Help! Did I screw myself?

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

Okay all, I need some help. I'm in my last year of the ACNP program and received feedback on a paper that I did. I'm very particular about my papers, APA format, and such, and have always made A's on them. I'm okay with not making an A if its fairly evaluated.

My problem is that our associate instructor, who is a doctoral student herself, graded my paper. This is her first semester as being a co-teacher. I was quite upset when she gave me my paper back because it didn't seem fair. The points that she took off didn't seem to match up with the notations within the paper of what I had done wrong. She wanted me to talk with her about it after class, and needless to say, we ended up on the verge of argument over "Level of Headings" and I wasn't going to argue with her... especially in front of my lead instructor. When I'm frustrated, I get teary-eyed, so Im sure she heard it in my voice when I said, "You know... it's fine... I just want to go home. Thanks for going over my paper with me."

So I left and headed home, cooled off, and read back over my paper. Come to find out, she was incorrect on several things she counted off for. I emailed her (not the lead instructor out of respect for the new instructor and not calling her out in front of the lead teacher), I apologized for getting so upset and explained that I am a perfectionist and had had a very rough week (which I had). I also mentioned that after talking with her, I had a better understanding regarding a portion of my grade, but still had concerns. I listed the questionable things that she counted off for and gave reference for each one and why I thought it was correct.

I told her that it was hard not to seek clarification on these things since I had information backing me up and would appreciate her taking them into consideration. She emailed me back and said that "We will have a reply next week sometime." So, she probably forwarded it to the lead instructor, which is fine which I had told her it would be in the first email.

My concern is that she is coming to my clinical site for final evaluation tomorrow and that she may be my clinical instructor for the remainder of the year. Tomorrow, my plan is to act like nothing happened and not bring it up. I almost wish that I hadn't questioned her about any of it, but its a whole letter grade difference... and she WAS wrong... and she IS learning... right?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I agree with what's done, is done. Go about your clinical as though nothing ever happened. Good luck.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

Should I not have said anything at all?

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Don't second guess yourself at this point. As TraumaRUs has said, what's done is done. I will give you two similar examples: an acquaintance of mine who was going to school was used to only getting A's, however, unlike you, this person would argue every point as if it were life threatening. They usually won their arguments, so in that sense, it was worth the aggravation. When I was a freshman, the first time around, I got solid B's on every paper I did for a class. Imagine my surprise when my final was marked C and I got a C for the course! I went to talk to the instructor, a teaching assistant, but to no avail. I got a rude awakening that day. Not one thing was stated to me that justified the C on the final or the C in the class. To this day, I dislike the educational process for this reason. When it is subjective, instead of objective, the student does not often get a fair shake. Personally I believe that you were correct in bringing up your concerns and standing up for yourself. Since you are in an advanced program, you can not afford to stand by and let your work be misjudged negatively. But on the other hand, don't become a problem. Just go about your business. In the future don't be quick to argue with them, but don't roll over and play dead either. It's your education and your future.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

Thanks so much... and I know exactly the type of person you are talking about... and I am not one of those. I guess the biggest difference between me now and me 5 years ago, is I'm in a program with "colleagues" more than "teachers" and "students," ya know? I just hope that she doesnt take my email the wrong way and impact my clinical evaluations negatively.

Thanks again!

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Specializes in Rural - we do it all!!!.

How are you going to learn if you don't ask questions?

And if this is a teacher, she should be open to reviewing and teaching...

I don't see that you did anything wrong. Don't feel bad about your personality, at least you care enough to seek clarification.

One of the best answers that one of my instructors used, when reviewing exams, was that she'd look it up, and get back with us.

And she did!!! We learned more from her willingness to review, discuss, and clarify, than a simple yes or no answer. Maybe your instructor is using this when she said she'd get back to you.

Standards change in nursing, if you are learning the most up to date, great. If your school is teaching something not as up to date, then it doesn't necessarily mean that it is wrong, but you must use the most up to date, and accepted practice.

Maybe you have written a more current practice, or one that she is not familiar with, that does not mean that it is wrong. On the other hand, she may be able to point you in the direction of what is accepted practice?

I earned the reputation of being AR, anal retentive, and realize that this part of my personality. It can be used to benefit my nursing, if used wisely, in other words, don't beat yourself up for caring and trying to do a good job.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

haha... cat... I'm also anal retentive, type A, controlling, OCD, and a perfectionist. *LOL* Can ya say STRESS? What's so stupid about the paper is that it wasnt even so much the content (I understand what she took off for there)... it was grammatical/APA deductions that cost me 6 points and cost me my A. The suggestions that she made were incorrect...i.e. "well educated" instead of "well-educated," the levels of headings (I use my APA book religiously and helped teach fellow students appropriate APA format), etc.

OH well, I guess I'll get a feel for how things are going to turn out tomorrow.

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Specializes in Rural - we do it all!!!.

I can only think that the qualities of being AR, controlling, OCD, and being a perfectionist, will be great qualities for an advanced practice nurse . :chuckle

It sounds like you've come to some understanding of this prof's grading. Sometimes you can't fight the idiot factor. :jester:

If there's nothing in your paper that would *harm* a patient, and the clash is over the APA format, Oh my Goodness, you may just have to throw your hands up on this one!!! LOL :trout:

Are you in school to master the APA format? Or to safely treat patients?

UMMMM, no brainer, concentrate on keeping your patients safe. :nurse:

Or change your major and become an english prof :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.
I can only think that the qualities of being AR, controlling, OCD, and being a perfectionist, will be great qualities for a CRNA. :chuckle

It sounds like you've come to some understanding of this prof's grading. Sometimes you can't fight the idiot factor. :jester:

If there's nothing in your paper that would *harm* a patient, and the clash is over the APA format, Oh my Goodness, you may just have to throw your hands up on this one!!! LOL :trout:

Are you in school to master the APA format? Or to safely treat patients?

UMMMM, no brainer, concentrate on keeping your patients safe. :nurse:

Or change your major and become an english prof :rolleyes:

Exactly... the whole emphasis on APA format is a JOKE. Like you said, we aren't in school to be English professors... we are there to learn how to be a nurse practitioner. And my arms are in the air... I'm done with it. I'll just see how it goes tomorrow.

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Exactly... the whole emphasis on APA format is a JOKE. Like you said, we aren't in school to be English professors... we are there to learn how to be a nurse practitioner. And my arms are in the air... I'm done with it. I'll just see how it goes tomorrow.

Well part of graduate school is learning how to write in a professional format. Something that unfortunately is not taught in undergraduate to any great extent. That being said, APA is a very loose format. Other than really obvious mistakes, I would not dock much if any points unless the paper was poorly written. The other part is that like any educational setting, you are being tested on the ability to follow directions.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

How do you guys get evaluated during clinicals? In my ACNP program, the grade from the clinical component is dependent on the NP preceptor evaluation - very little comes from the clinical instructor input if at all unless there are projects that we do in clinicals which the instructor grades us on (such as presenting during grand rounds, staff in-service presentations, clinical research critique). I guess I wouldn't worry too much about the "confrontation" you had with her. Just remain as professional as you can be.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

PinoyNP - my thing exactly. We didn't get a grade for our clinicals, just a pass/fail. It was very subjective.

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