Quit nursing school due to head games.

[BioRN]

As some of you know, I had a strange clinical instructor the semester. If you don't know my situation, see post in the general discussion area from 1-18-03. Yesterday, I met with the instructor to clear up some things with her. She said I was unstable and needed help. I told her I was dropping and she said I couldn't drop out without an exit interview. I said that I would n't comply and went to the nursing program secretary and dropped out of school. The secretary said an exit interview wasn't necessary. This instructor was so controlling that she actually wanted to control my dropping out.

I am a normal mother of two with a 18 year fabulous work history in medical and biological research and a B.S. in Biology. I have never had an psych problems. How could a nursing instructor make these judgements after only knowing me for 5 days?

If this is nursing, you can count me out.

To all of you who have helped me through my prerequistes, I thank you. Good luck and I wish you all well. Thanks especially to JulieLPN, Mario, and Dr. Kate.

This is Bio never to be an RN signing off.

[Rock, LPN, RN]

Hi Bio:

Sorry to learn of your dilemma. You must remember, however, that nurses are people too. You may find this hard to believe, but instructors are part of the human race. That is, some will have unresolved psychological problems, some will be envious of a pretty young woman, i.e., they come with their prejudices, biases, enviousness, etc.

Perhaps the instructor is threatened by your knowledge of medical terminology, and biology.

When in liberal arts college, I had difficulty with short, fat and bald male instructors who could be very vicious, and that would be reflected on my grades, as they could not remain objective. You see, my dear, I am tall, slim and as a Senior Citizen, I still have a full head of hair. I am also told by many that I am very attractive.

So you see how it goes. An unattractive, short, fat, bald man would give me grades lower than what I deserved.

You must report this person to the head of the department. Perhaps the director is looking for more information to drop this person from the program. If they have enough complaints against her, she would be dropped now or at the end of the semester.

I once worked with a Nurse Rachet in a psychiatric unit. She had more problems than some of the patients. The Head Nurse finally caught on to her and she got canned.

Don't give up!!

:kiss :chuckle

[zudy]

Bio, I hate this for you. I had the same problem in BOTH LPN and RN school, SOS, just different names and faces. I was lucky that other instructors saw my worth, took up for me, and helped me.

So what is the deal here? Why are so many of us sharing the same story? MICURN is right, we need a major overhaul in our schools. How many other stories are out there that we never hear about? Before I came to this board, I thought mine was am isolated incident, that it was me, for some reason I irritated instructors so much that I should of been kicked out, now I see that Iam one of many. This makes me so sad.

[2banurse]

Originally posted by suzielee

Hi Im so sorry you dropped out but I totally understand why. Im about to finnish but this has been the most abusive experience of my life. Wheel chairs thrown at me (left a beauty bruise) verbal insults screamed down the hallways of the ward I was co-oping on, interviews that were an act of public humiliation. Ive struggled so hard to get thru my program without going postal. At 40 years old I walked away from a marriage, a house, a boat and my life saving to attain this goal and at every step Ive encountered a psychotic nut as a teacher (although some were good) The expression "nurses eat their young" was engrained into me from the very beginning. All I can tell you is that if you want something bad enough-hold your head high and screw them all-this is for you @#&%$! them!!!!!!! The one thing that scares me though is that these people are licensed to care for the vulnerable patients we deal with-this is terrifying!!! Should they not have a personality test or review to determine that the insane are not allowed to nurse or teach? I empathize with people that are sociopathic and narcisistic but I dont think that nursing is a profession they belong in!!!!!!

This was all done by a nursing instructor? That is too sick to even contemplate.

Kris

[MishlB]

I have found that there are "old school" nurses, who believe in these scare tactics to see if you have got what it takes. Who is benefitting if you quit? Nobody, that's who. You need to reconsider, and get on with it. Don't feel sorry for yourself and FINISH!!! You can do it. After all, these nasty haggy people are not laying awake at night planning your demise...you know this don't you??

[delirium]

I wonder if Bio is even hanging around to read any of this encouragement?

[BioRN]

Hey, all I still read your wonderfully supportive letters and I thank you. Now that I left my job for nursing school and I quit school. I have very little to do until my resumes get to thoses in charge of hiring. Thank you for your encouragement.

