Help!!! Caught btw rock and hard place--Instructor sending students home early...

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Hi Everyone:

I need some savvy advice from some smart seasoned nurses. I'm in nursing school and a terrible situation has developed....

We are suppose to have clinicals from 3pm-midnight. Our instructor lets us out at 7pm, and we spend about 2 and a half hours total on the floor. The rest we are sitting and chatting about nursing stuff. But we get let out 5 hours early, every day. Today, she cancelled the whole day all together. We lost 9 hours.

Now I know some students are happy to play hookie and to get out early, I feel like I'm getting ripped off. I'm seriously not learning anything at all. And all the other students are not saying anything. We are pressured by the instructor not to tell the Dean who is very strict, but it's getting ridiculous.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

I want to squeal.

Don't get me wrong, if we can't do anything on the floor from 7pm on, then I don't want to just sit there for 5 hours. I want to learn something, to do something.

But I feel like I can't say anything. The whole class will kill me. And I still have 9 months to go with this group. And the instructor will give me hell if she finds out it was me.

So what do I do, wise nurses?

Leave an anonymous note in the Dean's box? Any ideas that will not get me hanged by the class?

Thanks!

Something to consider in all of this cloak-and-dagger stuff....how anonymous is ANY of this, when critical details are posted on AllNurses.com?

Unless your classmates and instructor have the IQ of catnip, they might just recognize this situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I can't imagine the hospitals or clinical sites not noticing this behavior. Sure, being let go an hour early on a calm shift, or

leaving the floor for other educational opportunities (speakers, skills training, videos, etc.) is one thing, but leaving

5 hours early? I would be mad I wasted the energy and gas to get to the site, and then have to leave so early!

Agree with everyone else on here: you did the right thing, your education is paramount, and the CI should be disciplined accordingly.

Your future patients and peers will thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Back in the dark ages when I was in school, we had one instructor who would let us leave half an hour early on "special occasions". A special occasion was a Celtics game near playoff time. But...it WAS the era of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, DJ, Danny Ainge, and the Chief.We all learned plenty. But, 5 hours is too much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Has anyone thought that this instructor is ripping off the school? She's being paid to teach clinical, and that's not happening. Sometimes even instructors have serious problems and should be relieved of duty. You could be doing her a favor by helping her face the natural consequences of her actions.

And no, this is wrong, and yes, you should be a good example to your classmates and report it. The longer you let it go on, the more you look complicit. Trust me, the hospital will be in touch c the dean at the end of the year...but do not wait. Do the right thing, and do it now. Let us know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks to all who have replied, but even my MOTHER has told me to keep my mouth shut. She doesn't want the instructor or the other students to retaliate against me. I'm so frustrated and scared. I can't run to the instructor and say, "hey, this is wrong. You are a lazy ass and are cheating us out of our education." She'll just make me sit there until midnight and let all the other kids go.

Someone out there, PLEASE help me. PLEASE, please, please. How can I tell the Dean without committing suicide (socially) or invite homicide upon self?

You ask for help but then reject it. Your Mom, your fear of being murdered with insulin. Are you seriously fearful? No one said that standing up is easy, but you really are being cheated of education and experience.

Have you and your peers discussed going as a group to the Dean? Good luck, it's a tight spot - but by no means irresolvable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing school is hard and stressful and leaving early does sound appealing and is a nice little break for maybe one day- like the last day of the semester our instructors would let us a couple hours early. But everyday? Come on.. If for some reason the school, state board, etc found out you could be failed for that semester or even kicked out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Okay, people. I grew a pair. And reported everything.

Now will someone please tail me with an amp of D50 in case I get accidentally injected with some insulin? :) Thanks. Will keep you all posted on outcome.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was in a similar situation my last semester of school. I went to the dean, the instructor was fired and I was placed in another clinical group where I learned so much more! You're better off being honest! Keep us posted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP, ONP.
I also found your sense of humor refreshing:)

Just in case though, you might want to buy some stock in amps of D50 :)

It's not refreshing, it's revolting. The so called jokes are referring to academic fraud regarding a "profession" I happen to care about. Giggle all you like, but don't pretend the rest of us are old sticks in the mud because we find it distasteful.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Okay, people. I grew a pair. And reported everything.

Now will someone please tail me with an amp of D50 in case I get accidentally injected with some insulin? :) Thanks. Will keep you all posted on outcome.

I am glad that you reported the issue to someone in a position who can address it. I went through Excelsior College for my ASN. With Excelsior you must have some kind of a clinical background as a LPN, Paramedic or Respiratory Therapist. The only clinical requirement for the Excelsior program is a two and a half day clinical exam called the CPNE. I will be starting my first RN job in the ER on Monday. I am not nervous because I will be on orientation for 16 weeks and I do have a background in respiratory therapy. However, I must admit that I sometimes wonder if I am at a disadvantage compared to another new graduate RN who went through a traditional RN program. The bottom line for you is that you made the commitment to go to a brick and mortar school and so you should get all the benefits, including all the hands on clinical experience that is required for graduation. Thinking back to my respiratory school days, I remember a few days here and there when we got out early, but it wasn't the norm.

Best wishes with your studies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Hope it works out, meatballgirl. And not all of us are offended by your using humor or hyperbole in your posts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Well I am extremely proud of you for speaking up even if it were anonymously. It is very difficult to be a lone voice when the others around you are content to be complicit in the deception. But you are really cheating yourself out of an important aspect of your education. In this tough job market you're much more likely to survive that first year if you can actually do your job! There are plenty of slackers out here and you WILL work with them throughout your career. You are responsible for the quality of your work and will live with that when you go home at night (or in the morning, depending on your shift) because alot of the satisfaction of nursing is what you give yourself. This is really good practice for being an accountable professional. You go girl!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment