The "weeding" out

texastaz · May 6, 2009

Keep your eye on your goal/the prize-stay focused. For fun use imagination to break the stress - imagine the instructor is just a nightmare patient-and you their nurse. This nightmare patient said they are going to make a formal complaint to the board of nursing about you so you will loose your license and will never be able to work again - all because you just happen to be there. Reality ? Try to keep a sense of humor.

flightnurse2b, LPN · May 6, 2009

your professor is right.

nursing instructors, especially in the first few semesters, will push you. they will push you harder than you ever have been pushed and have ever wanted to be pushed.

i think this is because that when you are a practicing nurse, you will be pushed, physically and emotionally, everyday. they want to see your heart is there and that you will not buckle under the pressure.

i had an instructor who rode my butt like nobody's business and the more questions i answered right, the harder she pushed. she would come up with stuff i'm sure she had googled or something and ask me in the most condescending way and give me the absolute worst patients and the worst assignments and diagnoses to research. i never cracked. but she tried. she told me when it was all over that she expected more from me, because she knew i could take it.

my advice is to do your reading, study like you've never studied before, and BE PREPARED for class and clinicals. hold your head high and if you don't know the answer, find out. always know why. see that goal and make it so close you can taste it. make it real and stay focused...

you'll do fine. when you feel like you can't take it anymore, lean on your support systems. breathe, relax, go for a run, whatever works for you--and KNOW that in the end, their behavior (which seems somewhat S&M at the time) will make you a kick-butt nurse. be confident.

best of luck in nursing school!!

Cilantrophobe · May 6, 2009

If your school is anything like my school the A&P professors don't even personally know the nursing instructors and they are going off the good old rumor mill.

I know it must be discouraging to hear something like that but your have to be confident in yourself and trust that you will make a connection with each of your teachers. If you don't normally clash with teachers then you shouldn't have a problem. There is one teacher at my school that everyone is scared to death of, but I have talked to a few people that actually liked her. My point is that it is what you make of it. Go into it with a good attitude and no fear. And if you happen to come across a teacher that is nothing but headache and heartache (like many others here) then just keep your head down and pray for the best.

Kevin RN08 · May 6, 2009

While I won't deny that this happens, I will say that through my academic and prior career it only happens in extreme cases.

For instance, entering my first year we had a girl, a really, really academically smart girl (20ish) who was very open about the fact she was going to nursing school to become a pharmaceutical rep and roll in the big money. She had little or no interest in wiping butts, giving injections, or anything to do with patient care ... she was weeded out. Failed and not readmitted after lots of meetings and reference letters to staff. Another person from the same class was struggling, but was driven and good on the floor; failed a math test in second level and was readmitted before she left campus that day ... weeding in.

HumptyDumpty · May 6, 2009

Just don't care. Let them put this "stress" on you, and then tell yourself, whatever... Study, and get the job done. Do not let stupid BS propaganda get to you. THINK FOR YOURSELF.

Rylee2008, ASN, RN · May 6, 2009

Best thing to do is just go with the flow. You will have patients who no matter what you do it's not enough, nurses who think your in their way and instructors who push you to the limit. The best thing to do is just go with the flow and don't let them get to you. Do your best and ignore the negativity.

mom35 · May 6, 2009

I really have to watch myself because I use to let others determine my outlook. I use to be super sensitive and then I started changing my thoughts and it has really given me the keys to achieve what I want. I actually create my own reality. However with extra pressure I will really need to stay vigilant, and make sure I stay emotionally neutral. Thanks for all the replies so far, and any more is so welcomed!

intuition · May 6, 2009

If you have kids, I have another recommendation. I kept a picture of my kids in my backpack at all times, so that when I felt I couldn't do it anymore, I could look at the picture and remind myself why I was doing this.

ErinJane · May 6, 2009

It depends. They will push you exactly as hard as YOU need to be pushed.

When my clinical instructor found out I was uncomfortable around patients with very severe dementia, she continually placed me with them or other emotionally/mentally taxing patients.

However, when I was coming down from a 102 degree fever and hadn't slept in days and broke down into tears when my patient kept pressing his call button, she backed off and told me to go home and get some sleep.

However, I am finishing my fourth semester right now. First semester, they try to scare you. Just knowing this can help you tolerate it. They aren't going to baby you, but nurses should be people who, like the earlier post said work well under stress, and also they should thrive when pushed and challenged.

If you want it, you can do it.

redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN · May 6, 2009

I think it's something that you can't really prepare for. If you have it, you have it. The "weeding" truly is designed to make those who DON'T have it, realize they don't have it. Like the example given above, of Miss Drug Rep Wannabe. If you feel someone is hard on you, I'd say try to put yourself in their shoes and try to figure out why they are being hard on you, and use that to your advantage.

The very fact that you want to be prepared for the weeding probably means that you are the type of person who can't be weeded. If that makes sense. LOL

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 6, 2009

It's not just the stress. Your instructors know that as a nurse you will learn something new every day of your working life so you need to be interested as a learner. If someone isn't a eager learner they will likely get weeded out if the opportunity arises. If someone who is in training to be a nurse acts like they could care less about the job they will likely get weeded out if the opportunity arises. If someone refuses to follow rules or won't be a team player they will likely get weeded out if the opportunity arises. School is about changing your thinking, yourself and the way you do things. If you refuse to change and develop the mindset of a nurse you run the risk of getting weeded out when a serious mistake gets made. As you see the people who are weeded out you will notice that they are not making the changes and advancement required to become what it is that they wanted in the first place--to be a nurse. Some people are just not able to put the effort into pulling that off.