My clinical instructor threw me out of clinical!

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Feb 13, 2009

Where was your UAP to call in to help?

There are too many holes in this story to say if your instructor was justified or not in throwing you out.

truern · Feb 13, 2009

When I asked her what I did wrong, she said, "What didn't you do wrong?" I still dont' understand why she made me leave.

Well, *that* certainly wasn't very helpful!!

Are you sure you don't know why you were sent home?? From my experience clinical instructors don't send students home without good reason. I'm sorry, but you don't miss a med pass because somebody has diarrhea.

Nightbloom · Feb 13, 2009

The original pt I was assigned to wasn't in his room so the instructor assigned me another pt late in the morning. This put me behind and threw me off.

I guess I felt overwhelmed by the fact that as soon as I changed the pt he would have liquid diarrhea again so I didn't get to the med passes. She said the family complained about me being flustered and then she said what didn't you do wrong when I asked for specifics.

I should have done the med passes and I'm angry at myself because obviously I got behind and didn't manage things well. I'm guessing that's why she made me leave.

I have clinicals with this instructor tomorrow and she told me if I decided to show to be prepared.

I was hoping that she would give me specifics as to what I needed to do better, but she didn't.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

.
I have clinicals with this instructor tomorrow and she told me if I decided to show to be prepared.
I was hoping that she would give me specifics as to what I needed to do better, but she didn't.

If you want specifics of things to improve on, I would ask your instructor at the beginning of clinical tomorrow. You need to know what areas you are lacking in so you know where to improve.

NSALVADORE · Feb 13, 2009

I don't think it is fair that she answered you that way! If you are going to learn she needs to give CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. I would approach her tomorrow early, see if she will talk about it with you. If she isn't helpful try not to let it fluster you and ruin another day okay!! Just be prepared and do your best =) We are students and we do make mistakes!

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

Even though you are a student I would think you could ask one of the techs for assistance.......unfortunately in the real world meds are the top priority--other then a patient who is suddenly accutly unstable--even then you need to make a plan to cover your meds.......like say to another nurse, since this patient has chest pain I just got slammed....Would you mind keeping an eye on my other patients and I didn't get to the 1300 Antibiotic for Mr. Smith and Mrs. Johnson still needs her 1300 meds as well ...........could you please do that for me and I will let you know when I get this one stablized.....thanks!--done you covered what you needed to.......most of the staff will cover for you--and you will need to do the same for them....its all about teamwork! As for your situation, unfortunately getting the patients meds is really important........yes you have to keep him comfortable.....but when med time comes you have to do the best you can to rap things up and excuse yourself--telling the patient and family that the patient really needs to get his meds so you need to take care of that and will clean him up again after that is taken care of. And while your at it....unless this patient has C-diff--when you don't give meds for the diarrhea--I'd of been asking for some Loperimide!!! Get that diarrhea stopped! You can let the nurse covering the patient know about the diarrhea and make sure it isnt' c-diff and see if she would be able to get the PRN/med order for you from the doc. Last thing to keep in mind is ...put a brief on the patient and be sure to cover the skin with some sort of good protectant cream and realize that you can't change him after every drop of stool. He is gonna have to sit in some stool and that is reality...you do the best you can. and ask the tech for help--saying you realize that students cover the ADL's for thier own patient but that this one has really bad diarrhea so it would be helpful if he/she could help just for a bit so you can get to his meds.....

As for gettting kicked out...........first of all where was this preceptor all day to help in keeping you focused and on task and give you guidance???? What did kicking you out do to help you learn from this? Nothing!! I was a teacher prior to nursing and from the perspective of a teacher--that is terrible practice......this should tell her that you need a little of extra guidance with prioritizing and routines.....!!! That doesn't come to everyone automatically and that is what she is there for. just remember when you go back to be humble and tell her that you realize you made some poor choices and need some help in learning to structure your day, a routine and prioritizing and you are hoping that she can help you with this so you can be the best nurse you can-- not sucking up but saying what might help to smooth the uncomfortable tension--

Good luck to you and keep your chin up!!!!

whiteoleander5 · Feb 13, 2009

I dont understand clinical instructors. I feel like pretty much all of them are the same, that I have seen/heard about: obnoxious, condescending, intimidating. We are there to LEARN. Not want to go home crying and want to quit. I feel like the way they approach us about things does not help us become better nurses, it makes us afraid to ask questions. Is it "Tough Love"? I dont know... Just wondering. :coollook:

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

I dont understand clinical instructors. I feel like pretty much all of them are the same, that I have seen/heard about: obnoxious, condescending, intimidating. We are there to LEARN. Not want to go home crying and want to quit. I feel like the way they approach us about things does not help us become better nurses, it makes us afraid to ask questions. Is it "Tough Love"? I dont know... Just wondering.

Keep in mind we are only getting one side of this story.

RN BSN 2009 · Feb 13, 2009

What year are you in NS?

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

I find this interesting......My degree is actually a BSN that I did via an accelerated program after a BS in Health Science/Education. However I started out in a AS-Nursing program and did the first year of the two , and at that point transferred out to the University where I got the first BS in '98--it wasn't till 2002 that I returned for my nursing degree-- much older and some education and life in between--2 kids--

So I have actually attened both types of programs-- and well I have to say that I transferred out of the nursing AS because of a clinical preceptor I had that I HATED! She made it hell--med/surg.....I had a patient one day that had just had surgury and really wanted to be made comfortable and left alone to rest as he hurt and generally felt like crap! So I did just that, and she told me I didn't care about my patient because I wan't spending enough time in his room!! He didn't want to socialize he was in pain!!! LOL I was so mad!

Then at my eval she told me that she really didn't think I was cut out for nursing--not having to do with my skills but my lack of compassion and that she didn't see that I cared about my patients!!! I was beyond angry!!! I cried all the way home! I never looked back and moved on to another degree.

Well now many years later I have my BSN and have had more patients tell me I am a wonderful nurse. I work in psych where the biggest part of my job is talking to people and caring about them, being compassionate to their emotional needs. I am a great nurse and great psych nurse and care A LOT about my patients! I am so glad that her horrible treatment of me didn't keep me from eventually becoming a nurse and a dammed good one! LOL I only regret that I did give up for a while and did let her get to me.....to my spirit. But not for too long!!!

Now back to my main point.......lol........she was the worst but the other instructors I had in this ASN program were not great........

However every single one of my instructors in my BSN program were awesome!!!

Even the program was taught differently........a whole different feel to it.......

Hell I have no desire to do medical peds, never have never will--but I did have an amazing peds preceptor and loved the rotation and learned a lot. So even things i didn't like were a great learning experience.

Not sure if it was just a coincky-dink that i had better instructors in the BSN program...........

laketrash · Feb 13, 2009

I agree the instuctor should have been more forthcoming but it seems there are more out there to get rid of you than there are to help you. Agreed you should have delegated and took responsibility to get the med pass done on time but she didn't teach you anything by responding to your mistakes the way she did.I remember one of my first pts was an old man who was in contact isolation, who had a peg tube that I HAD TO PUT MEDICINE IN [before I even knew what the heck a peg tube was} and Mrs.W... sent me in and then left; so I stood there thinking OMG what do I do now. The thought occured to just throw it away because she had done nothing but give me a hard time but my heart wouldn't let me.So.....I got out of all that garb , went and found a nurse who helped me /showed me what to do so ....I guess what I'm trying to get across is do your best, don't be afraid to ask for help and don't let sour misarable instructors make you quit.I didn't and am soo glad even after all these years.