Nursing Instructor Dispute....scared!

bullcityrn · Mar 16, 2006

You were right to say something. I can't imagine that she can fail you for her shortcomings as an instructor. As a student, you have a right to want to be taught properly. I don't have any advice for you, unfortunately, but want to wish you good luck at your meeting. It will work out. Please keep us posted!:icon_hug:

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 16, 2006

Did you keep any evidence of her poor teaching? (e.g. e-mails, etc.)

Can you get any of the other students to corroborate your accusations -- if the school were to ask them? It would be particularly helpful if some of the students who got good grades would back you up so that you don't appear to be striking back at the teacher for giving you a poor grade. (if indeed, you did get a poor grade... you didn't say in your post.)

If you have neither evidence nor witnesses, you probably made a political mistake in speaking up as you did -- particularly before the course is officially over and the grades posted. Try to keep that in mind the next time something like this happens. Before you threaten somebody's job by going over your immediate supervisor's head, you need to have "all your ducks in a row."

What to do now? Gather any evidence you have and hold onto it. Don't give it to her if she asks for it: only give copies. Keep the originals for yourself. Ask your classmates to support you if they are asked by the school to recount the events.

Go to the meeting prepared to "negotiate a settlement" with this instructor.

Be prepared to articulate what exactly it is that you want out of this. Are you trying to get your grade raised? Are you trying to get another chance at completing a project? Are you trying to get her to change her behavior for the remainder of the time you have with her? Are you trying to get her to change her behavior for future students? Do you want her to be disciplined or fired?

If you are not sure exactly what you want ... you should be thinking that through so that you can state it clearly at the right moment. For example, if all you want is for her to try to be more prompt and to state her expectations more clearly, then you should say that and accept an offer from her to try to do a better job of those things.

She may be worried about losing her job -- and some assurances from you that you only want a little improvement may pave the way for a successful resolution. If she seems willing to acknowledge some mistakes and try to do better, then be prepared to meet her halfway and perhaps make a few concessions in your position.

If she seems really angry, confrontational, threatening, etc. then politely excuse yourself. I would not want to have that conversation without witnesses present. Simply say that you are not comfortable with the tone of the discussion and that you would like to have this discussion with your course coordinator present (or some other appropriate person that you would be comfortable with.) Then leave and go straight to that person and fill them in. You should not be meeting with her alone if the conditions are not right.

Please let us know how it goes,

llg

allthingsbright · Mar 16, 2006

I just finished my 8 week peds rotation and was really dissapointed by my instructor. She showed up late, didn't have our assignments graded on time, wasn't clear about her expectations and so we were reprimanded around week 3 for not knowing what to do. She never came through on what she said we would do. We were supposed to learn how to use IV's at the facility, give meds, have 2 patients, and learn how to do an admission. She never responded to e-mails, or communicated with us when she had a change in plans( was two hours late to post our assignments at the hospital because of a doctor's appointment and so I had to drive to the hospital twice. a 30 min drive.) I'm not usually one to be confrontational, but I was really upset by everything that happened. I did not feel that I could confront my instructor with these issues. She has all of the power as to whether or not I fail the class. So I went to my main pediatrics instructor who is in charge of clinicals who I really trust and told her why I was upset. I was not the only person in my group who was upset but the only one who said anything. She will be teaching another group starting today for the next 8 weeks and I don't want that group to have the same dissapointments that I had. My main instructor said that she would talk to my clinical instructor about these issues without mentioning my name. However, this morning I recieved an e-mail from my clinical instructor that she needs to meet with me in her office. I'm not sure if she still has the power to fail me and I'm really scared about meeting with her. I know that I have to face the music now but I'm not sure how to handle a meeting with this instructor. Any advice please!!

