Who believes instructors can be out to get you?

LydiaNN · Jun 29, 2004

I never ran into it during nursing school, but it happened all the time in my high school. I grew up in a hick town, where there was a clear line betwixt the "haves" and "have nots" and it had to do with more than just money. Every single teacher had a close connection to the school board, and it is highly likely the election for that were fixed. Our town also had a couple of Mafiosos running it. All this may sound far fetched, but I'm convinced that its true, and my success as soon as I left that time, and my failure the entire time I was in it do nothing but confirm my suspicions.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2004

Do nursing instructors really get close enough to their students to understand that student's personality? or close enough to know personal information about that student? (I'm not being sarcastic LOL)

Yes they do, and you get to know your classmates very well also. It's a function of watching each other gain clinical skills and interact with patients. Spend 5 minutes watching your classmate deal with a difficult patient and you'll know a lot about them, perhaps more than you'd like to know!

You know, in an ideal world I'd like to be able to say that anyone who has the desire and applies him/herself to gaining the needed knowledge can be a nurse, but really now ... think about people you know. Aren't there some who you wouldn't want anywhere near you or your family member if you were ill and vulnerable? I agree with llg that what gets harshly termed "weeding out" is really usually a natural and necessary process. (Yes, there are exceptions)

JMHO.

smk1, LPN · Jun 30, 2004

i think that instructors most definitely will look at other aspects regarding the student than just the decimal point percentage. I think that if a student is obviously trying very hard , always on time, participates and shows a genuine deisre to learn and meet the objectives then that student is going to get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to bubble grade situations (69.9, 79.9 etc) now a different bubble student who is late, disruptive, doesn't participate or seem to want to master the material probably will not get the benefit of the doubt. As i sit here typing this i'm thinking a few people in my chem class this semester who really need to get this concept right now! People who rudely interrupt the lecture, correct the teacher in front of everyone over nitpicky stuff that doesn't matter (you spelled beryllium with 1 l instead of 2..), Argue with the teacher over everything and constantly bring up past teachers and what they accepted, probably aren't making the best impression with the instructor. Whatever happened to sitting quietly and taking notes and raising your hand if you have a pertinent question?

mariedoreen · Jun 30, 2004

Yes can happen. I do my best to make sure it never happens with me tho. I work my *** off, I keep my mouth shut, I don't challenge authority and I accept the instructor's word as gospel unless I am able to politely question the logic. Even with that, if I don't get the resolution I'm looking for very quickly I back off and accept what I've been given. Do I sound like a whipped puppy? Sure, but my motto is to learn as much a possible from every instructor and textbook at my disposal, not make any troublesome waves, and get through it. Cooperate and Graduate.

By the way, I will be accepting hate mail for my unpopular opinion between the hours of 2359 and 2400 daily.

smk1, LPN · Jun 30, 2004

Yes can happen. I do my best to make sure it never happens with me tho. I work my *** off, I keep my mouth shut, I don't challenge authority and I accept the instructor's word as gospel unless I am able to politely question the logic. Even with that, if I don't get the resolution I'm looking for very quickly I back off and accept what I've been given. Do I sound like a whipped puppy? Sure, but my motto is to learn as much a possible from every instructor and textbook at my disposal, not make any troublesome waves, and get through it. Cooperate and Graduate.
By the way, I will be accepting hate mail for my unpopular opinion between the hours of 2359 and 2400 daily.

cooperate= graduate I LIKE THIS! it is so true and i agree 100% here.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 30, 2004

I'm not in nursing school yet, but it seems to me that an instructor is there to instruct, not to weed anyone out or pass judgement... I assume the dynamics are different for nursing school than other college programs, but it still doesn't make sense to me. It should be more objective than that.
Bethany

Yes, the first goal is to teach. But some people don't learn what you sincerely try to teach them. Sometimes, the only way they will change their behavior (which is what real learning is -- a change in behavior, not just the repeating of facts) is by learning the hard way (flunking a course) that they will not be allowed to be a nurse unless they change their behavior. Sometimes, giving a failing grade is the only teaching strategy that works. The student "wakes up to reality" and realizes that he/she has to change their approach and/or their attitude if they are going to be allowed to become a nurse.

Remember ... the school and the State Board have an obligation to protect the public from "bad nurses." If we believe that a person will not be a good nurse, we have an obligation to the public to fail that person -- not allowing them to pass, to take Boards, and/or to practice nursing until they can prove that they can handle the responsibility for someone else's well-being. It's a privilege to practice nursing, not a right -- and people have to earn that privilege by performing at a certain level of technical competence, clinical judgment, and caring. Protecting the public from those who are not ready to be entrusted with that responsibility is a big part of an instructor's job.

