what do you do if your teacher crosses the line

[amybear]

I started my med surg clinical last month with a teacher I have never had before but some friends of mine in the class recommended that i take her section. I have only had four clinicals so far and and I feel as though this woman has been downright inappropriate. I have really stepped up my skills and patient care this semester and have really been feeling proud of myself. I really think the nurses on the unit respect me and they always aske if I want to do things with them. They are all so nice and I feel like they are taking the time to show me things which I really appreciate. On the other hand my teacher stands at a computer all day never observing out patient care. She has been very sarcastic and overly critical whenever I ask a question and I am now terrified that she will continue to berate me in front of my classmates ant the other nurses and doctors if I ask her anything else. When I chart she is standing over my shoulder telling me that I look bad and that she will never let me use a computer again and that just makes it worse!!! I get nervous and go blank!!! Last week I had had enough of her so when she dismissed us for lunch I went to my car (which is definately allowed) telling the class I had to make a phone call but really I just didn't want to sit in the cafeteria with her. I was back in time to walk back to the unit with my class. In fact I have always been very respectful of my teacher and have gone out of my way to do everything she says and to do it to the best of my ability. Well other classmates told me the day I went to my car for lunch she was making fun of me to them saying I ran away crying like a baby. Then she told the class she was going to do what she had to do to me. Am I crazy or is this inappropriat behavior??? I mean she obviously has a personal problem with me but I don't understand why she can't be professional while at the hospital. I can go on and on with the things she says to me but that would take to long. I did speak to the head of my program and she basically told me to talk to the instructor. I don't feel comfortable doing that without a mediator because this woman is irritable and defensive and I am afraid it will end up causing alot of unnecessary drama. I don't know what to do because she is the person who determines whether I pass or fail!!! I am so tied up in knots at clinical and the day before that I can hardly function (eat, sleep etc.). I am at the point where I feel like leaving the program but I love nursing, love what I am doing minus the teacher... I feel as though I am doing well and would make a great nurse... I just wish others would see it as well

[caliotter3]

Write down all of this and immediately make an appointment to see the department chair. You need to get out of this section if possible and the chair needs to know about the behavior of the instructor so they can take action. They won't know about her if no one informs them. If no action is taken, then go up the chain of command to the division chair, before approaching the student grievance committee.

[Trilldayz,RN BSN]

I can't believe her!! Definately take the above poster's advice. Thank goodness you have witnesses as well! And I would tell the department chair that you want protection against possible retaliation. So sorry you are going through this! Please keep us posted!!

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

As always...document, document, document. Document the many occasions where you feel put down or diminished or outright insulted, and when you've had your fill of it report it to the person's supervisor. If you get no satisfaction document that and advance to the next level.

I thought by the title of this that the teacher was making a come on to you.

[AOx1]

Ask your classmates to document what she said. I would see if your school has an obmudsman as you have already spoken to the department head without appropriate results. If your complaint is not resolved, check your student handbook for chain of command on filing a grievance and follow it to the letter.

[Jonathank]

Ask your classmates to document what she said. I would see if your school has an obmudsman as you have already spoken to the department head without appropriate results. If your complaint is not resolved, check your student handbook for chain of command on filing a grievance and follow it to the letter.

That's the key part here. Then the "lunch" goes from being hearsay to having been documented by corroborating witnesses. If she's been making fun of you in your absence, that's prima facie evidence that she a personal problem with you.

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

i was in a similar situation, and the instructor ended up failing me for no reason other than she didnt like me.. i made a post about it when it happened:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/im-freaking-out-444733.html

truthfully, from experience i can tell you that more likely than not, if you go to the dean or anyone above you it will just anger her more and shell be more likely to fail you. my honest advise is to suck up to her, swallow your pride and kiss her @ss.

[amybear]

Thanks all!!! Unfortunately I think ashleyisawesome is right... this lady has the power to fail me as most of the grading is subjective, and going higher up will anger her even more. I am thinking about dropping the class and maybe taking it over next year. and imthatguy... your right my title DID make it sound like the teacher was coming on to me LOL... sorry ; )

[PinkNBlue, BSN, RN]

Holy cow, most definitely agree with everyone else! That is completely inappropriate. I am so sorry! I hope you're able to get some answers!

[This]

I am currently facing a similar situation myself. I've never had an issue in clinicals and in the past week I've been faced with an instructor who has made a landslide of claims against my performance, some of which are provably false.

My dean came to clinicals this week to observe me. Before she left I invited her to watch me hang some medication for a patient who I'd taken care of for the past two days. I performed everything perfect, I checked the armband three times and had the patient verbalize their name and birthday. However, I was told afterward that I had failed good practice because at one point, I had left the room to walk a dozen feet away to grab some replacement tubing, and had failed to re-re-verify the patients armband. Never mind the fact that I scanned their ID before administering the med, and checked the armband before leaving the room after starting the med. After that they were talking like I'm going to be expelled? I don't understand. I had not recalled any practice rule that said "every time you enter the room" it was always "every time you give a medication." Am I just that incompetent? I've got 5 months to grad and its all in jeopardy based on hearsay and a seemingly unwritten rule.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Who cares if she gets angry? You're her customer. Put it in a letter to the editor. Schools, which are revenue generating entities, hate bad publicity as much as any other organization.

[caliotter3]

If you can drop the class like you stated in your last post, then, do so. And make certain you do not take a class with this instructor again, if that is possible. Easy way to get away from this stressful situation, even if it costs you money and time.