Dealing with Rude Nursing Instuctor

caliotter3 · Nov 1, 2008

Change your frame of reference. Don't look at her behavior as meant to be a turnoff (some instructors actively participate in "weeding out") but as an example of having to deal with difficult "customers". You will encounter many difficult people in your nursing career so it is best to learn early how to deal with them. You need to get valuable info from this person. Just look at the messages she is giving, not her. She will not change, so concentrate on listening to what she is saying rather than the way she is saying it.

Ausculapius · Nov 1, 2008

I had a very wise nursing instructor tell me once "a student, by nature, is very vulnerable - especially in a field such as nursing, which prides itself on weeding out weak candidates. If you find yourself at odds with an instructor, your best bet is to keep your head down and do your work. If it comes down to a situation where its your word against hers(or his), the school will always side with the instructor."

I found this to be true. I know it sucks, but you really have three choices: 1. suck it up 2. complain to dean/assistant dean and risk retribution from faculty 3. quit school.

Your best bet going forward is to talk to other students, preferably those a year or two ahead and try to get assigned to competent and caring clinical instructors.

rngolfer53 · Nov 1, 2008

So I'm in nursing school right now and the nursing instructor I have can be very rude and arrogant to us nursing students. We're new and learning and its hard to try to adjust and learn when shes acting this way. I find myself not even wanting to ask questions or even be around her with the fear that she will be rude to me or try to embarress me in front of patients and other health care staff. I don't know how to deal with it? Any suggestions on how to go about dealing with this??

One possibility is to approach her privately, and professionally state your complaint. Since this is an instructor, I'd emphasize that you are reluctant to ask questions because of what you perceive as rude and embarassing responses. There is a chance the instructor doesn't realize the effect her responses have.

She may also think that since there's a fair amount of rudeness in the nursing workplace, that she's simply getting you ready for it. In which case, I would respond that while working under pressure and duress is part of nursing, teaching rudeness isn't the only approach, and that students look to instructors to be positive agents for change.

If you get no satisfaction from a private conversation, then you have to decide what step to take, such as going to the school admin.

You always have the ability to rip her a new one in faculty evaluations, of course. :wink2:

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2008

I had in my opinion one of the WORST clinical insructors of all time...this alleged teacher was known to just out and out lie to cover herself. I tried following chain of command but that did nothing for me in the "right now" so I had a teacher there at the school tell me to 1) keep a copy of every thing I turn in and date it. 2) Verify all projects/assisngments/times etc via email with horid intrstuctor. 3) keep your head down, keep busy and stay out of her way.

Just put a big red circle on the date of your last class you will ever have with this teacher and just tell your self, you can last-you can do it.

I also had a mental list going of 101 ways I would LOVE to torture this teacher, it made me feel better and put some humor in it.

Scrubby · Nov 1, 2008

It's hard being a student because your at the mercy of the instructors.

It goes against everything I believe in but keep your head down, get through your clinicals and just wait till their over and you have your liscence, passed the NCLEX thingy you have over there before you do anything about it.

justme1972 · Nov 1, 2008

On occasion, what comes around, goes around.

One of our nursing instructors that I hated from first year, also works full time at a local hospital (yes, she works two full time jobs).

One of her former student graduates from about 10 years ago, has a dual Masters in both Health Administration and an MSN. She had been working out of state and from my understanding this instructor was particularly hard on this lady when she was a student...but this wasn't a case of "oh, in the end I was a better nurse for it"...no, this student felt like this instructor was purposely sabataging her and she almost dropped out of nursing school because she was so cruel.

Well, GUESS WHO just got a DON position where this instructor works full time? :yeah:

Yup, the former graduate.

shellsgogreen · Nov 1, 2008

On occasion, what comes around, goes around.
One of our nursing instructors that I hated from first year, also works full time at a local hospital (yes, she works two full time jobs).
One of her former student graduates from about 10 years ago, has a dual Masters in both Health Administration and an MSN. She had been working out of state and from my understanding this instructor was particularly hard on this lady when she was a student...but this wasn't a case of "oh, in the end I was a better nurse for it"...no, this student felt like this instructor was purposely sabataging her and she almost dropped out of nursing school because she was so cruel.
Well, GUESS WHO just got a DON position where this instructor works full time?
Yup, the former graduate.

heh... bet the former instructor changed her tune real quick :lol2:

Penguin67 · Nov 1, 2008

I work as a nursing faculty, but do prn work as well. The first time I was floated off my floor (ie unit of comfort!), I ended up in a unit where the charge nurse was a former student. I was a bit intimidated, as I didn't want her to think I was stupid. We later confessed to each other that we were both intimidated! :-) She didn't want me to think she wasn't a good charge nurse. We both thought our perceptions were funny at the end of the shift. But the whole experience reinforced to me the importance of being kind to student who are learning, and to reinforce learning issues in kind ways, as you never know when your students could be in a position to get back at you. As it was, we both had a great shift and worked quite well together. Nice how things turn out when you treat people kindly. :nurse:

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 1, 2008

One possibility is to approach her privately, and professionally state your complaint.

I think this is terrible advice. To go to her privately may be a good idea ... but to do so with a complaint immediately sets up an adversarial relationship. Students should not set themselves up as adversaries of their instructors if they can help it.

If the OP feels sufficiencly comfortable to go to the instructor privately, it would be better to set the tone of the meeting as more positive. Ask for clarification of objectives, or advice on another particular aspect of the course. Demonstrate a sincere desire to learn and to be a good student. Such an interaction may foster a better relationship and avoid confrontations in which the student is likely to be a big loser.

Don't "pick a fight" by starting off with a complaint. Start with a less confrontation interaction and save the complaints, confrontations, etc. for only AFTER you have tried less provocative and less dangerous approaches.

marineswife0809 · Nov 1, 2008

i hate that term weeding out!! nobody should be weeded out . A person should from self faileror personal issues. Not by some bully instuctor. That the problem with America some people want to see others fail instead of helping them .

husker_rn, RN · Nov 1, 2008

I think almost everyone has at least one instructor like that. Mine started off by saying " most days I think I'm God " and judging by her style she believed it. She really rode my tail and I got pi%$#@ off till I realized she was pitting me against myself to challenge me to do the best I could. Still, I kept my head down, avoided asking questions and thanked God when the semester finally ended. Still think it's the wrong way to handle students; maybe that's why the nursing eats their young thing keeps perpetuating.