Enlighten me on how to deal with instructor

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 3, 2006

With the information provided I think the instructor was appropriate. Maybe you should add a little to your post.

LoriAlabamaRN · Feb 3, 2006

With the information provided I think the instructor was appropriate. Maybe you should add a little to your post.

I agree... it sounds like you were very disrespectful. If I were you, I would apologize sincerely for your behavior, and state that you will not let it happen again. From then on, remember that this is the person who judges whether you pass or fail. Now is not the time to let pride get in the way of your future.

Kathyz · Feb 3, 2006

Your instructor was rude to ignore you but unfortunately she heard your comment! :argue:

I would lay back on asking questions. Some instructors get peeved for some reason. I would either ask her after class or try to get an answer elsewhere.

bethem · Feb 3, 2006

How long is your program? I say heads down, b*ms up and just get through what you have to get through.

Hey, you could be her boss one day!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2006

Kim. . .this lady seems like she probably leans toward the authoritarian side. You really don't want to mess around and bump chests aggressively with someone like this. She has the power and the authority to put you down and will most likely exercise it if she feels the need to. You will not win. You will not get your way with this person. So, you need to resign yourself to that right off the bat. I suggest you go a different route with her. Stay quiet. Restrain yourself from speaking out in her class like you did because she has already warned you of the consequences. Take her statement she made to you very seriously. She will throw you out if you do not do what she wants. You will always know where you stand with people like this. So, don't ever think she is playing any kind of games with you, she's not.

You need to learn other ways to channel your confrontational nature. If you don't it is going to get you into trouble again and again. There is a lot of difference between assertive, aggressive and mean spirited behavior.

I would recommend a different approach to take. Raise your hand when you have a question in her class. If she recognizes you, OK. If she doesn't, go to see her during her office hours. Treat her as if she was a drill sargeant and don't deliberately aggrevate her. Also, I strongly recommend that you try very hard to find some good things about her. If you continue to compile a list of her bad traits and perpetuate the gossip about her with the other students it is only going to result in you becoming more frustrated and angry with her. Those strong emotions will interfere with the major thing you are trying to accomplish here which is to learn nursing. I would talk with her either before your clinicals or the morning of and go to her with your tail between your legs, admit you were out of line and you are sorry. Tell her you will appreciate her experience and any learning that she has to pass on to you. If she doesn't want to be friendly, then you won't be able to have a friendly relationship with her--period. I would be concerned that this lady will make short work of you if you cross her. In your position as a student it is best to take a subordinate role. Keep your eye on the final goal which is to learn nursing so you can take your state board and pass. As disagreeable as this lady might seem, she is there because she knows her stuff.

Roseyposey · Feb 3, 2006

Play the game, play the game, play the game. You won't win this one.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Feb 3, 2006

I feel you were being passive agressive to be honest. I know it sucks to be ignored. And you feel you were right. Review sessions can be pretty emotional for everyone. If she doesn't want to answer your questions during review time I would see her during office hours. She probably doesn't want to take the time to get into a debate on why the answer was "a" and not "b". You may be right, but some instructors will not budge, simply b/c once they budge, it seems like all test questions are open to a students interpretation and reviews can then take double the time, and everyone wants their grade changed. And then everyone starts trying to win back points of many questions. I have seen this happen when I was in school. It is very time consuming and frustrating for the instructor and students. If you can proove you are right, go to her office with the answer to the question bookmarked and highlighted in private. Maybe she will give you the points if you do it in a professional manor. I would not confront her in front of other students. It may cause her embarrassment (sp?) if she is wrong. She WILL kick you out. Don't mess with this instructor. If it were me I would just keep my mouth shut and do my best, do what is expected of me, and get through the rotation with as little conflict as possible.

hbncns35 · Feb 3, 2006

I've had times in class where I will make a suggestion for something and then I hear 6 or 7 of my class mates boo hoo it and then as a likely answer from the instructor she puts it down too.

I've been in class where I will raise my hand and the instructor looks straight at me and looks away. I will then wave my hand to her eyesight direction until she answers my question.

I have another prof. who refused to answer my question about nitroglycerin overdose. I asked, she looked at me, paused and then said "No Comment"

She is always rough around the edges but I am always nice as pie....

nadjjaa · Feb 3, 2006

I have to agree. There's always going to be someone in your profession who is in a position of power and happens to also be a big jerk. Maybe your charge nurse, maybe a doc. Don't let them get the better of you. Nose down, do what you have to do to succeed but don't try and go to war with these people because they can and will crush you, particularly your instructors.....

I wouldn't refrain from asking questions, however. If you need to clarify something, no teacher should get annoyed at you for this. That doesn't mean they won't, but just be respectful, get your question out there and get your answer. They can't kick you out for asking questions, but they can kick you out for making snide comments.

That being said, I also happen to have a bit of an attitude, so I know where you're coming from. It makes my blood boil when I'm treated like this, and I have to practically staple my mouth shut not to get shirty w. them.

Good luck.

nadjjaa

Daye · Feb 4, 2006

although there will always be two sides to every coin i can honestly say that you are in the short running of things right now, and in the long running it will not matter. what does matter is that you get what you went in for, to get through it and move on. not only that but sometimes the underlying aggrivation can cause tempers and words to come out that have only one outcome: regret. i experienced something very similar where i felt i had the right to be acknowledged during a review session. and i cannot say enough how much i regret letting my aggrivation stir me into going to far. i would do anything to change how i reacted. i would love to take it all back, smile and keep my words, attitude, and frustration to myself and not be viewed as someone who is hard to get along with. reguardless of what the "other" person is doing or saying...stand on higher ground because you really do go a lot further without the baggage of regrets and labels. i wish you the best in clinicals. my advise to you would be to show up prepared and without being boastful just dig in & work hard and let your actions speak in a kind sincere way that really can get you anywhere you want to go in life!

kimisacowboysfan · Feb 4, 2006

Hi there, I am new here. hi to all. I have a problem and just don't know how to deal with it. I have an instructor who happens to be the program coordinator for the LPN program. She is confrontational, and well I can be as well. Everyone hates to be in her clinical group, and I have yet to have her in clinicals. But today was the 2nd time I have been threatened to be kicked out of test review. When we were going over the test, I had a question about one of the questions and was trying to clarify why I understood that when a pt is on mag sulf, you are to do VS Q hour, i thought it was q15. Anyway, she blatantly ignored me. I happen to sit up front, and said to myself, obviously a little louder that I thought it was. I said, "she just ignored me". Well she called me up after class and said she will not put up with my behavior in test review(next time i will be kicked out), and that I was being passive aggressive. She does not like to be called out, and she had made that clear to me, this is the 3rd time. However, i feel liike I am an adult, and that I should not be treated like a child. I just do not know what to do, i have her for clinicals in 3 weeks, and I am scared to death of her. Please enlighten me.
thanks
Kim

Thanks to all who replied. I understand where you are all coming from. She is trying to prepare me for the real world. Also, How do I handle her in clinicals. Last semester she grabbed a student and shook her, b/c student could not remember where the IV was located, she kept saying forearm, when instructor wanted to hear r. antecubital. Student ended up dropping out, b/c she was mortifed. She also reported her, instructor has changed some, but her witchy side still shows up now and then. Being that I am scared to death of having her in clinicals, how can I deal with her. She expects more out of you than any other instructor, and well I am just not gonna be perfect, especially with IV's. thanks to all!

Kim