I thought I was going to die.

JHansen · Oct 25, 2008

Not sure if you want to pursue this in any way, but if you do get failed (i just read this first paragraph btw) the syllabus is considered a legal binding document. A professor can change dates around; students have to be notified and a reason given, but i am sure that moving them forward isn't done that often. But you will also have to consider the repercussions of pursuing it further because some people hold a grudge.

Im not sure that helps, but I hope it does.

whiteoleander5 · Oct 25, 2008

Not sure if you want to pursue this in any way, but if you do get failed (i just read this first paragraph btw) the syllabus is considered a legal binding document. A professor can change dates around; students have to be notified and a reason given, but i am sure that moving them forward isn't done that often. But you will also have to consider the repercussions of pursuing it further because some people hold a grudge.
Im not sure that helps, but I hope it does.

If she said to me "You fail bc you didnt hand it in today", then I would have pursued that. But shes not failing me, shes just ****** that its "LATE"... and it makes me look like an incompetent student, when that is far from the truth. All I want, is for her to acknowledge that the due date is Oct 31st, and perhaps an apology for being condescending about it when I brought it up, but even that might be too much to ask...

I just want her to realize that she was, in fact, wrong. :crying2:

JHansen · Oct 25, 2008

Sometimes you have to let your ego/pride get a little bruised there are people out there who will make your life a living hell, just because you tried to prove them wrong. I was like you for a long time, if I was right I wanted the other person to know they were wrong! But a lot of the time its more beneficial to just let it go.

However to cover your own butt, make sure you document in someway that were infact not late on this assignment.

smellyacres, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2008

I'd get a copy of the syllabus and bring it to class (or her office hours before class if possible) and show it to her. Also, if she does threaten to fail you again, get some support from other students from your class and let her know that SHE was wrong. Now i know some students may not want to be any part of this because they don't want to pick a fight with the instructor, but I'm sure a few people will be willing to back you up. If all else fails, go to the head of the department, bring the syllabus and explain the situation.

All will be fine, do not worry. And especially since you are doing it tonight like she told you to, she would have no reason to fail you.

Some teachers are just plain stupid. Even though you want her to apologize because she was clearly wrong, if once she accepts the completed assignment, it may not be the best idea to pursue getting an apology from her, it might make things worse. Then again, if she marks you down, I would pursue a fair grade. Again, have some people back you up.

Let us know how things go. Don't worry. Just breathe. Sleep on it too, you'll probably be less agitated in the morning.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2008

The minute you heard other students saying they were going to hand their care plans in early to "get it out of the way" sounds very odd to me. Most students wait until the last possible minute to hand assignments in. That would have set up all kinds of red flags in my mind and sent me to this instructor with questions about when this care plan was due.

Since she is now disputing what the syllabus says I would bring this up in the next class with her and pray that there are other students there to support you on the due date being what the syllabus says and that she never changed it.

jpeters84 · Oct 25, 2008

It sounds like this professor had something to do this weekend and just wanted the papers in. I'm sure she knew it was on the syllabus and was just being ****** because you were fighting her on it or she forgot and was just unloading on you. Having a major diasagreement with a nursing professor can be so emotionally draining. Take a deep breath, acknowledge you have a right to be upset about this, take a step back and now approach it professionally. If I were you I would chalk this up to one really bad, unfair experience with a bad professor and not say anything further to the professor if they don't bring it up with you again or give you an unfair grade. If the professor does bring it up again or try to penalize you in some manner like trying to fail you just bring out the syllabus and tell her this is her contract with you and if need be you'd be happy to go to have this discussion with the dean.

The professor has to know that if it is on the syllabus, her ass is grass, so I highly doubt she's going to push you any further on this. I think she was just being a cranky professor who forgot her dates and was loading a heap of **** on you. It's incredibly unfair and unnerving but hang in there and know that you are right. In fact take pleasure in this because you're going to come out looking good and she's going to come out looking really bad. I'm sorry this had to happen to you but it will work itself out. Good luck to you. And keep us posted as to what happens.

rwright15 · Oct 25, 2008

Good luck getting her to admit she was wrong. That is probably one avenue I would leave alone. Instructors talk to each other and you don't want to be pegged as a trouble maker throughout the rest of school... so if you can get away with handing it in and not failing, I would lay low for a while, apologize, and admit you possibly didn't hear a change in the date and hope nothing arises from it. But if you were to fail b/c of it, then yeah, I would make some sort of stink about that. I was told just today by my clinical instructor that nurses like to eat their young. I don't understand that, but I have seen it in a few cases. I don't plan on eating youngins when I'm a nurse :nurse:

whiteoleander5 · Oct 25, 2008

The minute you heard other students saying they were going to hand their care plans in early to "get it out of the way" sounds very odd to me. Most students wait until the last possible minute to hand assignments in. That would have set up all kinds of red flags in my mind and sent me to this instructor with questions about when this care plan was due.
Since she is now disputing what the syllabus says I would bring this up in the next class with her and pray that there are other students there to support you on the due date being what the syllabus says and that she never changed it.

