Thin skinned ADN students or is instructor crossing then line?

[SN bbgrl]

Hello All - I really need your opinions on this because I wonder if my classmates and i are over-reacting or if we have legitimate concerns here. I am finishing up the first semester in a student RNcourse. We have a very knowledgeable instructor. My classmates and all agree that we have learned a whole lot from our clinical instructor. He is knowledgeable and (really challenges us to "think critically" and learn as much as we possibly can. Heres the rub: the instructor loves to ridicule and belittle students in front of peers, nurses and even clients. If someone makes a mistake or answers a question of his incorrectly, he dresses the student down and some of the other girls have been close to breaking down in tears because of this We have a fellow classmate who is struggling a bit (he is from a foreign country and has an extremely heavy accent). He berated this student and very sarcastically told him (in front of all his peers) that he (the instructor)and the class all concur that we feel he is struggling and he has a language issue and cant understand directions. I was mortified when this occurred. Earlier in the day, he cornered students and tested us on closing some safety syringes - 6 out of 10 students did this incorrectly. Now granted, this is a big issue and a legitimate concern, but this instructor yelled at us (once again, in front of peers) stating that if this ever occurred again, he would personally "drag" us by the arm to the dean to have us expelled. (Note this was a test, not something we did in the clinical). And finally, one student started to walk out of a patient room leaving a rail down (and i agree - a HUGE safety violation) well, when he yelled at this student, he actually grabbed her by the arms, stuck his face in hers while ranting about her. So - here we are, we have 4 clinical days left, and of course, we have already done our instructor evaluations. I agree, we as students all made some significant errors but am I out of line feeling that our instructor is totally overstepping his boundaries? I would welcome any and all opinions on the matter. Thank you all!!!!

[BROOK9960]

Well, it does not sound to me like you or anyone else is thin-skinned. First of all, an instructor does not have the right to put his/her hands on anyone, second of all, constructive criticism does not include degrading students in front of peers, clients or anyone else. I am sure that his ultimate goal is to help you all suceed, but his way of going about it is totally out of line if what you have stated is true. I think you all should be threatening him to go to the dean about him, not visa versa. This instructor obviously has missed the definition of assault somewhere down his line of learning.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Your CI has a supervisor who makes an evaluation of his job performance just like any other worker. You need to report his actions to this person so they know what he is doing. They won't know unless someone grows a backbone and says something. It would also be helpful if you can get an impartial witness to these behaviors of his. By this, I mean, someone on the nursing staff of the facility who has witnessed this behavior of his. All you need to do is get the person's name. You can let the school do the rest if they care to follow up on any reports that students make about this man by doing an investigation. Something else you can do is get a pocket tape recorder and turn it on while he has one of these rants. He doesn't need to know you are doing this. This would be really good evidence for his supervisor to hear. They can't use it against him, but it would sure open their eyes, wouldn't it? And the other poster is correct, his rights end the moment he places his hands upon another person. That is assault.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

actually the touching is battery, as someone on this corrected me a while ago....assault is the "putting in fear"...he might qualify for that one too.....if he really is good/knowledgeable (sp), perhaps if you went up the chain of command with that attitude....ie, we want him to stay, we have learned a lot, but this part of his 'teaching' method has to change....good luck

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

His behavior is not appropriate. Belittling in front of peers, yelling and grabbing a student is not appropriate.

[justme1972]

Looks like someone has an inferiority complex with another part of his anatomy and trying to be the "big man" when he has an audience.

[SN bbgrl]

Thank you i think i will. It would be a shame to lose the knowledge that this instructor has to offer but the mind games and ridicule need to stop. As unfortunate as it is, he has knocked my confidence level down several notches - something i dont need in nursing 2 (i wont be taking it from him, thank goodness):smiley_aa

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

WOW!!! I was treated like that in nsg school 21 years ago! I had some instructers who wern't happy unless someone ran off the floor in tears. I would have thought intimidaiton as a way of teaching was no longer used...

[CHATSDALE]

this isn't clinical this is boot camp

whether or not you have him again is not relevant, someone else will and you owe it those who follow that they will have a atmosphere conductive to learning

[SN bbgrl]

Good point - I actually have scheduled a meeting with our ADN advisor to bring this to her attention. I have a feeling i wont be the only one doing this - I would hate to see another class of students get introduced to nursing in this fashion

[cherokeesummer]

I agree that belittling should not be done in front of others but I am sure it happens a lot more than I think but the hands on and grabbing should not be done. He needs to keep his hands to himself as I would expect any instructor to do.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

When I first started to read your post- the instructor sounded like a dream- smart, knowledgeable, etc..... Then Whammo!!

He Has NO RIGHT to yell at anyone or touch anyone! There are so many other ways to get the point across than be abusive, which is EXACTLY what he is doing.

We have an instructor who also is smart and knowledgeable and pushes everyone to learn and encourages critical thinking, etc. but he has never once used any of the tactics mentioned. He can challenge us, but he is very soft spoken and not intimidating in any way. Instead, he makes us WANT to know the information, not be SCARED to not know the information!