Pick Your Battles Wisely

[TheCommuter]

Life is not fair, and neither is nursing school. After having dealt with various sticky situations while attending an LVN program, and later, an RN bridge program, here are my blunt two cents on this matter: suck it up, choose your battles very carefully, and focus on graduating. I know that my words might not sound therapeutic or convey the image of cyber hugs, but this issue is something that I feel I must bring forth into peoples' awareness.

I know of a middle-aged woman who once attended a practical nursing program and had a clinical instructor who was allegedly cutting clinical hours short without any good reason. For instance, he sent students home after five or six hours when the clinical shift for that day was supposed to be eight hours. The woman reported her instructor's actions to the dean of the practical nursing program because she rightfully felt that her learning opportunities were being shortchanged. Of course, the unethical clinical instructor denied shortening the length of any clinical shifts. Also, none of the other students backed up this woman's claims.

To keep a long story short, the instructor gave her a failing grade for that clinical rotation a few weeks prior to what would have been her graduation date. We all know that this woman's failure of the clinical portion was most likely a retaliatory act by the instructor instead of a true failing grade. It is also a cautionary tale to pick one's battles carefully and exercise the utmost tact when handling unfair situations. While it was certainly not fair for the instructor to cut the clinical shifts short without good cause, this woman may or may not have gotten more effective results by following the chain of command and privately approaching her instructor about the issue.

However, she royally incited the instructor's wrath by going above his head and reporting him to his superior, and she paid for her actions dearly by receiving a bogus clinical failure. She was right and her instructor was wrong. However, the dishonest person has moved on with his life while the honest, ethical person must pick up the pieces of her life and start over. This woman was figuratively kicked in the teeth. Life was not fair to her, for she would almost certainly be licensed as a nurse by now if only she had selected a different course of action. It really stinks to do the right thing and be punished for it.

Another common situation arises when students have inside knowledge and solid proof that one or more of their classmates are cheating. "That's so wrong!" they exclaim. "I have to report it!"

All instances of academic dishonesty must be reported. However, after the students in question have been reported for cheating, no action seems to have openly been taken against them. My controversial advice is to stop pressing the issue any further. You followed through on your ethical obligation to report the academic dishonesty. Now it is time to worry about your own studies and focus on the prize, which is graduation. Remember that life is not fair, and you might end up with a target on your back if you keep bringing up the issue, even if you have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Favoritism, which happens when one person is lavished with unjust favorable treatment at the expense of others, is another usual complaint in nursing school. Favoritism is going to be found virtually everywhere you go: at school, work, and even in some hiring practices. I know that my words might not be what people want to hear, but my advice is to suck it up and deal with it. No matter how good your performance is, people select their favorites based on features such as personality and other attributes not related to the work you do. Choose your battles carefully and focus your energies on things that are within your control. Do not get caught up in petty politics.

Always think before you speak, especially when interacting with superiors who can make decisions that affect your future. Always use the utmost tact with every interpersonal encounter that you make. And most importantly, do not waste excessive time and energy fighting every battle that crosses your path. Pick your battles very carefully because nursing school is not always fair, and neither is life. If you learn to walk the political tightrope, you will prevail.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

The clinical hours were being cut short on a regular basis by this one particular instructor. Since this was a second job to earn some extra money, he did not really put his entire heart and soul into the task of teaching.

This is a widespread problem, the pink elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge. I was a clinical coordinator for a short time, and I would hear officially (but mostly non-officially) that certain CIs always let their students out early. Part of my job was to evaluate the CIs, as well as the facility (was the unit the right fit for the level, etc). There were ones that I purposely went to later in the shift, after being tipped off. And sure enough, there were a couple of times where the group was MIA. Either never showed up, left early, or no one has seen the group in weeks. When my boss approached the CIs, there was always an excuse (Oh, I took them to a specialty unit this week, they stayed late last week, so I let them out early, or a bunch of other nonsense that could not be confirmed or denied). The bottom line was this: The CI was not reprimanded because a) no student would rat her out, either for fear of repercussion (which I totally understand, from their perspective), or b) the students were HAPPY to be getting out early, or c) we were so desperate for CIs. Sad, but true.

Choice B (as stated above) was a real, legitimate thing in this setting. I was so embarrassed to be a part of an institution that would accept this type of mentality, much less having colleagues that would enable it. One of the full timers there adjuncted at another institution, where students complained about her because she never let them out early. Are you kidding me!! How on earth do you go to a higher up with a complaint like that??

I am at a different institution now, and it's not all roses there either. But I keep my mouth shut when I hear of other groups who have the 'day off', or alternate arrangements have been made. I am not a coordinator, so it really isn't my business. So I stay out of it. There are times where my group has had alternate arrangements made, all on the up-and-up. I don't have to answer to anyone except my coordinator, my chair, and my conscience :)

I am wondering if the student mentioned in the OPs scenario was one who was not part of that mentality, therefore it was maybe her word against the rest of the group?

I hate to hear about all the underhanded things that go on in out profession. But, it happens in every aspect of life.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

This is a widespread problem, the pink elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge. I was a clinical coordinator for a short time, and I would hear officially (but mostly non-officially) that certain CIs always let their students out early.

Thank your very much for providing your perspective as a nurse educator and a formal clinical coordinator on this sticky issue. I think we really needed to hear from someone who works in higher education.

[Striving2BG8, BSN, RN]

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And secondly, is there not any type of 'whistleblower' protection against retaliatory actions available??? After all, we are talking about institutions that may be Civil Service, and/or those who are probably receiving some federal-type funding, be they grants, scholarships, work programs, student loans, etc.

I believe that kind of protection is only valid towards an employer.

[Nscorpiored, BSN]

I completely agree with this article wholeheartedly. Nursing school is a microcosm (sp?) of the real world and nursing environments in general. Bottom line, I am entering my senior year of my 2 year ABSN program and to be quite honest myself and all my classmates have come into contact with some of the worse professors you can imagine. What makes it so bad is they have been receiving failing grades, reviews, and comments from people for several years but yet continue to keep their job because they are in good standing with the Dean of the Nursing program.

To make matters worse is we are taught the material from the book, learn it from the slides, then the professor turns around and contradicts the book even though she/he is clearly wrong. It really does affect the student because these professors make me second guess recommending this program (which I would never do), coming back here to pursue my Master's Degree (if I decide to take that route), and donating to the program.

This is why I have such a hard time undertanding students who want to be the teacher's pet and dont' realize the same way you are sucking up that can easily get you caught up. I had to learn the hard way how students snitch, teachers play favorites, and in the end we all get got in some way

Sometimes it is just best not to rock the boat, suck it up, and move on with life. I got less than 8 months to go until graduation. I can make it

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I wonder why the failed student didn't get staff on the ward where the students were leaving early to verify their departure time. I also wonder about the Dean to whom this illegal behavior was reported. What did the Dean do, Commuter?

It's definitely true that we have to be careful who we take on as opponents. Pitiful state of fallen Man. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and right all wrongs.