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Discussion

Tyrant Nursing instructor

Anyone have ANY idea how to go about dealing with a tyrant nursing (1 semester, 1st year) instructor? She is unfair, rude, condescending, and unhelpful. Almost half the students in our class have complained about her, and the program director says "I'll address this at the staff meeting, so all staff can adjust their behavior if needed." Almost every other instructor has expressed concern over her teaching, her attitude (toward fellow instructors AND students) and her refusal to correct things brought to her attention. She has only been teaching for a year or so, and already every person on staff knows what a hellion she is, but the staff tell the students that "she has the right as an educator to conduct things the way she wants to---there's nothing you can do about it." Students have quit, broken down in tears, and repeatedly complained to the program director about her, but no one wants to do anything. We are told again and again that nothing can be done except to address the entire instructor staff with "general" student concerns. Any advice? She is a tyrant, everyone knows it, she is failing people because she dislikes them or is in a generally bad mood, and people are afraid of her! What can we do???

Thanks!

Featured Replies

  • Experts

It is not your job to correct the teaching behavior of this instructor. Your classmates and you have made your concerns known to those whose job it is to oversee her, now you need to concentrate on your mission: learn the material and demonstrate your knowledge. You have plenty on your plate as it is without taking on the instructor. You can harm your standing in the program by presenting yourself as a troublemaker and complainer, so cool it before you make yourself a target. If you feel like venting then come on this website and talk away. Most of us have been in your shoes and we understand.

  • Experts

you have no idea how many times this kind of thread gets posted.

  1. you have no power over the instructors.
  2. news flash! the power is never going to fall into your hands.
  3. do what you are told or be prepared to pay the consequences. even slaves knew better than to be insubordinate to their masters.

Suck up to her. Kiss her butt. Get a decent grade. At the end of the semester, go out and have a drink and put her in the history book!:smokin:

Suck up to her. Kiss her butt. Get a decent grade. At the end of the semester, go out and have a drink and put her in the history book!:smokin:

Bingo.

I'm dealing with one like that right now...and it's hard. But you know what? In three weeks, I won't have to deal with that instructor anymore.

I can't change her...I can only survive her. Knowing this, the focus changes...get through clinical evaluations, get through finals, get through final evaluations, and move on. She has been extremely unfair to me, to the point where other students have noticed and commented on it. I'm at the point where I know unless I stop working I'll get through this semester...and then I can put her behind me.

And put her behind me I will.

You do the same. Get through the rest of the semester as best as you can. Anything which distracts you right now HAs to get put to the side. Deal with it later...or not at all...but not right now. Don't worry about changing her; worry about surviving her. And when your semester ends, like the poster said who I quoted, go have a spiked eggnog, and prepare for your next semester...

Good luck; the end is in sight. Don't focus on the rocks on the side of the road...focus on the end of the road. It's there....look for it, drive forward for it, and then get there come hell or high water.

Hang in there...

Best-

Lovin Learning

I don't have this experience in nursing school (yet?), but in the corporate world, I can tell you what I have had to do.

In the past, I have worked with/for one or two 'tyrants.' Once I have expressed my discontent/concern to the appropriate people up the 'food chain', if the realization is that nothing will really be done with it, I make a choice.

If my interaction with the person directly affects my advancement/well-being (i.e. if advancement/a pay raise is partially dependent upon the relationship I have with this 'tyrant')--I suck it up. I smile, I am courteous, I act like what they say does not bother me in the least. As much as this goes against the very grain of my being, I've even been known to mildly 'kiss %&*' if needed----and I emphasis....if needed. See, I believe in karma. I think that how you treat people will ultimately come back around and could bite you in the heiney. ;) If my own advancement/well-being is not influenced by my interactions with this person, I politely, but firmly, address them to their face. I have said "Please do not speak to me that way" and had good results.

Honestly, only your own relationship with this instructor should be your focus. I know, it is hard when you see someone blatantly mistreating others, but once you have said something to the appropriate people, if you have a grade at stake, IMHO, there's not much you can do until the end of the semester.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I'm sure you feel very stuck. Hang in there!

I agree with what's been posted so far. There seems to be one in every school. LOL

Keep this in mind- if she is being reviewed for her performance or has any displinary actions pending with the school, they're not going to tell you. She could be let go at the end of the semester and they just haven't told her yet.

  • Author

Wow.

"You have no power over the instructors.

NEWS FLASH! The power is never going to fall into your hands.

Do what you are told or be prepared to pay the consequences. Even slaves knew better than to be insubordinate to their masters."

I was looking more for support and input, not to be told to act like a spineless slave and to get over wanting power over the instructor. That was not even a thought in the original thread. "Even slaves knew better than to be insubordinate to their masters" is not true, first of all, and second of all, I feel that nursing students and all individuals should be treated with respect, regardless of how "lowly" others think they are. There will never be student power over instructors, that is not an issue.

daytonite:

I thought this board was for supporting and guiding fellow students, not more demeaning disrespect. I was hoping to hear some similar stories and maybe reassurances, not shut up and do what you are told, insubordinate slave. I don't think anyone needs to be addressed in such a rude manner, especially on a Nursing student forum where a common and very real problem is being addressed. I, for one, am getting a 4.0 from this instructor and can deal with her pretty well considering, but I hate seeing classmates being demeaned, disrespected, and talked down to, so I thought to get a few words of encouragement. I am discouraged at your attack and only hope I run into colleagues who treat others with more respect than that which you have treated me here.

THANK YOU to all the others who shared stories and offered encouragement---it was just what the nurse ordered and has helped me get this off my chest. I know it's just one milestone among many, but it helps to have words of encouragement!

Best wishes to all!

I have to admit that the slaves comment kinda irked me a bit. Not constructive at all.

To the OP:

As the others have said, do your best to get through the semester. I had a lab instructor like that over the summer, and my initial response was to fight back, but then I realized that she did hold my grade in the palm of her hand and that I only had to deal with her for a few short weeks. It was tough but I got through. Good luck to you.

i have to admit that the slaves comment kinda irked me a bit. not constructive at all.

to the op:

as the others have said, do your best to get through the semester. i had a lab instructor like that over the summer, and my initial response was to fight back, but then i realized that she did hold my grade in the palm of her hand and that i only had to deal with her for a few short weeks. it was tough but i got through. good luck to you.

see that...in the red? now that was constructive. good advice.

  • Experts
i was looking more for support and input, not to be told to act like a spineless slave and to get over wanting power over the instructor.

you posted "anyone have any idea how to go about dealing with a tyrant nursing (1 semester, 1st year) instructor?" i read your post very carefully. you gave information about her and then said, "we are told again and again that nothing can be done except to address the entire instructor staff with "general" student concerns. any advice? she is a tyrant, everyone knows it, she is failing people because she dislikes them or is in a generally bad mood, and people are afraid of her! what can we do???"

i told you my ideas on dealing with this person and what i think you should do. that's exactly what you asked for. you never specified that you wanted an answer that provided support. only now that you see my response and don't like the way i presented it are you thinking about looking for support. feeling like you were told to act like a spineless slave and to get over wanting power over the instructor is your interpretation of what i said.

this is what happens when you go on a public forum and ask for advice. if you asked for support, which you did not, i would have answered differently. i suggest you go back and re-read what you originally posted because you did not ask for sympathy and support.

To the op: many years ago I had a very strict nursing tutor. She gave our group hell at first; the standards she demanded seemed to be so high but she pushed and pushed to help us become the best nurses we could be.

  • Author

daytonite

I guess anything constructive and a bit respectful would have been a nice touch, but it's your story, tell it how you like.

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