I failed my first clinical!

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I previously failed my first clinical. My classroom and paper grades were excellent! My clinical instructor lied about everything! Not one other student stood up for me. I had two doctors who said they would testify for me at a hearing I requested. The director of the nursing program said that she goes entirely on what the clinical instructor says. There was so much jealousy, and backstabbing in school. I am starting another nursing program (at a different school) in the fall, and I am a bit nervous about it. Any advise? ;)

Oh... I was there to turn in my case study which was due that day. I told the instructor that I was sick when I turned in my paper.:nono:

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Dose of reality here. . .the clinical instructor tells you what to do, you don't tell her what you're going to do. You can't get argumentative with the person who is totally responsible for the grade you are going to be getting. That's just suicide. When the instructor says jump, you just say "how high" and do it. It's like being in nursing boot camp. If you don't change you'll have problems at your next school too.

Sorry, don't agree. Taking the time to get into a program such as this is a non-trivial commitment. It's your life and you need to be your own advocate. It's entirely possible to "jump" when told and still end up hosed.

Now, I'm not saying that you have to be a pain in the hind-parts regarding every niggling little thing. However, that doesn't mean that you have to just lay there and take it, either. You owe it to yourself to ensure that you are on the right track. How?

Even if you think that all is well, don't wait till the last day to ask your instructor about your performance. A lot of times, these folks in the clinical setting have no more experience in "teaching" than you or I. Don't assume that they know all the in's and out's of a professional educator. Be diplomatic, offer the correct amount of deference to their position, etc. while soliciting direct feedback about what you are doing. And if you are approaching the instructor with the correct humility and respect, if they still don't respond or blow you off, get your school's instructor to work with you. About the worst thing you can do is to "go along to get along" and then at the last day, find out that you are failing for some reason. Be proactive and bubble the issues up sooner rather than later.

Having a disagreement doesn't mean you have to be confrontational. It is possible to deftly create a win-win solution for all involved.

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Specializes in ICU, Pediatric, Psychiatric, Med/Surg.

It isn't written in stone that you had to get the VS while the patient was having a BM,,,People never do EXACTLY like the book says, but as long as your patient was stable and you could get em after she was finished, I don't see the problem. As for the thermometer, a "defective" tag gets placed on it and you find another piece of equipment. There will always be difficult instructors. Just do your tasks and learn what is needed to do your job. You get more efficient and knowlegable as ya go. Being quiet and busy helps.

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I would say if you have others backing you as you say- fight it! Do what you have to do to get the vredit which is rightfully yours! And best of luck in the new program you are starting!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
My final grade WAS purely subjective. None of my procedures performed, injections/meds. administered, paperwork, careplans, case studies, Fundamentals class - which I had an A in, labs (completed and passed), etc. were taken into consideration.

I really don't know why she said that about not being able to take vitals; the broken thermometer was the only thing I could think of.

I bucked the teacher when I refused to take vitals while my constipated patient was finally going to be able to use the bathroom.

I know - it's insane.

Why do some parts of this thread sound like another ongoing thread we have on this board?:uhoh3:

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Why do some parts of this thread sound like another ongoing thread we have on this board?:uhoh3:

This was in response to your questions.

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I would say if you have others backing you as you say- fight it! Do what you have to do to get the vredit which is rightfully yours! And best of luck in the new program you are starting!

Thank you. I did have a hearing. The director of the nursing program told me that it wouldn't matter who I brought in to testify on my behalf - they always go with the instructors last say. I did get credit for Pharmacology though.

;)

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Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

I'm wondering here... you said you bucked the teacher for "refusing to take VS while my constipated pt was finally going to be able to use the bathroom." Is this more of a time management thing... were the VS ordered for Q4H & you didn't do them in a timely manner. Did you not do the VS at all? I think you need to re-read what you posted. It sounds like you flat out refused to take them at all & sounds like you didn't offer any alternatives, like " my pt is finally having a BM after 3 days. I would like to provide for her privacy & obtain the VS AFTER the BM is complete." Plus, just by saying your patient was "finally going to be able...." It almost sounds like you were putting it off. Was the pt ACTUALLY on the toilet or still lying/sitting in bed?

Broken thermometer? What did you do to find a working therm? Anything? LOL... something to get used to... EVERY unit, everywhere has a broken therm...

