need advice in relation to clinical instructor

cursedandblessed · Apr 15, 2009

have you asked her specifically what your documentation is lacking?? have you asked her what you can do to make it better?? clinical is subjective, and you have to do it the way the clinical instructor wants, things differ from hospital to hospital as well.

jmvho- never tick off a clinical instructor because you never know when you'll see her again. going over her head could work one of two ways so be prepared: one the lead instructor already knows there is a problem, or two you'll be seen as a whiner and the ci will find out and you'll have one really bad last week with no hope of getting through.

i'm in a similar situation, but i was surprised on my midterm clinical evaluation. my lead instructor has been asking me about my clinical rotation and the instructor every flipping time i see her. i know she know's something is wrong, but i'm not willing to take the chance this close to finishing our hardest rotation. so, i told her i don't have time right now, but i'd be glad to talk to her after the the final in 2 weeks.

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earthcrosser · Apr 16, 2009

Not every instructor will like you. It sucks when you are with them for a long time and it is rather unfair, but quite a bit of grading in nursing school is very subjective. Personal biases play a lot into how instructors grade. I had one who would not give me the highest marks even when I did deserve them - she gave others very high scores who didn't do as much or left the floor for hours at a time. She hated me (she told me once it was because I was an "alternative" type person outside of professional settings - but totally white bread in the clinicals). I just worked to get feedback from her and change my paperwork/grading tool (sorta like a journal) to how she wanted just to get decent grades. All you can do is just try and ask her what you can do to improve - what kinds of things she wants of you.

matilda123 · Apr 17, 2009

You have to talk to the instructor first. It is wrong to go over her head without talking to her first. Wouldn't you want someone to come to you first with any issues they had with you? I would keep in mind that most of the instructors know and talk to each other.

intuition · Apr 18, 2009

Boy does this sound familiar. I just finished clinicals with the same type of instructor. I tried to lay low, and when I wasn't able to, I would take her criticism and told her I would improve on the area she thought I was lacking in. I also kept a little notebook about the things that were happening, just factual information not just things to complain about. I always stayed in contact with her and asked her how I could improve, so that she could see that I was trying, and also asked her to tell me if/when she thought I was in jeopordy of not passing clinical. I did this so that she couldn't spring it on me the last day of clinical. I ended up passing, but I hated every clinical day with her. I also let the clinical coordinator know what was going on, so that if she tried to fail me, I had it documented that I voiced a concern. This would help me if I had to try and go in front of the school board.

sallber · Apr 18, 2009

First off, I'm sorry this is happenning to you.

It has happened to me, and other classmates that I know. I agree wholeheartedly with Intuition, keep a diary of what is happenning. Make sure that it is factual info, not just "she doesn't like me". Stick to the facts, such as "she practices favortism, and here is the evidence", sort of approach. Advisors and school boards need evidence in order to find a person guilty of anything, not just subjective "she hates me" sort of stuff.

Hang in there. Talk to her advisor if you can, noting that you feared retaliation if you brought it to her. I disagree with others saying you should go to her. I have practiced that approach, and it blew up in my face because my teacher only used my approaching her against me later. Do what you feel is in your gut, and if it's to go over her head, just do it with SOLID EVIDENCE.

I also feel it helps if you remember that it's not you. If this teacher is reacting harshly to you despite your best efforts, and if your best efforts are correct, it's her, not you. Too often on these boards older nurses (and younger ones) advise nursing students to take abuse silently, do what you have to do and get out of nursing school.

My question to that attitude is: how am I going to be a courageous patient advocate when I can't stand up for myself?

If you feel you are being treated unfairly, you do not have to lie down and take it, no matter what anyone here or anywhere else says. Remember that you are a human, and you deserve to be treated like one. Just get some solid evidence, and make sure to point it out to those who can help you, be it filing a formal complaint, talking to her advisor, etc.