Bio (RN never to be)

[mona b RN, BSN, RN]

There is no way I will make it in nursing school if things like what's described in the posts happen to nursing students. Wheelchairs thrown at them and verbal abuse and the general physcological abuse that's being described. Why on earth would you put up with that. First, anybody throws a wheelchair at me is gonna get sued. Second, anybody talks to me like an idiot is gonna get it right back. Third, anybody who wants to play head games is gonna get it right back and sued.

For cryin out loud, what is going on here. We've got to stick up for ourselves. This just isn't right. If this is what's happening in nursing school everywhere then it's no wonder things are the way they are.

mon b

[MishlB]

The horror stories are by no means typical. I have had WONDERFUL clinical instructors! It's too bad Bio didn't hang in there. Is there more to the story than was told?? Why quit over one person?? Hmmm.......

[mattsmom81]

Please don't let one bad person control you to the point you give up on a dream. I have only ran into 2 or 3 really evil, control freak people like her in my life...and they are very destructive. Luckily the good way outweigh the bad.

I hope you reconsider your goals and go for what you WANT.

[jude11142]

Kellygirl,

Been there, sure know how you feel.........I had an instuctor say similiar things to others and boy did it feel great to prove her wrong! During graduation, would you believe that when we recieved our diploma/certificate and shook hands with all of the instructor, this one completely snubbed me. As my name was called, she actually during facing the other direction as I walked up and past her. What a you know what! I murmured under my breath something to the effect of **** you. I know not very mature but I felt so angry and I have to say that it felt good to say it. Keep up the great work and don't let anyone tell you that you won't make it. I still don't understand why certain instructors are like this......Get this, 6 months after graduating everyone gets in the mail a survey and check out this question........"do you believe that this program prepared you to: interact with individuals through appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication?" and "do you believe that the program demostrated a commitment to the developement of professional behavior?"..........NO WAY!!!!! They treated most of us as children, continually put down students in front of peers and others, verbally abused some etc............why, I don't know....Know that I am out, I have reported this and I pray that these instructors get fired or further teaching on how to interact with adult students with respect. I for one, am so glad that I didn't allow their treatment of me, keep me from finishing school and becoming a nurse which as been my lifelong dream. I find it so sad that in my case, just because I befriended another student who was having some sort of "personality clash?", I was all of the sudden(at the last 6-8 weeks of school)on the sh**list......prior to that all of my clinical training was excellent, test grades high..........so go figure.

Anyways, good luck,

JUDE

Originally posted by KELLYGIRL

I have been a victim of an overbearing instructor. I am still being bullied by her. This is my last semester of nursing school of which she isn't teaching any of the classes I am taking. I just think she has a hunger for eating her young. I now hear from one instructor that "they" don't think I will make it. Guess who the "they" is? HER... I am going to make it...I am going to prove her wrong and anyone else who thinks I won't make it.

If you have the chance, PLEASE go back... or at least go to another school. If this is what you really want, don't give up. Only you know what you want out of your life.

KELLYGIRL*

[yms yms rn]

Why would you quit nursing school over one person? I firmly believe that nurses are born nurses, requiring only the official training to allow them to fulfill their calling. Don't ever let someone else tell you that you shouldn't do something, when you know in your heart that they are wrong!

I hope that you persevere in your pursuit of a career in nursing. I was able to get thru nursing despite many obstacles and have never regretted it. In fact, I am now 1/2 way thru my graduate work to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Some people just have to give you a hard time in order to feel justified in their positions. I can only add my voice to those above when I say "Don't let the b*st*rds get you down"

yms yms

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by yms yms rn

Some people just have to give you a hard time in order to feel justified in their positions. I can only add my voice to those above when I say "Don't let the b*st*rds get you down"

yms yms

So very true. Unfortunately the abuse doesn't end with the nursing license. Nurses are abused by arrogant docs and administrators. Patients will abuse their nurses...I have been seriously injured twice by patients..when I was trying to help them..

We have to learn how to handle these things and not be overcome by them. I know it's difficult. Hang in there all...this BB is great cuz we can vent here. :kiss