Another thing... You said your grade was purely subjective. Are you saying that your clinical instructor gave you no credit for passing meds, etc? Did you ever initial any MAR's, do any charting? Your signature should be in the charts. I used to keep my own checklist of things that I had completed, along with room number, date, & pt initials. Ok, so the initial thing is a HIPAA thing now, but maybe just a room # would suffice.

Don't mean to sound harsh at all, but it sounds like there could be a lot more to this story. You said you were a CNA before, so you know that documentation is what it's all about. CYA!!!!! ALWAYS...

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I'm wondering here... you said you bucked the teacher for "refusing to take VS while my constipated pt was finally going to be able to use the bathroom." Is this more of a time management thing... were the VS ordered for Q4H & you didn't do them in a timely manner. Did you not do the VS at all? I think you need to re-read what you posted. It sounds like you flat out refused to take them at all & sounds like you didn't offer any alternatives, like " my pt is finally having a BM after 3 days. I would like to provide for her privacy & obtain the VS AFTER the BM is complete." Plus, just by saying your patient was "finally going to be able...." It almost sounds like you were putting it off. Was the pt ACTUALLY on the toilet or still lying/sitting in bed?

Broken thermometer? What did you do to find a working therm? Anything? LOL... something to get used to... EVERY unit, everywhere has a broken therm...

Another thing... You said your grade was purely subjective. Are you saying that your clinical instructor gave you no credit for passing meds, etc? Did you ever initial any MAR's, do any charting? Your signature should be in the charts. I used to keep my own checklist of things that I had completed, along with room number, date, & pt initials. Ok, so the initial thing is a HIPAA thing now, but maybe just a room # would suffice.

Don't mean to sound harsh at all, but it sounds like there could be a lot more to this story. You said you were a CNA before, so you know that documentation is what it's all about. CYA!!!!! ALWAYS...

My patient was in the process of having a BM. I performed an accessment when she had finished.

All of the charting was done on the computer. Unfortunately, when I mentioned the charting at the hearing, and how it was proof of procedures, vitals, times, etc., the instructor stated that I could've gone back in and changed the times. It was all unbelievable. I suppose a dishonest person would think that way.

I received no credit at all.

And yes, I did find a working thermometer.

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can you tell us how you managed to get into another program if you failed out due to clinical performance? any trouble with the new school?

i agree that some instructors are just plain vindictive and lie and kick people out for very simple things. We have folks in my previous class who are just plain stupid, take drugs in class and in clinical, drink heavily and come to clinical under the influence or hungover, are unable to communicate with others, are mean people, cheaters, some have been fired by their patients, have given meds unsafely and some who don't know the material or how to do basic skills, like taking BPs!! and THEY are going to graduate in 2 months. I however, a 4.0 student, got kicked out for being a little late coming back from a break because my instructor was teaching us about something and I wanted to hear what she had to say. Then SHE kicked me out.

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

If you feel so strongly about this maybe you should seek legal advice. The trial you mentioned sounds pretty dodgy you supplied evidence from your charting, you had people willing to stand up for you and this was disregarded. You were told you were guilty before you even had the chance to stand up for yourself. You are paying money to this institution and I think you have the right to question their judgement. And i think their policy of 'the clinical instructor is always right' needs to be brought to someones attention.

If nurses are supposed to be responsible and accountable for their actions, perhaps the nursing schools and clinical instructors should be as well. If a clinical instructor is found to be bullying a student (which is sounds like in your case) then they should be held accountable.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
can you tell us how you managed to get into another program if you failed out due to clinical performance? any trouble with the new school?

i agree that some instructors are just plain vindictive and lie and kick people out for very simple things. We have folks in my previous class who are just plain stupid, take drugs in class and in clinical, drink heavily and come to clinical under the influence or hungover, are unable to communicate with others, are mean people, cheaters, some have been fired by their patients, have given meds unsafely and some who don't know the material or how to do basic skills, like taking BPs!! and THEY are going to graduate in 2 months. I however, a 4.0 student, got kicked out for being a little late coming back from a break because my instructor was teaching us about something and I wanted to hear what she had to say. Then SHE kicked me out.

When you say that "SHE" kicked you out, do you mean that she kicked you out of class, or out of the nursing program? I am a bit confused. Was this the first time you were late? Also, again, curious...of course she would expect that you returned back to the class you were assigned to...please clarify...

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