Greetings. I just received this email from a professor. I was blown away by the content. I found it unprofessional. I wanted to see what other nursings students had to say. Have you received similar emails before?
Hi NUR 150 Students!
First of all, I would like to thank the majority of students who took to heart the need to dress professionally at clinical this week. The faculty of NUR 150 appreciates your dedication to learning and professional behavior.
This email is aimed at the small number of students who were not in uniform at clinical this week. I wanted all students to read this email, because the unprofessional dress and lack of professional behavior reflects badly on all NUR 150 students. I do not want your clinical group referred to as: the nursing students with the one student whose uniform was so wrinkled it looked like they just rolled out of bedâ€; the nursing students with the one student with tons of earrings in their ear, it sure was not like that when I went to schoolâ€; did you see the fake nails, do they not teach infection control at that college, I am not sure about that clinical group doing anything on my patientsâ€; or lastly WOW, what is with the tattoos that student had, I sure do not want them to be a RN on our floor, my patients would be shocked!â€
Your first impression is often what you will be judged by for the whole clinical rotation and nursing school career. Being in a clinical group with students who do not follow the dress code and professional policy, does reflect back on you. Every day you wear your uniform you are on a job interview. You represent every nursing student at the college. Your dismissal of the uniform policy and/or professional behavior standards is a direct reflection on every student, faculty member, and alumni of the college.
I know that the uniform policy has been taught and enforced previously. I know students are sometimes counseled in their weekly feedback about how to properly follow the professional standards. I am also very disappointed about the dismissal of the policy, since this was discussed in the NUR 150 course and clinical orientation on Monday. I stated the faculty knows that you are able to effectively follow the professional standards and uniform dress code, since you have completed NUR 121. I clearly stated that student who are not in uniform will be sent home for being unprepared. I fully believed that this would be a non-issue, since you are all adult learners.
Next clinical day at the beginning of your clinical day, you will line up and your professor will inspect your appearance to ensure that you are fully following the dress code. Students who are not in their proper uniform in accordance with the policy will be sent home. This will count as a clinical absence. No exceptions or excuses will be entertained by the faculty. Dress code policy from the ADN program handbook has been added to the end of this email for your convenience.
Again, I would like to apologize the large number of students who were following the uniform policy this week. The college faculty thanks you and is proud of you.
Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.
That email you got was actually friendly. If you have a problem with that email, I wonder what you would think of some of the emails we got from extremely strict clinical instructors...
You know what I think is foolish? You publishing your teacher's email on a very public and popular nursing website! What makes you think that is wise?
Plus putting in identifying information...how many other students have a dietetics background at that school? If the professor is on AN, she/he will likely know who posted their email word for word and deemed it unprofessional.
I also feel the email was appropriate. You stated that you arrived to clinical wearing the required clothing and that your appearance was professional. Unlike you, some of your classmates didn't feel it was necessary or for what other reason to dress in the required attire. Unfortunately, some students just don't "get" it. Your instructor sent this as a group message and was giving specific hypothetical situations to help the students with less insight understand the possible consequences of their actions. I think you were a little put-off by the email because you do understand why dressing professional is important and didn't think the instructors words were appropriate....but other students probably did need it stated in this manner.
In my opinion the email was an act of kindness. At my school if we showed up at clinical out of compliance with dress code we were sent home and either could pay a large sum of money to make up the day or fail the course. This instructor apparently allowed students to complete the day at clinical, which goes above and beyond what she needed to do.
Long nails are an infection waiting to happen. We were allowed one piercing in each ear, anything else had to be removed, no tats were allowed to show and scrubs were to be clean and pressed. All the reasons pointed out in the email are valid. Those who were in violation should be happy they weren't sent home and if they repeat the offences after this email (which even a child could understand) they should in my opinion fail out of the class. I think that the email should be cloned for future use!
