Clinical instructor issues

[beckyrntobe]

Hello all. I am in a class of 70. We are divided into 7 groups of ten, each with a clinical instructor. So, I had an assignment that I was supposed to email my instructor by Sat. night. I forgot to do it until Mon. Anyway, my instructor is following policy and taking 1/2 the points off...so I failed the assignment. Other instructors are not penalizing students, even those who have still not done the assignment a week later. They are telling the students to just get the assignment in when they can. I have discussed this with my instructor who insists she is supposed to grade the assignment this way. I am very frustrated, this is the first assignment I have turned in late, ever. Any adivce?

[crb613, BSN, RN]

I would just let it go.....and be sure it never happened again. After all you were in the wrong as you stated. Each CI will do things differently & some are overly lenient. It's the same at my school we have two that are really laid back & one (MINE) that is a by the book type. I have to do a lot of thing in prep & during clinicals that my classmates do not have to do. Is this really fair??? nope but I am learning sooooo much more! I chose to keep my mouth shut since this is her group & she calls the shots here. I am required by this CI to have all my paperwork done & turned in at the end of each clinical day.....my classmates in the other two groups have a week. Now if it was something that was a really big deal then yes I would address the issue. I learned a long time ago to pick my battles. This is how I chose to handle things.......Good luck on what ever you decide.:)

BTW- My friends are terrified when rotations change they will get this CI. I offered to switch places w/them if allowed to do so. Why?? she is by far the best CI I have ever had.

[girlfromtx]

With everyone's comments, I don't want you to think that we are ganging up on you. It's just that, your clinical instructor does your evaluations, pretty much holding your fate in their hands... I've been in one really bad situation that I thought was unfair, but, sometimes it's just not in your best interest to speak up.

[Fluff01]

As a nursing instructor I treat all of my students the same and I can say the same for my colleagues. We abide by the policies that have been setforth. You must try to remember to get your assignments in timely and if you see that you will have difficulty meeting the deadline talk with your instructor about it before hand.

Fluff01, RN

[klone, MSN, RN]

Get used to this... each instructor has his or her own ways about doing things. While some are suggesting you go up the chain of command, I don't know if that's how I'd handle it. Sometimes it's better to just go with the flow. And you did turn it in late.... Whatever you decide to do or not do, good luck to you.

That's my opinion too.

IMO, it's irrelevant how other students are treated. Your instructor followed policy, and (I assume) you knew the consequences of turning it in late. Suck it up as an adult needs to do, and don't turn it in late again.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Becky, rules are rules. Figure out someway to remind yourself of when your assignments are due. Use a little pocket calendar, or make a calendar for your notebook, or something like that. If a patient is supposed to get their Coumadin at 4pm today, but you forgot and gave it at noon tomorrow would that be OK? I don't think so. While a school assignment may not be as serious as giving a patient their medication, the prinicipal that is involved here is. You made a mistake and your instructor was correct. School, nursing, life. . .are all about following rules. Learn from this mistake and move on.