Unfair Clinical Evaluations

Nursing Students General Students

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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 Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
16 hours ago, MotoMonkey said:

I certainly agree that there are two sides. We never have the benefit of seeing a clear picture of both sides. I am just trying to play the devils advocate and point out that the OP may not be a socially inept jerk who is trying to undermine their nurse. But rather a human that is trying to navigate this new culture and system they have been thrown into. The system sucks in both directions and the people who are making the decision to put this system in place are not the ones being burdened by it. I think that both staff and students should be speaking up and trying to change the system for the better rather than misplacing their frustration and bitter feelings on each other. Though that is a topic for another day and another thread.

I actually agree strongly with this statement.

2 Votes

Hey guys, here is a friendly update.

A nurse told me today something I did wrong, and I immediately thanked her for advice and acknowledged I will improve on a certain behavior. Additionally, I acknowledged to her I appreciate the fact she is very forward with me in regards to constructive criticism, and not given weeks after (and sometimes months) after a behavior has occurred. She told me, "Well, you need to take account with our perspective, that a lot of us Nurses are not forward with you about criticisms because we are not sure how you will react." I am not rude, or argumentative. I simply acknowledged she was correct, her position was understandable. I am also planning on meeting with several Nurses to help address this problem, because it does upset me how I do not receive criticism first-hand, and when an evaluation comes that I did, "X,Y,Z" wrong, it makes me appear in front of my evaluator that I am not fulfilling my role as a student in advocating for myself. Additionally, it will appear that I have a lack of self-reflection and introspection, which frustrated me further. What is everyone's thoughts about this?

6 Votes
On 9/5/2019 at 7:23 PM, Scorio said:

Hey guys, here is a friendly update.

A nurse told me today something I did wrong, and I immediately thanked her for advice and acknowledged I will improve on a certain behavior. Additionally, I acknowledged to her I appreciate the fact she is very forward with me in regards to constructive criticism, and not given weeks after (and sometimes months) after a behavior has occurred. She told me, "Well, you need to take account with our perspective, that a lot of us Nurses are not forward with you about criticisms because we are not sure how you will react." I am not rude, or argumentative. I simply acknowledged she was correct, her position was understandable. I am also planning on meeting with several Nurses to help address this problem, because it does upset me how I do not receive criticism first-hand, and when an evaluation comes that I did, "X,Y,Z" wrong, it makes me appear in front of my evaluator that I am not fulfilling my role as a student in advocating for myself. Additionally, it will appear that I have a lack of self-reflection and introspection, which frustrated me further. What is everyone's thoughts about this?

I would be sure to have your little notebook out and take notes of the feedback they give you. Seriously it sounds like you have some good nurses there but some evil ones too.

I do pretty much everything you do and have never gotten anything but fantastic performance evaluations. Good luck!

1 Votes

By approaching this nurse and coming to an understanding, I think you are on the right road. Now, let's hope the instructors and other staff allow you the room to grow. This will be where the rubber meets the road for you. Keep up the extra efforts.

3 Votes
41 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:

By approaching this nurse and coming to an understanding, I think you are on the right road. Now, let's hope the instructors and other staff allow you the room to grow. This will be where the rubber meets the road for you. Keep up the extra efforts.

I am doing my best. Even though it is challenging to deal with these personalities, I am glad I am experiencing them.

2 Votes
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
1 hour ago, Scorio said:

I am doing my best. Even though it is challenging to deal with these personalities, I am glad I am experiencing them.

That’s a great perspective to have because in real world nursing you will meet people of ALL different types of personalities and need to figure out how to navigate those and interact with them professionally to give the best care for your patients.

2 Votes
Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
On 9/4/2019 at 4:03 PM, llg said:

I agree the system stinks ... but if we insisted that all clinical faculty had secondary jobs with us, where we could control their clinical education, etc. the schools in my region would close. They have trouble finding reasonably qualified faculty as it is. We need the students to supply us with future staff. We can't block that many from coming. So we need to reach a compromise -- where reasonably qualified faculty bring students and stay with them to supervise their interactions with patients and staff, augment their teaching, etc. ... but where the clinically competent/expert staff retains control of the actual clinical care. We are a tertiary care hospital and the patient care is too complex to expect someone (e.g. faculty) who doesn't do it regularly to maintain sufficient competence. We reach a compromise that is less than ideal, but it works well enough to satisfy most of the players.