I am a nursing instructor, my problem with this email is that it avoided directly dealing with the individuals who were not in compliance with the dress code. Unfortunately, many instructors, and floor nurses, are not comfortable in resolving issues. You hear things such as "I don't like confrontation/conflict"; that is like saying you don't like doing your job when you are in a position of authority. Speak directly with those who are the problem. Provide the a written counseling, or student improvement plan. Do your job.
I see your point ... but I would make the first warning broad and send it to the entire class for reasons explained by a previous poster. I often do that with my students. When I see a problem involving multiple students, I address it broadly with the group to make sure everyone understands the expectations. That approach prevents future problems from people who were "borderline" and allows the students who got things right the opportunity to know that the problems they have seen in others are being addressed. It also helps to prevent accusations of favoritism or inconsistency.
Then ... if a few individuals continue to have problems, I address it with them individually. I can say to them "I have witnesses to the fact that I made my expectations clear. My instructions/warning/etc. were well-documented. I am not just picking on you, these expectations apply to everyone." ... etc."
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thanks for your response. you are right, I did find it excessive, almost baffling. I am gathering from responses that nursing has its own culture. I keep comparing it to when I was in school for dietetics.Small things like this always throws me. I posted the email not sure it anyone would see it. I like all the responses I'm receiving. Some of them, like yours are helpful!
I really see nothing wrong with this e-mail. It might be a tad bit wordy, however, sending an e-mail to all students places everyone on the same page from this day forward.
I am willing to bet that those quotes are things actually heard by the instructor and is calling out those who have been less than compliant with the dress code....I think it is a fair and informative statement to place all on the same page. The goal: Set clear expectations and what will be done from this day forward. I am sure that in the beginning the assumption by the staff/instructors was that the students would be of sufficient intelligence, and have the proper professional demeanor, that further explanation would be unnecessary....clearly this was not the case and further explanation of policy and consequences was necessary.
I think the disrespect of the students that were not adhering to the policy standards of the program as unprofessional might need to do some soul searching about their career goals.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I was in dress code. I did think the email was a little much. I understand that dress code is important, but the tone and going on about hypothetical quotes from imaginary people was unprofessional and overboard. I've been in school for awhile, with other degrees- but I've never received an email from a professor that sounded so demeaning.
Believe me, those hypothetical conversations DO happen. A nursing student is on stage as is the college.
Not only did I not see anything wrong in this email, I found myself thinking "I'd take this instuctor in a heartbeat!" This person was concerned, thoughtful, addressed the problem as a GROUP problem (because, let's face it, one bad apple really DOES reflect on the rest of 'em). Pulled no punches, yet degraded no one in particular.....it served as a CLEAR reminder (in a friendly, non-threatening, non-tantrummy way) what the expectations of students in these clinicals are.
As evidenced by the large number of people here who also found it a 'non-problem' email, I'd have to say to the OP to let it go. You might have written it differently......ok, but that doesn't make what's written in his/hers wrong. You might have gone about this in a different manner.....again, viva la difference. I take no issue with this instructor's approach.
And honestly, this DOES sound like someone who is 'on the ball' and should be respected for giving a hoot about his/her students....rather than just tossing them out IMMEDIATELY upon seeing a problem. More than fair warning in this email, IMHO, and one that should be well heeded!
I was really anal about following the dress code in nursing school. Hair back and braided, white shoes and pants. We had these ugly yellow polyester seersucker button up tops.
In first semester my mother went into a coma from a brain aneurysm. I had just returned from running into the city, big emotional scene, exhausted, and I hadn't ironed my pants. I'll never forget my clinical instructor chastising me in the beginning of clinicals for my wrinkled pants.
I was really upset, but I'm not good at expressing my emotions so didn't breakdown crying like I wanted to. I just made sure I ironed my pants from that time forward. That was the days before email.
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That email you got was actually friendly. If you have a problem with that email, I wonder what you would think of some of the emails we got from extremely strict clinical instructors...