Please help...How can I handle my professor?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,

I need some advice. I have a problem with my nursing instructor and I don't know how to handle it.

We were having our clinicals, 6 am, on Tuesday and as usual, we did our VS and PA on our patients. My 2nd pt was d/c on Tuesday, so I have to pick a new pt. I did all that for both pts, charted before 8 am. It was our 2nd day of giving PO meds, and I was all excited, and at the same time, nervous bout it. I totally forgot to do pt care such as bathing the pt and changing the linens. My professor was in charge of 12 of us, and she was not always with me. So I was waiting for her to give PO meds, but she was not available.

Around 10 am, I started gathering clean sheets and was ready to do pt care on my first pt. All of the sudden she appeared in front of me, and asked me if she had done PO meds with me, and I said no. So I put the linens aside and start showing her the meds that the 2nd pt needed (1st pt went into the bathroom to shower at that time, so we couldn't give the meds to her).

Since the meds are beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, we went into the room and did her BP before deciding giving the pt's meds. A CNA walked into the room and told me that she had already changed the linens for my 1st pt. My response was, "OK". She asked if I wanted her to do the 2nd pt's bed, I said "It's OK, I can do it myself"

After clinicals we had a small conference at 11:45 am before going home. It was at the hospital lobby. I was running a bit late because I was still helping the 2nd pt doing a bath as she was slow. At 11:50 am, I went down stair and my professor and the rest of my class were waiting for me. She stared at me like she's gonna kill me. She stated, "the next time, if pt care was not done by 8 am, you're getting a probation.".

I started to explain to her the reason why I didn't do pt care earlier because I was trying to prepare for meds and was anxious. She didn't want to hear me and threaten me saying, "do you want to get a probation NOW?" in front of all my classmates with all the visitors in the hospital. I stood there dumbfounded and quietly replied no.

The next morning she came in with her usual bad mood and handed me a probation. She wrote on the probation saying I didn't follow the routine of care. But the thing I couldn't believe was she stated that I was being "very defensive" and having "bad manners". I was not satisfied and didn't want to be accused for something that I didn't do. So I went up to her and tried to explain to her, and she cut me off again by saying, "I heard what you said to the CNA, you said 'OK'...you should've said 'THANK YOU'", in front of all my classmates. I was almost choked with tears. She said, "if you don't like what I wrote, you can go to the dean and change professor...do you want that?" I stood there, frozen, and speechless. And at the end I gathered courage and said no, she forced me to sign the probation.

I find her to be so unapproachable and intimidating. She threatened me, and to all of us, but none of us have the courage to complain because we waited so long to get into the program and we didn't want to lose this opportunity. During winter session, she even made racist remarks on me in front of 60 students because I'm an Asian, until I stopped her. She's not nurturing at all, and she threw her tantrum on us without reasons. I don't understand this, but I haven't seen a professor like her in all my college and university life.

Now the question is...what should I do?

I heard the dean was even harder to approach. Someone suggested that I could approach the dean of the academy and explain the scenario to him/her. I didn't want to feel unsafe and intimidated anymore because we are all adults, and we should have the right to express our feelings. I have been a good student all the while and have been getting good grades. It's against my culture to fight against a professor, but at this point, I have no choice but to do something because I do not want to have anymore sleepless nights just because of this issue. I rather have sleepless nights for studying hard for my exams.

wow, this s*cks, and i know the feeling that she has your world in her hands. I don't think she was fair, and I hope you can find a way to make it through this clinical. You said you were Asian and I know you are taught to respect certain people, and when that gets in your way its really tough. You want to defend yourself but your moral code is telling you to respect this person, find someone in your school to talk to, a dean, some type of student advocate. She, your clinical instructor, will walk all over you if you let her. Good Luck, donna

Hi,

Thank you all for replying and your valuable advice.

Yes, we were supposed to do our prep work the night before our clinicals (which was Sunday). On Monday, everything went well. I did the best I could in my pt care and giving insulins and PO meds. Unfortunately, on the 2nd day, when I went to do VS and assessment on my pts, I realized the 2nd pt was d/c. I asked my professor if I should take another pt, she said no. But I feel like I needed to take care another pt, so I asked my resource RN if I can take another pt next door, and she agreed. So I have no clue, or whatsover, the 2nd pt's VS, meds, dx, etc. So that's why it took me quite a bit to do the VS and assessment on her. After finishing that (around 8 am), I had to look up my drug books to find the her meds - names & classes, indications, doses and routes, side effects cause I have to explain why the pt was getting such and such drugs. So it took me a while to do that, and I totally forgot bout my pt care.

