Unfair Clinical Evaluations

Nursing Students General Students

Published

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.

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:

-"Student takes too many notes."

-"Student carries around notebook everywhere. This shows the student is 'carrying around notebook excessively to avoid patient-care encounters'". WTH???

-"Student asked about the IV procedures regarding another clinical site." (They didn't like that I asked that).

-"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.

-"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!)

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 :(.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
4 minutes ago, Scorio said:

Gee, god forbid I ask for clarification. Isn't that my role as a student? I am paying thousands of dollars for this education. It seems like it's best to not ask questions at all. 

You asked and were answered. Then you continued to ask. That is where you need to stop. Once you have the answer (wait until she’s back), anything beyond that is badgering the nurse. What you are paying for your education is irrelevant. Guess what? The nurse isn’t getting anything to take you on as a student. It’s not that it’s best not to ask questions. It’s that you need to know when it is appropriate to ask, when it is not appropriate to ask, and when to stop a line of questioning.

7 Votes
Specializes in Medsurg.
4 minutes ago, Scorio said:

Gee, god forbid I ask for clarification. Isn't that my role as a student? I am paying thousands of dollars for this education. It seems like it's best to not ask questions at all.

I also got written up at this site for being "too quiet" and "waiting to be asked to do something", as well as, "does not initiate conversation with staff unless asked to." YOU tell me what it is I need to do then? I'm sick of it and it seems like YOU don't understand my perspective.

You don't question the staff. Is that hard for you to comprehend? Your a GUEST. When we were in school we saw all types of mess in clinicals. Did the staff know we were taken back? NOPE. You have a question? Ask your instructor.

The energy I get from you with each of your replies is definitely what the staff sees. I never spoken to anyone who got written up at clinicals yet more than once.

5 Votes
Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.
8 minutes ago, Scorio said:

Gee, god forbid I ask for clarification. Isn't that my role as a student? I am paying thousands of dollars for this education. It seems like it's best to not ask questions at all.

I also got written up at this site for being "too quiet" and "waiting to be asked to do something", as well as, "does not initiate conversation with staff unless asked to." YOU tell me what it is I need to do then? I'm sick of it and it seems like YOU don't understand my perspective.

If this is how you are in clinicals this is why you are getting written up

2 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
10 minutes ago, Scorio said:

Gee, god forbid I ask for clarification. Isn't that my role as a student? I am paying thousands of dollars for this education.

Yes, but you aren't buying a degree, you have to earn it. The amount of tuition isn't relevant and doesn't entitle you in this situation.

I am sorry, it does sound like you are getting mixed messages from the clinical site. At this point I am not sure what you can do, I think they are going to find fault with you because their opinions have been formed. Their concerns about your reaction to feedback are a red flag to me, and I am not sure what happened prior, but continuing to be verbally open to feedback will hopefully help you make it through. How much longer are you at this site?

5 Votes
4 minutes ago, Nurse.Kelsey said:

If this is how you are in clinicals this is why you are getting written up

I asked the staff if I was defensive or argumentative. They say I am not, and that I take constructive criticism very well. I am trying to maintain peace within the department, and fulfill my role as a student---but I can't help but be frustrated over scenarios that when I do follow their advice, they get mad about it.

I got frustrated with Snatchedwig because this user told me to 'not speak unless spoken to' and not question the staff, and I took things personally when he/she said, "how is this HARD to understand" . I wasn't questioning the Nurse, I was seeking guidance as to when best to contact Transport so in the future I will not have any issues.

1 Votes
Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.
3 minutes ago, Scorio said:

I asked the staff if I was defensive or argumentative. They say I am not, and that I take constructive criticism very well. I am trying to maintain peace within the department, and fulfill my role as a student---but I can't help but be frustrated over scenarios that when I do follow their advice, they get mad about it.

I got frustrated with Snatchedwig because this user told me to 'not speak unless spoken to' and not question the staff, and I took things personally when he/she said, "how is this HARD to understand" . I wasn't questioning the Nurse, I was seeking guidance as to when best to contact Transport so in the future I will not have any issues.

But @Snatchedwig was right in saying if you have questions you can ask your instructor. Dont get hung up on interactions you have to learn how to let it go and move forward. Working as a new RN is going to be filled with challenges, personalities, and situations 10x more than in nursing school.

