I am in the Generic BSN program which is 5 semesters. I did very well in 1'st semester because of caring professors. But this past semester I didn't... because of uncaring people. I need to know if anyone has had any 'run-ins' with professors, and if so... how did you manage it? I feel like I'm in a position that is IMPOSSIBLE to win.
As for uncaring I mean giving us 'blueprints' before an exam and telling us to study "abc" and our exam was over "xyz". Yes our entire class spoke up and I even wrote a letter which reached the dean. She said she would 'handle it' and I now stand in the hands of the Student Affairs Committee to get reinstated since I made 2 grades of 71. (Passing for them is 75)
They would post Peanuts comics often- and one great one the week before finals ---of all times---which read Linus and the girl with dark hair playing tennis: "Awe you can't blame everything on the racquet" "Did you ever consider it may be the man BEHIND the racquet?" "Stop thinking of so many excuses!" Linus responded... "I still think it's the racquet." Subliminal messages which were for me to quit blaming them. Believe me they did not teach anything. Whatever info I got this semester it was because of ME not them... I proved them wrong in their offices twice by the book; because they didn't go by it. After a while I just gave up and accepted the BS grade they 'claimed I earned'. I wish you could see these tests because I laughed at the 'correct answers'.
I am in the Generic BSN program which is 5 semesters. I did very well in 1'st semester because of caring professors. But this past semester I didn't... because of uncaring people. I need to know if anyone has had any 'run-ins' with professors, and if so... how did you manage it? I feel like I'm in a position that is IMPOSSIBLE to win.
As for uncaring I mean giving us 'blueprints' before an exam and telling us to study "abc" and our exam was over "xyz". Yes our entire class spoke up and I even wrote a letter which reached the dean. She said she would 'handle it' and I now stand in the hands of the Student Affairs Committee to get reinstated since I made 2 grades of 71. (Passing for them is 75)
They would post Peanuts comics often- and one great one the week before finals ---of all times---which read Linus and the girl with dark hair playing tennis: "Awe you can't blame everything on the racquet" "Did you ever consider it may be the man BEHIND the racquet?" "Stop thinking of so many excuses!" Linus responded... "I still think it's the racquet." Subliminal messages which were for me to quit blaming them. Believe me they did not teach anything. Whatever info I got this semester it was because of ME not them... I proved them wrong in their offices twice by the book; because they didn't go by it. After a while I just gave up and accepted the BS grade they 'claimed I earned'. I wish you could see these tests because I laughed at the 'correct answers'.
You've gotten a lot of feedback that may seem a bit harsh to you right now. Especially in light of the fact that you're already feeling bad because of 'harsh" and/or unreasonable expectations.
Please, don't dismiss the advice out of hand.
What I see (and remember) is that nursing school is hard, and it's comforting when you find yourself with instructors who are somewhat nurturing. It's a blessing to have people behave in a consistent and sensible manner. Your load is lightened when you are given a heads-up that allows you to focus your energies on the areas that will give you the greatest return for your efforts. Most of all, it's a boon to believe that those in authority over you have your best interests at heart.
Having had a taste of the ideal, I believe you are now suffering from a bad case of reality shock. In comparison to the kindness and encouragement you were accustomed to receiving, you have now been exposed to an atmosphere which is far more comparable to the real world, and the contrast is jolting. You'd probably be reacting less if you'd never had the nurturing to begin with.
I don't agree with intentionally or systematically trying to torment students and doubt that there is a behind-the-scenes scheme to make your lives miserable. What is much more likely is that you have a group of instructors who expect you all to sink or swim on your own. Whether by design or by accident, they are actually mimicking what you will find on the job:
--patients who give you inaccurate or incomplete information
--lab results that are only the beginning of the clinical picture
--co-workers who leave things out of report or who misinterpret info
--physicians who give orders that seem to make no sense
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Nurturing is nice but not essential. In fact, there are times when it's downright detrimental to developing a sense of ownership of your own education and destiny. If you have to acquire said education in spite of some instructors, you will have that much more determination when you are working and being thrown one curve ball after another. Better that reality shock occurs now while you have limited ability to hurt people.
Think of the valiant students with learning disablities who slog through term after term, having to wrestle with the material until they find a way to get it in their heads. You may have to do the same in working around difficult authority figures. This means extra study time. It means seeking out learning alternatives--supplemental materials, Internet research, study groups, tutoring, etc. Most of all, it means developing a healthy skepticism (when told what will be on a test, for example) that leads you to going beyond the obvious and predictable and preparing yourself for the unexpected.
