Maybe Clinicals instructor doesn't like men

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · May 11, 2019

I would make an appointment to talk to her. The first thing that came to my mind is there may be child abuse in her past and is in the mind set that she can't allow a male near the pediatric patients. It may have nothing to do with you personally.

Hardhands · May 12, 2019

Thanks..... I didnt think it was somthing i did i guessed that it was somthing like that ...... I don't know if I should talk to her and risk pissing her off even more or keep my head down and hope that I pass.....

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · May 23, 2019

There are still assumptions of males though. It's just assumed that we're not going to have enough interest in peds, OB, NICU, nursery, or anything like that to want to experience it. Plus we still live in the US where everything is assumed to be some kind of sexual experience.

tshigeru, CNA · Jun 10, 2019

I say try to talk to her and see if things can work out. Bring in someone else so there is an witness for eyes/ear of evidence in case SHE goes back on her word or whatsoever.

If that does not work, speak to your other program instructors/faculty personnel and see what they say and how they can fix this situation.

organichombre, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jun 17, 2019

Document each and every incident. And if you don't feel comfortable confronting her then you need to let someone else know at school. Let another student know what you feel is happening and see what she/he says after observing the two of you interacting. But eventually you need to call her out for inappropriate behavior. Of course I'm speaking from 26 years at the bedside and now a clinical instructor so I may be a little opinionated. Sometimes we as instructors are intimidated by students and don't know how to deal with it. I know that I have had to learn that lesson a number of times!

BrentRN, PhD · Jun 20, 2019

As a nursing student in the 1970s I had an instructor flat out tell me she did not think men belonged in nursing. We were "taking jobs away from women". That was at a time when it was harder for women to break into professions outside nursing or teaching.

Sadly, I have continued to meet nurses who hint they believe women are more suited to be nurses as they are more likely to have the correct "worldview", have greater empathy, or still think men are taking all the top jobs.

Hardhands · Jun 20, 2019

Thanks everyone for the comments, just to give you an update,

I made peace with the instructor and finished the rotation in one piece .

I have to say that her mood and behavior was erratic and it was pure luck that any of my groups finished the rotation in one piece I'm now in the ER doing fine?

Crash_Cart · Jul 15, 2019

Look there's always going be a certain bias with men working around kids, OB or NICU and sometimes certain procedures involving female patients.

Yes, it can get akward at times, but most clinical instructors are acutely aware of this situation and they do cut us a little slack when it comes to doing our clinicals in certain situations.

Stop pushing around and challenging the clinical instructor so much in these sensitive areas and just ride the wave and you should do fine.

Mix1990 · Jul 16, 2019

I had this issue with my community college in Rancho Cucamonga. Just keep your head down. Do whats asked, and refrain from answering/asking questions, lest you be scolded. Thats my experience at least.

BrentRN, PhD · Jul 19, 2019

To all nursing students: If you think a faculty member has a bias due to your race, gender, or sexuality you should document in a diary format what you consider biased behavior. There may not much that can be done unless it is blatant. Ask other clinical group member to corroborate what happened and record their names in the diary.

You may have to make a call whether to complain during or after a semester. Personally, I would first discuss the concern with the faculty member. If you have documented what you feel is her bias then bringing it up to her may make her aware of an unperceived bias. You also have protection from retaliation this way. If she tries to lower the boom then you have evidence in your diary, and the fact you tried to address with her first.

If direct communication fails then take your concerns to the next person up the ladder, which is usually the Department Chairperson. Do not jump to Deans or Presidents without first going through your local chain of leadership.

Josh Runkle, RN, EMT-P · Oct 3, 2019

I am in my last semester of RN. So far I have probably worked with 20-30 classroom professors/instructors and about 8-10 clinical instructors. I have really enjoyed almost every instructor, but I have had 2 clinical instructors along the way that tried to abnormally put me under a microscope and put me down in front of my clinical peers. One made me stay late on the first day and gave me a clinical failure for documenting something which was appropriate according to my textbook, but not within the hospitals policy. I was able to show the info according to my textbook, but rather than giving me an "update" on the hospital policy, I got a clinical failure for the day. I went home pissed off, almost ready to quit because nothing like that EVER happens to my female peers. I decided instead that I would return and just straight up be perfect. I spent about 40 hours reading ALL of the hospital's nursing policies and returned to clinical and told the instructor that I had now read ALL of the policies and was determined to be her very best student.

The worst part of it all is that this ends up harming women in the end. It holds men to a higher standard, but when men succeed and excel at what they are doing, it leaves little room for the rest of the women in the group to blend in. It left me large room to be viewed as a standout leader in the class. This sexist BS hurts men quite a bit, but I think it unfortunately eventually hurts women more.

If someone unfairly kicks you in the teeth, give them a bloody smile and rise above it. You'll gain the respect of everyone else and it will help you in the long run.