Drill Sargent Clinical Instructor

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Specializes in MedSurg/Tele.

Hello all, Im about to enter my Acute Care MedSurg III Clinicals in about 5 weeks and I just found out that my clinical instructor is a teacher who is like a drill sargent. Everyone has been trying to avoid her including me, but I have no other choice. Im stuck with the drill sargent. I heard that she has failed some students(failed clinical) but Im not sure if this is true. Any tips on how to deal with this type of clinical teacher? Im scared that she is going to ask me something that Im not sure of and say, "Your not going to pass this clinical if you don't get it together." Im scared, anyone else go through this, how do I do my very best during my ICU clinical? Thanks

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Study your patients' pathophys carefully, prepare hard, be respectful, answer firmly, say you don't know if you don't.

Drill sargeant is not necessarily a bad thing, you just might learn more than you expect. High level of expectancy usually yields high level results. :twocents:

Don't listen to rumors, "she might have failed someone"?, get real. People fail on their own, not because of their instructors, but because they weren't doing the work. CI's don't get brownie points for failing people!:banghead:

Have confidence in yourself! You've gotten through the rest of your clinicals haven't you? Going in with dread is setting yourself up to fail. You can do it, just keep telling yourself that.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Sorry to hear this. This type of instructor is a total drag, in my opinion. The above advise is probably the best.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

so, if you had an instructor who asked you something that you weren't sure of you would be ok with a mediocre or below par answer and performance on your part as long as the instructor responded nicely to you? oh, wow! poor patients!

how do i do my very best during my icu clinical?

prepare. read up on the procedures you see or anticipate being done there. if you are asked a question and you don't know the answer, 'fess up and promise to find the answer and report back with it. it is one thing to not know an answer. it is quite another not to know an answer and then continue to ignore a duty to correct this gap in knowledge and go one's merry way. if you have a specific fear of being asked about something--face it and learn about it so if you are asked about it you won't be standing there with nothing to say. leave the personalities of the individuals out of it.

for your learning pleasure this clinical term:

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Specializes in Telemetry/IMC.

Is she a good clinical instructor? If she is, then I would think it would be a good thing to get her. Sure she may have failed some students, but I'm sure they had some part in their own downfall. She may be tougher, but you will probably learn much more than if you had a Clinical Instructor who had low standards. You do want to improve your skills, right?

But good luck! I'm sure you will do awesomely!:wink2:

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I have a clinical instructor who is literally a drill instructor and she is great! No BS from students, get your act together and you will do fine. Intimidation is one of their best tools so be prepared, say you dont know if you dont and try your best. Keep your ego in check too.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think its probably not wise to borrow trouble. You may get along with her just fine. I wouldn't go looking for problems where they might not exist. Above suggestions work well for ALL clinical instructors. Good luck.

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I had a clinical instructor that was initially very intimidating and everyone was scared of her. She knew her stuff, had lots of experience and expected us to be prepared and get on our toes. I learned more from her than any instructor to date. Once I got the guts to actually TALK to her about my anxiety during clinical, it was her advice and wisdom that prevented me from dropping out and gave me a sense of confidence in myself. So my advice to you is be confident and be as prepared as you can be. If you're not confident, just fake it- and ask lots of questions. If your situation was anything like mine, the "drill sergeant" might just be your favorite when you're through! Good luck to you- you'll be fine :)

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Good luck! Do the work, prepare, be on time, be respectful. I didn't like this type of instructors either--just do what you must to get through and move on.

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Specializes in MedSurg/Tele.

You guys are right, she is an excellent teacher, everyone says that they learned so much from her. I loved everyones advice. Sometimes I feel confident but then there are always those moments where I may have forgot the patho of a certain disease, but I can always look it up before she comes around to ask me any questions. Thanks and If Im not feeling confident Im definetly going to fake it!:nuke:

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

my drill seargant CI was my absolute favorite teacher in nursing school. i learned so much from her. she scared me to death when i first met her and she would always challenge me... but she said i lived up to her standards and that she saw her young self in me so she pushed me farther. she and i still email back and forth and have met for lunch a few times to catch up.

study hard and always be prepared for anything! good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I think its probably not wise to borrow trouble. You may get along with her just fine. I wouldn't go looking for problems where they might not exist. Above suggestions work well for ALL clinical instructors. Good luck.

Very good advice!!!

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