Btw, my 1st pt just started eating her breakfast at 8 am...was I suppose to ask her to sit on the chair and do the linens instead?

When the CNA came in and told me that she did the linens on the 1st pt, I was in the middle of taking BP with my instructor beside me. I am only a first semester student, and I got anxious, so I gave her a quick reply of "OK" instead of the full "thank you so much for helping me" which I believe I always did to anyone - resource RN, CNA, even the pt. I always courteous because it's totally against my culture to be rude to somebody. I don't think I deserve a comment of "bad manners" on my probation because of saying OK. If I do something wrong, I WILL ALWAYS ADMIT. I don't put the blame on someone else like, "so and so didn't do this, so I couldn't do this..." I was trying to explain to her the reasons behind all this, but she shut me off. She was practically threatening me in front of all the students. What was I suppose to say? She just didn't want to listen to ANY of my excuses.

On the 2nd day, she gave me the probation. I wasn't happy because of the comments. She said I didn't do pt care, OK, maybe I have to admit I was not managing my time properly (Yes, she mentioned before in the beginning of clinicals that we had to do pt care by 8 am), so I was wrong on that part. But saying that I was being defensive on her when I didn't even have the chance to talk, and saying that I was having bad manners when the fact that I was nervous and didn't say "thank you" to CNA were a bit out of line. The conversation went like this when I went up to her and asked for explaination.

Me: Professor xxx, can I talk to you in private about the comment on my probation?

Prof: No, you can talk here, nobody's listening

(Half the class were siting in the room)

Me: When you said that I was being defensive, I was actually trying to explain to you that...

Prof: I heard what you said to the CNA, you said "OK"...You should've said "thank you".

(I stood there speechless)

Prof: IF you don't like what I wrote on the probation, go to the dean and change probation.

(speechless again)

Prof: Do you want that?

Me: No.

Prof: Then sign it!

Some of the students witnessed that. They were even shocked with what she said to me. Every one was quiet and dare not speak a word. All I could do was to keep quiet and sign the probation.

I told my partner about this incident and he said I have to go to the dean. I told him that a lot of student told me that the dean was not easy to manage. In fact, the dean would never pro the students. He was mad at me for not wanting to take actions on her. He said you should never suck it up (like what most of my classmates told me to) and moved on cause she will take more opportunities to bully me since I appear to be "weak".

I talked to a nursing professor in my previous college, and asked for her opinion. She said she heard a lot of things about my professor and a lot of students had complained bout her. She said if I didn't manage to do what my professor had asked me to do, I should've told her or my resource RN and asked someone to help me. She said timing was very critical sometimes and I needed to be very careful on that. She also said that it is always a courtesy to say "thank you", no matter who helped you - CNA, LVN, another student nurse, etc, and I must bear in mind that never, never forget to say those words, so that it would make me appear to be "bossy". She told me not to talk to the dean of nursing first, because I might be getting into more trouble. I might need to talk to someone higher than the dean, such as the dean of academy...or a counselor, who's not from the nursing department.

I requested help from a school advisor, but he said I had to make appointment to see him. So I had to wait. But when I told him that it was regarding a nursing instructor, he said, "nursing has the toughest discipline in this school. Sometimes, they might do it their ways, because only the nursing department knows what is right and what is wrong for the students. I can listen to your stories, but I can't promise to find a solution for you."

I don't know, I feel so helpless now. I couldn't concentrate at all on my studies just because of this incident. If I can suck it up, I will. But it's just a matter of time for me to forget bout this issue...but I will NEVER forget her.

If you asked your professor if you could take another patient and she said no, why did you go around her and do it anyway? It sounds like a lot of your problem could have been avoided if you had listened to her in the first place.

It doesn't seem like you're going to be getting much support from the school so focus on what you can do to make things better for yourself. I hope you make it through this. ;)

Specializes in Cardiac Care.
If you asked your professor if you could take another patient and she said no, why did you go around her and do it anyway? It sounds like a lot of your problem could have been avoided if you had listened to her in the first place.

It doesn't seem like you're going to be getting much support from the school so focus on what you can do to make things better for yourself. I hope you make it through this. ;)

I completely agree. If the OP was told not to take a 2nd patient, that should have been the end of it.

