Tips for really strict clinical instructor?

[Kiki<3]

Hi all, so today has been a particularly awful day. I am a second-semester nursing student in an accelerated program so I am in school all this summer.

This semester I have my Medsurge clinical at the veterans hospital and for some reason, it seems that all the instructors there are particularly strict. My CI is new, we are are her first group however, she trained under another VA clinical instructor who is also known for being tough.

Coming from a different hospital with a particularly nice CI for foundations who was not as strict on paperwork, I am shocked by the high expectations of my CI and what little time she expects me to have it all together and be proficient. I'm only now really understanding what she expects of us, and how nothing is going to be the same or similar to my previous clinical experience. However, I have only just learned all of this because she pulled me aside and with another instructor before clinical went over what was wrong with my paperwork. Then, she sent me home saying she didn't think my care plan was efficient enough to take care of my patient today.

I was so livid, this is only 2nd clinical day, but 1st clinical with medications. In my prior semester I'd never done preplanning the night before, just 45 min before the tradeoff. I'd never done med cards either. I honestly feel like it was a very harsh judgement to place on me considering my prior experience, but it's very hard to explain that since everyone in my group comes from different instructors (some of whom, also had higher expectations thus making those student's transition to our current instructor's expectations a lot easier). I feel like I have been placed at a disadvantage due to my school not having a set standard of expecations for each clinical group so we all end up with different baselines.

In the meeting I tried to explain myself, but it really seemed pointless because I still didn't have what was needed for that clincal day. I also felt intimidated by the other CI that my CI brought in with her. She was very stern with me, and I felt like she maybe had the impression that I was just lazy rather than misguided. It was so bad. I feel like such an idiot because I haven't grasped things as quickly as the others in my group.

Any tips for dealing with really strict instructors?

[Kiki<3]

Hi, thank you all for your comments. As whiney as I'm sure I sounded I didn't just come to complain but really did want some tips and I'm thankful for the "tough love". Looking forward, I think the best step to take would be keeping a positive attitude. I was defintely a bit disheartened by today and sad, but I'm going to roll with the punches and really try to blow away my instructor with improvement. I won't give up, I'm going to be a nurse this time next year :)

[AceOfHearts<3]

You are going to be better in the end for having this instructor. My Med-surg 1 clinical instructor was very strict and had very high expectations. I went into clinical intimidated by what I heard about her, but ended up absolutely loving her! I had a breeze in med-surg 2 and frequently got 100's on assignments because my previous instructor was so strict. I'd literally spend hours on my careplans and once I completed all the required ones she had us write out SBAR notes that she was also very strict about. I learned so much with her. Good luck!

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

I haven't started nursing school yet, but I do have a tip for dealing with very strict instructors.... when they pull you aside and give you a dressing down, listen respectfully. Do not make excuses or blame-shift. Accept responsibility. Ask, 'What can I do to be better/more effective in the future?' Listen carefully to their advice and implement it, which will prove you listened and that you care about improving. Anyone can be forgiven for a mistake or two at the beginning as long as it does not become a pattern of irresponsibility, laziness, etc. Willingness to learn and to put your learning into practice is what will get you places. Don't discount feedback just because it is strict/harsh or because someone else did it differently :)

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Sounds like a tough rotation. Don't be afraid to ask the instructor to clarify their expectations.

Please join /form a study group. Input from your fellow students is priceless.

Good luck, let us know how it's going.

[Shagce1]

My best instructors were the most strict. I hated them at the time, but in hindsight I learned the most from them. Good luck to you. You will get through this and be very successful.

[oceanblue52]

I'm sorry to hear you had a hard first day with clinical. It is a hard feeling to get sent home and reprimanded when you thought you knew what the expectations are. You have received a lot of good advice here though. Every clinical instructor will be different and you will have a much easier time going forward if you put aside a prior CI's teaching style and adapt to the new one. Detailed care plans are super annoying, but they are designed for you to be knowledgeable about your patient so you can practice things like critical thinking on the go, and also time management. There are so many procedures, meds, family dynamics, charting to get used to in Med-Surg that your instructor is actually doing you a favor by making you come in with a solid understanding of your patient's clinical profile. Block off as much time before clinicals to do the prep work and hopefully do something relaxing (like a bath or nice dinner) to get refreshed for the next day. Med-Surg is a challenging clinical but It will be over before you know it and you will hopefully learn some great clinical skills from this instructor. Stay positive :-)

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

Hang in there! I get your frustration. I am a clinical instructor and word on the street is I'm rather tough.:) but My goal is to help every person get to where they need to be so they are successful and prepared. Rise up to her expectations. Clarify when needed and you will do great. I love to help an underdog...... But I have no patience when students try to argue I should lower expectations because other instructors did

[Mhays]

I am so sorry that you are going through this hard time right now. I have been in your shoes many times with hard professors. It can be a challenge and intimidating. The thing that got me through it were the following items. 1. Always read the syllabus in every class that you take. Read it like it was a diary or an exciting novel that you cannot wait to read. It should and can help you to understand what you are going to be doing. 2. Be open with your instructor and make sure to always to go their open hours that instructors have to ask questions and to get help on anything that you might need. 3. Read the standards in your school of nursing and see if they are clear and you understand them. If you do not understand them, then ask your professor or the director of nursing about them. 4. Try to do your best; even if you are not ready for the skills yet. Even if you are not ready for the skills to be done at clinical, show that you possess confidence anyway. If you are still having trouble, then let the teacher know or your buddy that is with you know. I wish you the best. Hang in there. Marcy CNA

[itiswell]

Hi thank you all for your comments. As whiney as I'm sure I sounded I didn't just come to complain but really did want some tips and I'm thankful for the "tough love". Looking forward, I think the best step to take would be keeping a positive attitude. I was defintely a bit disheartened by today and sad, but I'm going to roll with the punches and really try to blow away my instructor with improvement. I won't give up, I'm going to be a nurse this time next year :)[/quote']

This is a great response and shows a lot of maturity!

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

This is a great response and shows a lot of maturity!

Truly!

OP: I think you'll do fine. You got this.

[quazar]

It'll be okay, I'll just tell you what I tell my kids: mistakes are how we learn. This was relatively small, and you came out of it with a good attitude moving forward. Med Surg clinical is legendary as the hardest, because it is so complex. The instructors need to be strict and have high expectations if they're going to turn out good nurses.

My med surg clinical instructor had a reputation for being very hard nosed. I did exactly what was asked of me, to the letter, exactly how she asked, and worked my tail off. She and I got along fine. Just remember, she's training you the way she is because one day, YOU may be her nurse. That's what my instructors always said.

[mrphil79]

I hope - I sincerely hope - that all of my instructors are as strict and awful as you seem to be upset about.

I want to so thoroughly know what I'm doing that when I end up done with nursing school the hospitals I do my clinicals at are tripping over themselves to offer me a job.