Instructor from hell fails me in clinical!

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I had attended a nursing school at a university. I decided to transfer in the middle of the program (after 2 semesters) to a university closer to home. I figured since the programs were both 3 year BSN programs they would be very similar.

I couldn't have been more wrong. Everything about the program was different from the way the instructors treated the students to the classes. My instructor was the one everyone dreaded that semester. We, however, did not get to select our own clinical instructors at this school. To get to the point, the instructor was awful She didn't praise you, give you any compliments or confidence what so ever, all she did was find something else wrong with what you were doing. This was not only for me, but my classmates as well. Because I was so on edge by the way she treated me, I was sure to keep up and make sure I was going to pass, everything was looking good a couple of weeks before the end. Well, she ended up failing me, because on the last day of clinical, the nurse had complained about my sterile technique while putting in the foley cath. This particular nurse didn't really like students and so I didn't really even want to go in there, but the nurse I was working with said very bluntly that if I wanted new experiences I should go in there and seek them. During evaluations, I stated how I didn't think I deserved to fail the course, and so the instructor then changed my grade to a D-. Thinking about this makes me so depressed, knowing that I am going to have to repeat the whole semester. I made an appointment with the Dean, and he in turn called the Director of nursing and asked that she try to resolve this with me first. She was then upset with me, because I went over her head. The only reason I did this was because tallking with her before about this same instructor had gotten me nowhere, and also the instructor had found out I had went to her! Is there anything I can do now? It just makes me sick to think that I am going to graduate six months later, all because of this. I know there has to be some way I can file a grievance or something. It is just I do not know where or even how to start. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME IDEAS. Thanks

I have personally witnessed one of my instructors "targeting" students they either 1 - did not like or 2 - thought they would not make a good nurse.

My teacher was wonderful with me except for one occasion in which she decided to yell at me in front of a patient... The belittlement went on for a good 5 minutes before I had enough abuse and calmly looked her in the eyes and said "I understand that I made an error, but your tone and choice of words are out of line and offensive." She was so shocked that I was not afraid to let her know she was crossing a professional boundary that She NEVER EVER EVER mistreated me again. However, I was #1 in the class academically and I was also the girl that would argue for hours over a question marked incorrect when I could find proof of otherwise. So I think she understood that I would not tolerate blatent abuse.

That said - I did ON MANY MANY occasions watch her purposely set students up to fail. She once told me that she wasnt going to pass a philapino student bc english was her 2nd language and she didnt think she "got" it. Well this particular student was abused over and over until one day she left the clinical in tears - it turned out the instructor didnt have to fail her after all. The overwhelming abuse and constant fear of humiliation got the best of her and she left.

There are SOME instructors that are a nightmare! And I am sorry if you were the target of one of them. My heart goes out to you! Appeal - appeal - appeal! And ask fellow students if they ever witnessed the teacher being clearly unprofessional with you... If you can get another student who witnessed the instructor being unfair, then you might have more evidence to win your appeal.

Thanks, I appreciate your support. I have heard horrow stories before about nursing instructors, I had just thought that was a thing of the past. My other instructors were great! They were there to help anytime-they didn't judge you, they knew you were learning and did not expect you to know everything. It is a terrible feeling to have to repeat a whole semester though. If it was just one class, I don't think it would be so bad. Did you also have to repeat a whole semester?

Count yourself lucky you only have to repeat one semester. I had to repeat the entire program. Clinicals, labs, theory, pharmacology...ALL of them!! Because of one of those instructors. I still don't know why she failed me, she never even gave me a reason. I took legal action, and have done all the self-reflecting I can possibly do, she was just plain power hungry and wrong to do what she did. I started a new program at a different school and I couldn't be happier. I have gotten stellar clinical evaluations every term and straight A's in all my classes. Go figure. All I can say is that some schools are great and some are crap. If I were you, I'd transfer back and finish at your original school. Leave this one in the dust and never look back. Good luck.

My cousin went through the same thing, hang in there, It will pass eventually.

Specializes in Telemetry.

I agree some of these instructors have to abuse students to feel important. I have seen students fail because of what the nurse told the instructor. My friend was one of them. It is time for these mean instructors to be fired and work with the dogs in the kennel. Some of these instructors would not even be allowed to do postmortem care on my dog. I just hate it when instructors cross the line, how dare them? Students have to spend a lot on their education and then out comes an instructor with her bag of ignorance ready to devour them. This is crap at the highest level.

Camelia Davis, all I can say is WOW! Very well put. Being a nurse is MUCH more than a pay check or the money is good. I believe that it's a divine call by God. I never looked at it as a ministry but come to think of it, that's exactly what it is. I haven't experienced the things such as CI hating me for some unknown reason, but my experience deals with how do I understand and comprehend the material that I'm studying in order to pass these test. My instructors keep saying you must be a critical thinker. Do you become a critical thinker overnight? I'm in my 3rd semester, having to repeat Med-Surg II and the battle was feeling worthless, am I really called to be a nurse and self defeat. I felt like crawling into my own little hole and just weep. The battle can come in the form of CI, your fellow classmates, your teachers, your self or your mind. You are right, a battle between good and evil. Awesome postage. I really enjoyed reading your reply. Good luck to all. I'm often reminded that the word of God says, "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world". Hold on!

Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

like someone else has said before, was that it that got you to fail the semester? because if you had good grades how can one make you retake the whole semester? if you didn't have so good grades and even though she picked on you, let it go, retake the course, or you can always transfer.

best of luck to you.

I am sorry all this has happened. When I started nursing school someone on here posted very good advice concerning clinical instructors. If your clinical instructor tells you that the sky is pink, the sky is PINK until you graduate. THEN it can be any color you want it to be.

May not apply in this case, but very good info to hold onto.

http://www.cnafirst.com/cnahandbook.pdf This is a link that can help with a Grievance with a instructor. I am also dealing with this as well.

GRIEVANCE POLICY

Student/faculty/instructor grievances are handled by a clearly written and consistent

process according to an established protocol, communicated to affected parties.

Grievances could be initiated for any of the following reasons: Acts of any physical

action; Acts of pressure or intimidation; Acts of bullying or sexual harassment and Acts

of discrimination based on color, sex, race, nationality, disability, age, marital status and

religious belief. If a student/faculty member needs to report a grievance against the

instructor, school or any other member, the student/faculty member should first attempt

to resolve the situation by contacting the school's DON.

If the situation is still unresolved, the student/faculty member may then speak with the

Administrator and file a grievance in reference to the issue. This written document will

state the problem at hand and possibly state the appropriate solution for the problem. If

the grievance is made by more than one student/faculty member on the same issue, the

group will appoint one representative to speak for the entirety.

The Hearing Committee will consist of one faculty member, one student and one

administrator/DON to hear the student or any other party concerned. The Hearing

Committee will try to address and assess the situation and take action according to the

solution that is mutually decided upon. If the student/faculty member or the concerned

parties do not show up for the hearing with the Hearing Committee, then the grievance

would be null and void.

If the student/faculty member is found inexcusable, school has adequate reason to not

allow students to sit in further classes, dismissal for faculty member, suspension, deficit

in pay or demotion in rank.

Complaints against the school shall be registered with Medina Nursing Center by sending

a letter to the following addresses:

Medina Nursing Center

402 S Center St

Durand, IL 61024

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