Is it unprofessional for instructors to do this?

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There's a certain instructor who's younger than the rest, in her 20's. She is personal friends with some of her students, always commenting on their facebook or myspace, going out with them or what not. But her comments are sometimes about her students going and drinking beers for her(students are under 21 still). She also allows these students to pass without doing half the work(they brag about it). Here's where it gets fishy. 3 of her students failed med/surg by 10 points at least last semester...this semester they had her as a clinical instructor and magically passed without going to class or studying. They bragged about how it was so easy this semester. But if they cheat, it'll catch up to them so I'm not gonna worry about that, but is it professional to call a student a "h*e" or comment on their sex life and tell them to text them the day after they get drunk?

Not professional. Since this seems to be distracting to the class and there is more than meets the eye, perhaps a letter to or discussion with, the dean of the school of nursing is in order. No student should suffer discriminatory treatment because of this instructor's immaturity and lack of professionalism.

Specializes in Orthopedic, Corrections.

All you would have to do is refer the Dean to the teachers Facebook page. I am sure it would speak for itself.

It gets better, another student of hers had a disagreement with her one day. The instructor said," You will not pass my clinical now". She failed her due to misspellings on her careplan, and not putting PRN meds on her careplan. The students who are her "buddy" and hang out with her said they never had to even do a med sheet. The instructor then approached that student and said," so I hear you're spreading rumors about me". It's highschool drama...from an instructor.

i had a similar situation and i had to go up to the dean but with a group of other students who also felt the same way. at the time, it did not feel like it helped but i graduated in december and i know the undergrads for this semester. they told me that the professor we had complained about had been asked to take a sebatical and now there is a new RN teaching the course. A word of advice: say something even if it doesnt help you. it jus tmay help others in the future.

The more support you have from your classmates, the better chance that the problem will be dealt with. Be certain to have dates, times, people involved, direct quotes, etc., written down. Make a written request and keep a copy, even if the group sees the dean in a meeting.

I just want to let it all go, but some don't

People are afraid of the dean. They are just going to do a print screen of her facebook and send it to her in her mailbox

Unless there is something extreme on there, such as convo mentioning student names, don't expect much to come out of this. If the students don't have the gumption to face the dean and complain, you can't expect anything to happen to the instructor. Most effort might be to shut up students and sweep it all under the rug. People have to have the courage of their convictions to accomplish anything with TPTB.

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Yes, this is unprofessional. As an instructor, you must find a balance between caring and professionalism, and this crosses it. I care about all my students, want them to succeed, and hope to keep in touch with ALL of them through Facebook, but only after they graduate. I enjoy hearing about their successes.

Students do not need instructors for friends. They need a role model, someone with high standards, compassion, and enthusiasm. And I don't mean enthusiastically performing a keg stand with the students! This instructor is opening up the door for lawsuits.

And I don't mean enthusiastically performing a keg stand with the students! This instructor is opening up the door for lawsuits.

I must admit that I would really love to see my 50+ yo CI doing a keg stand....but she's a tough enough nurse I think she could still do it :chuckle

Specializes in 5th Semester - Graduation Dec '09!.

That is so outrageous- I can hardly believe it.

oh i believe it. it doesn't have to be keggers with the instructor, it can be going to the same church and spending too much time with certain students, going on about the church play, etc. the op sounds like it is outright favoritism.

personally, i don't think it is ever appropriate for a ci to go out drinking with her students.

my advice: if you don't feel comfortable going to your lead instructor at this time (make sure you use the chain of command thing). keep a diary of these incidents and go after the class is over and grades are posted.

we have enough going on in nursing school without more drama created by instructors.

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