Instructor Harrassing You??

SFCardiacRN · Mar 1, 2006

Avoid her and ignore her as best you can. Study hard and do well on your tests. The semester will be over before you know it. Good luck! I also had an instructor who hated me, wrote me up and all that. But I passed 5 years ago and now I make WAY more than she does!

dawn1971 · Mar 1, 2006

Post an example. I think ALL nursing students have been yelled at one time or another....

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2006

Oh my gosh, I feel the same way....I got written up for leaving my meds unattended although she WAS THERE when I went to check on a patient. I would have never of done it if she wasn't there but I did and got written up for it. However, another student told me that she did the SAME thing and she didn't do NOTHING. She yelled at me for not knowing how to do IV pushes when we never got passed out on it yet and I don't know, I just have this feeling she doesn't like me or something. I know EXACTLY how you feel. I only have one more week with her thank goodness.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2006

What you would need to do is to get witnesses to her abusive treatment of you. They would need to be willing to document (write down) what they observed her do to you.

However, why would you want to make waves? To do something that drastic is only asking for a lot more trouble. By the time you got all the paperwork together your school term will be over and what you will be left with is a reputation among the remainder of the nursing instructors for being a troublemaker. That, you don't need. If I were you I would only speak when spoken to by this woman and follow every rule to the letter when you are under her supervision. My mother was an authoritarian and you cannot win a fight with these people. Your best hope is to be contrite, do what they demand, and stay alive just to make it to the end. After school is over you most likely will never see this lady ever again.

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2006

Is it possible to grin and bear it? How much longer will you have this instructor? I have had instructors like that, but I just grit my teeth and get through it. If you go to an outside source you have to realize that your school is going to stand behind their employee, the instructor. Also, out of respect for everyone, you should go through the proper chain of command. Start with your instructor, then go to the course coordinator, if that doesn't help, go to the dean. I know it sucks to pay to be miserable, I just chalk it up to a learning experience on how to deal with difficult people. Best of luck to you.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Mar 1, 2006

i agree, some examples would be helpful, to get a perspective.

as the devils' avocate, i'll give you my perspective. i had a student last sem who appeared to be a know-it-all. she did not do anything wrong, nor was i looking to 'get her'. after all was said and done, she met all the requirements to pass clinicals. this semester i have a student who (in my opinion, as well as some of the other faculty) has an 'attitude'. this, obviously is very subjective. he seems to think the rules don't apply to him, and often has issues with communication (meaning, he speaks exactly what he thinks). i had a discussion with another faculty member about him, and my response was "but he is a good student". she pointed out that part of the evaluation reflects professionalism. but these are yes and no questions... s or u (in our school). does he deserve to fail clinicals...no.

my point is, what are you doing that she is writing you up for? and if you don't know...ask her. i wouldn't ask her why she doesn't like you. but, as in life (and nursing too), there are personality conflicts. you don't have to be her friend. but there is one thing i see with some of my students that really irk me.... they don't listen to me!!! i know you are stressed, overwhelmed, etc. but i am here to teach you, and if you want to get the most out of your experience, listen to me. do what i tell you (i know that sounds harsh). if i tell you to look up something (a lab value, a med, a term in the dictioanry) do it. there's a reason behind it.

i also agree about not making waves. it's not worth it. and going outside the school, as you put it, is prob. not a good idea. to whom do you plan on reporting this to? do you feel like you are in danger of failing?

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Mar 1, 2006

I have a clinical instructor who is constantly harrassing me, writing me up for everything but when my colleagues make the same mistake she covers for them. She even pointed her finger at my face and started yelling at me. Isn't clinical suppose to be a learning experience not a bereating and verbally abusive, even threatening mannerism.
Does anyone know who can advocate the students outside the school? Is this type of verbal abuse and harrassement necessary? After all we are students right? Not punching bags.
Who can I talk to outside the school?

I am in my last semester of NS and I have finally met an instructor who just doesn't like me. The other day, she was observing me applying nitropaste to the paper. She actually threw her hands on her head and screamed. "Oh my God, what are you doing??" Everyone within a sqare mile stopped and wondered what kind of unsafe practice I was about to perform. Well, our nitropaste is in a single dose packed, and 1 gram =1 inch. So I had squeezed out the enitre packet and it appeared to be longer than 1 inch. She thought I was about to OD the pt on nitropaste! I was totally in the right for what I did, but for the nurses who overheard her scream, I may appear to be unsafe....That's not cool with me. But, I only have her for 1 more month of clinicals, so I just grin and bear it, and make sure that I explain everything I do with rational when she is observing. When she picks on me, I listen and pretend to understand, and tell her that she is right and it is something that I will work on. I guess what I am saying is, sometimes, we have to ride out the storm... It won't be too long before it's the doctor screaming and pointing in your face...

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Mar 1, 2006

it won't be too long before it's the doctor screaming and pointing in your face...

forget about the doctors... how about your nurse co-workers, managers, patients, and everyone else. 'tis only the beginning!

eandgsma · Mar 1, 2006

However, why would you want to make waves? To do something that drastic is only asking for a lot more trouble. By the time you got all the paperwork together your school term will be over and what you will be left with is a reputation among the remainder of the nursing instructors for being a troublemaker. That, you don't need. If I were you I would only speak when spoken to by this woman and follow every rule to the letter when you are under her supervision. My mother was an authoritarian and you cannot win a fight with these people. Your best hope is to be contrite, do what they demand, and stay alive just to make it to the end. After school is over you most likely will never see this lady ever again.

I totally agree with this. This is my first semester and I thought my instructor hated me. Once I realized that I was not going to be buddies with my instructor I started speaking only when spoken to and just listening and saying "OK" instead of trying to explain away or apologize. It has helped tremendously and she doesn't give me as hard of a time anymore. I try to view it as an employer/employee relationship and that helps.

Good luck!

Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

I am SOOOOO glad I haven't had an instructor likle that yet!!!! (knock on wood)