I need encouragement or i may quit school

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · May 23, 2007

SN....you learned, right? Are you ever going to do that same error again? (possibly, but you are much more aware of it). The instructor could have found a better way to conduct that lesson, but that's how he teaches, apparently....

Clinical instructors talk, but what matters is what THEY observe you do with them during your time on their floor. Hearsay has very little to do with what they think....1st semester instructor and myself had major issues with clinical.....my eval was passing, but barely.

BOTH my 2nd semester clinical instructors were IMPRESSED with the way I carried myself, did tasks, looked for things to do, helped other students, rounded with doctors, interacted with patients..etc...on BOTH clinical evaluations, the only problems I had were careplans and the need to further improve knowlege...instructors admitted that was put on EVERYONE's evals.

Rest easy in your confidence in practicing your skills, and try hard to avoid that instructor again as much as possible. You can do it!

queenjean · May 23, 2007

He said you minimally fulfilled clinical requirements? That means you met all the clinical requirements. He didn't say you were incompetent; he actually said you were competent, fulfilling the clinical objectives for the semester. You didn't EXCEL at them; well, big deal. If you knew it all to begin with, it'd be a waste of time, wouldn't it? And by your own admission, you made an error (probably more than one, no one is perfect).

I'd take the evaluation as a sign that you are right on track, especially from an instructor who is not very forthcoming with praise. Don't you think the other clinical instructors know this? They hear what students say about them, and they have to work with each other, too. They know what type of instructor each of them are. If a difficult instructor says that you fulfilled your clinical requirements, then don't you think that is going to be meaningful to the other instructors?

I think you need to step back, take a deep breath, and not take this guy so personally. You are seeing the glass half empty. Try a new perspective.

beanny · May 23, 2007

Just try to think another way, u passed the clinical. Other clinical instrutor may have prejudice on u, but they will change they opinion with time passing.

adamsmom · May 23, 2007

I know the feeling of being so upset you want to quit. About 3 month ago I failed a test that I studied my butt off. I called my academic advisor and emailed my class along with the director of the school and said I quit. My advisor called me that nite and talked me out of it. Well, I passed the semester but I only got a C+. But as my fellow classmates say I passed when I would have quit.

I also have had a clinical instructor that I felt did not like me. And we did not agree on care plans. When she gave me my evaluation at the end of the semester she said we challanged each other. But she did pass me.

So don't quit, you can do this and that part of your clinical is over.

Hang in there you will reach your goal.

socks341968 · May 23, 2007

Do NOT give up. I've heard of too many situations where the clinical instructor made students feel this way. Then, the sad thing is that the next semester, a different clinical instructor thought the same student really excelled. It's all about personality and perspective with some instructors. Do NOT let it get the best of you and keep going!

MikeyJ, RN · May 23, 2007

I think you will find that many clinical instructors teach in a much different way. Some are sweet and kind, but others teach with intimidation and seem to be cold individuals. But most of them just want to create the best nurses possible, and they realize that teaching with intimidation and "humiliation" will make students aware of their mistakes so they never do them again.

Esther2007 · May 24, 2007

Like others have said, you passed and that is what matters rightnow. Just do your best in the rest of the way. You can do this!

Soup Turtle · May 24, 2007

you passed! congratulations! it sounds like it was a tough semester. hopefully, next semester will be better for you.

puggymae · May 24, 2007

Passing is passing. Hold your head up high and be proud that you are going on to next semester.

WDWpixieRN, RN · May 24, 2007

Although my grades are great, i have had a difficult time with my clinical instructor.

Any chance you'll have this man next semester!??! If not, it's time to move on and forget it....

My 1st semester CI was not very encouraging and neither were the nurses on the floor where we were. I felt very discouraged and seriously thought about quitting. Fast-forward to 2nd semester and my CI was a dream, the nurses on the floor were very eager to work with us (as was the rest of the staff) and I am starting an internship this week!!

Several of us made some boo-boos this semester, but our CI took into account how we dealt with them and shook it off almost immediately. She said we were STUDENTS and were supposed be LEARNING. If we knew everything, we wouldn't be in school LEARNING, now would we?!?!? She did mention if we were 4th semester students, she would be much more concerned, but took in to account our mid-2nd semester status.

It is amazing what a difference a semester can make in your attitude. Hopefully you've got a summer break to put some perspective on this and come back in the fall ready to start with a clean slate. Let it go or it will affect your performance when you return.

Best wishes!!

GratefulHeart · May 24, 2007

Ok im am very upset with myself to the point of feeling i should drop out of nursing school. Although my grades are great, i have had a difficult time with my clinical instructor (i wrote about him previously). In short, this man teaches through humiliation and intimidation. I didnt think i could bear with him, but i did stick out the semester. Well, until the last day when he gave us back our clinical evaluations. Granted, i made a big error because i incorrectly closed an unused syringe - my bad, i will accept the blame. However, he did this same little "test" on my entire clinical class of 10 people, and 7 of the 10 closed this same syringe incorrectly as i did. The problem? He chose to put this on my evaluation in the "safety" threads and say that because of this, i "minimally" fulfill the expectations. I felt absolutely horrible. As i said, i earned this but the catch is, out of the 7 of us who did this wrong, i was the only one who had it brought out on her clinical eval and i now fear that my future clinical instructors will judge me incompetent. Anyway, i needed to vent because i really feel terrible right now and i feel like i will never redeem myself. Any thoughts, suggestions, words of encouragement? I would really love the support. Thanks all!!!
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In light of all of the mistakes you could have made, is closing a syringe incorrectly such a horrible thing? There are many boo-boos you could have made that are probably worth that terrible feeling, but not THAT one, lol. And no one is perfect, right? --So any future clinical instructor that would judge you incompetent for something like that on your record probably isn't being honest with him or herself. If they've been around the block (i.e. have any significant amount of clinical experience), they can tell you about much bigger mistakes/oversights they've made.
This is not worth dropping out of nursing school over: You admit this guy acts like a jerk (humiliating and intimidating others), so are you going to let someone like that wield power over your future and influence the way you feel about yourself? NO WAY--BRUSH IT OFF!!!