If you could have an open, honest conversation with your instructors - classroom or clinical - what would you tell them?
Here are some of my thoughts:
(1) Please make sure that everyone follows the rules & meets the requirements. Don't let some students make their own rules while others work hard to follow every rule! While there are always times exceptions must be made, the same students are often getting away with everything.
(2) When I'm in clinical, please just step back and allow me to do the task I have to do. Don't stand over me asking questions! Your running commentary makes me a nervous wreck. As long as I'm doing my task correctly, observe & keep quiet! If I do something wrong, please explain it to me and give my another opportunity to prove I can do it.
(3) Please ensure your expectations are clear and consistant. If you want our weekly patient write-ups a certain way, tell us. Don't change your expectations without letting us know!! The bottom line: most of us are working so hard to do our best! Tell us what you want from us and we'll always do what we can to get a good grade!
REVIEWING exams, I have the RIGHT to see my exam and the test ?s how can i know what i got wrong and what i answeered,,,, goshhh the deans gonna hear about this!!!
We arent allowed to have our exams back I have almost driven myself crazy wondering where i lost those few marks.
YESS!!! totally agree! my clinical instructor is sooo behind! She's been an instructor for almost 30 yrs and even the nurses on my unit keep saying...thats now how we do it anymore!!!!
1. We are all adults. Granted, some of us might be more adult-like than others, but we are all classified as adults; therefore, please treat us as such. Yes, I know it must drive you make you crazy that people are not putting forth their best efforts on assignments, but when they are clearly ungraded, what do you expect really? For those of us who do put the effort in, do not waste our class time berating us while pooling all students together. Besides, those who don't care still won't care after your rant is over. Mention it, move on, and really, let the lack of effort be reflected in the grades.
2. On the same note... I almost thing the best thing you can do for us as students is let us fail/flounder in some ways. No, you shouldn't be so difficult and demanding as to bring us to tears, but letting our grades reflect our work accurately will ensure that those who truly care will take the steps to improve, and maybe those that don't care might actually wash out. I'm sorry, but forgive me if I'm not sure I want a nurse working on or with me in 2 years who just couldn't be bothered to put in the effort at school and still skated by.
3. Remember the whole, we're all adults thing? Well, that means I do expect a certain level of respect from you. Yes, you're the instructor. Yes, you are perfect, as you like to tell us every lecture, but darn it... I will respect you in a professional manner... you should be able to do likewise.
4. Adult students might think differently. We might challenge you in different ways. That is supposed to be a good thing!!! Please, when we ask questions, don't take it as a personal attack, lack of respect, or in some other threatening manner. We're not trying to trip you up, I promise.
5. And, if we do catch a mistake.... usually it's because we're truly curious, not out to prove you wrong! Oh, and if you make a mistake, own it. Don't insult us and make it a personal attack. Really.
6. Questions are good. They mean your students have listened to you, applied the knowledge in some way, and have found new areas of concern or want to understand things better. It's called critical thinking.... which btw is what you keep telling us we need!
7. Don't threaten me. What I said about respect, I mean it... but if you threaten me or my chances of succeeding at what I feel is my calling, not just a job, I will fight back... or at least not go down without a fight, and that's just not fun for anyone. Really.
Sadly, all those pretty much apply to one prof, in just my first semester! Yup. But to end on a good note...
8. To those profs who have shown a genuine interest in the well being and success of your students.... thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the ones who have helped increase my passion for this profession, and made nursing school fun!
Please don't tell the class to "Google" a term on YOUR powerpoint slides that YOU put together! Seriously?! You don't know what that word is and then tell us to know it for the test??!! No wonder half the class failed your last test! It's not just us it's a BAD professor!!
I know it's important to be prepared for class, but do you really expect us to have read the 30 page chapter in the textbook as well as your lecture notes before class during a week in which we had 4 tests, a paper and 2 care plans due???
Yes, I realize this is an accelerated program, but we're only human!
Thank you for supporting me on a long and hard journey. I enjoyed and appreciated your guidance as well as some laughs along the way. When I lost my confidence, you never gave up on me because you could see farther than I. When you are sick, call me in the middle of the night, because I will be there.
You ALL are the best!!! I hope the following semester instructors are just as helpful, caring, and willing to help in any way as you ladies are. THANK YOU!
To one in particular: PLEASE LEARN APA FORMAT!! You take points off my paper for improper formatting and it is formatted correctly. I even bought the latest APA manual since I've been out of school for a while. I questioned the missing points and you could only tell me that I was wrong. I even showed you in the manual. Then you really got mad! Maybe you just don't like LPN's who return to school?
1) The phrase, "This is the BEST answer," is obviously a way of saying, "I don't really know why this answer is right and if I were to take the same test I'd miss that question too"... just admit it!
2) Seriously: a group review for a dosage calculations test and a question that 95% of the class missed, and you have no clue how to answer it, and a student that happened to get it right has to work it out on the board...UMMM....what the hey!
3) Those 'looks' that you give us that basically say, "you are so stupid, you might as well quit now" are in no way shape or form encouraging or motivating and we know you like to see us squirm when you make those faces while we are performing skills for practicum
4) Please omit these phrases permanently from your vocabulary: "Depending on facility policy" and "It's in your book, pg blah blah blah"
My mother went through the same program I am in about 2 years ago. She came in as an LVN with 20 years experience to get her RN. This is to my instructor who remembers my mom as a student...
Yes, I did get a C on the 1st exam of this semester. I am not ashamed. Why, you ask? Because...
1) This is my lowest exam score by far. I have always done well in previous semesters
2) I got dumped by my bf 3 days before the exam and was completely heartbroken (yes, I know personal life should stay at home but that sure is easier said than done!)
3) I started getting sick the day before the exam and it turned into full blow pneumonia, which had me on my ass for weeks! I struggled through most of the semester trying to catch up and was complimented by another instructor for my ability to not miss a step while sick.
Soooo, during my review I find it unbelievably inappropriate for you to say to me "What happened to you during the exam? Your mother just must be sick with embarrassment over you!" Ummm, are you flipping kidding me??? I told said teacher that I actually found it to be a miracle that I passed this exam and my mother was proud of me for passing with all that was going on with me. After I said this, she said "ugh, a miracle? Really?" 1 somewhat poor exam score is no indicator as to what kind of nurse I will be or as to what kind of student I am. That score does not define me. Funny because a few weeks later this teacher came up to me and expressed such concern over my health, told me to take care of myself, and then told me that I really impressed her in class with my critical thinking skills and said that she thinks I will be a great nurse. Gee, thanks for the compliments but please stop with the bipolar attitude you show, not only to me, but to every student in class.
I have almost driven myself crazy wondering where i lost those few marks.
wahwahgerman
85 Posts
Could we get some consistency my dear instructors? Puhleeez? Seems like everything is subjective, even science.