Intimidating Nursing Instructors

[ERNicholeC]

this is my first thread, so i apologize if there is a previous discussion on this topic.

i am in my first semester of a lvn program. i have almost 6 years experience in the er as a tech, and feel that i do my job very well. i have never been "book smart", but have always said "when its time to show my clinical skills, i will be amazing."...i think i jinxed myself . i love all of my instructors individually. they are all amazing, unique and very knowledgeable. my problem is however, when skills testing with one of my instructors, i allow her to intimidate me to the point where i honestly feel nauseated and think i am going to pass out. all of my knowledge checks out, and my emotions check in. what in the world is wrong with me!? i know my skills. why do i let this one woman scare me like this? i feel so silly even admitting it. is anyone else having this issue? if so how are you controlling it? any advice is much appreciated. thank you guys! i hope you all had a great weekend!

[voamp1re]

We seem to have a similar problem with one of our four clinical instructors. She has been known to ask off-beat but on topic questions which makes everyone uncomfortable and very nervous that they will be failed for not knowing the answer. During our vital signs validation she asked the student to name several reasons why she wouldn't take a blood pressure in a certain extremity. The student about had a meltdown.

So...our study group started coming up with a list of questions that we thought would be off the wall for the validation that we were doing and used those as we practice trying to simulate what she does to make us nervous.

Another question that she asked once during our isolation validation was "Why would you not clean up the water drops around the sink after washing your hands?" A: It's housekeepings job.

So, don't beat yourself up , just try during practice simulating what he or she does that makes you nervous. Hope this helps.

[elf5ft10]

You've got to be kidding me, its housekeepings job? Ha, I would have had a field day with that instuctor. I have just worked my way up from housekeeping to nurse, and if there is water around the sink it can drip on the floor and if it gets on the floor from using the sink it is everyones responsibility to clean it up, this can cause slips and falls, and no hospital wants that!