Why do some instructors...

Nursing Students General Students

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:( *strive* to make the students uncomfortable/embarrassed/stressed/miserable in clinicals??? In all fairness, *I* am not a "mark". There are a few in our group that our clinical instructor has confidence in (including me), and while the instructor is FAR from warm and fuzzy with us, she doesn't single us out, belittle us, etc, but there are several that she does, and it makes not only the rest of us uncomfortable, even the RNs on the floor are rolling their eyes and verbalizing their unhappiness with the way she treats us. I know she's not here to be our best friend, but as one nurse put it today, "she's just *rude*". Thing is, she definitely "turns it on" once we hit the floor. She's never a cuddly teddy bear, but she's got a great sense of humor and can be friendly. But when we hit the floor, it's as if she wants to see if she can make anyone cry...or quit. WHY? I know not all instructors are like that, so what's the possible purpose????? I know it's almost over, and I'm soon to be on to the next semester. It's just that it's been hrs since clinicals ended today, and my pulse is *still* about 25-30 bpm higher than normal. I still feel on the verge of tears. And that's not from any way she's treated me, personally...it's just from watching how she treats a few and her demeanor in general. If I had to deal with this every semester, I couldn't take it!!!!!!
It's an ego trip, and I think it's a sign they need to get out of education altogether.

I agree - and I still haven't figured out why so many power-hungry types are attracted to teaching nursing. It is a great mystery. LOL.

I tend to view this stuff as a game: They want to see if they can rattle your cage and get you feeling bad about yourself and life in general - so instead you've got to dig deep and decide that you're NOT going there with them, no matter what, no how.

Your post reminded me too of the instructor who told our class earlier this semester that "We now own you body, mind, and soul." I thought to myself, "The heck you do, honey. I'm not up for sale - now now, not to you, not ever!"

8o)

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Specializes in ICU.

wow, after reading a lot of these posts, i'm starting to wonder if it's the same professors making their rounds...heh....i've had the really really good vs the really really lazzzzzzy...one spent half the clinicals telling us stories - which were actually sort of interesing, but hardly the appopriate setting and for the love of all things nursing, would she just shut up and let us take care of our patients?:banghead:

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Specializes in Trauma.

I had a clinical instructor like that and I ALSO currently have an instructor like that. The first time, I switched out of the clinical because I had to work one day and THANK GOD, the clinical director was understanding of that and allowed me to switch out:)

This time around though, the professor belittles me. My biggest fear is giving children injections. I don't plan on being a pediatric nurse for reasons because I love children and I can't bear the thought of hurting one. She told me I would fail clinical if I didn't get the experience giving pediatirc shots in the community. She even went to the director about my "attitude" about it. All of the girls in the clinical know that I in no way have an attitude and stuck up for me. When she did that, it backfired on her. The director told her it was her job to "show me the way" and work with my fears as a student.

Now, with three weeks left in the clinical, I have proven her wrong on every single facet and she's a different person with me now. She lost her mother in the beginning, so perhaps I was her vent? Either way, I had to just focus on everything she was critical about and turn it around. I don't know why professors chose to be like that. But in my case, it backfired on her. Everything is good in my clinical now:)

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Maybe I can help shed some light.... I am a clinical instructor and I agree that there is absolutely no reason to embarass and humiliate students. My belief is that if you embarass a student for asking one question, it is highly unlikely that anyone else will ask a question. How sad and what learning opportunities are missed! Most of the students I have are hard workers and really want to succeed. As I said, I am a clinical instructor, but I also am actively in the clinical setting as a working nurse. I think this makes a huge difference. Sometimes it seems that instructors that are not in the clinical work force anymore get very threatened by the students asking questions. I know my students keep me on my toes! But, they make me laugh(in a good way) and I hope I make them laugh too. I know I am starting to ramble so I will just say... keep up the good work, do your best, and just know that school won't last forever!!

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I had this kind of experience too and my instructor told me to quite becos i am not suitable for this field..she said i am a very careless student who have never done everything well-prepared before..i was very discouraged and decided to quite but my classmates stopped me and they said the instuctors told nearly half of her students to quit ..(just remind that i was a year one student at that time..in semester 1, 0 experience in the clinical)..It really cant expect we students to act like an experienced nurse, its impossible. we have to learn.

But, some instuctors said that this is a "tradition" i donno whether it is true or not. ha, anyway , be tough, studying nursing i think sometimes is a training for our EQ

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It is my belief that an "Instructor" is being paid to instruct. If it is "tradition" to tell encourage your students to quit, it might be time to look at staring some new traditions! Also, if you weren't in the process of learning, you wouldn't be called a "student".

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Well,

Sorry for the poor spelling and grammar... you see, instructors certainly are human and most assuredly fallible!

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in all honesty, i think some instructors are just stressed out and annoyed.

my instructor was brutal to me, she made me sweat while asking me a million questions about a procedure that i just done. i thought she was just tormenting me, but i later found out that she just picks one person each week to scrutinize, i just happen to be her target 2 times in a row. end result - we did everything we were suppose to do in our clinicals while other groups played around the whole semester. we got everything down packed and never slacked because we knew she would eat us alive. now i'm greatful for her, and i will miss her. i know next semester i will probably get one of these that doesn't ask you anything or teaches you anything important.

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Stressed out and annoyed about what? I teach because it is so much less stressful than working in the ER which is my primary job. If they are that annoyed with students then they need to quit teaching. Don't get me wrong... I expect a lot from my students, but in turn, they expect a lot from me.

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Stressed out and annoyed about what? I teach because it is so much less stressful than working in the ER which is my primary job. If they are that annoyed with students then they need to quit teaching. Don't get me wrong... I expect a lot from my students, but in turn, they expect a lot from me.

After graduation, I realized what little value nursing school holds among working nurses. We all remember the instructor who bullied and intimidated, and the nurses I work with make fun of some of the silliness taught in nursing school--like how to hold a washcloth while bathing patients. This, in combination with the fact that nursing school teaches you such very little clinical skills. Wish nursing would wake up and take a closer look at the skills needed in the clinical setting. I was an older student having switched careers and you would have thought I was some irresponsible child the way I was treated sometimes. Ridiculous.

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Gosh. I feel for you guys. As if school isn't hard enough, having to deal with women that have a chip on their shoulder is rough. It makes me feel very blessed to have the instructors that I do. All of my teachers are very friendly and willing to help.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

I feel like all I do is annoy my instructor when I ask questions in clinical -- "Can you listen to the lung sounds w/me and tell me what you hear (or verify my interpretation)?" (lung cancer pt w/pneumonia and it's NOISY!), or "Help me discern what I'm seeing on a pt's implant that's infected?"....to get the snort, sigh, and rolling of the eyes is very intimidating and makes me feel like perhaps I'm not cut out for this career if I can't do this after 9 days of clinical work this first semester....thankfully, the other students seem to feel the same, so I'll hang around a bit longer, but I hate feeling ignorant -- or being treated like I am ignorant....

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