dealing with an unprofessional clinical instructor

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2011

These kinds of things scare the crap out of me. Why do so many nursing schools allow such a negative learning environment for their students? I find this behavior absolutely unacceptable. You're paying good money for your education and you deserve a little respect. I know they're not supposed to coddle us and prepare us for the real world, but you can do that without treating students like a prison warden would treat criminals.

JaRoJoCT · Dec 4, 2011

i posted this comment to a post entitled: nasty clinical instructors

i had an instructor just like that. i said had...because unlike most of you brave souls...i just couldn't take the abuse (perfect description) she handed out, and so i quit my first semester...12 weeks in of 16 weeks! she wasn't american and constantly put down the american culture. i'm not american, and i was really offended! she trash-talked about the other instructors, and former students! she yelled at students in front of patients, staff and other students. it was so humiliating. i tried to talk to her about it, and she accused me of threatening her, because i said that i would report her to the school. which i did, but they took her side! after i complained, i had to go to clinicals with her the next day, and she was so awful to me that i broke out in hives right in post-conference! i just couldn't go back the next day! i miss clinicals, the patients (such encouraging, amazing troupers!), and my fellow students. i plan to reapply, but to another school. the thought of crossing paths again with that evil she-devil turned me off of that school.

my advice is to hang in there. don't give up like i did. just think...2 more weeks and you never have to see her again! i would think that same thing every time i went to clinicals...just 6 more weeks, just 4 more weeks...but it was affecting my health, and i couldn't take it, and i gave up! i am 44 also, and the chances are running out. so don't let her get in the way of you making it. please don't give up like i did. i have to start all over again next fall and you do not want to have to do that. you can make it. two weeks will go by quickly. stay strong in the knowledge that you stood up for yourself by going to her as a mature person to let her know that her behavior is not acceptable. if you had the courage to do that...then you have the strength and the courage to make it these last few days. do it for us forty-somethings!!!:)

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2011

i posted this comment to a post entitled: nasty clinical instructors
i had an instructor just like that. i said had...because unlike most of you brave souls...i just couldn't take the abuse (perfect description) she handed out, and so i quit my first semester...12 weeks in of 16 weeks! she wasn't american and constantly put down the american culture. i'm not american, and i was really offended! she trash-talked about the other instructors, and former students! she yelled at students in front of patients, staff and other students. it was so humiliating. i tried to talk to her about it, and she accused me of threatening her, because i said that i would report her to the school. which i did, but they took her side! after i complained, i had to go to clinicals with her the next day, and she was so awful to me that i broke out in hives right in post-conference! i just couldn't go back the next day! i miss clinicals, the patients (such encouraging, amazing troupers!), and my fellow students. i plan to reapply, but to another school. the thought of crossing paths again with that evil she-devil turned me off of that school.
my advice is to hang in there. don't give up like i did. just think...2 more weeks and you never have to see her again! i would think that same thing every time i went to clinicals...just 6 more weeks, just 4 more weeks...but it was affecting my health, and i couldn't take it, and i gave up! i am 44 also, and the chances are running out. so don't let her get in the way of you making it. please don't give up like i did. i have to start all over again next fall and you do not want to have to do that. you can make it. two weeks will go by quickly. stay strong in the knowledge that you stood up for yourself by going to her as a mature person to let her know that her behavior is not acceptable. if you had the courage to do that...then you have the strength and the courage to make it these last few days. do it for us forty-somethings!!!:)

thats absolutely awful that you broke out into hives!! and its awful for both of you to have had experienced such nasty, unprofessional , unhappy instructors.

to the op:: just stick with it..youre almost there... as the famous quote says... "if your going thru hell, keep going!"

to jarojoct- i wish you the best at ur new school :) remember theres bad apples everywhere but u certaninly dont have to put up with that abuse ! :)

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Dec 4, 2011

Sent you a PM.

IaCountryGirl · Dec 4, 2011

My very first clinical instructor was not very good at all. Granted she was no where near as bad as yours but she seemed to be bipolar. And she gave out a lot of wrong information that could harm a patient, even though she said she had 30+ years of experience. When I say wrong information, I'm talking she thought CHO was for chocolate, not carbs and this was a diabetic patient who managed her blood sugars with diet and po medication.

One day when I was passing meds she blew up at me because "I was taking too long". Mind you, this was only my second med pass and I was double checking my medications because the week before I almost made a med error. We were in a LTC facility where each type of medication comes in the cards and you push out the pill for the date. She ripped them out of my hands and proceeded to do my medications for me, snapping at me that at the rate I was going, I would never be able to work in a nursing home and do medications on my own.

It wasn't just me either. Anyway, what ended up happening was one of my fellow students contacted the nursing department coordinator and that person came out to observe our clinical for the entire day. Things were rocky after that but the coordinator kept telling us to hang in there. I would say with only 2 weeks left, I would suck it up and then talk to the nursing department. My school has us fill out evaluations for every instructor we have and then set up a review with them to let them know what was said. Each eval is anonymous and the instructors don't have their review until after that semester and final grades are already put into the system.

mjrysmom · Dec 5, 2011

Thanks for all the advice. While I do plan on sticking it out because I will not let one rotten apple ruin my future as an RN, I plan on going to the administration so that it is on record and maybe they will further investigate. As bad as it is for me I don't want to see another student have to deal with what I've had to put up with. I'm just amazed though at how unprofessional and rude instructors can be and that they can get away with it. I've got a few professors behind me and a few of my classmates that will back me up. I've heard that this is how they weed out the ones that can truly stick it out. I wonder!!!!

