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?
Sometimes you have to pick your fights. I had the same problem in PA school. One of our instructors hadn't touched a patient in 10 years. The lecture was straight out of the book (as written in 1980). The instructor was wrong. I made the decision to learn the material that I needed not the material for the test. In the end the person that graduates at the bottom of the class has the same title as the person that graduates first. Unless you want to go on for a PhD the grade doesnt really matter. In the end you will be successful at what you are doing and the instructor will simply be bitter, lonely and trying to teach what she doesn't know.
David Carpenter, PA-C
Thanks David,
And you're right... in the end, no one will really ever know how I do in the program... they'll just know that I am an NP, which is what matters the most. Like I said earlier, its not worth it for me to risk her making the rest of my last year miserable. This is a huge learning experience for me because I am not use to biting my tongue. :)
But that's the thing that drives me crazy about it; you will always know more than the instructor in that instance because the instructor in that instance (if they are smart and experienced) will say, "you know, they may be right, and I may want to watch my orifice because if I act arrogant and narcossictic at this point, I'm going to look like an idiot". But most of them won't because they don't have the capacity to do so. If you admit you know nothing and someone else knows everything, then you are smarter than most of your peers. Good luck.
Hey cg,
You are EXACTLY right and that is EXACTLY what this instructor has done. She has made herself out to be not only a complete idiot, but a total biotch. I'm just ready to be done with this semester... what goes around comes around, I hope.
I understand the thing about picking your battles, but seriously, what if you do draw this instructor for the next two semesters. You'll have papers due. They'll need to be done in APA format. What then, will she take points off for the same "mistakes"?
This is why I think you need to bring this to the lead instructor. You've been very professional about this whole issue, but it's potentially more than just this one paper that we're talking about here.
If it was me, if I was sure that she could only affect one paper, I might bite the bullet after the discussions and let her save face, but this is not about face-saving nor is education supposed to be a political process; it's about learning materials and skills germane to the stated program.
Angie,
The one positive thing is that there are NO more papers in my career of NP school. :) I do have one paper in the summer, but its for a class that she wouldn't have anything to do with. Knowing this, I'm going to probably just bite the bullet on this one. And if I WERE going to approach the lead instructor, I would do exactly what you described... make it more of a "learning" experience rather than a teacher bashing. No matter how you look at it, I'm still screwed... but have proved I'm a better person in the end.
My husband brought up the flip side saying that if I did approach the lead instructor, there is a small chance that she could still side with her and support her "ruling." And I KNOW this lead instructor will be with me the next two semesters... PLUS... she's the director of my program. So if I were to piss HER off, I most definitely will be shooting myself in the foot.
What I would recommend (having been the lucky student to have survived four different writing styles in my long years of searching for knowledge :rotfl: ROFLOL) is that you purchase a relatively inexpensive program that formats papers APA style for you. It can be purchased at Reference Point Software and it enters the references as you type the paper. What a boone! I can write a paper for publication in half the time using that program.
What I would recommend (having been the lucky student to have survived four different writing styles in my long years of searching for knowledge :rotfl: ROFLOL) is that you purchase a relatively inexpensive program that formats papers APA style for you. It can be purchased at Reference Point Software and it enters the references as you type the paper. What a boone! I can write a paper for publication in half the time using that program.
What I would recommend (having been the lucky student to have survived four different writing styles in my long years of searching for knowledge :rotfl: ROFLOL) is that you purchase a relatively inexpensive program that formats papers APA style for you. It can be purchased at Reference Point Software and it enters the references as you type the paper. What a boone! I can write a paper for publication in half the time using that program.
Well, I think you may have missed the point... I did the APA correctly, as I have done for the last 5 years. The student INSTRUCTOR was the one that was wrong about it... and yea, she should probably buy that software for herself. *LOL*
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, ..... etc etc
I agree what's done is done. The moving finger writes and having writ moves on. Nor all your piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all your tears erase a word of it. (Omar Kayan, the Rubinat)
As someone else noted, you can't fight the idiot factor, or if you do, you're a better woman than I.
So, next time. Ask yourself if the 5 points or whatever it is is really worth getting her ire up if you're going to be stuck with her for a semester or more and she has teh ability to nitpick you. Not saying she will, but you obvously recognize it as a possibility and to my experience with similar sits, I agree.
What I've learned in 44 years is:
1. Choose your battles carefully, ma cherie.
2. Don't sweat the small stuff
3. You can't be all things to all people.
4. Don't ever make enemies you don't absolutely have to.
Oh, and one last thing I've learned in 44 years... As JFK noted, life is NOT fair. (precisely why those who have it good should shut up and stop sniveling, but that's another story for another time).
And, YOU missed my point. I was offering that there are programs out there that make writing by a particular style EASIER.
Thank you... and you did get that point across. I was just saying that I don't need help with it... plus, a friend of mine used the software and the instructor still took off. Very frustrating...
Its not worth getting in a urinating match over a grade. What is your real goal? To be "right" or put NP behind your name? "I had the right of way will look great on your tombstone."
It really can be a no win situation when dealing with an instructor.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
What I would recommend (having been the lucky student to have survived four different writing styles in my long years of searching for knowledge :rotfl: ROFLOL) is that you purchase a relatively inexpensive program that formats papers APA style for you. It can be purchased at Reference Point Software and it enters the references as you type the paper. What a boone! I can write a paper for publication in half the time using that program.
I use the PERRLA APA formatting program- it has saved me lots of time and stress.
I'm just ready to be done with this semester... what goes around comes around, I hope.
.thumb.jpg.6eeb2c01c27cfd151d706238b7f6d6b7.jpg){kind=small}
DaisyRN, ACNP
383 Posts
Thanks David,
And you're right... in the end, no one will really ever know how I do in the program... they'll just know that I am an NP, which is what matters the most. Like I said earlier, its not worth it for me to risk her making the rest of my last year miserable. This is a huge learning experience for me because I am not use to biting my tongue. :)