Need Advice

[2bRNatasha85]

I've recently begun the clinical component of my nursing education. My clinical professor is a woman with a very strong personality who gets impatient at any mistakes made. In addition, she's expressed concerns over me because to her I come across as too shy and unsure of myself. While I do admit I am shy and unsure of myself, it is mainly because I'm new to working in a hospital and am still learning the skills I need to learn. I am positive that once I've gotten a hang on them, I will exude more confidence. However, I feel like my training is being hindered by her because she's constantly picking on me and I've noticed recently that I've gotten some of the more aggressive patients, something I do not think is a coincidence. All of this is taking its toll on me because she's making me hate nursing. In addition, it's hard to concentrate on the task at hand when she's constantly hovering over me and verbally threatening to fail me if I do something wrong. Has anyone else had such a difficult clinical professor? If so, how were you able to handle it?

[DidiRN]

Moved to General Nursing Student Forum for best response.

[brennan4ever]

Tell her in a assertive way........btfo!...please........

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Yes. Tell her to have several seats.

[Amistad, RN]

2bRNatasha85, I'm sorry to hear that you're having a difficult experience in your first clinical rotation. Your clinical professor sounds completely unfair... How can she expect her students to be confident and skilled just starting out? That's ridiculous. In my first clinical rotation I could hardly walk into my patient's room and introduce myself without feeling nervous. So don't worry, it's normal to feel unsure of yourself at first.

I had a similar experience where I didn't mesh well with one of my clinical instructors. My advice to you is to try to get to know some of the nurses on your floor, if possible. For example, if your patient needs a dressing change, ask your patient's nurse to show you how she does it. Your clinical professor is not the only person who can teach you things on the floor.

Additionally, it might not be a bad idea to let someone in your nursing school know how things are going. The only way they know how clinical instructors are doing is through student feedback.

Best of luck!

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

yes, I had same experience. I too am pretty reserved and quiet. I won't call myself shy, but more introvert. My first clinicals was horrible. I was not the only quiet one who was picked on. My instructor basically hated quiet people. Some how they equate quiet = bad nurse. Even some nurses on here think the same thing.

I strongly disagree and don't give a hoot what anyone thinks. Next time she questions your ability to be a good nurse let her know that you are strong in your convictions to be a nurse. I understand that nursing involves a lot of communication. But I do really well one on one with patients and not with someone hovering over me. And Some shy people get even more quiet if we are being badgered like if this is a military school. All I can say is try doing additional practice skills. Pratice at home by yourself first, speaking loudly as you do each skills then with some friends in the lab, just to get rid of the nerves or people being around. And then practice saying what you are doing out loud. Deliberately speak loudly to the instructor. Don't second guess yourself when doing a skill while he/she is watching, just do it, speak loudly.

You don't have to be an expert, just get through nursing school, do whatever the instructor wants, don't complain and afterwards you will find your own rhythm. You can do this!.

FYI: And don't let the talkative people in class fool you. They are just as scared and nervous as you are- they just talk a lot when nervous but to instructors they mistakenly view that as show of confidence. Observe them at your next clinical and you will see what I mean. Remember everyone is incompetent until they actually have RN to their name...

[2bRNatasha85]

The making friends with the floor nurse is really good advice. Thank you. One of the things my clinical professor does that I absolutely abhor is tell us "I cannot show you because I already know but you have to learn." Then she watches us do something and if we do it wrong, the next thing out of her mouth is her fear of you screwing up HER nursing license and she'll stop you and let one of the LPN students do it instead. It's completely unfair!

As far as telling someone in my school, I'm seriously considering it.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Being quiet is not a sin, but it is, wrongly, often seen as a weakness. You're going to get a lot out of this TED talk on the power of introverts, I promise.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

the woman is a bully. Tell the Dean. (p.s. I am an instructor too. I hate bullies, regardless of their job description)

[Dranger]

I'd go to the dean, you aren't paying good money to be picked on or bullied.