Have you ever had a WORTHLESS clinical instructor?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

I have had a few incompetent clinical instructors during my time as a student, first in an LVN program, then during an RN completion program.

My advice is to keep your mouth shut and do not go over her head to complain about her to any nursing coordinator, dean, school director, or anyone with authority over her. I have seen students complain about crappy clinical instructors, but the only thing that changes is the fact that the students have now become new targets of administration. A nursing student is easily replaceable, but a clinical instructor is hard to replace. Therefore, schools tend to side with clinical instructors, regardless of their performance.

Here's the reality. Good clinical instructors are very hard to find because the position pays so terribly and exposes the nurse's license to immense liability. Therefore, some of the people who get hired into these positions are not up to par.

The vast majority of your learning will take place on the job, not in school. I would simply take this experience with a grain of salt and use it as an example of the type of nurse that you never want to become. Good luck to you!

JenniferSews · Sep 1, 2011

I have had a few incompetent clinical instructors during my time as a student, first in an LVN program, then during an RN completion program.
My advice is to keep your mouth shut and do not go over her head to complain about her to any nursing coordinator, dean, school director, or anyone with authority over her. I have seen students complain about crappy clinical instructors, but the only thing that changes is the fact that the students have now become new targets of administration. A nursing student is easily replaceable, but a clinical instructor is hard to replace. Therefore, schools tend to side with clinical instructors, regardless of their performance.
Here's the reality. Good clinical instructors are very hard to find because the position pays so terribly and exposes the nurse's license to immense liability. Therefore, some of the people who get hired into these positions are not up to par.
The vast majority of your learning will take place on the job, not in school. I would simply take this experience with a grain of salt and use it as an example of the type of nurse that you never want to become. Good luck to you!

I read your post and wasn't going to comment. Then I changed my mind and went back, and found I didn't really need to comment. Someone had spoken my thoughts perfectly and eloquently.

I will only add that sometimes even the best nurse/doctor/patient/family member/student/or clinical instructor has a bad day. Give her a second chance and at the same time look for a nurse on the floor with some interest in teaching. Be open, available, interested and prepared. Ask the nurses relevent questions, offer to help and ask to observe if they have something interesting (or even NOT interesting so you can prove yourself.) You can learn a lot even with a subpar instructor if you are lucky enough to shadow a good teacher.

caliotter3 · Sep 1, 2011

I had a clinical instructor who was pure poison. Get on her bad side, and of course, one could never know ahead of time what her personal prejudices were, and you were toast. She picked certain students to fail, failed them, then bragged to the student about how she had predecided that they would fail. The administration to this day has never done anything about this wicked individual. So, one has to assume, that when she bragged that getting rid of students about to graduate was her mission at the school, she was telling the truth. So, one has to look at the administration for accountability there. No one could get away with that kind of behavior for literally decades, without the blessings of the school administration. Good luck getting anything fixed with this subpar instructor.

mstacyi · Sep 1, 2011

I agreed with the commuter. During my nursing program I have seen or heard a few students failed because they complained about the instructor. Because we are nursing student we are prone to make mistakes and all it takes is one mistake with that instructor and if you on her bad side then your toast. That instructor can easily failed you because you make a simple mistake and she can argue that your unsafe, but how can you prove that she fail you because she is trying to get you back for complaining about her.

Here is what got me thur nursing school "stay under the radar" and you'll be fine. Just get thur her class and you'll never have to deal with her again.

AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 1, 2011

My advice is to keep your mouth shut and do not go over her head to complain about her to any nursing coordinator, dean, school director, or anyone with authority over her. I have seen students complain about crappy clinical instructors, but the only thing that changes is the fact that the students have now become new targets of administration. A nursing student is easily replaceable, but a clinical instructor is hard to replace. Therefore, schools tend to side with clinical instructors, regardless of their performance.

Two lab groups gave a poor review to our instructor (she had two groups) and we were called to a meeting with the Dean. She reviewed our comments, asked for more, and then she told us we were too inexperienced to make an assessment. It made no difference that we cared enough to be honest in our evaluation (or that floor nurses had also complained). Waste of time.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

I'm in agreement w/ the other posters. Keep your mouth shut and stay under the radar. That clinical instructer holds your grade and your future in the nursing program in her/his hands.

forgop · Sep 1, 2011

It's one thing for a single student to complain, but if every student out of 2 groups complains in addition to RN's on the floor, it's another. This is her first clinical, but sadly, I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her be my nurse if I were a patient.

I also failed to mention she opened a PICC line dressing kit to show a couple of us in another room to "explain" the procedure. She explained it as a sterile procedure, then proceeded to take the same kit and use it on a patient. Plus the school and hospital would frown on her pulling mess with the student and then just allowing her to pass them without an RN or instructor in the room.

This isn't a personal issue against her, but really is founded in incompetence and safety for everyone involved.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

Personally, I would leave the complaining up to the nurses on the floor. As a student, I would keep out of it.

forgop · Sep 1, 2011

Personally, I would leave the complaining up to the nurses on the floor. As a student, I would keep out of it.

So, what you're saying is you would provide the coordinator'd phone number the the RN's and have them air their concerns?

KrysyRN, BSN · Sep 1, 2011

So, what you're saying is you would provide the coordinator'd phone number the the RN's and have them air their concerns?

They probably already have the number and have already complained. Some of the nurses on the floor may even know or may have worked with your instructor..

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

So, what you're saying is you would provide the coordinator'd phone number the the RN's and have them air their concerns?

The nurses know what school you are from and may have even worked w/ your teacher. All I'm saying is that I, personally, would keep out of it. Practice safe and keep your nose clean. I've seen teachers target students they didn't like for whatever reason. You don't want to be labeled a trouble maker.