Dealing with a negative instructor

[Clovery]

I'm about to start the 3rd week of my current semester and my instructor is really wearing me down...

Usually instructors try to pump you up, get you motivated, and are generally encouraging. This woman is just so negative. I'm afraid to answer or ask questions in class. If you express confusion about something, she'll let out a loud sigh and grumble "this is going to take longer than I thought it was" and then go on to explain it, but talking to you like you are the stupidest person ever. Even if you just ask a question like "Do you want our patient research sheets when we turn in our care plans?" She'll answer nastily "If I wanted those, I would have listed it on the checklist. Critical thinking, girls."

I come home from lecture worn out, in a bad mood, and mentally exhausted from constantly being berated and talked down to. She has made it a point on several occasions to tell us that she just got tenure and if we have a problem with the way she does something, don't even bother complaining to the dean, because she can't be fired. She has this horrible attitude about everything, and tries to pass it off as cute.

Has anyone else dealt with an instructor like this? I'm struggling to stay on her good side.

[caliotter3]

Unless it is absolutely necessary to ask a question, keep your hands on the desk top and keep your lips zipped. That is one way to deal with it. I can assure you that many in the class have already decided to take this route to keep their stomachs from tying up in tighter knots than they do already just from walking into the classroom with this instructor at the podium.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

if it's not on the checklist, don't turn it in. give her what she wants. it might be the only way she can keep track of all of you.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Her life probably sucks and she takes it out on the students. Just stay under the radar and do the you can. If she keeps it up report her. she is acting unprofessional . you and other students can write a letter and have everyone sign.

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

Make your life simpler. Fade into the background, study hard and get through this. Look at it as just one of the many obstacles you need to get around to become a nurse. Don't sweat the small stuff, like a narrow minded teacher.

[Aerielle]

Has anyone else dealt with an instructor like this? I'm struggling to stay on her good side.

I have had a similar experience with a clinical instructor like this, who made it clear who she liked and did not like (With no good reason...) I tried my best to stay on her good side - always coming to clinical prepared, handing everything in on time, etc. Nothing worked - she just hated me! It seemed the more effort I made to stay organized and on top of things, the more she threw challenges at me to bring me down.

In the end she basically told me if I did not withdraw, she would fail me, regardless of my performance.I did withdraw, and she wanted me to repeat the previous semester which I had straight A's in. I did appeal this to the dean , with the support from my other theory instructors who knew I was not incompetent. Apparently she had been under review, but I'm sure that did nothing because she has been teaching for over 10 years, and is still teaching and failing innocent students.

Try your very very very best, and don't let this instructor find fault in anything you do. It seems she views questions as a threat to her authority...so be mindful how you are asking the questions (tone of voice, body language)..... Good luck!!!

[Clovery]

An update...

Now that I've spent more time with this instructor, I actually really like her. I've gotten my first exam back and a paper critiqued and I've realized that her methods are very effective. I was used to instructors who would, as people say here, "blow rainbows up your skirt", but now I've come to appreciate a more critical approach and I find it very motivating. I did well on my first exam because I was afraid of her wrath lol. She was really harsh with my paper, and my first inclination was to be defensive about it, but after digesting everything she told me I realized I got some great advice. I'm finding myself striving to be the best student I can be, more so than ever before.

And I've really come to like her "tell it like it is" personality. She's actually really interesting and funny and I think if I were a nursing instructor, I'd be more like her than the type who coddles students and "blows rainbows" lol.

Just wanted to share that since I know I'm not the only person who has ever felt this way about an instructor. My advice is to give it time and try to recognize that she/he might have underlying intentions for being a certain way and remember that student success and awesome future nurses is their priority.

[rubato, ASN, RN]

I'm so glad to hear this! Great job seeing past yourself and "getting" her. Not everyone is going to be your cup of tea, but we will be working with all kinds of people, so we better get used to being taught by all kinds of people.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

having been a "mean" instructor like that, and having had students come back and tell me how much more they learned than their buddies with "nicer" instructors, i am pleased to see there are more out there.

when you graduate, send her a letter (on paper) and tell her, too. cc the dean. they don't pay faculty squat in terms of dollars, and notes like yours are an invaluable "paycheck." i still have some in a drawer.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Great attitude, Clovery. I wish every student could remain so open-minded. While some instructors are truly mean and/or unreasonable ... not every "bad instructor" we read about here on allnurses is really bad.