Is there a way you can meet with her AND your other instructor at the meeting? Like ask the head honcho to join you for the discussion? I would not go in there alone. You need a witness to whatever happens. Sounds like she is a terrible teacher, but you have little proff if no one will back you up. Talk to your fellow students and get them in on things as well. Good luck!

allthingsbright · Mar 16, 2006

Did you keep any evidence of her poor teaching? (e.g. e-mails, etc.)
Can you get any of the other students to corroborate your accusations -- if the school were to ask them? It would be particularly helpful if some of the students who got good grades would back you up so that you don't appear to be striking back at the teacher for giving you a poor grade. (if indeed, you did get a poor grade... you didn't say in your post.)
If you have neither evidence nor witnesses, you probably made a political mistake in speaking up as you did -- particularly before the course is officially over and the grades posted. Try to keep that in mind the next time something like this happens. Before you threaten somebody's job by going over your immediate supervisor's head, you need to have "all your ducks in a row."
What to do now? Gather any evidence you have and hold onto it. Don't give it to her if she asks for it: only give copies. Keep the originals for yourself. Ask your classmates to support you if they are asked by the school to recount the events.
Go to the meeting prepared to "negotiate a settlement" with this instructor.
Be prepared to articulate what exactly it is that you want out of this. Are you trying to get your grade raised? Are you trying to get another chance at completing a project? Are you trying to get her to change her behavior for the remainder of the time you have with her? Are you trying to get her to change her behavior for future students? Do you want her to be disciplined or fired?
If you are not sure exactly what you want ... you should be thinking that through so that you can state it clearly at the right moment. For example, if all you want is for her to try to be more prompt and to state her expectations more clearly, then you should say that and accept an offer from her to try to do a better job of those things.
She may be worried about losing her job -- and some assurances from you that you only want a little improvement may pave the way for a successful resolution. If she seems willing to acknowledge some mistakes and try to do better, then be prepared to meet her halfway and perhaps make a few concessions in your position.
If she seems really angry, confrontational, threatening, etc. then politely excuse yourself. I would not want to have that conversation without witnesses present. Simply say that you are not comfortable with the tone of the discussion and that you would like to have this discussion with your course coordinator present (or some other appropriate person that you would be comfortable with.) Then leave and go straight to that person and fill them in. You should not be meeting with her alone if the conditions are not right.
Please let us know how it goes,
llg

I just read this--excellent advice. Like I said, do not go to a meeting with an clinical instructor where your grades may be threatened without a "higher up" who knows what is going on. You need a third party to verify everything that is said in that meeting if it comes down to it!

shock-me-sane · Mar 16, 2006

tape recorders can come in handy for things other than lecture classes

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 16, 2006

tape recorders can come in handy for things other than lecture classes

Check about state laws, first.

enviragirl · Mar 16, 2006

Thank you all for your advice. This morning I was really freaked out when I got that e-mail but it turns out that she wants to meet with everyone in my clinical group. Our clinicals are pass/fail and she has already given me a passing grade. I was able to look at my evaluation for the class but then had to hand it back into her. I feel better now because it would be very hard for her to fail our whole clinical group. However, I still think it is possible that she will be confrontational during a meeting. I e-mailed my main peds instructor to let her know that I was meeting with my clinical instructor and to see if she still has the power to fail me. Also, my clinical group decided to meet with her around the same time so that we can either speak with her together or have the other person be out in the hall. My goal with going to my main instructor about her was to have the clinical experience be better for the students who have her the rest of the semester. As far as proof? Part of the problem is that she never e-mailed us when she said she would but I have the word of 6 other students who feel the same way I do and hopefully if this becomes a big deal then that will be enough. Again thank you for the advice! I'll let you know how the meeting goes.

Nursing STUD-ent · Sep 25, 2006

I am having the same problem with my Nursing Theory teacher. She is grossly incompetant, can't figure out power point, and yet she doesn't take the time to back up her work, so we are left with her standing in the front of the class for 20 minutes trying to figure stuff out, and then talking out of her ass for the next hour and a half. Our last two scheduled quizzes have not been on the days that they were scheduled for, she cancelled class with no warning on one day, and on one occassion, it took her 20 minutes to organize the class into groups for the purpose of having us write our names on a folder for future meetings. This woman is more than just unorganized, as she doesn't seem to even know the material that she should be presenting. (she has answered questions in class with "well, in my opinion, its .... " although subsequent research has shown her to be ridiculously off the mark.)

I am debating between getting the class to sign a petition demanding some sort of disciplinary action, or just going to the program director with a couple of select students to back up my story. This isnt a case of her giving poor grades, its a matter of her not teaching the material that we need to learn. In addition to the earlier comments, is there any advice that anyone can offer? I can't possibly sit through another 90 hours of class with this ridiculous woman!