The best thing you can do for yourself right now is to get back up, shake the dust off, and determine that you are the one primarily responsible to get yourself educated. Instructors may help or hinder you in that process, but nobody cares about your future as much as you do.
Don't waste time on feeling betrayed or resentful. Save your energy for going after the education you deserve. Find out what works and pursue it with all your heart.
Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.
I studied the heck out of "ABC" all through nursing school, including thousands of prep questions, only to get to the NCLEX-RN and get tons of questions on "XYZ." I still passed, though, because part of nursing school (and nursing in real life) is applying what I learned while studying "ABC" so I could figure out "XYZ."
You're going to go through the rest of your life meeting up with "uncaring" patients, doctors, co-workers, etc. The sooner you figure out a constructive way of dealing with it, the better off you will be. You've received some good advice so far in this thread. I hope you take it.
duh! why are you and this marc dude telling me to blame me; i have over 100+ hours of college credit and you don't think i've dealt with professors before? babied... i hardly think so! i drive 125 miles to and from nursing school. a single mother of a 4 yo daughter. and i am smart-(what i mean is well rounded); i was awarded an nsp award through hrsa. i am used to doing things on my own but i was only asking about uncaring professors, meaning they don't like me since i spoke up about their ineffective teaching methods.
your response says more about you than the "uncaring" professors. sounds like you feel you're "too good" to be treated like an ordinary nursing student.
Durring my education we had 1 professor that was impossible her test were crazy (so I thought at the time) years later after graduating I had come to realize she was probally the best instructor I had. Listen and Learn
This past semester had to be the absolute worst for me. I had the instructor from you know where. From day one, she just didn't like me. Initially, I was really thrown by her behavior. My instructor yelled at me, shoved me, and was just nasty. I never understoood why. My classmates noticed that she rode me extremely hard also. They would make comments about her attitude towards me. It started to effect my confidence and I questioned whether I would be able to make it through the semester. Then I got over it and ended my pity party. I performed my duties efficiently, made sure my assignments were as close to perfect as possible, studied my behind off, and ignored her hatefulnesss. At the end of the semester, my test and quiz grades were good, my performance evaluation was glowing, and I'm moving on. In the end, all that really matters is how you respond to the pressure. Failure was not an option for me. If I didn't get what I needed from my instructor, I made sure I got it elsewhere. I wasn't going to fail because of someone else. I've learned that caring about my education may not be my instructor's highest priority but it darn sure is mine.
Please don't get the impression that she was somehow motivational. The simple and plain truth is failure would have resulted in some serious financial hardships for my family. I just kept thinking about trying to pay student loans, on top of our already mounting debt, without the benefit of a higher salary. We've invested far too much for anything less than graduation and passing NCLEX to be the end result.
When students and nurses write to this forum obviously needing advise and support, why do some of you use it as an opportunity to flame this person?
I've written to this forum for advise before and gotten the same kind of judgemental/critical comments.
It makes people not want to use this forum for fear of flaming; kind of like I'm afraid is going to happen now.
Sometimes we just need someone to listen without passing judgement.
To the original poster: I've been in your shoes before and feel for you. Please don't let the negative posters get you down. All I can tell you is not to give up. Look to your fellow students for help and support and for feedback. I have a group of master's level students to thank for supporting me when I had the same problem.
I am an ADN student, but I am older and have a BA and have taken courses in a number of colleges/universities and I have to say that this is not all in your head. I am finding that there is a lot of petty behavior toward some of the students by some of the faculty. They tell us that nursing is all about "boundaries" and then the instructors behave unprofessionally. I really don't know what this is about, but I never experienced this anywhere else. I hate to be sexist, but does this have something to do with nearly all of the staff being women? Maybe. I also think a lot of nurses and nursing instructors have chips on their shoulders because the profession, both bedside nursing and nursing in academia, doesn't always get respect.
Just the other day our classroom instructor came in and accused us all of cheating on an exam with the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence: a number of students' grades improved dramatically. That's was all.
My advice is to keep your nose clean and respond professionally, honestly and assertively to anything that comes your way. Before taking any actions, such as writing a letter, think carefully about the risks vs. potential benefits. I complained to the dean about an abusive CI and was sorry about it later. There is a severe shortage of nursing instructors so you and the school are stuck with whatever you get...