However, to the OP... It's just nursing school. It won't last forever, I promise. It's designed to be the way it is to teach you all about time management and priority making and multitasking and all of those things that don't have a chapter to themselves in your textbook. Unfortunately, the instructor has the power to make or break your career. The best thing to do is to be as sharp as you can. Learn from this and let her worry about someone else. I can tell that you're compassionate about your work; you'll make an excellent nurse. I promise!

Two things: you need to do something about the way that the prof handled this problem. Treating you that way in public is unacceptable.

Second: why did you take a second pt if you were told not to? That may have been one reason she was upset with you...still doesn't excuse how she treated you, but I could understand her being upset. If you can't follow instructions then you put your pts at risk. By not following instructions and taking a second pt anyway, your first pt did not get the care she should have received.

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Flight.

i agree~.. having all of that done by 8am is kind of crazy.. as mentioned.. a lot of pts are still eating then.... i also agree that you probably should have thanked the aide instead of just saying *ok*.. you will learn in no time @ all once you hit the floor that the aides can be your best friends or worst enimies.. treat them like they are rockstars!! because they are...

i have had an instructor like that too..and it sucks!.. mine hated me i think.. but luckily i got through it ok.. have you tried discussing this matter w/your instructor on how she makes you feel?.. that would be a good place to start.. unless you just can't.. then go up one higher than her...;)

Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
if you asked your professor if you could take another patient and she said no, why did you go around her and do it anyway? it sounds like a lot of your problem could have been avoided if you had listened to her in the first place.

i didn't really read her post this way. she wrote:

i asked my professor if i should take another pt, she said no.

to me, that is asking "do i need to/have to take another patient?" more like asking if it was required, rather than asking if it was ok.

however, to the op, it really isn't a good idea to pick up another patient without the express ok of you ci. i understand that you were probably trying to show initiative and trying to make the most of your clinical experience, but clinical instructors don't like surprises, unless it is "lunch is on us." this is especially true early on in your classes, as you don't have a whole lot of experience, and your ci doesn't yet know where your strengths/weaknesses are.

of course she was wrong for counseling you in public (in front of your classmates). she was also being picky about the "thank you" issue.

my advice would be to give it another week or so, and see how things go. if you continue to have these kind of problems with your instructor, it would probably be a good idea to go up the chain of command.

i didn't really read her post this way. she wrote:

to me, that is asking "do i need to/have to take another patient?" more like asking if it was required, rather than asking if it was ok.

however, to the op, it really isn't a good idea to pick up another patient without the express ok of you ci. i understand that you were probably trying to show initiative and trying to make the most of your clinical experience, but clinical instructors don't like surprises, unless it is "lunch is on us." this is especially true early on in your classes, as you don't have a whole lot of experience, and your ci doesn't yet know where your strengths/weaknesses are.

of course she was wrong for counseling you in public (in front of your classmates). she was also being picky about the "thank you" issue.

my advice would be to give it another week or so, and see how things go. if you continue to have these kind of problems with your instructor, it would probably be a good idea to go up the chain of command.

..but the instructor said no, as in you "should not" take another patient if the student's question was "should i", right? i think the op should have discussed the matter further with the instructor if things were unclear instead of going and asking someone else. (although i admire the initiative )

Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Med/Surg.

...My response was, "OK". She asked if I wanted her to do the 2nd pt's bed, I said "It's OK, I can do it myself"

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but nurses need to learn how to delegate and prioritize. If your day was already going to pots and you were already behind on getting the personal cares done and the med pass (regardless of the cause), you really should have taken that rare opportunity to thank the CNA (graciously acknowleding her offer to help and conveying her value to the team effort) and then taken her up on the offer to make the second bed for you. That was your opportunity to show the instructor/professor your people and delegation skills!

Jean & Houdini

p.s. If I were that CNA, I may have felt that you were blowing me off and my offer to help was not needed. Especially in a clinical situation, the CNA's and existing staff are invaluable resources for nursing students....use them to your advantage and let them know they are appreciated!

Specializes in OB, critical care, hospice, farm/industr.

