How do I get along well with my clinical instructor?

[Hellostudentnurssee]

I've heard many "horror stories" from previous nursing students that my (future) clinical instructor is the worse. I've learned that it's not best to judge and reserve your own judgment about any instructor because most of the time they surprise you. However the opinions of this instructor is unanimous . According to nursing students, the number one thing to do is NOT ASK QUESTIONS (yes folks, she that type of nurse). Also, there are many students in the program that are from other countries and have said she tends to be "discriminatory". I'm a bit scared because even though I'm not from another country, I'm a student of "color". Realistically speaking there are going to be people out there like her but I'm just trying to prep mentally on what I should/should not do and how to act and "survive". I'm not a quiet person but I'm not super loud and obnoxious either, however, i'll speak up when asked. Anyhoo, how can I survive with my clinical instructor and remain in her good graces?

[Blu rose]

Well, you don't need to be scared of her. You are there to learn and if you don't get your questions answered, how are you going to do that? You have some rights as a student. If at any time you feel like your teacher's picking on you because you ask questions, you should report her behaviour to your program co-ordinator and they will have an investigation. You can also write that on your feedback about her.(I am saying this because that's how it works at my school).

[Armygirl7]

Ditto the advice above- follow directions, arrive early and well-prepared, and observe her style for a day or 2 until you see what floats her boat.

I also was warned off a Prof in my 2nd semester - "she's a *****, she's racist, she fails people for no reason, etc"

I couldn't change my placement so I went ahead expecting a nightmare. Granted this Prof WAS like a marine commander - but she was, IS, one of the best dam* nurses I have ever seen, and I learned more from her and she pushed me farther ahead than any Prof I had before or after. I am so glad I did not switch.

We were a very diverse group of students None of us saw a racist bone in the Prof's body - in fact she went above and beyond for the ESL students and was essential in helping one student of a race not her own overcome her severe test-anxiety and bring her grades up so as not to fail lecture. The students who had complained about her were the ******, racist failures! They were just shabby bad unprofessional students.

Keep an open mind - I hope she surprises you! And if not it will be a valuable lesson to take into your practice - difficult people are everywhere and we have to work with them somehow every day without losing our own sanity/humanity!

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Also, you don't know what sort of students the complaining ones are to an instructor. The questions they weren't supposed to ask may have been in some other context than what was appropriate at the time, and if she actually said "do not ask me questions", I'd find that more than just a little unusual

Just get through the class, after making your own opinion about the instructor. I think it's common for every school to have an instructor that goes about things in a way that is significantly different than the others (mine was the OB instructor...no lectures, told us to read the 800 page book, showed a LOT of films of women bleeding to death during delivery, and gave essay tests with no indication as to what she felt was important enough to be tested on....). The class I'd thought I'd really love ended up being a nightmare- and my only C, which is unacceptable to me.

Instructors are like everyone else- some just have a bee up their poop chute.

[nola1202]

come to class and clincal overprepared, anticipate the types of questions and medication, medication calculations she might have you do. Demonstrate that you are a serious student and quietly/quickly look up the policy/proceedure before

she can "get ya." Also watch to see if she doesn't like someone to ask a question that you "should already know" ie. basic nursing 101, microbiology

etc. what kind of bacteria is causing the illness, why that antibiotic. Watch others interact with her and learn from them. Pretend you are in a different country and have no idea what is polite, and how people speak, even how they eat. (translate to watch how she organizes herself, if she demonstrates a proceedure try to duplicate it as close as possible) Watch how she wants you to answer, short n sweet or details..that will also keep you so busy, it will help with your nerves! Study your ass off, don't make it easy for her to get rid of you, same goes for showing up at class on time in the right uniform etc. Welcome to the Army!

[leslie :-D]

Instructors are like everyone else- some just have a bee up their poop chute.

would that make them up-tight???

get it? up.tight.

fine. i'll continue w/entertaining myself.

leslie:D

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

would that make them up-tight???

get it? up.tight.

fine. i'll continue w/entertaining myself.

leslie:D

LOL Got it !!

:hpygrp:

[Poi Dog]

Instructors are like everyone else- some just have a bee up their poop chute.

anal stenosis?

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

If you don't think things are going well, ask the instructor nicely (and early on in the clinical, not the last day!) to do a quick assessment on your progress and what he/she wants you to work on. Tells you where you stand and what they want from you, and they usually appreciate that you are trying to do things their way.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

Amen to the above! Ask for feedback -- not when the instructor's trying to leave for the day, trying to sort out someone else's mess, but when it's reasonable she'd have a few minutes -- even better, make an appointment and just ask, "what am I doing right, what am I doing wrong, what could I do better?" She may mention strengths you don't realize you have. And then if she says something needs improvement, take it as constructive criticism and make suggested changes. If she says "you need to learn your medications better," then do, don't argue that you are studying, do know them, etc. We all learn all the time *hopefully* and I still try to approach my manager at least once or twice outside of eval time to get a "right/wrong/better?" 30 second eval.

[njmomstudent]

I've noticed that most of the time people say an instructor is difficult is because they DO NOT COME TO CLINICAL PREPARED. Honestly, it would irritate me too if students came in asking a thousand questions that they wouldn't be asking if they had just done thier assignments. There's a difference when you can clearly communicate a question referring to clarifying a situation, and pure ignorance. If there are multiple ways a procedure can be performed, and you wish to know which way your instructor likes it done, ask. Be prepared for labs, imagine yourself in the clinical situation, and ask your questions THEN, so you don't have to on the floor.

KNOW YOUR MEDS!!! If you don't get your patient until that morning, take a few moments after vitals and research the meds so when she ASKS you why you are giving them you can give her an answer.

Be honest. DO NOT LIE about things you have accomplished or done, and things you have not.

Know your lab values, and what an abnormal value means in regards to the patients health status.

Take your clinical seriously. People's lives are in your hands, and will be for the rest of your career. That patient's safety is YOUR responsibility.

Be motivated. VERY motivated. The more motivated you are to care for your patient, and get your duties done, the more opportunities you will have to spend with your nurse seeing other procedures. If your nurse doesn't see that your motivated and wanting to learn, she's not going to try and teach you.

So, be prepared, be safe, be informed, be motivated, be honest, and unless its an emergency, ask questions to clarify the knowledge you already have.