termination from nursing school

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i'm in a very difficult situation and would like some advice from other nurses or anyone who has experienced a similar situation. to make a long story short, i was terminated last week from an accelerated second degree bsn program, and we only had four more months until graduation. i had been having a conflict with the clinical instructor for quite some time, and she had told at least two other students that she didn't like me. she would follow me around in clinicals and look for things that she could "write me up" on, and would document everything i did, and send it to nursing admin. i have a quiet personality and she made it known that she had a problem with this, but i would like to note that my grades were very good throughout the whole program. also i feel that we were given inadequate instruction throughout the program on several skills, but an example of one skill is administration of iv medications. our skills lab for this skill consisted of the instructor having us draw up 1 ml of saline into a syringe, and inject it into a port that she had hooked up to a bottle, and that was the extent of her physical demonstration of giving iv push medications. she did not show us how to dilute iv medications or what port to inject into, etc..., but i was tested on these skills. at the hospital, when i was required to give morphine iv push, i told her that i was not comfortable with it, and needed further instruction, and i also explained this to the rn that i was assigned to. the rn that i was assigned to offered to go over this skill with me, and show me, but the instructor refused to allow her to, and said that no she had to be the one to be there. in summary, the instructor was there with me when i administered the morphine, but after i had given it, the instructor said that i had made an error, and then wrote me up, and sent me home from the hospital. i was later terminated from the program that afternoon. so my question is, do i have any recourse, and has anyone experienced anything similar? what is anyone else's experience with iv medications instruction and were you taught things like how to dilute iv medications and what port to inject into by the instructor? any feedback would be appreciated.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

You should be able to sit down with administration of the school and go over why you were terminated.

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I completed an acceerated BSN program in 2003 and we were not allowed to PUSH anything, only piggyback. On one rotation we had a preceptor who let us "push" Normal Saline flushes with her seeing us draw up and push it- I think peds--but in my others we could push nothing so I am not sure. We learned about the ports and such and drawing up in lab but no IV push on any pt. where I did clinicals the policy was no IV PUSH meds could be given by any Student nurse or LPN. Same policy for verbal orders. As far as what you should do...........curious as to what this preceptor said you did wrong while giving the IV push med.......was that not the point of her being there to assure that she walked you through it to be sure you didn't make any mistakes. Thats the point I thought. So what did she LET you make a mistake--that is on her and a big no-no to me. Have you spoken to any other of your preceptors that maybe you had a better experience with who might be willing to speak up on your behalf? To show that the issue is not you but the preceptor? Tough situation and so sorry this happened to you. I would definately write a letter to the director of the program as well with your concerns about not getting proper teaching in skills lab. About being penalized when making a mistake in clinical that your preceptor allowed to happen instead of stopping the error then and there and using that as a teachable moment--what as a preceptor she should be doing. That is her job. Good luck to you.

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You need to write a detailed accounting. List day/time/who present/setting/what happened/what was said/what you did in attempt to circumvent/remedy.

This will take time. Type it in a very organized fashion:

Date: 0/02/2011

Time: 13:30

Setting: X hospital, 4W Oncology, Clinical class period

Persons present: Cwgirl7, Nutcase clinical instructor, Friendly facility RN

Now document event, clearly and concisely. Do not offer your opinion here. But do offer it after you have documented the event in a very unemotional way. Be sure you leave your name address and phone number!!!

Hand deliver to your administration in a sealed envelope "confidential". Arrange for a meeting to discuss confidentially. Try to avoid letting your instructor know about this. Always go to the top first in situations like this. The whole "chain of command" policy is total crap.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Nsg QA.

Should meet with the administrator. There should be steps to ensure "due process" and includes counseling with the instructor. If there is any difficulty with instructors you should go up the chain of command for your school.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Nsg QA.
The whole "chain of command" policy is total crap.