It did sound odd to me during the week, but I also know that no one said "Omg the careplan is due this friday", which is most likely what would have been said if it were due this Friday. I did call up a classmate, and they agreed with me. Also, I specifically remember my instructor saying "You can hand it in next week...." ... NOT "Its due next week". I am so paranoid about these things, when everything is due, etc... I am one of those students that do papers weeks before they are due to "get it out of the way". So its very ironic that I never procastinate, and look what happens!...

I was just so upset by this whole thing. Even today when I woke up, I got a knot in my stomach. I emailed her my careplan last night (with a nice little respectful note apologizing for not understanding and reminding her what the syllabus said...).. but I am half expecting her to email me back and telling me "its wrong, you fail", or something to that effect.

I honestly dont think she can even change dates-- There was no purpose/reason for her date change. Shes given the syllabus by the nursing department/professors who make it up, and she just guides us through what they tell us to do. Shes not active in when things are due,etc.. Theres no valid reasoning behind this. Thats why I think she got the dates wrong, because who knows if she even has a copy of the syllabus herself...

And certainly, if she was going to "change the date" of something as major as a careplan, wouldnt she make a bigger stink about it? Im a quiet person, Im like a sponge in clinical when she talks to AVOID THINGS LIKE THIS.

I dont want her to dislike me now for not handing in the careplan in on time (from her POV)...:zzzzz

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2008

one of the things i learned a long time ago as a nurse was the importance of getting information organized and clarified. for your entire career as a nurse you will be solving problems. to do that you will need to process information and data. you've heard the expression garbage in = garbage out. likewise, the proof is in the pudding. information comes your way in all manner of ways. some will be good and some will be bogus. you cannot trust it all. you have to verify much of it. just like a detective has to have more than one piece of evidence to rely upon that someone killed a victim, you want to also endeavor to do the same with any evidence you collect. when you hear a patient cough, you grab your stethoscope and listen to that patient's lungs as well as question them about their breathing. you verify what you heard and collect more evidence. when you hear different things about a due date on an assignment you should begin an assessment process as well--go to the source, the instructor, and say, "when did you want that care plan turned in? i'm hearing things and the syllabus says something different." when you get those two letters, rn, after your name, that kind of responsibility falls on your shoulders. believe me, if you falter and do not thoroughly assess and clarify data, it will come back to hit you in the face. this was a school assignment. you don't want a failure to act to involve a person's well being.

whiteoleander5 · Oct 25, 2008

one of the things i learned a long time ago as a nurse was the importance of getting information organized and clarified. for your entire career as a nurse you will be solving problems. to do that you will need to process information and data. you've heard the expression garbage in = garbage out. likewise, the proof is in the pudding. information comes your way in all manner of ways. some will be good and some will be bogus. you cannot trust it all. you have to verify much of it. just like a detective has to have more than one piece of evidence to rely upon that someone killed a victim, you want to also endeavor to do the same with any evidence you collect. when you hear a patient cough, you grab your stethoscope and listen to that patient's lungs as well as question them about their breathing. you verify what you heard and collect more evidence. when you hear different things about a due date on an assignment you should begin an assessment process as well--go to the source, the instructor, and say, "when did you want that care plan turned in? i'm hearing things and the syllabus says something different." when you get those two letters, rn, after your name, that kind of responsibility falls on your shoulders. believe me, if you falter and do not thoroughly assess and clarify data, it will come back to hit you in the face. this was a school assignment. you don't want a failure to act to involve a person's well being.

why is it my failure? if everyone else is saying "no its not due till the 31st", everyone else believes that they are handing it in early. they could have just as easily done the same thing, because our instructor was not clear if her intentions truly were to change the due date. the things i heard corresponded to the due date being the 31st, and there was no conflict or confusion. if i even heard one person say "its due this friday", i would have jumped all over that. not one person said that. i am going to confirm this in class, of course, when i speak to them again. i dont think i failed to act when i had no evidence to believe she changed the due date.

Natingale, EdD, RN · Oct 25, 2008

I think there are things on the syllabus subject to change. Theyve postponed my exams twice already. I never thought of it as a legal contract, since you really cant get around the presidential debate closing campus.

Did anyone record the class lectures? I would try and get a tape of that. Take it as a learning lesson thats all, and show her from this point forward that any preconceived notions she has of you (from now on) are way off. You are a dedicated student, just show her.