Failed Fundamentals Clinical.

pinkbo0tlace · May 19, 2012

First off, I want to say that I'm really sorry I can't offer much advice as to how to pass the clinical because I am still in pre-nursing, but given the information you gave and if that was the honest truth - I guess I would just say that perhaps the clinical instructor was harder on you than most. The only advice I can really offer is next time you have to retake this clinical: 100% be on your A game. Even if the instructor is the one who really was being abrasive. Make sure your uniform is always pressed, ID and name tag ALWAYS on. Make sure you just look overall presentable (not saying you don't, but just don't give her anything physically to find fault). I think going over concerns after clinical was a good idea. Next time around though, I wouldn't do that (because she might take that you not knowing what you are doing - even if you are doing it to improve). But, I would ask loads of questions if you ever have a question. If you know something really well, pipe up and say it if she asks if anyone knows - or perhaps even offer to show an X skill to other students with her supervision. Really give yourself the opportunity to SHINE! It takes a lot of humility and strength to humble yourself before someone who is really less than deserving of it - but just remember you are not doing this for HER! You are doing this so you can pass the clinical and become a nurse! :nurse: It is really uneasy and sometimes really hard when you have a personality clash with an instructor - but bite the bullet, work hard and you CAN do it. Depending on how comfortable you feel, you can also go to her office before the clinicals start and just mention you realize you made some mistakes (just humor her) but you have absolutely learned about professionalism, etc... and you are determined to set the goal of passing the clinical. Offer a word of praise for her caring enough about you as a student and a future nurse to set you straight (again, chalk it up) and reassure her that this time around you will try your very best because you have learned from the last time. Hope this helps! This is just my opinion, but it might be helpful. Good luck!

studentnursekathleen · May 19, 2012

Thank you so much! With adivice like yours, I am sure you will ACE clinical. You have ideas I didn't even think of, like volunteering to show my skills to the other students, and biting the bullet to talk with my clinical intructor before clinical, being humble and humoring her, speaking up when I know something (which is something I saw in the students whom the clinical instructors liked alot, and passed of course.)

Excellent advice! Thank you so much!

tyvin, BSN, RN · May 20, 2012

I had a clinical assistant professor that tried to ruin me. I'm serious...she tried to ruin me at every turn in my last year ( when she was hired to replace a professor that went out on maternity leave). This women took an immediate dislike to me and everyone, even the RNs in clinical, would comment on how she was out to get me.

You wouldn't believe some of the stuff she whispered to me. I let her bother me for a few weeks and then I decided I wasn't going to let that b i t c h ruin what I had worked so hard to achieve. I literally ignored her and carried on. She made my beautiful 4. go down with a C- but who cares...I won in the end. I still ended up on the honor role and I graduated with my sanity in tact which is more then I can say for her. She literally ruined my last year which was suppose to be the best. Don't let her run your life; you could also make a formal complaint about the situation.

Make sure you're doing the right thing about trying to impress her...my insane asst prof could've ruined me if it would've been at the start of the program. Fortunate for me I had 5 years of excellent college reputaion to stand on. If I were you, I would seriously consider a third party intervention via your nursing counselor.

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · May 20, 2012

I had a clinical instructor who wasn't too fond of anyone either, and although I was well liked and typically aced every clinical, she demolished my care plan even though I did it similarly.

I discussed it with her and she told me she did like things differently. I wish she had told the students. I just moved on and did better in the rest of them.

So anyways, I learned early that forgetting something would typically result in extreme panic for me. So I made a checklist of everything I would need for clinical. I printed 100 copies and would use 3 per day. One before I even left my dorm room. One as soon as I got in my car. And another before I left clinical.

I also purchased an extra stethoscope and kept it in my car. My usual steth is a Littman cardio III so I keep it inside usually.

I also kept an extra school ID in my car. My instructors couldn't tell it wasn't legit. That helped me a few times.

Lastly, being the first to volunteer I think works wonders. It shows a genuine interest.

I think I've come to understand during the short year I've been a nurse why some instructors are so .... Well, inappropriate words could be used here... It's stressful for them too. If you do something wrong, they are pretty much on the chopping block. If they get irritated or correct you while you are doing a foley, it's because maybe you'll remember the stern correction and not cause a UTI later.

Good luck! Don't let anyone get you down! Learn all you can. And a nurse who graduates with a C is still a nurse.

llfox · May 20, 2012

To have failed a clinical would have me in the office finding exactly why. I would go to her/them and find out exactly everything that she feels failed you. I understand you have to go face her again but I would let her know that I am serious about correcting my mistakes.

Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN · May 22, 2012

Well, I would make sure not to take that instructor again unless you absolutely have to!! I think that a pass/fail system is not appropriate for nursing school! For my program we had a standard rubric. If you got all 2s (not all categories had 3s) you would get a B, If you got a 0 (0=unsafe & danger to the patient) in any category you automatically fail etc.

