Dear Nursing Instructor

[Fearless_leader]

Dear Nursing Instructor,

I want to remind you that at some point in your life you were in my shoes. Remember your first day of class? You were nervous, scared, and maybe wondering "Am I really made for nursing?"

You were handed a syllabus, and quickly went to work planning your schedule for the days to come. The thought of all the chapters you need to read, and understand. "How am I going to process all of this," you thought?

Maybe nursing was a breeze for you. Maybe you failed out and had to give it another try. A year or two later there you are walking across the stage in your nursing uniform holding your candle in remembrance of the mother of nursing Florence Nightingale. Remember how excited you were to get pinned. Oh the tears of joys that you finally made it!

Years have now passed by, and you have decided to become a nurse educator. However you forgot some things. What it is like to be a student. Some students are new to the health field; others are here looking for a second career, or a better life for their family. We all come from different walks of life.

Yes we know and may have heard all the horror stories of nursing. Does nursing school really have to be a horror story? Do you have to yell at your new nursing students on the first day? Is it appropriate to tell your students your not cut out for this? Do you as an instructor have to meet a quota every semester on who you can weed out?

I am a student here to learn. Yes, sometimes some students make it all the way through there preq's thinking "I can fly straight through nursing with no problem." However, some of us are not like that. We want to learn! We want what you have: a state board license!

We have sacrificed our lives and loved ones just to make it to the end of the program. However, some of us don't make it through the first few semesters. As students we do take the blame for our faults and short comings. I know I do. However being manipulated, taunted, yelled at, curse at, and treated like a nobody is not what I signed up for.

Let me give you an example of what some instructors have done in my presence. I had a class mate whose period came on during our lab at the school. We are told that while we are in clinical lab we are not allowed to go to the bathroom, only when we are given break.

She fell ill and told the instructors what was going on. In her defense, she has periods that come when they want, 2 times a month maybe once every 3 months. Nevertheless, she informed said professors on what was going, and got permission to leave the class. She had a mess on her clothes which caused her to leave the class for a second time in 30 mins. She was withdrawn by the Dean because she should have had a Dr.'s note.

I had a similar situation. I heavy a menstruation (due to Essure) sometimes as well, and in my first semester I had an accident as well my clothes. I had to sit for 30 minutes thank goodness before I could leave. All because of that stupid rule. I was embarrassed some, but hey we're all nursing students right. Thank God I lived 5 mins away from school.

My point is: is it really that serious not to have your class interrupted because of an emergency? If that is not an excuse. Please be sympathetic towards your students if deemed necessary, ie. student who found out her father had a heart attack, and is at the hospital fighting for his life. You have now put this student in the position to choose her class time and not risk being dropped from her class, or her dying father. Did you have any unusual emergencies as a student?

As a student we are held responsible for actions. We look to you for guidance and a great learning experience. Why are you so mean? Do you have to eat your young?

Now, now, I'm going to get a lot of comments on how nursing is to be taken seriously. "We have patient lives in our hands". I get that. I have 7 years of healthcare background in a very busy trauma one hospital. I know how stressful nursing can get and how overworked some nurses are, but I'm talking about teaching here. Teaching does not have to be so cruel and intimidating. I'm not saying you have to hold our hands and talk softly, and give us a high five for remembering small or big details. Treat me like a student who wants to learn what you are willing to give.

I just want you ask my instructor, the one I look to for educational needs, to remember what it was like when you were in our shoes.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fearless_Leader

P.S. For the Instructors who do care for their students, and do want them to succeed, we appreciate all you do.

[ixchel]

I really don't understand how a predictably unpredictable period can compare with a family death. OP, I finished my student days 6 months ago, and with the freshness of those memories, I fear for your endurance.

Advice from a heavy, unpredictable period sufferer - never leave home without adequate protection. As for the girl with the soiled clothes, if she knows she's irregular, she would plan for that and not need to leave campus. The instructor was reasonable by letting her leave the first time. The second time, to change clothes, should not have been necessary.

I think I'll ask my charge nurses for scheduled bathroom breaks. Man I'd love that kind of predictability.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Oh, hell, I did CPR straddling a patient in an ICU bed when I was 8+ months pregnant. Reproductive status is no respecter of professional responsibilities.

Ok, thanks for putting THAT image into my head just before bedtime, LOL....!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I think I'll ask my charge nurses for scheduled bathroom breaks. Man I'd love that kind of predictability.

When I worked the floor, I had at one time considered inserting a Foley and strapping on a leg bag. Ok, HALF-considered. But did consider it....

[ixchel]

When I worked the floor, I had at one time considered inserting a Foley and strapping on a leg bag. Ok, HALF-considered. But did consider it....

If only the equipment were smaller. Shorter distance from tube to stat lock.... smaller drainage bag with soft velcrow, flexible and adjustable straps.... one that conforms better, custom-sized to the length of leg from crotch to knee.... marketed to nurses.....

Perhaps a small flexiseal, as well, for those upset tummy days when immodium just won't cut it.