1 Votes
Just now, Nurse.Kelsey said:

But @Snatchedwig was right in saying if you have questions you can ask your isntructor. Dont get hungup on interactions you have to learn how to let it go and move forward. Working as a new RN is going to be filled with challenges, personalities, and situations 10x more than in nursing school.

I know. She is correct. It's that the Nurses are questioned by my instructor if I do ask questions, if I am interactive, etc. If I don't ask any questions and only ask my instructor, the Nurse will document that. Don't you understand my frustration?

1 Votes
On 9/7/2019 at 5:19 PM, Rose_Queen said:

You asked and were answered. Then you continued to ask. That is where you need to stop. Once you have the answer (wait until she’s back), anything beyond that is badgering the nurse.

As I mentioned earlier, it's called reading the room and the OP best learn it now.

3 Votes
Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.
1 minute ago, Scorio said:

I know. She is correct. It's that the Nurses are questioned by my instructor if I do ask questions, if I am interactive, etc. If I don't ask any questions and only ask my instructor, the Nurse will document that. Don't you understand my frustration?

Ok so if this clinical instructor isnt the best (not all of them are) so be it. Dont let it frustrate you. Look forward to your next rotation. In the meantime - dont bombard nurses with questions especially questioning their judgement... Be present in the moment and willing to assist the nurse. You can learn from this. You came here for guidance and you have a lot of people here telling you the same thing.

2 Votes
Just now, Nurse.Kelsey said:

Ok so if this clinical instructor isnt the best (not all of them are) so be it. Dont let it frustrate you. Look forward to your next rotation. In the meantime - dont bombard nurses with questions especially questioning their judgement... Be present in the moment and willing to assist the nurse. You can learn from this. You came here for guidance and you have a lot of people here telling you the same thing.

I know. I am thankful for it. Seriously, I am. I am not the only student facing similar issues. One Nurse harassed a student's looks, among other things. It's just the way it is.

1 Votes
2 hours ago, Scorio said:

I am doing my best. Yesterday during clinical, I was asking the Nurse I was with about contacting transport for patients. The patient went to the bathroom (we were done with her) so I told the Nurse I will be putting her in transport to bring her back to her bed. She replied, "Wait for her to come back! Then we can call transport!" I said, "Ok. No worries." And I asked if transport is relativity quick at this clinical site, she said, "No." I said, "Ok, for clarification, it is best to contact transport when they are not going to the bathroom and when they are back in their stretcher, correct?" Her response? "I mean, do you want to argue about it? We can argue."

Some people I think look for anything to get in a fight, I am convinced. I apologized, told her that I apologize if I came off defensive. She said she did not think I was defensive. I then thanked her for her advice.

Waiting for another eval...

You did not need any clarification.

This is how it goes:

Student: "I will call transport."

RN: "No, wait for her to use the bathroom and then call transport."

Student: "Ok." [Mental note: wait to call until patients are immediately ready for transport].

The end.

I don't know what you believe you are doing (i.e. your personal motivation), I can only tell you the appearances you are giving. I would answer your irksome question (very succinctly) one time and then if you kept it up just excuse you from my assignment. There is no time for games or for unnecessary annoyances.

I'm sorry. I do like working with students. But you are not going about things in a socially appropriate, professional manner. Even asking around for others' opinions on whether or not you are acting defensive is weird. You are not understanding: No one is there for any of that. Think neutrally for a moment--neither the hospital nor any of the nurses (nor certainly the patients) are there for you or for any of "this." Your continuance in the program may eventually depend up on your ability to stop focusing on yourself.

By the way - "no worries" is not an appropriate reply to someone who hasn't wronged you. They do not need to be excused by you or told not to worry.

Again, I will suggest you take it down a few notches. I understand these are straightforward words...but they are genuine attempt to help you.

8 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
8 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

You did not need any clarification.

This is how it goes:

Student: "I will call transport."

RN: "No, wait for her to use the bathroom and then call transport."

Student: "Ok." [Mental note: wait to call until patients are immediately ready for transport].

The end.

Yep, this. By asking if transport was fast and then essentially asking if you really needed to wait to call is implying that you heard what she told you but think that your idea to call now is better.

7 Votes
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