I actually had the exact experience that you had, I forgot my name badge on the very first day of clinical. I also forgot it on one other occasion. This was mentioned in writing on my evaluation as well as decreased the amount of points (to 1) that I received in the "professionalism" category. It does not seem fair that you would fail based on forgetting your name badge! For the future, keep your name badge in your car (if you drive to clinical) or in your clinical bag, so that you never forget it. When I was in my first nursing clinical which required us to be there at like 530am. I showered at night and I did not wear make up to save time. My instructor put on my evaluation that I appeared tired. From that point on I showered in the AM & put on make up. ( now that I'm an RN I shower at night :) )

Nursing school is a game. You really just have to learn to read each individual teacher and perform to their liking. If they are a med driller, make sure that you are fully prepared to rattle off without prompting about every med. IF they are a pathophys person know the pathophys... etc Do not reveal your weaknesses to the teacher! Be confident to the MAX!! The first time I did an assessment in front of my instructor I stated that I was nervous in front of the patient. I quickly learned that was a no-no. Also... Be a perfectionist on your paperwork. This is the "evidence" that you know what you are doing/talking about. An instructor has so many students during clinical, and spend very little time with you observing your performance. Thorough assignments demonstrate that you are a thorough nurse.

Don't feel bad that you are not advancing with your class! Many of those people will end up with you again. ( When I graduated only 3/8 people from my original clinical group were graduating) GOOD LUCK!

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · May 25, 2012

Personally, if I am dealing with a difficult person I do not play into their game. Visiting the prof after class to see "what I could do better" is playing right into their power trip. I find it is very hard to win at that game. Instead, I would turn the situation around and show interest in the professor and what she likes. Ask questions like, "I can see you have learned a lot about care plans (or whatever), when did you learn about them?" "What ways did you find helped you learn the most about them?" Find whatever you can about the person and ask them about themselves, always trying to tie the question to the tasks at hand. People love to talk about themselves and if you are the one who is helping them accomplish that, guess what, you become a good guy. Do yourself a big favor and buy an old copy of a great book, "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie. It was written a long time ago, but still applies very much today. It is a quick read and is a great investment in your future. I pull out my moth eaten copy and re-read it every 3 or 4 years. It has helped me vastly working with other people, good , bad or indifferent.

allnurses Guide · May 25, 2012

I know it's a struggle to go through, but I honestly think that having at least one experience like this is helpful. Advocacy is an important part of nursing, and learning to be your own advocate will help you advocate for a patient down the road.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 25, 2012

Sorry you have this added anxiety. Advice: change your attitude. That does not infer you have a bad attitude, but from my experience if I PRETEND everything is ok then I react differently to events and people. You now have a chance to meet new people and make new friends. You have the chance to show yourself you CAN do well in that course and in nursing. Do what is expected without verbalizing complaints or encouraging negative vibes with classmates. YOU are going to be the new standard and will show these new classmates how important it is to be prepared.

Just going in with a fresh attitude will make a big difference to you and to others. Did you know that when you smile, even if it is fake, your brain thinks you are happy and creates endorphins. Fake it till you make it.

grownuprosie · May 26, 2012

It is too late to change what happened already. Don't fret about because there is nothing you can do about the past.

For the future, I agree with classicdame. Fake it till you make it. Instructors respect confidence. (not cockiness) If you walk in like you know what you are doing, you will be fine. Stay positive! no one likes a debbie downer. If you mess up, embrace it, and don't do it again. I disagree with one of the posters that said to ask a lot of questions. Quantity is not what you are after. Quality is. If you ask pertinent questions, your instructor will gladly share with you. If you ask 100 questions that you should know the answer to, your instructor will not find you engaging. They will find you annoying. Never correct the instructor. finally, remember that your instructor is a person. If you treat them like one, you will be successful.

Good luck with your next clinical!

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · May 31, 2012

Nobody likes when i come along and crash the instructor-bashing party, but I'm going to anyway

So on your clinical evaluation, what did she cite as your reason for failing? Because if I am reading this correctly, based on your post, it was because you forgot your ID on the first day. While I do feel that first impressions say a lot about a person, I also believe that everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves. Did you have a mid-point evaluation? A chance for her to tell you exactly what you need to do to improve? Goals moving forward? I am almost certain she did have her 'eye on you' the entire semester, because your first impression was not perfect. Not saying you have to kiss up, but anyone who is not doing the little things that are easy to do (like being prepared, on time, and professional) is someone I am going to watch carefully. To me, these things are sometimes more important than sterile technique and knowing the side effects of meds.

Re: your reason for failing: I say this b/c I know first hand, as an instructor, we cannot just go failing people without just cause. No one accepts a clinical failiure without (at the very least) an explanation. Most people go down swinging, bringing in a wide variety of people, including parents (if they are young), all the way up to attorneys. If you have no valid reason (on paper) for failing the course, then perhaps you need to speak to someone in your department. If you do have reason, then you need to treat this whole experience as a valuable lesson, move forward and never look back.