I am just looking for advise. I am really having a hard time with my clinical instructor. I am in my second week of clinicals and have completely lost all the confidence I once had. My instructor is constantly making all of us feel completely incompetent. I truly feel I am doing a good job but we just get no positive feedback. I am not asking for my hand to be held or praise every time I do something but it would be nice at the end of the clinical day to have her tell us "nice job today". We just can seem to do nothing right. I know this stuff needs to be perfect but there has got to be a better way to tell us than making us feel stupid. I am 32 years old and feel like I am back in high school. We are STUDENTS and we need some guidance to learn correctly. :angryfire We don't have all the answers.
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!!
Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.
I think we have all had at least one instructor from u know where :angryfire Even as an RN with an AD i had one in the bsn program...and i finally learned that the only one who can make me feel inferior is ME!! so , every time i had clinical with her i just told myself that i was old enough and wise enough to know what i do; and that i wouldnt let her intimidate me. Never did like her and helped with my decision not to go to that school for my msn, as she is in charge of that program. there were others before her and will be more after who will try to intimidate me but i have decided not to let them. I always prepare myself well and seek info i dont know before i am asked to explain anything. I am also not afraid to say that i dont know but will find out. Good luck you will be ok i promise!
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
My instructor is constantly making all of us feel completely incompetent. I truly feel I am doing a good job but we just get no positive feedback. I am not asking for my hand to be held or praise every time I do something but it would be nice at the end of the clinical day to have her tell us "nice job today". We just can seem to do nothing right. I know this stuff needs to be perfect but there has got to be a better way to tell us than making us feel stupid.
What specifically is she saying that is making you cry? Is she bullying or embarrassing you in front of the other students? Being told you are stupid and feeling stupid are two very different things. I think it would be wrong for her to say everyone did a nice job if they hadn't. That doesn't do any of you any good. You don't want her to lie to you, do you? Yes, a few encouraging words would be nice, but perhaps that's not in her personality. As long as she is not verbally abusing you then I think you need to dry your tears and concentrate on learning your nursing skills because that is one of the reasons you are in clinicals. You are going to work with all kinds of people in healthcare. Some are not going to be the kind to exchange pleasantries.
I really only remember my toughest instructors. Yes they were intimidating but they knew their stuff. I would have had them take care of me or a family member anytime. As long as they are fair the toughness will make you a stronger nurse. Nursing is tough. When a doctor orders a med in a dose that you think is inappropriate you have to stand up to the physician and state your reasons why. When a patient is smoking in the bathroom and you have to confront him or her. When a doctor wants to discharge a patient to home that you don't think is ready. These are real life situations that you will have to deal with as a RN.
One of my toughest instructors, this is back in the late 80's was morbidly obese ,I was assigned a morbidly obese patient that was having gastric stapling. The night before clinicals I had to do all the background research on the risks of being morbidly obese etc. Then I had to sit in a small, I would say closet, with my morbidly obese instructor and present all my info, talk about stress. I got an A that rotation.
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!
My goodness, this is my new home
I couldn't believe how many people went trough the same things I did.
Thanks for the tips, guys. I will sure use it for my next clinical.
Thank you for your great advice. I will definitely use it. I think it was just shocking for my first clinical rotation. I truly do think my instructor knows her stuff and I will learn a great deal from her (I already have). After I thought about it, I think she is just trying to make us strong nurses. No one is going to hold our hand in real life so she is not going to do it now. I know now I will need to be very prepared and be ready for anything!
don't give up anywhere you go, nursing school the real world you will have a tough clinical instructor, boss, etc. this instructor may be tough because she wants and expects the best of her students. i had what i felt was a tough clinical instructor for my first rotation. what i learned is that she wanted us to learn, to be competent and confident in what we are doing. know your meds, know what is going on with your pt, and do above your best.
Although I am not in nursing school yet, I can understand your point.
One thing, if you know all your stuff you do not have to worry about what anyone thinks. Just have confidence in yourself and know what God is pleased with you. God did not create you to please men. If I were you, I would read the book of Psalm, one chapter before you start your clinical. God Bless..........
Hi,
DDRN4me
761 Posts
I think we have all had at least one instructor from u know where :angryfire Even as an RN with an AD i had one in the bsn program...and i finally learned that the only one who can make me feel inferior is ME!! so , every time i had clinical with her i just told myself that i was old enough and wise enough to know what i do; and that i wouldnt let her intimidate me. Never did like her and helped with my decision not to go to that school for my msn, as she is in charge of that program. there were others before her and will be more after who will try to intimidate me but i have decided not to let them. I always prepare myself well and seek info i dont know before i am asked to explain anything. I am also not afraid to say that i dont know but will find out. Good luck you will be ok i promise!