This is certainly a conflict of opinion! I still stand by what I say (respectfully). There should be something in the school's handbook (for nursing school) that deals with this type of problem. Students are allowed due process.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

as far as IV push goes, my school did the same thing. We practiced with the dummy's and their IV's, we did it with Saline and pretended like it was a drug.

However; it was OUR responsibility to read up on this and know how to do it.

Not knowing how to do something is ok but if you don't know, instead of saying "i don't feel comfortable with that" just say "I have not done this before. Do you mind showing me where to look up information on this drug?"

Hospitals generally have an approved online database (We have Lexicomp) that you can look up medication and how to give them. I.e. how fast to push, dosage, amount to dilute.

instructors want to know that you are taking part in your own learning. Yes they are your professors, but your REAL learning will come after you graduate and start as an RN. And you need to learn how to get information if you don't know something. Because what happens when you are the RN and you have an IV Push medication for Morphine?? Metoprolol? You can't just not give the drug because you don't feel comfortable, you need to know where to go to find the information to get it done.

, That being said...i don't think it was right you got kicked out of the program, perhaps talked to by your clinical instructor. It is not her right to talk to other students about your performance, this is between you, her and the school. So i would talk with administration about this. If you have good clinical evaluations in the past/good grades i don't see why they wouldnt give you a chance to speak with them and make a return back to the school.

Best of luck!

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I think the advice of documenting everything is good advice. There has to be an appeal process or something. I just dont understand how an error (unless it harmed the patient) would have you terminated from the program. Afterall, aren't you there to learn? I think some mistakes come with learning. In my school we get lab referrals for mistakes or for things we don't know. It's like a remediation for us. But in order to be terminated it would have to be pretty severe. I would most certainly expect an explanation. Sorry you're dealing with this and I wish you the best of luck.

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I'm sure you have an appeal process so if you do, use it! I did and won in the end eventually. I was done wrong by a sexist instructor and I didn't get back in that semester but I'm finally back in now. I followed the chain of command and submitted my paperwork. After it got back to the dean, she decided to check into my accusations and found out they were true. Now that I'm back in the same guy that kicked me out is kissing my ass! Good luck!

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

On the basis that this "nurse educator " told other students that she didnt like you and that you feel that your educational process was not adequete with her I would contact an attorney.

Request a meeting with the Dean, your attorney and you.

This situation happened to a student when I was in school -- for whatever reason one of our nsg professors just "didnt like" and as in your situation let other students know. None of us could understand.

The dismissed student did not hesitate and within a week had a meeting with the Dean, the professor and her legal counsel.

The student was back in school the next week. The professor (clearly not an educator nor professional) had to apoligize to her for discussing her with other students. SHE ALSO HAD TO ACKNOWLEDGE TO THE OTHER STUDENTS THAT SHE WAS WRONG IN DISCUSSING A STUDENT WITH THEM.

Professor didnt look so well the rest of the semester - lost alot of weight - in my thinking its is a shame they did not terminate her.

I have no use with folks who abuse power - its one thing if there is a problem with a student and the learning process and dismissal is needed. However it doesnt sound as if the way you were treated by this woman was fair. It also doesnt sound like she was an educator much less a professional. Get legal representation and a meeting with the dean.

I hope you dont let this go- you deserve better that what you were given.

You have paid for it in more ways than one. Best of luck.

Marc

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
On the basis that this "nurse educator " told other students that she didnt like you and that you feel that your educational process was not adequete with her I would contact an attorney.

Request a meeting with the Dean, your attorney and you.

I strongly second this advice!

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

YES!!! Meet with the dean. I had a very good friend who was in this situation (well, sort of. She was loud and very opinionated, which is why the instructor did not like her. You state that you are on the quiet side.) and she went to the dean. Thank goodness she kept meticulous notes, because after meeting with the dean, the instructor was fired. It turns out that this instructor had one too many complaints, and BECAUSE my friend spoke up, she was not only let back into the program, but this horrid instructor was given the boot.

I encourage you to do this sooner rather than later. Good luck to you!

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