Should I rock the boat??

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone. I need some advice on how to handle a certain situation. I am currently doing my first clinical rotation. I had my orientataion last week but today we did patient care for the first time. I have a real problem with my clinical instructor's teaching methods. She has a tendency to yell at students while she is teaching . She pays no attention to who is around while she is yelling. You can yelled at in front of guests, other students, other nurses, the patient- it doesn't matter. Today, she was yelling at two students while they were doing vitals on a patient. You can only imagine how uncomfortable a patient would feel when someone taking care of them is being yelled at by their instructor. I got yelled at today for taking too long to put on gloves, and taking my time while giving my very first patient a bed bath. According to her, I have to do things that I have not practiced and am not good at quickly. I think she was upset because the pt had a bowel movement in the diaper and the smell was getting to her. She had a disgusted look on her face. ( I thought as a nurse she would know that poop smells). She also made rude comments whie in a pt's room like "why does the charge nurse always give us the "difficult" patients."I can literally go on and on about her faults but my question is- Should I report her to the main clinical instructor? I know many students have grievances against their clincial instructors but I have a real problem with her lack of respect for the patients and the students. I show her nothing but respect so I think I am deserving of the same. I even smile in her face when she insults me. I don't have a problem with being corrected. I want to be corrected so I eventually feel confident in what I am doing- but I do have a problem with people yelling at me to correct me. She is like this with everyone so I don't feel like I'm being singled out. Other people has also complained. Other than that, she's ok. She praises you when you're finished with the task and she is not generally a horribly nasty person. I don't want her to be upset at the whole clincal group because I complained. Should I just take the abuse for 6 more weeks? Is it worth it to rock the boat in this situtation. I need some input from experienced nurses.

I'll apologize ahead of time for this comment, but when I saw the topic,"should I rock the boat", the first thing that popped into my feeble little brain this a.m., was,

"make sure you have a life jacket and can swim like heck" and just remember there are usually sharks in the water!!!!

Seriously, I wouldn't do it.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
Well, given your situation, I have to remember that this instructor has the ability to pass or fail you! My advice, ROCK THE BOAT! Just make sure you jump out and swim like hell before your instructor sees you!

OK... 1. that really made me chuckle. LOL. :chuckle and 2. Very wise advice!

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

When I first saw "Should I rock the boat??", I was like HECK YA! and then I saw it was about school...then I was like...HECK NO! LOL.

I rocked the boat throughout my college education. I advocated for everyone and anyone. There is a way to get it done and still come out only slightly mutilated and beat up. :roll

Just always try to maintain the other person's dignity and respect. Build a rapport first if you can. If for whatever reason it just isn't going to work, then speak with your level facilitator if you have one. They can be a great ally when you need one.

I never understood why nursing school teaches one thing (caring, respect, advocacy, etc...) and then does something different.

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is it possible that she has a hearing loss?.....even if you dont think so, you could use that in an approach of the subject

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I am with the others, don't rock the boat, you have no power as a student, the reality is you need them right now and you may even later for references and heaven forbid that this teacher may even work part time in a hospital and end up being your co-worker or charge nurse. Just document any problems and negative interactions, ie: date, time, those who were within hearing distance etc. and keep this to yourself unless you need it. I would just be sure to stay on your toes and be polite and keep your cool no matter what. She could be testing you guys out for her own strange reasons. Nursing school is one of the hardest things, good luck.

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Specializes in OB.

Thanks you everyone for the input. I guess I should just focus on learning as much as I can. I can't afford to get on anyone's bad side. However, I will start documenting things she does and say. My school is also pays close attention to the evaluations so I will surely use that as a time to report the bad behavior. I cant win every battle, but that's fine, I'm more concerned with learning.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
Thanks you everyone for the input. I guess I should just focus on learning as much as I can. I can't afford to get on anyone's bad side. However, I will start documenting things she does and say. My school is also pays close attention to the evaluations so I will surely use that as a time to report the bad behavior. I cant win every battle, but that's fine, I'm more concerned with learning.

Good luck and try to keep a positive attitude (I know it isn't always easy). And yes...definately mention it on the student eval.

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Find out what the climate is like at your school. Are student's feedback appreciated or are you under a dictatorship? That may give you a good idea of how your problem will be handled if you go to higher-ups. Also, confronting the clinical instructor directly just how earle explained is more than likely better. If an instructor gets balked at by the higher ups, the situation may become even worse.

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.
Keep your head down and fly under the radar.

Good advice! Unfortunately, it took me about 5 years to learn that lesson.

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Specializes in med-surg, radiology, OR.

I say rock that ******* boat! No one deserves to be abused especially when you are in the process of learning new things. Conceding to this type of a behavior will only perpetuate it. No fair. I would go speak to the head of the nursing department and express my observations then let her/him know how it affects me. We have done this in my school where the clinical instructor was just plain abusive. She was reprimanded and our names were not revealed. You make sure that you remind the department head to keep it confidential to avoid retaliations. Once again, abuse is absolutely unecessary..it is self-serving, selfish, and humiliating.

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.
I say rock that ******* boat! No one deserves to be abused especially when you are in the process of learning new things. Conceding to this type of a behavior will only perpetuate it. No fair. I would go speak to the head of the nursing department and express my observations then let her/him know how it affects me. We have done this in my school where the clinical instructor was just plain abusive. She was reprimanded and our names were not revealed. You make sure that you remind the department head to keep it confidential to avoid retaliations. Once again, abuse is absolutely unecessary..it is self-serving, selfish, and humiliating.

Hmmm...

I had a similar experience during my OB rotation, the difference is that I really liked and got along well with a clinical instructor that many people in my clinical group disliked and complained about.

I heard the rumor that I was sleeping with her.

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As a new grad nurse, I had a preceptor who yelled, screamed and flew off the handle over the littlest thing. She would roll her eyes if I didnt know how to do a nursing skill (one that Ive never had done before) and act put off b/c she had to show me. I think alot of it had to do with her own low self esteem and trying to make herself look better by putting me down. I couldnt learn or think under those stressful conditions. I switched to another nurse after putting up with her for 4 MISERABLE days. Im now with another nicer, kinder, more patient preceptor and Im actually learning...feeling more confident....AND taking care of patients on my own.

My first clinical instructor was also like that. She would slap my hands when I would accidently mark the vitals signs (temperature only) down in black ink rather than required red ink. She was very abusive to us as students. Her style of instructing was with intimidation. There were 12 students in our rotation and halfway through, 4 of us quit. She was eventually fired. I would talk to your nursing instructor. You shouldnt have to put up with that. First impressions are so important. It may sour your outlook about nursing like it did mine. Hang in there and good luck....

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