instructor is out to get me

[utadahikaru]

What can I do if I think a nursing instructors is out to get me?

I think I must have made someone upset without knowing it or meaning to do it. Apparently politics is much much worse than I thought it could be in nursing school.

Recently I was blind sided by a male instructor in my Pedi Ob course who approached me and said that he heard from a female instructor that I had been complaining about him. I wasn't complaining about him, but I was expressing some frustrations with the current process in place for completion of certain assignments. Frustrations that were not intended to be directed towards any person. Since that happened I seemed to have been labeled as a "problem student" and I'm getting concerned that I'm being singled out and targeted. I'm sensing danger, like maybe I'm being set up for a course failure based on BOTH of the pedi-OB instructor's evaluation marks (opinion marks that can't be proven one way or the other). It seems as if they talked it out, and decided to agree on me not making it through this course with a passing grade.

How should I handle this???? advice????

[mb1949]

What did you say when he approached you, unforetunately, you made a mistake talking to one instructor about another. These people are friends or at least collegques (sp). The best you can do now is explain to the instructor you weren't complaining about him, but expressing concern about your performance on the assessment, something to the effect you were looking for encouragement or guidance. Learn from this, keep your opinions to your self, keep your own council, do the best you can, practice practice practice until you feel comfortable with your assessments and move forward. Good luck to you

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Never ever ever ever ever ever say anything about one instructor to another. They gossip more than the students do.

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

You just can't trust people. Never complain to anyone about another person. It will get back to that person and you will hear about. People have fragile egos and can't stand criticism, especially nursing instructors.

[Isabellah]

Unfortunately, I am going through the same problem. I have learned politics are a major force in the nursing programs at colleges. Instructors tell everyone that there is no such thing as a "weed out" process but there most definitely is. The college I am attending has only a 11% graduation rate for their nursing program.

[hikernurse]

Why not approach the instructor face to face? Tell him that you've been thinking things through since you last spoke with him and there are some misunderstandings you'd like to clarify. It will show you care and help clear the air.

Keeping your nose clean and staying out of the gossip mill (it's a good idea never to tell one what you wouldn't want to tell all) are helpful, but I think an actual discussion is in order.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I echo the above. I also want to point out that you are being a little bit overly paranoid. You state you fear you are going to be failed due to unsubstantiated grades. Have you seen any bad grades yet? No? Then don't feed this fire, either inside yourself or, particularly, among the other students. Keep quiet. Do your work. It is entirely possible this instructor was simply trying to demonstrate to you the more mature, and more productive, way of handling a concern - by going to the person who can actually clarify and do something about it.

[caliotter3]

Unfortunately nursing school is ripe with politics. When an instructor makes up their mind about you, there is little to nothing you can do about it except to have proof that you did meet standards. It is always best to keep your mouth shut as much as possible and attempt to stay under the radar. Take the advice given by others and clear the air with this one instructor, then concentrate on making the best effort you can, so that you can prove that you passed the course. Best wishes.

[chicagoing, ADN, RN]

I wouldn't approach either instructor again regarding this situation. Any further discussion/complaints/vocalized frustrations on your part will only add fuel to the fire.

[chicagoing, ADN, RN]

If you feel as though the instructor is "out to get" you, then document any and all instances in which you were treated unfairly. Unfortunately, claims of being "blind-sided" by an instructor, "seeming" to be "labeled" as a "problem student", "sensing danger", "being set up" for a course failure, and "seeming(ly)" having instructors who have "decided to agree" on you not making it through the course will not hold water.

You will need facts to back any of these claims up.

Good luck. The above comments are not meant to be mean or rude, just matter of fact.

[latebloomer74, LPN]

You've got a target on your back now. Be very careful what you say and do from now on. Good luck!

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Me personally, I would clear the air with the instructor. Apologize for the misunderstanding. Take it as a lesson learned and from here on out always go straight to the source of whoever you have the problem with. Instructors are going to tend to stand up for each other, just as students tend to do the same.