Held Ransom

[essarge]

I was reading another thread and the thought occured to me that quite a few instructors bank of the idea that a student is afraid to say anything due to possible reprisal. So far, I have not had that experience but that may be because I am an older student.

In our program though, I have seen several younger students put up with verbal abuse and being unfairly judged/graded on their papers/assignments. I find this reprehensible that a "seasoned" professional would stoop this low just to "proove" that they have the power to pass or fail a student.

I would like some input/experiences that others have had in this area and the solutions that they used. Perhaps it would benefit others.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I had several hateful instructors in RN school. I was a returning, older student.

I finally went to the dean and complained, in a professional manner, with written accounts of occurances with dates, names etc.

He said "I thought that students were complaining, just because they weren't doing well. But you are the top student in your class. I guess there may be some validity to what I've been hearing."

I learned that an instructor had sent out an email to other instructors telling them I was a "trouble maker".

I did a seminar on The Image of Nursing for this instructor's class. I was excited by the topic, and spent a lot of time and $$ on the project. She openly argued with me during my presentation, and said my topic was "irrelevent."

Well....... My presentation is now on permanent display in the lobby of the oldest hospital in The US, Eastern State Hospital in VA, with me listed as co-author.

Anyway, after many of us complained to the dean of students and VP of the college, there was an investigation. Result: The director of the nursing program was suspended for three days for child endangerment.

She took a "voluntary" early retirement.

I know for a fact that my activism hurt me academically and politically at school.

I won an award from the microbiology dept. My evil nursing instructor specifically told the student speaker at our graduation not to mention my award in her speach.

Thanks to some of my fellow students and I speaking up and sticking our necks out, the entire program has been revamped, and is a much more pleasant experience for students.

I talked to an old classmate on IM last week. Even though it's been three years, she is still angry about her school experience, and so am I.

[jenac]

Helllo Nurse- I can relate to that last statement. I am so proud to say that I survived nursing school! But for months- I had nightmares every night about it, even after I had graduated.

I had a horrible instructor who made my life so miserable in the last half of my schooling. She was mean and nasty and lived for my tears. She was truley relentless. In any other way-in any other aspect of my life-I never would have taken the abuse this women felt she need to torure me with. The real kick came when she openly told me, and several other students that her "problems with me were really a personality conflict". I worked so hard-and put so much into everything I did. And this women made my life soooo hard. I felt truely inept-as a nurse and as a person. I felt like I had no business doing anything involving people-despite the fact that I had done so well in all other areas-with no problems at all. It wasn't that I didn't know what I was doing, or that I wasn't doing it correctly- I never seemed to be able to do it the way she wanted. No matter what I did- it wasn't good enough. My six week rotation with her almost sent me over the egde. I cried every day on my way to clinicals-and every day on my way home. It literally took everything in me to pull myself there every day. But after everything I had done-all that work, all that money-putting my entire life and family on hold to do this, I would not give up. I refused to let this women do that to me-to take that from me. So-every day I went back. Every day I cried. I told myself that every day was one less that I had to put up with her.

In the end- I still won. I'm a nurse now-and she couldn't stop me from that.

[jenac]

Helllo Nurse- I can relate to that last statement. I am so proud to say that I survived nursing school! But for months- I had nightmares every night about it, even after I had graduated.

I had a horrible instructor who made my life so miserable in the last half of my schooling. She was mean and nasty and lived for my tears. She was truley relentless. In any other way-in any other aspect of my life-I never would have taken the abuse this women felt she need to torure me with. The real kick came when she openly told me, and several other students that her "problems with me were really a personality conflict". I worked so hard-and put so much into everything I did. And this women made my life soooo hard. I felt truely inept-as a nurse and as a person. I felt like I had no business doing anything involving people-despite the fact that I had done so well in all other areas-with no problems at all. It wasn't that I didn't know what I was doing, or that I wasn't doing it correctly- I never seemed to be able to do it the way she wanted. No matter what I did- it wasn't good enough. My six week rotation with her almost sent me over the egde. I cried every day on my way to clinicals-and every day on my way home. It literally took everything in me to pull myself there every day. But after everything I had done-all that work, all that money-putting my entire life and family on hold to do this, I would not give up. I refused to let this women do that to me-to take that from me. So-every day I went back. Every day I cried. I told myself that every day was one less that I had to put up with her.

