There is a nursing instructor at my school that is continuously embarrassing me mainly because this nursing instructor believes that I am too quiet, so he has made it his goal to bother me constantly.
He has made speeches in front of the class about how he doesn't understand how a student can become a nurse and be quiet and non-confrontational.
He has said that he doesn't understand how we could talk to doctors and make it in nursing.
I do not know what to do anymore. The teacher has constantly embarrassed me in front of other students by walking over to my group during labs and telling them that they need to help me because I am quieter. I don't know if I'm crazy, but I think this is VERY rude. I don't understand it.
I am a person that can take a lot of crap from people, but this really made me upset. Whenever this has happened, I have literally gotten upset in class and wanted to walk out and never come back. Why can't this teacher just teach the class and leave me alone.
He comes up to students and literally tells them to help me because I am quiet. This causes the students to look at me and wonder what's going on. He has told me that I need to get some confidence and make friends in the class.
He has asked me why I won't talk to the other students. Now mind you, this class only takes place for one hour every week. How could this teacher possibly know who I speak with and what I do. I think this teacher is being inappropriate at my expense. It is making me really uncomfortable. It makes dread having to attend the class. I will admit that I am not the most talkative person, but as long as I get my grades that is my business.
Once, I got so upset that I literally sat alone and did my work. I didn't say a word the whole entire class. That left everyone in my group confused at my behavior. Me, not talking has made it even worse. He gets even more in my face. His presence is suffocating. I don't know how to get around this. He has also gone to my other teachers and told them how quiet I am, and that I do not talk the other students. This gives my other teachers the same perspective of me. Can some please HELP? Should I report the teacher?
I'm not seeing the harassment angle either. So the instructor is making speeches about how nurses need to be vocal an proactive. It's a valid point. And it's probably a point he makes to every group of students that comes through. Maybe the OP is being overly sensitive when she thinks the instructor is talking about her?
Unfortunately this is the nursing way. I'm sorry for you but I have been there and so has most nurses. Nursing school is aweful. The bullying and intimidation unfortunately can continue into your workplace also. Nurses eat their young. And old for that matter. And everything in between. Keep your head up. If you feel assertiveness is a weakness for you this will be great practice for dealing with difficult people at work. You can stand up for yourself without being disrespectful.
I know how you feel. I once attended a class where the first thing the teacher did was comment on how quiet I was and that seemed to bother her more than myself. There are some people in this world who are actually intimidated by your silence, they feel like you may have something to hide, maybe you don't like them, etc...and that's threatening to them. It's hard to say what your teacher's aim is but I would start asking him so many questions related to my studies that he gets tired of coming near me. Make a list the night before and start asking as soon as he comes near you. Maybe if he's doing his job more he won't have to worry about how much (or little) you talk. I am very quiet in a classroom setting unless I already know someone there but I usually get familiar with at least 1 person fairly quickly. I would definitely NOT say that my quietness is any indication of how I speak of for myself. I am a firm believer in fairness and I have been known to speak up for strangers if I feel that they are not being treated fairly. The less your mouth is running the more you hear and others are less likely to forget what you say when you do talk :).
Exactly!!! You totally understand me. I will talk to him.
She could stand up and then he could turn on her. She could go to the Dean of Nursing too but who knows how they will respond. It is tough enough doing the Looooooong ass days and then deal with bullying & harassment is just beyond me. This tells me that it is the SCHOOL's issue & their culture that allows it. Just grin & bear it & pass & move on. Stuednt never win otherwise.
Here is a timely article about misogyny I found in Forbes. The fact that the other women do not help her tells me that the other students are ALSO the enablers of the errant instructor's behavior. A school in Northern VA call Shenandoah University has this problem in SPADES and it starts at the top. If you here about environments like this, it not your problem it is theirs.
Very interesting article, applies to many nurses, that is for sure!
She could stand up and then he could turn on her. She could go to the Dean of Nursing too but who knows how they will respond. It is tough enough doing the Looooooong ass days and then deal with bullying & harassment is just beyond me. This tells me that it is the SCHOOL's issue & their culture that allows it. Just grin & bear it & pass & move on. Stuednt never win otherwise.
Here is a timely article about misogyny I found in Forbes. The fact that the other women do not help her tells me that the other students are ALSO the enablers of the errant instructor's behavior. A school in Northern VA call Shenandoah University has this problem in SPADES and it starts at the top. If you here about environments like this, it not your problem it is theirs.
She could stand up and then he could turn on her. She could go to the Dean of Nursing too but who knows how they will respond. It is tough enough doing the Looooooong ass days and then deal with bullying & harassment is just beyond me. This tells me that it is the SCHOOL's issue & their culture that allows it. Just grin & bear it & pass & move on. Stuednt never win otherwise.
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I am curious, do you have first hand experience of this?
This class is only one hour a week and he knows so much about you? In a one hour class how does he know who you talk to, or don't? I wonder what it is about you that has caught his attention? Is it a small class and everyone sits up front and you sit alone in the back corner? Normally someone attracting attention in such a short class would be someone that is "over the top", talks excessively, dresses outrageously, has pink hair, knows the answer to every question, etc. Not someone that sits quietly in class.
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
I'm not seeing the harassment angle either. So the instructor is making speeches about how nurses need to be vocal an proactive. It's a valid point. And it's probably a point he makes to every group of students that comes through. Maybe the OP is being overly sensitive when she thinks the instructor is talking about her?