That's such a tricky situation! It's so different in my area/in my experience. Most of the other clinical faculty I know are employed (or had recent previous employment) at the facility where they bring their clinical students. This is my case--in fact I teach my clinical on the unit where I've been employed part time as a nurse for the last seven years. That alone gives the staff on the unit such a degree of comfort with me (and in turn, my students) as they've known me for so long as a nurse/colleague. Is this the case in anyone else's area?

1 Votes
On 9/5/2019 at 7:23 PM, Scorio said:

Additionally, I acknowledged to her I appreciate the fact she is very forward with me in regards to constructive criticism, and not given weeks after (and sometimes months) after a behavior has occurred. She told me, "Well, you need to take account with our perspective, that a lot of us Nurses are not forward with you about criticisms because we are not sure how you will react." I am not rude, or argumentative. I simply acknowledged she was correct, her position was understandable. I am also planning on meeting with several Nurses to help address this problem, because it does upset me how I do not receive criticism first-hand, and when an evaluation comes that I did, "X,Y,Z" wrong, it makes me appear in front of my evaluator that I am not fulfilling my role as a student in advocating for myself. Additionally, it will appear that I have a lack of self-reflection and introspection, which frustrated me further. What is everyone's thoughts about this?

You are on the right track with just accepting the correction!!!

⚠️There is nothing wrong with encouraging positive feedback by saying that you appreciate hearing it right away, but don't veer over into too many conversations about your recent negative experiences. Keep it positive. Just say, "Okay, thanks!" or "Thank you, that is good to know" or ask a thoughtful or clarifying question if you have one, then say thank you.

The fastest way that they will learn to give immediate positive critique and pleasant correction is if people accept it positively.

I'll tell you what: If I were you I would keep all of this in careful perspective. You have a goal; the goal is to get out of there with a passing grade! It's a very short-term, focused goal. Get.it.done. I know you want vindication and you want to chase down this wrong that you have experienced/perceived, but that is not going toward the goal-post. Instead, remember each day is a new day; just take one nurse at a time and make the very best of your time together.

Good luck and be smart.

5 Votes
On 9/5/2019 at 11:00 PM, JKL33 said:

You are on the right track with just accepting the correction!!!

⚠️There is nothing wrong with encouraging positive feedback by saying that you appreciate hearing it right away, but don't veer over into too many conversations about your recent negative experiences. Keep it positive. Just say, "Okay, thanks!" or "Thank you, that is good to know" or ask a thoughtful or clarifying question if you have one, then say thank you.

The fastest way that they will learn to give immediate positive critique and pleasant correction is if people accept it positively.

I'll tell you what: If I were you I would keep all of this in careful perspective. You have a goal; the goal is to get out of there with a passing grade! It's a very short-term, focused goal. Get.it.done. I know you want vindication and you want to chase down this wrong that you have experienced/perceived, but that is not going toward the goal-post. Instead, remember each day is a new day; just take one nurse at a time and make the very best of your time together.

Good luck and be smart.

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...

1 Votes
Specializes in Medsurg.
On 9/7/2019 at 3:49 PM, 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...

Seriously your not getting it. Don't suggest, don't give advice, hell on your case don't speak unless spoken to. In clinicals you are supposed to be a fall on the wall. It boggles my mind why this is hard to comprehend. Someone else on here got kicked out of school because they got on the staff nurses nerves. Seriously??

7 Votes
Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

Yea you aren't getting it. Stop questioning everything. You are new to learning how processes work and you dont need to question it before you figure it out for yourself.

And stop apologizing. Be confident in what you are asked to do, anticipate things that youve learned to anticipate. Stop overanalyzing.

4 Votes
On 9/7/2019 at 4:36 PM, Snatchedwig said:

Seriously your not getting it. Don't suggest, don't give advice, hell on your case don't speak unless spoken to. In clinicals you are supposed to be a fall on the wall. It boggles my mind why this is hard to comprehend. Someone else on here got kicked out of school because they got on the staff nurses nerves. Seriously?? 

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.

1 Votes
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