What actions can I take when abused by a clinical instructor and failed?

Nurses General Nursing

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I took my first semester in Nursing and like most was super excited. I do not want to make this super lengthy so I will cut to the chase. I was belittled and humiliated during my whole clinical experience. This is not just my opinion, for my whole clinical group went to see our classroom teacher (1st step up in the chain of command) about how this clinical instructor treated us and they all made it a point to point out how she really focused on me. I also went to the classroom teacher by myself a handful of times to tell her the experiences I was having and that I wanted to be in a different clinical because I had a feeling she was going to fail me. I saw the director of a program at one point as well so she would know how I was being treated, in tears I might add.

On the last day of clinical I was worried because I was told she did not know if she could pass me because of my care plans. She told me she would sit down with my classroom teacher to get her opinion then I would know. This was a week before classes were over. I immediately went to said teacher to let her know Everything that was written in my evaluation and that she would be coming to see her. My classroom teacher assured me that everything was fine and if I was in jeopardy of failing she would have known long ago and not to worry so much.

I took my hesi on the last day of school and made an 85% (woot woot). I found out a week later that I failed from the classroom teacher even though she had not seen any care plans herself. I filed a grievance but, the clinical teacher had already left for vacation (to france) and would not be back till next semester. I spoke with the clinical teacher and the director of nursing in the beginning of the next school year (took the semester off because I am pregnant and am having a scheduled c section on 4-20-10).

I looked at my final evaluation and noticed that the clinical instructor had written 5 more things in it after I had signed. I told the director but either she did not believe me or just did not care. The director said she would give my care plans to the classroom teacher to grade. I am still awaiting that response and it has been 4 months. I had no idea that my care plans were in bad shape because the clinical instructor did not tell me nor give me guidance on how to fix them.

I only got to keep my first CP and did a 2nd that she kept, then told me to do one more a week before the last day of clinical which is when I needed to turn it in. I was the last to be seen on our final day and she then went over line for line my last 2 CPs. She never wrote on my mid term that my CP was bad and in the beginning of the year made me promise in front of our clinical group not to ask another question about how to do the CPs. Very humiliating. I had a fellow student write her observations and another wrote how I was in clinical (knowledgeable, prepared, etc..) The director said she did not care about that.......I am now trying to talk to the dean because of the unethicalness (if that is a word) about the whole situation. Should I get a lawyer? This clinical instructor has done this in the past, only told the classroom teacher knew before class was over and the students passed. one person it happened too, was behind me 100% but was then told she and I were using slander and should not be trying to help (by classroom teacher). This time the clinical instructor waited until classes ended and left the country.

What the heck is the best plan of action?? By the way I would have made a 'B' and thats while pregnant and raising a 3 yr old. It totally bites to have this be my first 'F' and it not be just not to mention that she might be able to do this again. This instructor has had numerous complaints from all the classes she has taught and has done remediation with students because of her actions and yet because of a teach shortage can still teach? Let me know what you all think......so for it being lengthy but there is soooo much.

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Go to your school's ombudsman office or student grievance committee office to find out what your next steps are since you have already pursued this with the head of the nursing department.

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Apply to another school.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Another hypocrite teacher and clinical instructor. I know the feeling, I was in that same position once but I fought back and had to leave the school and they eventually got rid of the director of nursing. This is ridiculous. This is why I did not trust these teacher while I was in Nursing college. They say one thing and do the next. Some of them feel very important to tear students down. Go up the chain of command until you reach the president of the school. When I finally graduated and pass my boards, I sent a letter to that nasty, pill-popping dog and told her that she thought she had crushed my dream but I crushed her stupid ego.

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A suggestion that has worked for me is to write down all of your issues/facts in a professional, clear matter with specific items to back you up.

Writing it down can leave you presenting basic facts and not just have pple think you are reacting on emotion. It also helps because when you are front of someone it can be hard to remember all of your points. I would especially note that you should were not informed mid-semester--isn't that what the mid-eval is all about?

Best to you.

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I agree. Writing certain statements down when they happen is the best plan of action. Remember that even though this instructor was less then professional you should still be...anything written or said can be used against you and against your nursing license....and why stoop to her level. Don't stop fighting whatever you do. If during your clinical time... you were on time, professional, completed your work, charted appropriately, knew your meds, made no med errors, were able to discuss the patients diagnosis...then she has nothing to fail you on....a few care plans should not make or break your passing......I have taught for a number of years at a University in Canada with BScN students and I would never fail someone for a simple careplan...Careplans are often interpreted differently by each nurse anyways....stay strong.

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That is the biggest mistake that I did was not writing it all down when it happened. Instead I wrote everything before my meeting with the director and CI. I used the help of a couple classmates since I blocked out some of what they thought were important details. The grievance letter turned out to be 6 pages typed. I did just get off the phone with the assistant dean and she said she would look into the matter and was sorry to hear about the situation, however, she would not be able to change the grade no matter what and that it is up to the classroom teacher to do this. I know my classroom teacher would have given me an extra care plan to do if they were that bad if she had been informed before class ended since she did that in the past. I just am at my witts end and am going up until something happens. I have been thinking of switching schools but, the one I am currently attending is the best and most well known for the nurses they produce in my whole area.....tough and now Im worried if I stay I will have some kind of bad label for speaking up, you know the nursing politics and all.