I'm a nursing instructor and I know this will be an unpopular view. However, I think you're taking the entirely wrong tack for this. Your instructor may not be the best or the most supportive, but you are in her class. You need to meet the expectations she sets out. She doesn't have to be nuturing. She may be an old school nurse and is expecting the manners and ethos of her day. (For ex., I routinely walk into post conference with my arms full, a student in every available chair and it never occurs to them that perhaps they should hold the door for me or stand up to give a seat. So I end up standing for an hour and a half. Giving me a seat is just normal manners towards someone older than you, much less toward your professors)

You had admirable dedication and initiative in your care. That's wonderful. It could have been better applied, though. If your instructor says "No" in response to "Should I take another patient?" take it at face value. Did she even know you had taken on another pt? She was probably privately horrified there was a patient she didn't know anything about under a student's care. Remember, we have to do prep too. :)

Forgetting pt care is not good, even if it's as trivial-seeming as linens and a bath. It means a lot to a person who is sick and feels grungy. Being excited about passing meds is great! Work on time management and notes to yourself to help remember to account for all care. Do you make out a worksheet or keep schedule cards? That might help.

With 12 students, I can tell you your instructor is so busy she probably doesn't have time to pee, much less track down each student so don't expect her to be ready when you are. Don't "wait" for her. Once you're prepared for passing meds, there's always something to do either for your patients or helping your colleagues. That will go a long way in goodwill if she sees that you're using time well.

Prioritization and time management are biggies for nurses. I will take points off if students don't have their work done on time. Five minutes late to postconf isn't too bad, but a bath should be finished well before noon. Having all that work finished by 8am seems a bit much, though. Yikes!

The number one big problem was that you started to offer an excuse why you weren't ready. It may not seem like it to anyone on the outside, but in a student/teacher relationship, excuses are not acceptable. She will take the view of "When your pt's blood glucose is 46 and you're late with his insulin and he has permanent brain damage, do you think the lawyers will accept 'Oh, I was anxious and running late.' ?" When you're a student is the time to safely learn these things. They do come with a price, i.e. feeling dumb and embarrassed.

I'd be willing to bet what she considers bad manners is not saying 'ok' to the CNA, but her feeling that you argued with her. (I'm saying she feels that way, not that you feel that way) You should have thanked the CNA nicely and delegated the second bed to her especially since you were running late, but that's not bad manners. Being defensive is.

I don't understand why telling you to go to the dean to change your professor made you freeze. It sounds like you think she was rude or dismissive. She is doing you a favor-letting you know what you can do to find satisfaction. It's ok to do that; it's accepted procedure. Don't worry about signing the probation. It doesn't mean you agree with it, only that you have read it.

The racist remarks? I would ask her to explain her point in them. It may be that she really is a racist and should be reported. (remember, don't get defensive;) ) It may be that's she's not--I wasn't there so I don't know. I have been accused of racist remarks when using normal English expressions. A student bitterly complained behind my back when I told her if she continued to misspell every other word, anyone who read it would assume nurses were idiots and we would all be tarred with the same brush. She was Black and offended by my use of the phrase "tar with the same brush". She had never heard it before.

The way to "handle" your professor is to go to her and take responsibility. Tell her you messed up big and you want some help in figuring out where you went wrong. Do not offer an excuse. She really doesn't care. Your patients won't care why you're late with their Vicodin, either. Ask her for advice on how to improve your performance, how to manage your time better. This would have gone far in mitigating her iciness in postconference. If she thought you were taking responsibility for your error instead of excusing yourself, you may not have have experienced all these horrible feelings. If you feel unsafe, it's because you're making the situation unsafe for yourself.

The good thing is that you are seeking ways to make things right. That's a great attitude. Apply that to being prepared, being on time and being responsible and you can't go wrong. You have a lot of dedication and I'm sure you'll be a good nurse.

BTW, lots of good advice from other posters here. LaborNurse1 and hooterhorse are right.

Specializes in Lie detection.
I completely agree. If the OP was told not to take a 2nd patient, that should have been the end of it.

However, to the OP... It's just nursing school. It won't last forever, I promise. It's designed to be the way it is to teach you all about time management and priority making and multitasking and all of those things that don't have a chapter to themselves in your textbook. Unfortunately, the instructor has the power to make or break your career. The best thing to do is to be as sharp as you can. Learn from this and let her worry about someone else. I can tell that you're compassionate about your work; you'll make an excellent nurse. I promise!

Good advice Don. I agree with all that posted regarding the second patient. the instructor very well may have been upset that the OP went ahead and took one after she said no. It DID show initiative but it came back to bite ya. Just do what you have to do to get through school.

[quote=hooterhorse;2156765

p.s. If I were that CNA, I may have felt that you were blowing me off and my offer to help was not needed. Especially in a clinical situation, the CNA's and existing staff are invaluable resources for nursing students....use them to your advantage and let them know they are appreciated!