So yes ... try to teach first. But if that isn't working, the student can not be allowed to continue in the program.

llg

LittleCatB · Jun 30, 2004

Yes they do, and you get to know your classmates very well also. It's a function of watching each other gain clinical skills and interact with patients. Spend 5 minutes watching your classmate deal with a difficult patient and you'll know a lot about them, perhaps more than you'd like to know!
You know, in an ideal world I'd like to be able to say that anyone who has the desire and applies him/herself to gaining the needed knowledge can be a nurse, but really now ... think about people you know. Aren't there some who you wouldn't want anywhere near you or your family member if you were ill and vulnerable? I agree with llg that what gets harshly termed "weeding out" is really usually a natural and necessary process. (Yes, there are exceptions)
JMHO.

Having never experienced a clinical, I had a hard time understanding, but what you described does make sense!

thank you, MLOS and llg, for explaining it... :)

Bethany

Saved_by_Grace · Jul 1, 2004

:imbar ok, i have to come back and eat my words. i had a horrible experience today and it was a first for me. i am the studious type, actively participate in all classes..make good grades, do all assignments....yadda yadda yadda. today in anatomy we got our bone tests back and i made a 100!!! however this guy that sits next to me had a question about one of his and asks me what i put down. i told him and he says i put the same thing and they counted it wrong. he raises his hand to ask the instructor about his grade and tells the instructor that he put the same as me and i got it right but that they marked his wrong. the instructor angrily takes my paper out of my hand, even though i didn't say a word and says well little miss smartie pants will lose her point then and he marks a point off on my paper, and take my paper to his desk with him. the class was all laughing because we thought he was joking. but he never gave my paper back. so after our lab was over 2 hours later, i asked him for my paper back and he says i'm not gonna deduct the point this time but let this be a lesson to you. i'm thinking what did i do, your beef was with the other student. the instructor says that the other student needed to learn a lesson and grow up. how on earth was punishing me gonna teach the other guy a lesson, not to mention the embarrassment in class from the miss smartie pants remark. sheesh what a day!:uhoh21:

Saved_by_Grace · Jul 1, 2004

:imbar ok, i have to come back and eat my words. i had a horrible experience today and it was a first for me. i am the studious type, actively participate in all classes..make good grades, do all assignments....yadda yadda yadda. today in anatomy we got our bone tests back and i made a 100!!! however this guy that sits next to me had a question about one of his and asks me what i put down. i told him and he says i put the same thing and they counted it wrong. he raises his hand to ask the instructor about his grade and tells the instructor that he put the same as me and i got it right but that they marked his wrong. the instructor angrily takes my paper out of my hand, even though i didn't say a word and says well little miss smartie pants will lose her point then and he marks a point off on my paper, and take my paper to his desk with him. the class was all laughing because we thought he was joking. but he never gave my paper back. so after our lab was over 2 hours later, i asked him for my paper back and he says i'm not gonna deduct the point this time but let this be a lesson to you. i'm thinking what did i do, your beef was with the other student. the instructor says that the other student needed to learn a lesson and grow up. how on earth was punishing me gonna teach the other guy a lesson, not to mention the embarrassment in class from the miss smartie pants remark. sheesh what a day!:uhoh21:

suzy253, RN · Jul 1, 2004

I've never had a bad experience with any of my instructors either in classroom or on clinical. Some will be strict and come down on you in clinicals and I've seen one instructor really get on another student's case about something but I think it was more to push him into being more on time, more organized, etc. She didn't do it in a bad way--was just stern about it...like OK...no fooling around now let's get this done. So....no bad experiences here.

suzy253, RN · Jul 1, 2004

I've never had a bad experience with any of my instructors either in classroom or on clinical. Some will be strict and come down on you in clinicals and I've seen one instructor really get on another student's case about something but I think it was more to push him into being more on time, more organized, etc. She didn't do it in a bad way--was just stern about it...like OK...no fooling around now let's get this done. So....no bad experiences here.

mariedoreen · Jul 2, 2004

:imbar ok, i have to come back and eat my words. i had a horrible experience today and it was a first for me. i am the studious type, actively participate in all classes..make good grades, do all assignments....yadda yadda yadda. today in anatomy we got our bone tests back and i made a 100!!! however this guy that sits next to me had a question about one of his and asks me what i put down. i told him and he says i put the same thing and they counted it wrong. he raises his hand to ask the instructor about his grade and tells the instructor that he put the same as me and i got it right but that they marked his wrong. the instructor angrily takes my paper out of my hand, even though i didn't say a word and says well little miss smartie pants will lose her point then and he marks a point off on my paper, and take my paper to his desk with him. the class was all laughing because we thought he was joking. but he never gave my paper back. so after our lab was over 2 hours later, i asked him for my paper back and he says i'm not gonna deduct the point this time but let this be a lesson to you. i'm thinking what did i do, your beef was with the other student. the instructor says that the other student needed to learn a lesson and grow up. how on earth was punishing me gonna teach the other guy a lesson, not to mention the embarrassment in class from the miss smartie pants remark. sheesh what a day!:uhoh21:

what a jerk!!! is this guy new or something? i can't tell you how many times this has happened in my classes, where one person is marked wrong and one right for the same answer. they're only human for crying out loud, it's nothing personal. the guy who asked for your answer should have said tho, "what's the answer for question... oh, that's what i got." and left you out of it. but in any case, the instructor handled that very badly!