I think my professor is making up stuff.......not sure what to do.

Cilantrophobe · May 26, 2009

Oh there are a few other documented inaccuracies. Furthermore, she's not gaining much respect amongst some of my classmates, as she's very opinionated, particularly when it comes to breastfeeding, daycare, and single parenting. A few of us parents are feeling very wary of her professionalism.
But its the inaccuracies that is really bothering me. She makes up her exams using nclex test banks, so I'm pretty confident we won't be tested on "her" statistics. I will ask her for clarification on that statistic. I feel it needs to be defended if she's going to spout it out.

It seems to me that you probably gave your child milk-based formula at one time or another and feel that her opinionated teaching style is offensive to your abilities as a parent. If that is the case, get over it. She may be wrong, but any instructor that is ignorant enough to offend the mothers of her class with biased, exaggerated facts probably isn't worth the time or trouble involved in a challenge.

You have every right to be offended, if that is how you feel, but you have to learn to let things like that roll off your shoulders. The bottle or breast debate will never die and you should never let anyone get under your skin for a decision you made, no matter what decision that was.

And if nothing I just said even applies to you and you are simply frustrated with her inaccuracies, do those really matter either? Just study what she teaches you and leave it at that. Arguments/challenges against an instructor just aren't a good idea. She is teaching you those things for a reason, whether personal or academic.

goodstudentnowRN · May 26, 2009

Just let it go. The important thing here is to pass the class. I would just want to pass the class and keep moving. Ignore her fabrications, maybe this is the way she seeks attention.

MatRNstudent · May 26, 2009

At my school students are allowed to run a digital recorder up at the instructor's podium as a supplement to written lecture notes. I believe this instructor knows when she is making skewed, possibly inaccurate, statements. With that said, I believe the information she presents would start to become a good deal less biased if she knew her words were being recorded (I tried it with a biology professor who was honestly out of control with her "version" of things and she changed her tone the very day I began recording her lectures).

Either way, Good Luck

AOx1 · May 26, 2009

The issue with statistics is that they can be manipulated. Depending on the source, you can find various statistics. This is why we tell students to be wary of who funded the study, if the statistical tests used were the appropriate ones for the study, etc. For example, if I wanted to manipulate statistics, I could simply ask a handful of my students that love my teaching style to fill out evaluations, and then claim "100% of students surveyed state that LivetoLearn is the best teacher ever!" but this would not yield the same results as if I surveyed all my students, some of whom may enjoy my teaching style, and some of whom may detest it.

Unless you have your own statistics that are counter to this, I am not sure what the problem is or why you would want to go to your advisor. "I think" is quite different from offering your own proof and asking "Why do you think there is a discrepancy in what 'organization x' and 'organization y' report in their statistics on ______?" This type of question might actually get you an answer.

Yes, you will certainly run in to biased people wherever you go, but you need to do your own research before you go about reporting to anyone.

katmarieRN · May 27, 2009

She won't let us record her lectures.... I can only guess why. For the inquiring mind above, I actually did breastfeed my daughter. As much as it actually pains me to let this go, reading the posts and talking to some of my classmates (several feel the same way), the grade is more important than validation. I will however be writing a scathing evaluation.

Thanks to all who responded!!!

Cilantrophobe · May 27, 2009

Good for you! Just remember that people who manipulate facts to prove their points know they are wrong deep down inside, whether or not they are willing to admit to or correct it. She is probably a very insecure person, or she thinks she is God's gift because she breastfed (and sadly, some women do). Either that or she is very passionate about breastfeeding and just wants more women to make that choice, which is understandable considering some women don't do it because they don't want to "ruin" their boobs.

talaxandra · May 27, 2009

And some women desperately want to but are unable to and do not need more pressure or guilt. One can always come up with a reason to justify unethical behaviour. The motivation is unimportant - what is important is that she is teaching distortion as fact.

To the OP: I understand why you have decided to prioritise your grade over taking on a professor. Keep in mind that you could make a claim after you complete the class, and stop her from passing inaccurate information on to other students.

2BSure · May 27, 2009

Oh dear -- I had an instructor that did this sort of stuff ALL the time. In pharmacology she taught absolute rubbish sometimes. This may sound terrible to you but you may wish to leave it alone until you graduate. Pointed questions to this person probably will pee them off. As for reporting them...you would have to put your name to it.

I know this sounds chicken but in all likely-hood I think you would get burned by this. Let it go.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · May 27, 2009

You instructor should NOT be teaching nor giving you information on any statistic that doesn't appear in your textbook, doesn't appear in a handout...period.

It's not your job to search every website on the internet in preparation for an exam...it's your job to read the textbook.

If instructors want to write textbooks...they are welcome to...if they want to edit them...they are welcome to....meanwhile, they need to respect the work of others.

Our instructors gave us tons of information that wasn't correct during nursing school.

katmarieRN · May 27, 2009

Oh dear -- I had an instructor that did this sort of stuff ALL the time. In pharmacology she taught absolute rubbish sometimes. This may sound terrible to you but you may wish to leave it alone until you graduate. Pointed questions to this person probably will pee them off. As for reporting them...you would have to put your name to it.
I know this sounds chicken but in all likely-hood I think you would get burned by this. Let it go.

That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that.

Cilantrophobe · May 27, 2009

what is important is that she is teaching distortion as fact.

Our instructors gave us tons of information that wasn't correct during nursing school.

Exactly, she is teaching distortion as a fact and she shouldn't be. But as we can see it is very common and probably not worth a challenge at this time (for the OP).

I hope I didn't come across as making excuses for these kind of instructors. I don't think it is excusable; a possible explanation is not an excuse, or justification for that matter. I certainly do not support ANY sort of guilt trip regarding this subject matter.

I received a piece of advice from a non-nursing instructor at my school; she said that we (once in the program) are supposed to be like sheep, and now I know what she meant when she said that.

Plain and simple it just isn't worth it.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · May 27, 2009

A couple of my instructors would present altering views, but I'm totally ok with it, when they SAY it's an altering view.

They'll say something along the lines of, "Your book states ______, but in my 20 years of experience, I have found ______ works better." or "Your book states ______, but I have never seen that work."

That way....you know what is being taught that might appear on the boards vs what might work in actual practice.

To me...that is the responsible thing to do.