We could be millionaires. Let's get on Shark Tank.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

First, my check does not come from you; it comes from the university. The amount you pay in tuition is a drop in the bucket compared to what is collected from students, state, and federal subsidies. Furthermore, you're not the only student in class. The other 30 have the right to receive information without constant interruption.

Second, you are comparing apples to oranges. You're analogies are weak at best. I suspect you're not in any educational role- if you were, you would understand. Seriously, you're trying to compare students with patients? You're correct. You're able to go to the bathroom when you want at work. Does your going to the bathroom cause a great deal of interruption among your patients and other staff? No, it doesn't. So, there is not a need to implement such a rule.

Third- not all students are "adult" learners. Many are traditional students (those who recently graduated from high school). Those are the ones who tend to need the most structure. So, I create blanketed rules. Interesting enough, it seems that most who complain about it are not the adults as they have already learned that there are policies and rules with most everything involved in life. I find it interesting you think it's ridiculous. You're entitled to your opinion I suppose.

Uh...I can see having high academic standards and whatnot, but why in the world would anyone consider it reasonable to tell adults that they can only use the bathroom when the instructor says they can? Yes as RNs we have patients in our hands--I am a working ICU RN myself, and nobody tells you when you can or can not pee or change your pad! I am also a student in a BSN bridge program. Sorry...I thank you for caring about my education, but I'll be going when I need to, and I will hold myself responsible for any content missed during those two minutes I was gone. But as imperfect as my instructors are, I don't think any of them would dream of thinking that an adult needs their permission to go to the bathroom. That is honestly in my top five of ridiculous things I've ever heard of coming from a professor/instructor's mouth.

As a nurse, would you ever tell a patient that they can only use the bathroom at pre-set times designated by you? So why would an instructor tell this to adult learners who are paying them???? And give them the "choice" of being humiliated or suffer academic consequences? Penalizing them like a child who started a fight on the playground or cheated on the spelling test?? Really??

Again, I get the need for academic rigor. I get why they need to cover so much material and grill you at clinicals. I just can't get past this bathroom thing, and for me it calls all other credibility into question. It's ridiculous.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

I think you are confusing "Making Them Grow a Thick Skin" with bullying. Bullying is unacceptable. The topics you mentioned more closely align with bullying. I do not raise my voice. I don't go around grilling students. I most certainly do not instill fear (this is horrible!). I refuse to humiliate students. HOWEVER, I do hold them accountable to high standards and expectations. If that is a form of bullying, then maybe that explains why there are so many new grads who lack the necessary skills to be successful.

Dear Nursing Instructors Who Think You Are Doing Nursing Students A Favor By "Making Them Grow Thick Skin":

Please find and post a peer-reviewed, evidence-based practice article from a nursing or medical journal that provides proof that the following behaviors are beneficial in the long run to future nurses:

Raising your voice to students

Impatiently grilling them

Instilling fear towards asking questions (even if it is multiple times)

Passively or aggressively humiliating or belittling them in front of nurses or other students

On the contrary, your search will most likely indicate how you are contributing to attrition, trickling down to potential errors and patient safety issues.

To the current nurses who say "We are getting you ready for the real thing" and "Time to toughen up!" Why are you encouraging/tolerating this behavior in your institution? In medicine, doctors are being taught about the dangers of this. Accrediting agencies have recognized the harm in this. Why can't you?

Nursing instructors should be making it clear that you can ask questions, taking the time to talk to students, making sure they understand. Respect should be given for adults on both sides. Many nurses who are their future co-workers will not be tolerant, so school should be the place to figure out how to handle that when it happens-not with the goal of starting you off in the profession this way.

I will 2nd Julie Reyes comments above.

Signed,

rbs105

BSN Nursing Instructor

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

Thanks for understanding. Although I do not become angry. I am sure they sense my frustration. As far as lecturing goes- I record all of my lectures and post them on Blackboard. I do this so that I do not have to spend a great deal of time repeating myself. It seems to work.

But yeah- I expect that I will have students request that I be a reference for them or to write a letter of recommendation. If they are chronically late, I'll politely tell them to find another instructor as the letter will address their short-comings.

Speaking as a current nursing student, we kind of contribute to making Instructors feel this anger and impatience towards us, why you ask?

Example, my class today:

1. Class starts at 9.

0900- 8/55 of us are there, seated and ready to go.

0901-1015- 43 trickle in, coffee in hand, tape recorders placed, making noise, batteries going off, digging in their bags, one standing in front of the instructor (like directly in front of him) scanning the room for a seat)

1030- let's ask questions about slides from the beginning, bc you weren't here in the beginning to ask them.

Example 2

Assignments are posted

Ya....no I saw them on the portal, but I didn't have time to write my paper, I was too stressed studying for this next test. So I didn't do it. I will turn it in eventually.

Example 3

I know our syllabus says white shoes, but I like these red nikes better and I know I was 45 minutes late to clinical today because of traffic, which I knew was going to happen (as we live in the city), and I could have left earlier but didn't. Because, you know, you guys can wait on me. Thanks!

I wonder! Seems pretty simple to me!

