night, then to have to deal with 4 difficult and uncomfortable clinical sessions. You did the right thing and I think you are very brave for having done it :)
goodnursingstudent--"I told you so"...really??
Yes! I have had almost the same experience and it was not funny! Some of these instructors were born with "hellbound" written across their faces. Mind you,I have met some great instructors who are genuine but those who have major interests in students' personal lives are like the temperature of those vulcanos:scrying::stone
Resolution! After my clinical instructor's tirade of Friday, it was clear to me that nothing but misery lay ahead. It was an awful weekend (more lost sleep, crying, inability to concentrate) Yesterday morning I went into the course coordinator's office who suggested I talk to the program head. I did and she listened to the whole story. While she did not condemn my clinical instructor, she said to me "Clearly this isn't a beneficial educational situation for you so what can we do for you? One option is to change clinical groups." And that is what I have done. She will be "having another conversation" with the clinical instructor to further look into the problems cited.
I can't say there's a happy ending here....I knew that was never in the cards. But bottom line, I tried to give her an out, I didn't compromise my principles, and maybe she'll think twice or thrice before asking her groups to cheat on their clinical hours.
I am happy to hear that you have changed clinical groups but get and keep your guard up for the remainder of the time you are in the program. Good luck to you.
nursel56
7,122 Posts
That's usually how these things go, so I would be extra careful if you are considering a group approach of some sort. Resolution may not come easily, but in reality, you don't have to make a snap decision. Just ruminate on the feedback you've gotten so far and I'm pretty sure the "better" path will become clearer. Sorry you're going through this so soon in your chosen career path. Sorry your instructor is robbing you of valuable experience and incorporating her students into her dysfunctional behavior.