Students' Gifts: Validation or Appreciation

[showbizrn]

i teach psych nursing clinical

and like to stay

on top of my game

so i am open to suggestions

and recommendations

from colleagues and students

to keep me on-point.

in the past,

i've always received from students

thank-you cards, etc

that stated their appreciation

of the learning experience

except this past spring semester...

i taught three clinical groups

two at one school

one at another

and only received

a formal thank-you

from one of the clinical groups.

mind you,

i am not saying

that the gifts reflect

my expertise

as a clinical instructor

but sometimes

i wonder...

what do you think?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

I have been doing this now for almost 7 years. Sometimes a clinical group will give me a thank you card or a little gift, sometimes not. I don't let this sway me one way or the other. I always do my best and realize that the only affirmation I need is the satisfaction in seeing my students grow and succeed over the course of the semester. Some students have so much on their minds (overwhelmed at the end of semester) that they don't even think to get their clinical instructor a thank you card. And in terms of gifts, many students think it is against school policy. Also, many students are struggling financially in today's harsh economic climate.

[Goodoldnurse]

I sometimes will get a "thank you" but so many times they are so consumed with a final exam or the end of the semester that they are just relieved the clinical experience is over! I do clinicals, lecture and coordinate their final year at the college where I teach. So, the comments I hear in the hall warm my heart!!