Nursing school instructor made me cry today

MPKH, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2016

Well maybe look at it from her point of view--perhaps she was given a list of the skills you guys already have mastered, and priming lines and setting up IVPB meds were in the list. I wouldn't necessarily say that she was giving you the evil look, some people just have a resting ***** face. And from what you typed it doesn't sound like she belittled you. You haven't said anything that would sound like your instructor is belittling you.

Did she help you with the skill? Did you talk to her about how you felt?

Palliative Care, DNP · Apr 15, 2016

Welcome to nursing school. Word to the wise never let students, faculty, or coworkers see tears. Wait until your are in your car, the shower, or anywhere else but once the dogs smell fear it's hunting season. Most nursing instructors make life difficult. Suck it up and make sure you read up on skills prior to clinicals. Was she wrong? Absolutely but this career is not for light weights. People will have their lives in your hands. So pull up the big girl panties and saddle up! Clinicals are difficult at every level ADN through DNP.

Girlafraid13 · Apr 15, 2016

In third semester you are expected to be able to perform routine procedures, but saying comments in front of a patient was uncalled for. She could have pulled you off to the side and said these things. Brush it off... it happens, try to see if you can practice in a skills lab to be better prepared next time.

allnurses Guide · Apr 15, 2016

Does your school lab have open hours for practice?

It was wrong of her to state this in front of the patient, as much for the patient's sake as for yours to be honest.

Nursing school is rough. Deep breath, shoulders back, try again. It really isn't a difficult skill, which means you will be proficient shortly. Do take the time to practice in the skills lab ON YOUR OWN TIME if you have not been.

Maevish, ASN, RN · Apr 15, 2016

I know this is probably silly, but I am in my third semester of nursing school and today was just horrible. I am not a stupid person and I come very well prepared to clinicals, but my instructor makes me feel like the dumbest person in the world on a routine basis. My patient needed to have an IVPB med, and have her primary bag tubing changed, and the only time I have ever practiced this was one time during our skills class and then by watching videos over and over. I understand that it is not that difficult of a skill to perform, but when you have never physically done it before, it is truly much more difficult. While attempting to remove the previous bag and start the new primary, she just stared at me and gave me this evil look, and when I asked her for help it was as though I was annoying her. Anyways to make a short story long, she humiliated me in front of my patient by saying, "I'm pretty sure she's done this before," and saying things like, "you should know how to do this by now." I just felt so horrible, and she continued to belittle me all day, I ended up crying in the med room and was incredibly embarrassed.

Saying things like that isn't constructive to you and shows that she has little interest in teaching for real. I had a teacher like that as well and she was known to be that was to students. That way of talking works for some people, but for most, it doesn't.

Even if I had you as a student I wouldn't say that to you in front of a patient. I may ask you about it in private or see if you needed some practice (which I could then mention to your teacher), but not that way.

She doesn't understand the concept of "managing up" your fellow staff (and you, at this point, are fellow staff). Maybe she's old and near retiring and is over it, but that's not really an excuse.

That being said, buck up and get thicker skin (easier said than done, I know) because real nurses can be a lot worse and you'll be thankful for the practice :yes:

Hope things go better for you and don't take it personal. Some people are just sour no matter what.

xo