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

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Best reply I've seen on all nurses in a while now.

Corny I know, but I needed the laugh and when I saw the title that is the first thing that popped in my head!

[Ms.Sophie]

Hey, how is it going? What did you do? I had a similar situation with bullying that started slowly, but progressed to feeling way out of control, even other students were commenting on this teacher's behavior towards me and and offering me support, and finally I made a big stink to her supervisors, and then called for a 3-way meeting with a mediator. My teacher's behavior was way out of control. I didn't address her directly because I sincerely thought she was mentally unbalanced and calling her out on her behavior might be a huge mistake without some backup. During the meeting the teacher gave me the line about "I'd better learn to deal with the real world and not be so sensitive".... I reminded her that this is not the real world, this is a learning environment, she is not my boss, she is my teacher and I have paid several thousand dollars to learn nursing, and her teaching techniques are getting in the way of my learning. I have another couple of months with this teacher and am wondering how it is going to go. It all ended ok - I guess. Nothing truly resolved, except my issues were aired and she acted like I had created trouble for her, and I had acted unprofessionally and I had hurt her deeply be doing this to her. I'm still nervous, she could keep me from graduating. I'll be getting my LPN. I'm going to try to keep quiet from now on and just get the hell out of there and look somewhere else for my RN. I hope it works.

[cuppa_tea]

"during the meeting the teacher gave me the line about "i'd better learn to deal with the real world and not be so sensitive"...."

yeah, i've heard that a few times or the "this is how doctors and senior nurses will treat you. we are trying to prepare you for it." seriously??? she is going to call her abuse preparing us for the real world?? i'm with you; the is a learning environment and not the real world. i'm sure we will get enough abuse in the real world without her beginning it now under the guise of preparing us. what a load of depends!

"i'm still nervous, she could keep me from graduating. i'll be getting my lpn. i'm going to try to keep quiet from now on and just get the hell out of there and look somewhere else for my rn."

i am right there with you. we graduate in a few weeks and at this stage, i'm not even sure i'm going to make it. i just want to graduate and get the heck out of this insane college. i am already looking at doing my rn somewhere else, but i would like to work for a while as an lpn. i have been bullied this semester like never before. i've never been treated badly in any of my other classes except for the nursing program.

i hope you graduate. i'll pray for you and that you get out alive to find a better program. good luck sophie!!:grad: (graduate!!! go for it!!)

[Ms.Sophie]

Thank you! Wow, your comments and good wishes really made my day! I am also looking at working for a year or so as an LPN to build my confidence and practice my new nursing skills, and then maybe looking at LPN to RN online. I wasn't sure whether it was a stupid thing or not for me to make an issue out of the bullying, but at least now this teacher is on the administration's radar. It still could backfire on me... I would hate to see anyone else go through what I've been through, it is affecting my digestion and sleep. Let's get through this thing and move on! I'm sending prayers and good wishes to you, too.

[pca_85]

She sounds scary, I've had one like that. May I tell you what bullies like her fear? One simple word: LAWYER!

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

She's in your head and she knows it. Stop letting her in there.

Do the best you can, put on a happy face and say "Very well," "You got it," "Thank you," or "Yes ma'am" to every damn thing she says. Eat in the cafeteria with everyone else. Jerky supervisors and coworkers are everywhere; you can't control that but you can control your own actions.

Or you can get into a battle of wills and "She said / I said" with your instructor and the people running your program.

You choose.

I had a similar situation happen with an instructor during a clinical last year. Some of my classmates, knowing the respect I have among the other instructors, begged me to report her. I said, "No way." We sucked it up and that instructor is but a dim memory.