Unfair Clinical Evaluations

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 1, 2019

It doesn't matter if you're right, you need to do what your boss tells you (or move on). Welcome to nursing.

I suggest you lose the notebook, or at least get a tiny one you can slip in a pocket when you aren't actually using it.

If you are saying "you should..." to a staff nurse I strongly suggest you stop. It sounds like you think you know more than her, and that's bad PR for you. Suggest gently, "would you like me to get you...?" and then follow insrtuctions.

caliotter3 · Sep 1, 2019

Good, bad, or indifferent, right, wrong, or just confused in the process, the staff nurses and clinical supervisors have the power to insure you do not progress in the program. Your Director was trying to tell you that you need to become more attuned to picking up on things. Even body language and facial expressions can be giving subtle, or not so subtle, hints to the recipient. If you continued to lug around the sizable notebook after the criticism, that is a strong indicator that you are not reacting positively to 'constructive' criticism. In school, eventually that can contribute to your failure. In the workplace, eventually that can contribute to you losing your job. When they give you hints, learn from their hints and change your approach and behavior accordingly.

Davey Do · Sep 1, 2019

I'm on the fence with this one. Part of me wants to identify and empathize with you, Scorio, and the other part says to listen to canoehead and carilotter's suggestions.

About thirty years ago, when I was working full time as an LPN and going through the RN program, I was faced with similar situations. Without going into a lot of boring detail, let me just say that I was written up for missing a clinical with which I had been previously excused from by the director of the program, called on the carpet by an instructor for questioning a certain therapist's statement, and eventually put on probation for a semester.

I ended up graduating with honors, primarily because I believe I learned to temper my approach. I didn't have to like or agree with modifying my approach, I only had to do it in order to get what I wanted: my RN.

Once I became an RN and got some experience, then I could pretty much approach situations as I saw fit. I had to pay my dues before I sang the blues, so to speak.

And, as canoehead said, "Welcome to nursing".

Good luck and the best to you, Scorpio!

Crash_Cart · Sep 1, 2019

Just go with the flow.

This is not about whether you are right or wrong.

TriciaJ, RN · Sep 1, 2019

You will find your average counts for very little in the scheme of things, unless it's already so low you are in danger of failing. After you graduate and pass NCLEX, no one will care much about your average at all.

How big is that notebook you're carting around? If it's not small enough to tuck into your pocket, get one that is. I once precepted a student who clutched a clipboard full of papers to her chest like a security blanket and tried to do everything one-handed. The first thing I did was make her lose the damned clipboard. It was like a physical barrier between her and the patients.

In all fairness to you, you might just be in a crappy rotation. Some rotations are like that. Try to fly under the radar and count the days until you are done. This, too, shall pass.

Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Sep 1, 2019

Get over it. Nursing school and nursing in general is not always gonna appeal to you sympathetic-like. In fact nursing school is where you are not only learning clinical aspects but to man up to the real world. Your mission at this point is to pass. By any means necessary. I recommend sink into the crowds and not stand out to your instructor.

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2019

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
Yeah, you're probably reading the title and are thinking: *eye roll* "Another Nursing student who thinks they deserve a better grade than they earned." I promise you, it's not that.

It's hard to convey expression over the internet, but read my responses in a non judgmental tone of voice.

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
I am at a clinical site for clinicals, and the evaluations I am getting are absolutely nit-picky and I am wondering if this potentially could constitute as harassment. Why? Because it is negatively affecting my grades. I have gotten written up for the following:

By very nature, clinicals are nit picky because this is where the rubber meets the road. Teaching and correcting is not harassment.

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
-"Student takes too many notes."

If you are taking notes rather than listening and "being in the moment" I can see how this could be a problem.

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
-"Student carries around notebook everywhere. This shows the student is 'carrying around notebook excessively to avoid patient-care encounters'". WTH???

As others have said, ditch the notebook for something smaller. Besides, think of all the germs you are gathering as you lug the notebook around the floor.

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
-"Student asked about the IV procedures regarding another clinical site." (They didn't like that I asked that).

So what was the lesson here do you think?

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
-"Student doesn't show initiative." Even though I do! I ask to do things. I insert IVs in patients, I do vitals, I perform tests, I put ECG 12 leads on, assessments, etc. My previous clinical site gave me great evaluations, and this site it's ridiculous.

This one is hard to quantify, do you think you could have asked exactly what you could have done differently?

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
-"Student made nurses appear stupid to patient by asking to retrieve a warm compress on a patient with difficult veins (Yes, you read that correctly). Additionally, student suggested looking on different areas of an arm before proceeding with contacting an I.V. team, making the nurse appear as though she did not know what she was doing." I was trying to be helpful, and as you can see, taking initiative at this point gets me in trouble (again!)

Learning to "read the room" is an integral skill not only as a nurse but IRL. Think "eyes and mind open, mouth shut".

On 8/31/2019 at 11:09 PM, Scorio said:
I've had it with my clinical site, and my director is not helping me whatsoever and I'm tired of it all. I've had so much anxiety around these people it's not even funny. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I can't take it anymore! Please, anyone have any advice? I ask my director, she says, "Learn to be adaptable." I AM. Some Nurses let me do things, some don't, and the ones that don't write me up for not doing anything. And the worst part is: it's going to drop my average :(.

You answered your own question there. It boils down to adapting to pass this part of your course or let all the work you've done up to this point go down the drain.

guest723 · Sep 1, 2019

On 9/1/2019 at 6:15 AM, CharleeFoxtrot said:
As others have said, ditch the notebook for something smaller. Besides, think of all the germs you are gathering as you lug the notebook around the floor.

My notebook is very small. It fits in my pocket. It's not large at all.

On 9/1/2019 at 6:15 AM, CharleeFoxtrot said:
So what was the lesson here do you think?

Don't express interest in curiosity in other clinical sites. I was only curious because some Nurses worked at other facilities.

On 9/1/2019 at 6:15 AM, CharleeFoxtrot said:
This one is hard to quantify, do you think you could have asked exactly what you could have done differently?

I did. I asked what I could do differently. My director told me that I have not been doing IVs on patients, when I actually have. When I told her she said she was surprised.

guest723 · Sep 1, 2019

5 hours ago, Snatchedwig said:
Get over it. Nursing school and nursing in general is not always gonna appeal to you sympathetic-like. In fact nursing school is where you are not only learning clinical aspects but to man up to the real world. Your mission at this point is to pass. By any means necessary. I recommend sink into the crowds and not stand out to your instructor.

It's hard to get over something when I am not getting credit for things I am doing. They reported me to my PD because I even told the Nurse a procedure was done. Like seriously? I really am trying to fit in. I don't argue with anyone there. I do my best, and it seems as though one person tells me to do something I end up getting trouble for doing it.

8 hours ago, caliotter3 said:
If you continued to lug around the sizable notebook after the criticism, that is a strong indicator that you are not reacting positively to 'constructive' criticism

The notebook is a small enough to fit in my coat pocket. It is very small.

guest723 · Sep 1, 2019

8 hours ago, canoehead said:
If you are saying "you should..." to a staff nurse I strongly suggest you stop. It sounds like you think you know more than her, and that's bad PR for you. Suggest gently, "would you like me to get you...?" and then follow insrtuctions

That's exactly what I said. I said, "Would you like for me to get you a warm compress?" I did not say "should", because that's argument from authority, and that would make me look bad.

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2019

Again, review your responses to the questions asked of you and see if you can spot a pattern that might lead you to a better place clinically. I do sincerely wish you the best.