[JBudd, MSN]

Yes, this is rude, but it's your instructor's fault for allowing it. If I'm ever a professor, I'm locking my door at class start time and if you didn't make it in, sucks to be you.

A nice thought, but you can bet that the first time you did this, said locked out student would go crying to the Dean and YOU'D be the one getting the talking to with a "you can't do that" to top things off. Guarantee it!

As far as locking the door, it happens at my school. Some (most) instructors will not let you in 5 minutes past the starting time, you must wait until the first break. It is the standard practice, and know what? People make it to class on time. I start lecturing at the top of the hour, when class time starts. If you aren't there, I let you in but don't interrupt me! If someone is chatting, not listening, your problem, not mine. The rest of the class immediately starts hushing the chatterers. Same with the end of break.

My school has some pretty darned special students! and we only lose a few over the semesters, almost all graduate. Expect professionalism, get professionalism.

[ruralnurse84]

"A nice thought, but you can bet that the first time you did this, said locked out student would go crying to the Dean and YOU'D be the one getting the talking to with a "you can't do that" to top things off. Guarantee it!" Buckybadger

Considering this was the norm in my nursing school and these were the expectations, I guarantee no one went crying to the dean for being locked out of class because they weren't on time. In fact I can guarantee if anyone had tried running to the dean she would have silently sat there and laughed at said student. I had to sit outside the classroom while the rest of my class took a quiz because I was late. Our instructors made it clear from the beginning what would happen if we were late. Because of this it was few and far between that anyone missed any portion of class. Rules were also set down for clinical and with the exception of one instructor we learned a lot from them without getting berated.

[tjenn999]

Fearless leader you nailed it!

I loved this post?

For all the professors who have all that work to do. This is no reason to abuse us. I am paying for you to educate me, push me (not abuse).

You were once a student so you must of known how much work it would take to be a clinical instructor! You also get payed quite well for what you do. If you can not handle the work load and take it out on us students, then maybe teaching is not for you. I am talking to the Professors who justify their abusive behavior because their work load is too heavy.

That would be like an RN justifying abusive treatment to a patient because she/he load is heavy.

To all the Professors out there who are amazing in what you do, God Bless you! I look forward to working with you in my next school.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

“For all the professors who have all that work to do. This is no reason to abuse us. I am paying for you to educate me, push me (not abuse).”

I don’t believe anyone was complaining about the amount of work except for the OP who is a nursing student. We are not paid to “educate you.” We are paid to facilitate information. Learning and the education you acquire comes from you. You do not pay me. I am paid by the university as I once said. What you pay for in tuition for a class is a drop in the bucket. That would be like me telling the cashier at McDonalds that I pay her salary because I bought a bottle of water. The notion is ridiculous. So, if you don’t mind, you can dismount from your high horse now.

“You were once a student so you must of known how much work it would take to be a clinical instructor! You also get payed quite well for what you do. If you can not handle the work load and take it out on us students, then maybe teaching is not for you. I am talking to the Professors who justify their abusive behavior because their work load is too heavy.”

I’m sorry. I had to laugh out loud at this one! Okay, so applying the same bogus theory- why don’t you describe the work a nurse educator puts into a clinical or class. “You also get payed (sp) quite well for what you do?” Really? Have you not looked up how much nurse educators are paid? Have you not looked up how much any educator is paid? I suspect the answer is no or else you would not have made such a ridiculous statement. “…for what we do.” Evidently, you seem to know everything about the profession, so enlighten us.

“That would be like an RN justifying abusive treatment to a patient because she/he load is heavy.”

Again, somewhere down the road, you have taken the reading completely out of context. Although I do agree with the notion that no student should ever be abused. No educator should be abused either; and there are times when it happens.

Fearless leader you nailed it!

I loved this post?

For all the professors who have all that work to do. This is no reason to abuse us. I am paying for you to educate me, push me (not abuse).

You were once a student so you must of known how much work it would take to be a clinical instructor! You also get payed quite well for what you do. If you can not handle the work load and take it out on us students, then maybe teaching is not for you. I am talking to the Professors who justify their abusive behavior because their work load is too heavy.

That would be like an RN justifying abusive treatment to a patient because she/he load is heavy.

To all the Professors out there who are amazing in what you do, God Bless you! I look forward to working with you in my next school.

[ixchel]

Fearless leader you nailed it!

I loved this post?

For all the professors who have all that work to do. This is no reason to abuse us. I am paying for you to educate me, push me (not abuse).

You were once a student so you must of known how much work it would take to be a clinical instructor! You also get payed quite well for what you do. If you can not handle the work load and take it out on us students, then maybe teaching is not for you. I am talking to the Professors who justify their abusive behavior because their work load is too heavy.

That would be like an RN justifying abusive treatment to a patient because she/he load is heavy.

To all the Professors out there who are amazing in what you do, God Bless you! I look forward to working with you in my next school.

I can't even begin to state how misguided this entire comment is. Absolutely none of this comment is based on the feelings and actions of actual professors, and frankly, it is downright offensive.

And for the love of the pure and innocent 3-toed sloth, MUST HAVE!!!!!!!! Not "must of".