Should a nursing instructor tell a student they are not nursing material.

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A nursing instructor told one of my classmates that she is not nursing material. I think that she was wrong. She based it on my classmates appearance Im sure, she about 450lbs and slow moving. Her spirit is sweet but the instructor, I feel, is wrong. What do you guys think? If academically she's on it how can she judge her.

Specializes in Utilization Management.

Still, the question was not about if the student was able to be a nurse, but only if the instructor should tell the student a generalized comment like "you're not nursing material." Initially I thought this comment was made in public, but even if it was said in private, the instructor didn't need to state that, all she needed to do was prove that the student had deficits that were unable to be overcome.

People have been fixated on the student's weight and what kind of nurse she will be. But what none of us knows is whether the student has already lost 100 pounds and is on a program to lose more. No one knows if the student may be planning bariatric surgery or perhaps, has even had it recently. Just because she's obese now does not predict whether she will be obese when she graduates, is all I'm saying to those who continue to feel that her weight will make nursing a poor job choice. You cannot predict the future; neither should the instructor. Her comment, IMO, goes beyond teaching and is therefore inappropriate.

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I respect your opinion on this and the manner in which you presented it.

At this point, I guess we can simply agree to disagree.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
the post never said that....but in the end, that isn't the point.

if it isn't the point you were addressing, you've just moved the goalpost.

the point is that an instructor is not the employer of a student. they are there to teach, report grades earned, and evaluate specific performance.

i added emphasis to the key word. what do you think it means to evaluate?

i don't think that a single, individual, no matter how many years of experience, should ever tell a student something so cruel. if the student flunks out, they flunk out. i don't think an extra effort needs to be made to help push them along.

it isn't cruel to tell somebody they aren't cutting it. we don't know how it was worded and you appear to be assuming it was told to the student in the meanest, most flippant way possible. this likely isn't the case.

given the student's weight, if i was that instructor, personally i would have been very worried about how my words could have been misinterpreted.

i think the instructor has the the obligation to be honest in their evaluation of the student regardless of the particular student's disability or disease.

obesity is now listed as a disease...and therefore, falls under legal protection under the ada.

the "d" in ada stands for "disabilities", not "disease", and under that act only reasonable accommodations are to be made. you can't accomodate for any and all disabilities of all severity and still produce competent nurses. there are minimum physical standards that must be adhered to, and most schools are up front with them.

however, this discussion about the student's weight is a complete derailment to the issue at hand.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

We don't know what the instructor really said, do we?? We're getting this information third hand with assumptions thrown in for free.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
a nursing instructor told one of my classmates that she is not nursing material. i think that she was wrong. she based it on my classmates appearance im sure, she about 450lbs and slow moving. her spirit is sweet but the instructor, i feel, is wrong. what do you guys think? if academically she's on it how can she judge her.

the op *assumed* the instructor told the student that this was because of her weight!!

i think that judging someone based on weight is pure prejudice. my classmate whom i am referring to in this thread said that the instructor told her that patients would not take her seriously. why, because she is overwieght? that doesnt make any sense to me.

it seems that the instructor spoke privately to the student...also once again the op is interjecting her assumption that it's about weight.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

and again, we don't know that the other student does indeed weigh "450 pounds" or if that's just the op's charming way of making it clear to all of us that the student is obese.

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One of my friend had the same experience, but her experience was worst. she was humiliated in front of the staff. She cried the whole week and almost thought of quiting the program but we made her convinced to stay and give give anothe shot. and now she's a nurse!

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A nursing instructor told one of my classmates that she is not nursing material. I think that she was wrong. She based it on my classmates appearance Im sure, she about 450lbs and slow moving. Her spirit is sweet but the instructor, I feel, is wrong. What do you guys think? If academically she's on it how can she judge her.

I just had a post conference from hell...my instructor afterwards called me into the office and asked me "WHY did you decide to become a nurse?" She then proceeded to have me read aloud the Nurse's Code of Ethics and then told me that I had no compassion.