In the end- I still won. I'm a nurse now-and she couldn't stop me from that.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Wow. I must've really been blessed. I had NO instructors like this. They were all helpful, kind and caring ladies who just wanted to see us succeed.

There was one substitute once though, who decided to yell at all of us for leaving the floor early, even though she said to meet her 1/2 hour before in the conference room! And because I got a bit testy back at her, I was deemed to be a trouble maker too, but I wrote right back on the write-up about what happened, and it was dropped.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Wow. I must've really been blessed. I had NO instructors like this. They were all helpful, kind and caring ladies who just wanted to see us succeed.

There was one substitute once though, who decided to yell at all of us for leaving the floor early, even though she said to meet her 1/2 hour before in the conference room! And because I got a bit testy back at her, I was deemed to be a trouble maker too, but I wrote right back on the write-up about what happened, and it was dropped.

[BABNRS]

Originally posted by VickyRN

I have an even better solution--PAY about $20 grand more a year (offer $60,000 for fulltime ADN faculty instead of $40,000 that I am receiving right now). Heck, the students that I graduate start off (as new ADN nurses) making MORE MONEY THAN I DO!!!!! What's wrong with this picture????

This is so true!!! I had a desire while still in nursing school to teach nurses one day. The pay has kept me from that up to this point However, that is one of my goals once my hubby finishes nursing school.

Actually, I have thought about applying as a nursing instructor where my hubby goes to school now Wouldn't that be a riot....do you think they would hire me!!! (If you don't know what I mean, read my thread "Complaints against a school")

The phrase "absolute power corrupts, absolutely" comes to my mind when I think of some of his instructors who are trying to fail him. What a waste of time and $$$ - he will be nurse, but he won't be an alumni of that program!!!!

[BABNRS]

Originally posted by VickyRN

I have an even better solution--PAY about $20 grand more a year (offer $60,000 for fulltime ADN faculty instead of $40,000 that I am receiving right now). Heck, the students that I graduate start off (as new ADN nurses) making MORE MONEY THAN I DO!!!!! What's wrong with this picture????

This is so true!!! I had a desire while still in nursing school to teach nurses one day. The pay has kept me from that up to this point However, that is one of my goals once my hubby finishes nursing school.

Actually, I have thought about applying as a nursing instructor where my hubby goes to school now Wouldn't that be a riot....do you think they would hire me!!! (If you don't know what I mean, read my thread "Complaints against a school")

The phrase "absolute power corrupts, absolutely" comes to my mind when I think of some of his instructors who are trying to fail him. What a waste of time and $$$ - he will be nurse, but he won't be an alumni of that program!!!!

[Bevi]

Bab, its been a few days, has anyone told him yet what the complaint was??? was it made by a patient? ,a nurse? Its so weird that they would not tell him, I have a friend who was notifyed immediately of what her "mistake" was (even though it was bull).....

Your husbands situation is confounding..

[Bevi]

Bab, its been a few days, has anyone told him yet what the complaint was??? was it made by a patient? ,a nurse? Its so weird that they would not tell him, I have a friend who was notifyed immediately of what her "mistake" was (even though it was bull).....

Your husbands situation is confounding..

[BABNRS]

No, Bevi....no word on what the mysterious complaint was! Even wierder is that Administration decided to "grant" him an official withdrawal complete with a letter of recommendation to get into another school's program!! How Conveeeeeenient!!!! Sounds like there either was no complaint or it had no meat to it! I think there is a covert cover-up going on!!!

[BABNRS]

No, Bevi....no word on what the mysterious complaint was! Even wierder is that Administration decided to "grant" him an official withdrawal complete with a letter of recommendation to get into another school's program!! How Conveeeeeenient!!!! Sounds like there either was no complaint or it had no meat to it! I think there is a covert cover-up going on!!!