How to approach a student problem

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:cry::cry::cry:a student has had a behavior problem in clinicals and although this student gets good grades in theory the faculty is still out on how to deal with this student. if you were a faculty member what would suggest for this student. the student does not have a pattern of behavior problem before this whole mess and is not a known offender. the student's problem is not with patients but rather with mishaps within the clinical setting.

i feel that a student should first be given a second chance to reform and show that the student is capable of reforming the student's ways. i believe that a verbal and written warning be first given before serious disciplinary action, such as dismissal or suspension from the program.

has anyone else had this situation familiar to them and how was this handled. i feel that students should be helped not punished for lapses of judgement.

asking for everyone's :twocents:

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It really depends what the lapses in judgment were. If there are zero tolerance rules in the student handbook regarding behavior, the punishment is usually automatic with no recourse.

I need more info.

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I think that it would depend on what guidelines were set for the students before they started clinicals. If the standards of behavior were set, discussed, and provided in writing (like they are in my school), then the student is at fault. They know what is expected of them and that they should be maintaining that standard. After the first incident, the student should have made whatever changes were necessary to fall in line with the expectations of the program. If the repeated incidents are of the same nature, then the student may not be learning from his or her mistakes and that may be a bigger problem. Is there a remediation process at your school? Maybe the student needs it if it is available.

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come to think of it, (1) there were no discussion of student behavior, rather we were automatically expected to behave a certain way and that was it and i just went over the syllabus, there is no guideline for behavior (2) the incidents include talking out loud about our feelings and showing a fellow official nursing student around (and away from) the nurses' station (no patient confidentiality was breached nor meds touched), this student was to have her rounds in this ward after my group was done...all of which occured outside of the clinical time.

the student was NEVER given a warning and out of the blue the student was told about the student's "behavior problem" and no my school does not have a remediation program, my school has been graduating students since before i was born yet they still have yet to improve their program.

and no the mistakes were not of the same nature.

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come to think of it, (1) there were no discussion of student behavior, rather we were automatically expected to behave a certain way and that was it and i just went over the syllabus, there is no guideline for behavior (2) the incidents include talking out loud about our feelings and showing a fellow official nursing student around (and away from) the nurses' station (no patient confidentiality was breached nor meds touched), this student was to have her rounds in this ward after my group was done...all of which occured outside of the clinical time.

the student was NEVER given a warning and out of the blue the student was told about the student's "behavior problem" and no my school does not have a remediation program, my school has been graduating students since before i was born yet they still have yet to improve their program.

and no the mistakes were not of the same nature.

I bolded what stuck out to me as the potential problem. Did these feelings include any badmouthing or criticism of your program, the facility, procedural matters or other students? During/after clinical hours doesn't really matter if these feelings were expressed in a public place.

Also, discussing any personal matters while on, or at, the job isn't considered professional. Patients and visitors pick up everything and it gives the appearance you are not focused on your job.

Let me know if I'm close. :wink2:

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I bolded what stuck out to me as the potential problem. Did these feelings include any badmouthing or criticism of your program, the facility, procedural matters or other students? During/after clinical hours doesn't really matter if these feelings were expressed in a public place.

Also, discussing any personal matters while on, or at, the job isn't considered professional. Patients and visitors pick up everything and it gives the appearance you are not focused on your job.

Let me know if I'm close. :wink2:

nope, it did not include anything that you said. no personal matters dicussed either other than expressing some stress with up coming finals' week.

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I can't figure out what the problem could be. In any case, it wouldn't be a hugely serious infraction by your description. They have to have a reason to drop someone from a program.

They could get sued.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

What is the school's side of the story? What justification are they giving?

This is all very vague and defensive. In reality, there are always two sides to the story and we really no very little information about this particular case.

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i apologize for confusing some of you, but the true story is what i described in my previous post. it involves talking in class which in defense is trying to discuss the subject matter with other students and which is not out of the ordinary yet the student is the only one being persecuted for doing so, expressing stress over exams, an incident where a CNA reported the student for not doing her job for her when in fact the CNA refused the student's help, and the thing with the nurses' station. :crying2::crying2::crying2:

as of now the school doesn't have a justification to dismiss or suspend the student. the student was not even given a warning about the student's behavior, verbal or written, nor was an agreement reached between both parties outline the circumstances and the plan to execute to better the student and possible consequences for any further infraction.:cry::cry::cry:

and i though advancement in the program meant grades, which the student excels in and which the faculty recognize:yeah:.

the student is considering taking judicial action, the student just needs to know if it is doing the right thing :confused::confused::confused:.

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I agree that there are 2 sides to every story and that school most certainly will have theirs.

Make sure that you look through the student handbook (if you got one) to be certain that there are not any guidelines for behavior. It seems, based on what you said, that you all may have been ill advised of the expectations.

I am very glad that my program specifically outlined the expected conduct for us...including what we can and can not talk about while on the floor or in any public place.

The best thing to do is to verify as much information as possible and stay as calm as possible. Nothing positive will be accomplished by the student in question being defensive with the faculty at the nursing school. Just my :twocents:.

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not defensive, but rather utmostly stressed...imagine needing a 104 on a 100 item exam just to pass while blindfolded. the student's situation is rather different from what most in this website will be able to comprehend because where the student is from there is only one university withing a 3000mile radius and after that radius is all ocean and is so far into the program...just three more semesters!

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I certainly hope that things work out!! My thoughts are with this student! :heartbeat

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