Ack. Agree totally. I know the OP didn't mean to blow off the CNA but I bet she'll remember to thank everyone from now on. And YES take help whenever it's offered, ESPECIALLY if you are behind. Half the time you can't even find someone to help you at all, that was a gift the OP turned down:uhoh3: .

I'm a nursing instructor and I know this will be an unpopular view. However, I think you're taking the entirely wrong tack for this. Your instructor may not be the best or the most supportive, but you are in her class. You need to meet the expectations she sets out. She doesn't have to be nuturing. She may be an old school nurse and is expecting the manners and ethos of her day. (For ex., I routinely walk into post conference with my arms full, a student in every available chair and it never occurs to them that perhaps they should hold the door for me or stand up to give a seat. So I end up standing for an hour and a half. Giving me a seat is just normal manners towards someone older than you, much less toward your professors)

You had admirable dedication and initiative in your care. That's wonderful. It could have been better applied, though. If your instructor says "No" in response to "Should I take another patient?" take it at face value. Did she even know you had taken on another pt? She was probably privately horrified there was a patient she didn't know anything about under a student's care. Remember, we have to do prep too. :)

Forgetting pt care is not good, even if it's as trivial-seeming as linens and a bath. It means a lot to a person who is sick and feels grungy. Being excited about passing meds is great! Work on time management and notes to yourself to help remember to account for all care. Do you make out a worksheet or keep schedule cards? That might help.

With 12 students, I can tell you your instructor is so busy she probably doesn't have time to pee, much less track down each student so don't expect her to be ready when you are. Don't "wait" for her. Once you're prepared for passing meds, there's always something to do either for your patients or helping your colleagues. That will go a long way in goodwill if she sees that you're using time well.

Prioritization and time management are biggies for nurses. I will take points off if students don't have their work done on time. Five minutes late to postconf isn't too bad, but a bath should be finished well before noon. Having all that work finished by 8am seems a bit much, though. Yikes!

The number one big problem was that you started to offer an excuse why you weren't ready. It may not seem like it to anyone on the outside, but in a student/teacher relationship, excuses are not acceptable. She will take the view of "When your pt's blood glucose is 46 and you're late with his insulin and he has permanent brain damage, do you think the lawyers will accept 'Oh, I was anxious and running late.' ?" When you're a student is the time to safely learn these things. They do come with a price, i.e. feeling dumb and embarrassed.

I'd be willing to bet what she considers bad manners is not saying 'ok' to the CNA, but her feeling that you argued with her. (I'm saying she feels that way, not that you feel that way) You should have thanked the CNA nicely and delegated the second bed to her especially since you were running late, but that's not bad manners. Being defensive is.

I don't understand why telling you to go to the dean to change your professor made you freeze. It sounds like you think she was rude or dismissive. She is doing you a favor-letting you know what you can do to find satisfaction. It's ok to do that; it's accepted procedure. Don't worry about signing the probation. It doesn't mean you agree with it, only that you have read it.

The racist remarks? I would ask her to explain her point in them. It may be that she really is a racist and should be reported. (remember, don't get defensive;) ) It may be that's she's not--I wasn't there so I don't know. I have been accused of racist remarks when using normal English expressions. A student bitterly complained behind my back when I told her if she continued to misspell every other word, anyone who read it would assume nurses were idiots and we would all be tarred with the same brush. She was Black and offended by my use of the phrase "tar with the same brush". She had never heard it before.

The way to "handle" your professor is to go to her and take responsibility. Tell her you messed up big and you want some help in figuring out where you went wrong. Do not offer an excuse. She really doesn't care. Your patients won't care why you're late with their Vicodin, either. Ask her for advice on how to improve your performance, how to manage your time better. This would have gone far in mitigating her iciness in postconference. If she thought you were taking responsibility for your error instead of excusing yourself, you may not have have experienced all these horrible feelings. If you feel unsafe, it's because you're making the situation unsafe for yourself.

The good thing is that you are seeking ways to make things right. That's a great attitude. Apply that to being prepared, being on time and being responsible and you can't go wrong. You have a lot of dedication and I'm sure you'll be a good nurse.

BTW, lots of good advice from other posters here. LaborNurse1 and hooterhorse are right.

I agree with everything, you make some very good points, HOWEVER......no matter what the OP did or said wrong she did not deserve to be chastised in front of her classmates. Maybe in the conversation with the prof the OP can also say "In the future I would appreciate it if you talk with me in private about something I do wrong."

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