Some people say they are happy later to have these intimidating, bullying instructors because they learn a lot from them. At my age, I don't need outside motivation. There's no benefit for me. They just make what could be a positive learning experience a miserable ordeal. How can I learn well when I am focused on worrying about whether I will get dressed down for something insignificant.
Why do think nurses do not have respect. I have been a nurse for 16 years and feel respected. The nursing profession requires great skill and critical thinking. Please never think we are not respected because as whole we are and rightly so.
I read this entire post from start to finish, and I believe there was some good advice given. I also believe that they were some unnecessary comments as well. I agree with firstyearstudent totally. Everything you said rings true at the school I am currently attending. Like you there are many students in my program who already have a Bachelors degree and like you they have never experienced some of the teaching techniques, attitudes, etc. that they are experiencing in nursing school. Sometimes I think either the professors have forgotten how it is to be a first time nursing student or maybe the experiences that they had is why they are acting in the manner that they are. Like in all professions everyone who decided to teach shouldn't teach, just like everyone who makes a nurse shouldn't be in nursing. I hear horror stories from nursing schools all the way to current nurses working on the floor. There are good and bad teachers, there are good and bad nurses, just like there are good and bad people in this world. I've had similar experiences just like everyone before said they have and what I have realized is that I am on my own and if I expect to make it through my program I will have to do all I can do, get all the resources I can get and it's up to me to make sure I learn what I need to learn. I now realize that in my program you will have to go above and beyond to be successful. In my program I had professors who genuinely wanted you to succeed and others who could care less, and yes the ones who wanted you to succeed gave you reviews, test maps, etc. and the material was actually covered on the test. There were others who told you to make sure you focus on there reviews and none of this information was on the test!! But no one ever said life would be easy and everyone isn't going to be treated fairly. So I just do the best I can do and leave the rest up to God!! I wish you all the luck and even if they don't reinstate you at this school, don't give up. Try another school and this time be prepared for the worst. My mom always says prepare for the worst and expect the best.
You've gotten a lot of feedback that may seem a bit harsh to you right now. Especially in light of the fact that you're already feeling bad because of 'harsh" and/or unreasonable expectations.
Please, don't dismiss the advice out of hand.
What I see (and remember) is that nursing school is hard, and it's comforting when you find yourself with instructors who are somewhat nurturing. It's a blessing to have people behave in a consistent and sensible manner. Your load is lightened when you are given a heads-up that allows you to focus your energies on the areas that will give you the greatest return for your efforts. Most of all, it's a boon to believe that those in authority over you have your best interests at heart.
Having had a taste of the ideal, I believe you are now suffering from a bad case of reality shock. In comparison to the kindness and encouragement you were accustomed to receiving, you have now been exposed to an atmosphere which is far more comparable to the real world, and the contrast is jolting. You'd probably be reacting less if you'd never had the nurturing to begin with.
I don't agree with intentionally or systematically trying to torment students and doubt that there is a behind-the-scenes scheme to make your lives miserable. What is much more likely is that you have a group of instructors who expect you all to sink or swim on your own. Whether by design or by accident, they are actually mimicking what you will find on the job:
--patients who give you inaccurate or incomplete information
--lab results that are only the beginning of the clinical picture
--co-workers who leave things out of report or who misinterpret info
--physicians who give orders that seem to make no sense
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Nurturing is nice but not essential. In fact, there are times when it's downright detrimental to developing a sense of ownership of your own education and destiny. If you have to acquire said education in spite of some instructors, you will have that much more determination when you are working and being thrown one curve ball after another. Better that reality shock occurs now while you have limited ability to hurt people.
Think of the valiant students with learning disablities who slog through term after term, having to wrestle with the material until they find a way to get it in their heads. You may have to do the same in working around difficult authority figures. This means extra study time. It means seeking out learning alternatives--supplemental materials, Internet research, study groups, tutoring, etc. Most of all, it means developing a healthy skepticism (when told what will be on a test, for example) that leads you to going beyond the obvious and predictable and preparing yourself for the unexpected.
The best thing you can do for yourself right now is to get back up, shake the dust off, and determine that you are the one primarily responsible to get yourself educated. Instructors may help or hinder you in that process, but nobody cares about your future as much as you do.
Don't waste time on feeling betrayed or resentful. Save your energy for going after the education you deserve. Find out what works and pursue it with all your heart.
I wish you well.
What a thoughtful and constructive post- far more useful than some of the BBQ responses to the OP.
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
And as a nurse, repeating a course would not be an option for "1 silly med error".