Instructors teach us to be nonjudgemental and compassionate and yet they are judgemental...hmmm. There is a word for this...

Anywhere else in the world and I would have told her to pound salt...but because I am AFRAID of being blown out of nursing school I must reply "yes mam".

If there is any wonder why there is a shortage or why new nurses choose to leave the bedside during their first year THIS is it.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

As an instructor, I have heard of these comments being made. My main issue is that if a comment were presented in such a manner, it would not be helpful. It isn't very concrete and doesn't give feedback that can be acted upon. As an instructor, I give two types of feedback, formative and summative. Summative is for the end of the term or rotation. At this point, it is my overall opinion. Formative feedback is given throughout the course of the semester/rotation and is intended to either compliment or correct behavior. It needs to be specific as possible, and I try to also point out at least some things that the student is doing well. I also try to tell them where they stand (if they are in danger of failure). For example, if I have a student who is angering peers with an attitude that seems bossy, I might say to the student "When you tell your peers that they should work harder and not blow things off, it is often perceived as being rude by them. What can we do to change that perception?" Often, the student is completely unaware of the problem. But if I give very specific feedback, they will change it. You can't just say "Jane, You're not going to be a good nurse because you're rude." This just hurts feelings without giving a chance to improve.

Also, although life doesn't stop for a personal crisis, I try to point out when as student is in danger of failing, for example "John, I know you've had a difficult time with the death of your father. I think you might want to consider taking some time off." I then try to list options (incomplete, remediation, counseling, etc).

I have seen students who previously failed come back emotionally and mentally prepared, and go on to succeed. This is definitely a blessing and very special to see! So, in answer to your question, I often give feedback, and I can sometimes tell when it isn't the right timing for someone to pursue this challenge, but I would never presume to say that there is no area of nursing that would suit a student.

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All this concern about what the instructor said to the student and whether it was really about the student's weight is thought provoking. I can't remember the exact words that one of my instructors told me in private. I don't think my weight had anything to do with it. I didn't weigh 450 at the time. Among other things, she made it plain and clear that she had no like for me, and never had. There would be absolutely no question in anyone's mind as to whether or not she was appropriate in what she said. I got her message and only managed to validate my opinion of her when I found others who had the misfortune of having her for a teacher. To this day, that individual is still at that school, I assume, conducting herself in the same manner. I will have to say one thing. I learned how NOT to conduct myself and how important psychiatric intervention can be, when it is obviously sorely needed and missing. All from this one person. When I get the chance, I pass on my warning to any who might come in contact with her.

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I saw the same thing happen in my nursing program during the first week of classes - not with myself but with a fellow student. Apparently one of the instructors told my classmate that she won't make it in nursing because she isn't "nursing material". SAME EXACT WORDS were used. I'm not sure what made the instructor tell her that, especially since we hadn't been in class long enough for her to make that type of judgment call, but my classmate was distraught and dropped out of the program. The instructor should have handled it differently. Who's to say? If given a chance my classmate might have been a wonderful nurse.

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I saw the same thing happen in my nursing program during the first week of classes - not with myself but with a fellow student. Apparently one of the instructors told my classmate that she won't make it in nursing because she isn't "nursing material". SAME EXACT WORDS were used. I'm not sure what made the instructor tell her that, especially since we hadn't been in class long enough for her to make that type of judgment call, but my classmate was distraught and dropped out of the program. The instructor should have handled it differently. Who's to say? If given a chance my classmate might have been a wonderful nurse.

You classmate was wrong in letting this person's misguided talk influence her to quit. As in my case, the instructor could have picked on this student as a target to do just what she accomplished. There really are instructors who take out their sadistic, sick intentions on students that they find to be vulnerable and weak. Most students are not aware of what is happening. They are young and inexperienced, and/or believe that nursing school is a place where the faculty wants positive results. Who would think that they would encounter instructors who have obvious or even subtle mental problems, and also have the power to act out their illness with the future of prospective nurses in the balance?

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