How to deal with a tough clinical instructor

nhelkhound · May 22, 2006

I had an extremely unpleasant and unfair (in my opinion) clinical instructor for my very first clinical rotation. She spoke to me, in front of staff, students, and patients, in a derogatory tone and was very condesending. She would mimic me and assign me tasks that I had no ability to complete successfully. I also came home many a shift wanting to cry out of frustration. But I decided that I would never let her get the best of me! I made sure I was 110% prepared for each and every clinical shift. I smiled at her each time she looked my way (kill 'em with kindness) and ultimately received an A in the course. She and I never did like each other, just tolerated each other until it was over. Keep your eye on the prize and never let 'em see you cry.

crb613, BSN, RN · May 22, 2006

I have been there...I had a clinical instructor that the other students begged not to assigned to! She was the toughest little thing I have ever met. I can tell you I learned more from her than all the rest put together. She was fair....but oh my Lord you had better be prepared....we had to do things that none of the rest of the class had to do & our post clinicals went on forever.....she left no stone unturned. She could ask some of the dangest questions and wanted detailed answers.....But I lived through it & even asked for her again in a different rotation. As long as your instructor is fair just be prepared, ask for help when you don't understand, or better yet look it up for yourself. I respected her, & I can tell you I would want her for my nurse any day. Just don't let her get you down.... know your pt's, their labs, meds, ect and be prepared you can do it! Good Luck

HollieRN · May 22, 2006

I had the same problem w/ an instructor last year.

It might be good idea to ask for a meeting with your instructor and clarify what her expectations of you (as a student) are. Tell her that you really do need whatever feedback she can give you; good and bad. That's what she's there for.

I did this w/ my instructor and it worked like a charm. She was more aware of my needs as a student, and i was more aware of what she was looking for as an instructor. I felt much more comfortable going to her afterwards looking for help. She's of no use to you if you're too intimidated to speak to her/ask questions.

BoonersmomRN · May 22, 2006

I just went through this - my first semester. I had the clinical instructor from hell. I talked about her on here...and I felt the same way you did.

How did I get through it? Kept my mouth shut for starters. I noticed she REALLY harded on those who talked back to her. I'd think all these nasty thoughts in my head and picture her with devil horns...but I never let it show on the outside. It was the LONGEST 6 weeks of my life...but I made it through and you will too. I cried as well. When I would get to clinical I had to mentally put myself into a " shell" so she couldn't see that I was dying inside from all her nastiness.

Good luck!

Bala Shark · May 22, 2006

Sometimes instructors give you like a boot camp mentality..I know if you are in officer's training in the marines the instructors will act the same way..My brother told me how they treat people because he was in officer's training for the marines...Believe me, I been through a lot also but today, I officially graduated since I took my final and the final grades were posted..My clincial instructor was so hard on me, that I was about to walk out one time and fail the nursing program because my clincal instructor was screaming at me with fire in her eyes..But yea, I made it..

vegetarian_goddess · May 23, 2006

kill 'em with kindness
EXACTLY!
You may not be able to please everyone, but you can usually please a lot more people than you'd expect with just a tiny bit of extra effort.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 23, 2006

Hi,
When I left the clinical site on Saturday I cried for 2hrs. I still cannot get the anxious feeling to go away today. It is all I keep thinking about. I don't know if I can do this another 16 weeks!!
Jenn :sofahider

You'll do this for another 16 weeks because you HAVE to. The anxious feeling probably won't go away no matter who your instructor is; nursing clinicals are usually anxiety-provoking. At least, I can tell you that every single one of the students who just graduated with me, even the very best in the class who never had a thing to worry about, WORRIED and STRESSED. The more you care about how you do and what you learn, the more likely you are to be this way, anyway.

Now, about that instructor: welcome to nursing school! Some instructors are fabulous, and we really loved and appreciated them for that, but some are just power-driven and I truly feel insecure enough in their own understandings and abilities that they get downright impossible for their students to deal with. They place standards high enough that hardly anyone can seem to satisfy, and they like it that way because they can tell everyone how much work they still have to do.

So, tips?

The easy-going ones, enjoy them when you have them. The tougher ones, well, you're going to need to go that extra mile time and again, and DON'T let them see you wearing down. Always appear confident, even when you aren't. That doesn't mean faking knowing something you don't: that's a death sentence. If you DON'T know something, ask...and make sure it's something you NEED to ask, not something you could have looked up quite easily yourself. Save the questions for things you really need to find out from her, personally. Smile brightly. Be bright. An air of confidence and competence does remarkable things for your instructor's ability to SEE you as confident and competent. Appear shaky and meek and unsure, and she's sure to see you that way.

Spend time in your school's skill lab. Be prepared. But remember that you aren't going to know everything right off the bat anyway; know-it-alls can cause themselves some grief, too. Ask her questions that she'd LIKE to answer (such as whether she'd like you to perform a certain skill this way or that, because you want to be sure you do it exactly as SHE'D like).

Hope this wasn't overwhelming...seems like I'm unloading a coupla years of frustrations myself! :) Biggest thing to remember is, each instructor has the power to move you to the next level, or remove you from the program. Aim to please, even if if seems there's no pleasing. You might be surprised. I was: I had an instructor who seemed hell-bent on making me insane with worry / anxiety; I kept screwing up a simple procedure while she stared me down. She gave me hell, made me think I was minutes from dismissal, then in the end gave me a great evaluation. While I was her student she never smiled at me; after passing (surviving?) her class I always got smiles when we met.

Hang in there. You CAN do this.

luvmy2angels · May 23, 2006

This may sound stupid, but I think they are trying to toughen you up, ruffle your feathers and see how far they can push you. I know it seems unfair to do that to you while you are in school and trying to focus on learning all this new stuff and doing procedures but if you think your instructors are bad, wait until you get out in the real working world. It may not seem like it now, but you may just thank that instructor.

Don't let them take your confidence away!! You have worked hard. Just go in there everyday and show them you know your stuff!! That is what they want to see, that know matter how hard they push you, you still remain confident in yourself and in your abilities!

Good Luck!!

Corvette Guy · May 23, 2006

this may sound stupid, but i think they are trying to toughen you up, ruffle your feathers and see how far they can push you. i know it seems unfair to do that to you while you are in school and trying to focus on learning all this new stuff and doing procedures but if you think your instructors are bad, wait until you get out in the real working world. it may not seem like it now, but you may just thank that instructor.
don't let them take your confidence away!! you have worked hard. just go in there everyday and show them you know your stuff!! that is what they want to see, that know matter how hard they push you, you still remain confident in yourself and in your abilities!
good luck!!

"...the character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge in which one possesses."

luvmy2angels · May 23, 2006

"...the character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge in which one possesses."

sorry if my sig line is offensive to you. i am not sexist and in fact have posted on the male board that some of the best nurses i have ever had were males!! however, the quote i chose was made by jarvis, not corvette guy~therefore it stays as is. besides, i think it is rather rude to retype someone's sig. line.

Corvette Guy · May 24, 2006

Sorry if my sig line is offensive to you. I am not sexist and in fact have posted on the male board that some of the best nurses I have ever had were males!! However, the quote I chose was made by Jarvis, not Corvette Guy~therefore it stays as is. Besides, I think it is rather rude to retype someone's sig. line.

Rude? I did not retype your sig line. I typed a gender neutral modification of your sig line.

BTW, I never really took offense to your sig line.

:flowersfo