CBsMommy · Dec 5, 2011

Ah...the Clinical Instructors from H-E-Double hockey sticks. Yes, I know them well!

With only 2 weeks left in this semester just do what you are doing, show up, smile, answer questions, stay out of the way the best you can!

I feel really sad for people who have to degrade and humiliate others. Can you imagine how sad their life is and how miserable they must be? Just remember that it's their problem and in three weeks, you won't have to deal with them anymore. Fill out their evaluation honestly, with as much detail as possible, and let karma take its course. Good luck from someone who has been there!

orientbeachgirl · Jan 8, 2012

I also had a clinical instructor that was rude, nasty, immature, and very unprofessional! I am 47 and this was my fourth clinical, and every one of my instructors have offered to give me recommendations if I want them and have all spoke very positively about my nursing skills. This instructor would call people out in front of the nursing station--LOUDLY--and ream them out in front of anyone that would watch! Prior to going back to college and becoming a nurse I was a successful sales person, I changed professions because I was called to be a nurse, and I was not going to let her scare me off! At my final evaluation she told me that "I" need to work on my communication skills!! She actually had me so beaten down though that I went to speak with my Professor for the lecture portion (she has her PHD) and she was astounded! She laughed out loud when I told her what she said. She then went on to explain to me that a lot of the clinical instructors (especially younger ones) feel very threatened by the older (Non-traditional) students. They say that we ask too many questions and they think that we are asking a lot of questions to try and trick them or trip them up! Can you imagine? The funny thing was that I had heard a lot of really horrible things about this instructor, so I was very careful not to get on her bad side from the start. I even told her at the second cllinical that I tend to ask a lot of questions, and it is just because that is how my mind works, and I am just a curious person....when I told my professor this we both laughed out loud!!

My Professor was great and she was very understanding, I guess what I am saying is if you are having that hard of a time--go to your lecture instructor and speak with them about what is going on, if you don't feel like you can go to them, find another professor that you do feel comfortable with and talk with them. At least then if you need to go higher up the chain of command, then you have someone that can vouch for you, they may possibly give you some strategies to deal with the crazy clinical instructor too. If that is possible!! I have not gone into a lot of the details on here, but trust me, I came home sobbing from my last clinical and I was ready to quit because she treated me horribly that last day. I really think that she was mad that I kept coming back and she could not break me. I even had two students tell me that she did not like me! I am a very good student and I get along great with all of my professors and fellow students, and I am not patting myself on the back but I get along with everyone! So I really do think that my Professor was correct with her summation. But I felt a lot better after talking it out and she was very sweet to reassure me that I will be a wonderful nurse! Kind of funny ending to the story...I had TWO patients write notes to the hospital about what a great job that I did taking care of them that were mailed to my professor after the rotation was complete, in the notes they mentioned that they told my instructor but they wanted to write a letter to the college to tell them what a great job that I did and how compassionate and knowledgeable that I was! The kicker is that my clinical instructor never told me that they said anything about me!! Isn't that terrible?? But it was a great day when my Professor called me to her office and gave me the letters!! I think that it was a sign from above to hang in there!!

Jokingly I asked my Professor if she would send a copy of these two letters to the nasty clinical instructor!! She laughed and told me that she didn't think that they would be having her do any more clinicals at our college!!

NCRNMDM, ASN, RN · Jan 9, 2012

That sounds terrible, and I am sorry that you have had such an awful ordeal during this clinical. Clinicals are meant to be fun and educational, not horrifying and grueling. There aren't many positives about having such a terrible instructor, but there is one bright spot in the situation. Barring any extraordinary circumstances, you will never have a clinical instructor that bad again. You have experienced the worst of the worst when it comes to clinicals, and your clinical experiences will only improve from this point. As bad as this instructor was, she increased your ability to deal with stress, upped your emotional strength, and made you grow as a person. Your clinicals will get better (hopefully), and when they do you will be amazed at how much fun you are having, and at how much you are learning. No matter how bad the instructor was, try to find one positive thing that each one taught you. Here, you learned to deal with stress, you became a stronger person, and you moved on. It wasn't fun, and her behavior wasn't right, but you won't have to deal with her forever.

orientbeachgirl · Jan 9, 2012

Absolutely MattRN! The only way to go now is UP!! I just want to stress to all students with a problem like this to go to a faculty person that they trust and talk it out, that was my saving grace!

Good luck everyone!! I am starting my Mental Health Clinical next week and I cannot wait! I love clinicals!

Peace!

Cupcake89121 · Jan 12, 2012

Number 1 and at all costs: YOU must remain professional NO MATTER WHAT.

I HATED my clinical instructor from this past semester (MedSurg). I have never in my life hated an instructor. I was so stressed that I ended up confiding in another instructor that I trusted. She advised me to write an email to the course coordinator, who in turn brought the issues to the attention of the head of the RN program. She ended up coming to our clinical site to ask us questions about the instructor (it was her first semester at my school). As it turns out, there had been several other complaints.

You must follow the chain of command.

No matter how much you want to burst into tears (and secretly have while sitting in your car during lunch = ME), you must at least appear to be cool, calm, and collected.

Make sure that all written communication regarding the issue is professional and contains only facts about whatever the situation may be. Do not say things like "It made me so mad when.."

Even if you are going to meet with the Dean or whomever in person, make sure that before doing so, you send them an email regarding the issue. You should always have written documentation about whatever.

Ok I'll get off of my soap box now. Good luck! :nurse: