Question for educators

[RNmom08]

Ok, I have a question for educators and I don't want to offend anyone what-so-ever so please bear with me. I truly want to know the answer to this question.

At our school, my nursing 4 instructor is extremely unapproach able. I mean, we will go to ask her a question, and immediately she is on the offensive before we even ask her. I ask questions mostly to help myself learn sometimes to clear up something that may be a little "foggy" for me. I will admit that when I (or other students) ask about particular class content whether it be IV administration, bowel questions, or something concrete like that, she is for the most part ok. But when we would happen to ask her something about an assignment, she gets very defensive as though we are questioning her authority and to be honest, I feel like I have to walk on eggshells around her.

Here's an example:

We had to do research presentations today and there was what we thought looked like a grading sheet with questions on there that we had to answer. The questions were on a sheet of paper with a small space that looked to the whole class like and area for her to write comments as we were doing presentations. There was an instruction sheet with the packet about how we were to do the research project. On the instructions it stated "Please answer the specific questions on the Research form (found on the back of the Care Plan)" Well, we all (meaning EVERYONE in the whole class) typed it up neatly, retyping the specific questions and typing our answer behind the question. As we were sitting in the room waiting for class to start, a former graduate ask how things were going. We told her we were doing our presentations today. Then she told us to be sure to write it on the specific paper because the instructor would take points off if we didn't. We were like - What?? Later, I went and asked the question and showed her how we typed it up all nice and neat (so it was ledgible) and she, with an attitude, stomped over to her file cabinet and pulled out the instructions and reread it to me. I tucked my tail, said ok, and went and told the class that we were going to have to scramble to transfer our answers from one paper to the other.

To me, the fact that they were typed up was not a big deal. I actually thought it was nice that we took pride enough in our work that we wanted it to be neat and clean. One girl in our class NEVER types ANYTHING and she even took the time to type it.

I am almost done with Nursing IV. All I have left is my preceptorship and final. Eventually I want to become a nursing instructor so I pay close attention to my instructors and try to understand how they react/reason etc.

This particular instructor seems to come off as being on an enormous power trip. I know she just recieved her Master's in the spring so I don't know if that has something to do with how she is acting or not. I realize that she may have something going on in her life that is stressful as well and it may be coming out towards students, but to be quite honest with you, she is losing my respect - and I'm not happy about that. What she is teaching me at this point is how NOT to be as an instructor. This is not the only time something like this has happened. Several times, she has written dosage calculations on tests wrong: like putting mg instead of mL. I basically know what she meant on the test the way the problem was written as well as I usually ask if I have questions but there have been students that write on the test that they would check the orders because the order could not be given as written. (In my opinion, that answer would have to be accepted because of the way the question was written) But instead, she says that us as students should know what she meant. :uhoh21: I mean, come on. These are students grades and lives here. Sometimes a point really can make a difference!

In this situation, (with the research project) was I really that off base to get snipped at the way I did?

(BTW, it happened to another student as well because he didn't think that she understood what I asked and the same thing happened to him.)

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't think it's wise for you to be trying to analyze your instructor's behavior. Such an approach just leads you down a path that only gets increasingly messy. It's like dealing with patients, supervisors, collegues, and children. Set limits as to what you will tolerate and what you will not. Address issues as necessary with the person ... and then go up the chain of command as necessaary. You can't change other people, you can only manage your own behavior. Make your decisions and then live with them and move on.

Simply take her at face value and let it be. If you feel the problems are serious enough to address with her supervisor, then do so as a group. I think the issue of writing ml vs. mg on a test and expecting the students to "know what she meant" is an example of an issue that should be taken to a higher authority if you can not resolve it with her. As for some of the lesser things, you should probably just let them go. Not everyone you meet is going to "click with" your preferred style. The issue with the misunderstanding about the directions for your project was just that -- a misuderstanding. Try to resolve it with her and if you can't, then decide whether it is worth pursuing or not.

Don't get caught up in trying to fix everything and eveyone who doesn't meet your standards. Choose the degree of response appropriate for the particular situation, taking the possible consequences of your actions into consideration -- then move on.

[RNmom08]

This isn't about "my standards". I was only curious. Like I said, I didn't want to offend anyone.

I know there are more out there in the world like her.

Thanks anyways...

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

think of school as a bunch of loops you have to jump through to get that magic piece of paper. One of your loops is to just do what she says without trying to make sense of it all. I agree, she is not communicating well. However, you are wasting energy and stressing out over something that will not matter the day after graduation. Good luck. You are almost there!

[imafostermom]

I think you will be a great teacher. Learn from your instructors about HOW to teach and try to remember how she made you feel so you will not make students feel as you have. Try to be fair and not to bring your home problems to work. I learn SO much from my students comments about how/why I do things and constantly have to rethink my reasoning for things.I have nursed for 15 yrs and taught 9 years and my students guide my teaching as much as the state standards do. Just because you teach students does not mean you are perfect.

[iteachob, MSN, RN]

Those instructions ARE ambiguous.....but I'm sure they were perfectly clear to your instructor. We all have our bad moments, but I think perhaps she should reflect on how her instructions appear to students. Based on her reaction, it seems to me that she must have had the same result (not the way she wanted it) before and is exhibiting frustration.

[AOx1]

In the process of things, we all make mistakes. Sometimes what seems crystal clear to me is not picked up on by my students. This comment is NOT directed at you, but more a rhetorical statement..I find it interesting that when my students make mistakes I try to show them why and how it could be done differently the next time, and to point this out with compassion. But God help me if I make any mistakes! I always admit any error I discover (typo, etc) but I am judged by a different standard and every error is picked apart and dissected. I think a lot of this is due to extreme student stress. Also, instructors are very overloaded due to faculty shortages in many schools. The huge majority of us try hard to create a great learning experience for our students, but we will never be perfect.

I find that if someone is not receptive to feedback in person (as it sounds like your instructor may not be)- it often helps to leave this information on an evaluation as a group in a neutral manner. For example, if only 1 of 100 students write "I hated the text book," my reaction would be very different than if half the class wrote the same comment. I think constructive criticism should be welcomed. I have learned so much about how to teach more effectively through this feedback.

Sometimes what teaches you most, as you are finding, is seeing how you would NOT do things. Make a mental note of all the things you want for your future students and keep it close to your heart. This will keep you strong as you work to become an instructor. It is extremely difficult and the work you don't hear "thank you" enough, but I still find it to be rewarding knowing in some way I am making the world better by providing education and encouragement to brand new nurses.

[nursesail]

RNMom08, This instructor should not be teaching. Masters notwithstanding, she does not have the skills, expertise, and talent to be a good nursing instructor. Do you all fill out a faculty eval anonymously at the end of the semester? If so, I encourage you and your class to be extremely honest. The woman is being unreasonable. I think the school where she is at should reconsider having her on staff.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Nursesail, how can you possibly say that when you don't even know the situation, apart from a few paragraphs on a messageboard? You should know that the perception of an events is bound to be different with each observer. This is just one person's point of view.