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Hello everyone, I usually just come on here to read but now that I'm having a issue with school I figured id turn to you people. Okay I'm in my second semester of NS and yesterday I wasn't able to preform for my clinical instructor how to properly prepare meds. It wasn't on the floor just in a room. Anyways, she said some harsh stuff. That now I'm so taken back I don't even want to press on. She said I wasn't clinically thinking. Then asked if I wasn't accepted into my first school of choice why would I think I could succeed here. Then said maybe nursing isn't for you. I understand I need to be able to think quickly. But all those negative words are now floating in my head. I'm doing well in theory but she told me clinically I'm borderline failing. Should I press on has anyone ever been in this situation? I'm shy I think that's where my confidence is lacking in making choices. Idk please help :-(

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

That was unnecessarily harsh but that's the way some teachers are.Don't let it get you down. Prove her wrong and knock her socks off next time. Identify the areas where you need to improve and ask for help. I would go straight to the instructor and ask what she is looking for.Good luck.

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I have a clinical instructor like that. She wasn't as vocal with her words though, but I remembered that if we don't do something up to her expectations, she criticized us for it. I recalled crying at some point, but my friend told me, not to show weakness in front of her by crying and to always stay strong and keep your head up high, and she's right. You'll encounter people like that in your daily life, including work, and you just have to stand tall, work more harder, and show them what you are really made of.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Giving medications safely is very important. No teacher will underplay how serious making a mistake can be.

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Thank you everyone I agree completely it is meds are important but she didn't have to me so nasty

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Sometimes, I think they do that to show us how harsh the real world of nursing can be, and see how we handle it. I had that first semester. She made me feel unsure and inadequate. But, she pushed me harder than anyone ever has and I am better for it. Just prove her wrong. ;)

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Specializes in LAD.

I realize you are upset and I would be as well! You think you are doing all you can and are giving it your all, then that! Some instructors are cranky souls and some are just amazing! Sometimes I wonder why some instructors choose to teach. Anyways...Thing is, you can't switch instructors, so ask her specifically what you can do to improve. If she doesn't take you seriously, then go back and review your clinical grade notes (I would do this anyway). You already know that you need to work on medication administration. If you don't mind me asking, what were you preparing? Look, I say it over and over on here, but I find YouTube to be my best friend sometimes. Seriously...if the book isn't making sense to me (because I'm visual), I search a video. Don't let her harsh words make you feel like you can't be a nurse. All of us students have something to improve. I know I do! Put her words behind you, sit down and have a conversation about your skills with her or another instructor, and get to improving and learning! I wish you the best!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
Thank you everyone I agree completely it is meds are important but she didn't have to me so nasty

I had a warm and fuzzy teacher once that was a sweet as pie.Didn't learn a thing. She's not there to be your friend, she's there to teach. Wait until you start working. Not everyone will be nice and it's not a requirement. They are there to do a job. Managers in particular don't make any attempt to be "nice". If the instructor was nice you wouldn't have taken it seriously.

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I realize that this will be easier said than done but… Try to take the personal stuff out of what she was saying, and see if there is any truth to what she was saying. Try to take the criticism, and even though it wasn't done nicely, use it so that you learn something from it, and grow. Believe it or not, it will help you see your weaknesses and what you need to work on to be the best nurse you can be. You need to develop a callous, so that when people say things to you, and there will be many times that it is not said so nicely, you let the nasty roll off, and take what they are really trying to say, and grow from it. Speaking to people is a talent, and not many are able to talk and keep it neutral without letting their emotions getting in the way. The only reason I can think of why she would bring up you not getting into your first school, is because she wants to get a rise out of you. Nurses, in general, need to remain in control, and not let their emotions get the better of them. Don't let her see that she got to you, and if this happens again, ask her if she can give you the criticism in a more constructive way.

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You guys are all so helpful, I will learn from it, negatively I can learn from and I will. Ill step up my game and work harder! I was pretending to draw up a PRN med i think, the order was for 7.5mg and the two bottles were 15mg/mL and the other was 5mg/mL so without thinking or was thinking 5mg 7.5mg was ordered it's what I need. My wrong was I needed to do the math for both and would of realized Less is more. Then she failed me because I put on gloves to drawl up.

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hey it happens, plus a med error is important because her license is on the line of course she will take it seriously. Overall a lot of my instructors are like that they like to push your buttons, make you feel dumb, and make you feel inferior at the bedside. In the end it helps to learn from the mistakes. If you practice and keep trying and prove them wrong you will see a different side of them and a bit of respect because they will see you trying to improve and not quit. don't feel so discourage and get back up and act like nothing happened but practice more and feel comfortable. Plus they want you to get out of your shy mode and feel more relaxed.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
hey it happens, plus a med error is important because her license is on the line of course she will take it seriously. Overall a lot of my instructors are like that they like to push your buttons, make you feel dumb, and make you feel inferior at the bedside. In the end it helps to learn from the mistakes. If you practice and keep trying and prove them wrong you will see a different side of them and a bit of respect because they will see you trying to improve and not quit. don't feel so discourage and get back up and act like nothing happened but practice more and feel comfortable. Plus they want you to get out of your shy mode and feel more relaxed.

Actually it's not her license on the line. students aren't practicing under the instructors license.

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