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Sometimes I think these nursing instructors use Nurse Ratchet as their role model. I wouldn't go back to school again for a million dollars.

Me, I'd consult a lawyer and see if I could get my tuition back. And don't worry about which school you graduate from. You get back from your education what you put into it. You're probably better off not going back to that school - you have a new baby to focus on and you don't want to be in a watch-your-back situation. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
I agree. Writing certain statements down when they happen is the best plan of action. Remember that even though this instructor was less then professional you should still be...anything written or said can be used against you and against your nursing license....and why stoop to her level. Don't stop fighting whatever you do. If during your clinical time... you were on time, professional, completed your work, charted appropriately, knew your meds, made no med errors, were able to discuss the patients diagnosis...then she has nothing to fail you on....a few care plans should not make or break your passing......I have taught for a number of years at a University in Canada with BScN students and I would never fail someone for a simple careplan...Careplans are often interpreted differently by each nurse anyways....stay strong.

I agree. I also taught for a couple of years and I would never fail a student, particularly a beginning student, based on a care plan. I might make someone re-do a care plan and I often worked with students on strengthening their care plans, but unless a student was doing something wrong in the clinical setting, had made mistakes that showed a pattern of lack of critical thinking and understanding of patient care, or was guilty of academic dishonesty in the clinical setting, I would not fail that person.

Another hypocrite teacher and clinical instructor. I know the feeling, I was in that same position once but I fought back and had to leave the school and they eventually got rid of the director of nursing. This is ridiculous. This is why I did not trust these teacher while I was in Nursing college. They say one thing and do the next. Some of them feel very important to tear students down. Go up the chain of command until you reach the president of the school. When I finally graduated and pass my boards, I sent a letter to that nasty, pill-popping dog and told her that she thought she had crushed my dream but I crushed her stupid ego.

I do agree that there are instructors who are in the wrong field and should never be allowed near a student. It is frustrating because this sort of thing makes all educators look bad. Nursing instructors are not the enemy, nor are nursing students. Power struggles are ridiculous because nursing students should be treated like adult learners---not spoon-fed by their educators---but with respect and a recognition that nursing education is a partnership and a mutual journey, not an exercise in which a power-hungry instructor fulfills personal vendettas or engages in drama against students.

GoodstudentnowRN---I do have a question for you. Having been a clinical instructor and a student, I've been on both sides of the instructor/student power issue. I have some instructors in my past who have been amazing (and I've told some of them that) and some who have not been quite as effective or always fair. Did it give you a sense of satisfaction to tell off the instructor who made your life so miserable? Or did it seem hollow to you? There are people, certainly, who have not thought I would be successful and who have stood in my way but I figure that my success is the best revenge, regardless of whether they know about it. (In all honesty, if I was unfair or ineffective as a clinical instructor, I would want to know right away and I would be devastated to get a letter from a former student who claimed I had ruined his/her life-----but I don't think I have ever treated anyone unfairly and thus could not be accused of ruining someone's career or life.)

Have to say that my former high school math teacher, who did NOT like me, nearly coded when she was hospitalized and I was her nurse. I was fair and kind and fortunately did not have to have her for more than one shift...still would have loved to have had to give her enemas, though...

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
I looked at my final evaluation and noticed that the clinical instructor had written 5 more things in it after I had signed. I told the director but either she did not believe me or just did not care. The director said she would give my care plans to the classroom teacher to grade. I am still awaiting that response and it has been 4 months. I had no idea that my care plans were in bad shape because the clinical instructor did not tell me nor give me guidance on how to fix them.

I only got to keep my first CP and did a 2nd that she kept, then told me to do one more a week before the last day of clinical which is when I needed to turn it in. I was the last to be seen on our final day and she then went over line for line my last 2 CPs. She never wrote on my mid term that my CP was bad and in the beginning of the year made me promise in front of our clinical group not to ask another question about how to do the CPs. Very humiliating. I had a fellow student write her observations and another wrote how I was in clinical (knowledgeable, prepared, etc..) The director said she did not care about that.......I am now trying to talk to the dean because of the unethicalness (if that is a word) about the whole situation. Should I get a lawyer? This clinical instructor has done this in the past, only told the classroom teacher knew before class was over and the students passed. one person it happened too, was behind me 100% but was then told she and I were using slander and should not be trying to help (by classroom teacher). This time the clinical instructor waited until classes ended and left the country.

BTW, to the OP, it sounds as if you were treated very poorly and unfairly. There is no excuse for an instructor to NOT tell a student that he/she is in danger of failing until the very end---unless, of course, the student did something unsafe or unethical at the very end but it sounds as if you did nothing wrong. It sounds that you are willing to learn from your mistakes and getting feedback regarding any deficiencies in your care plans would have been a helpful learning experience for you.

I won't begrudge the instructor a vacation but personally, I would want to tie up any loose matters before leaving the country or being out of touch for any period of time.

I find it outrageous that this has dragged on for four months. There's something very wrong with the way you are being treated. Someone should have addressed your grievance by now---unless it pitched, which would be misconduct on the part of the school and its directors. May I ask---is this a public school, a private school, a proprietary school? If you are attending a state school, if you don't get satisfaction at the level of the department (or school) of nursing, you may have recourse through taking your grievance past the department and going to the administration of your school. You could always go to the state board of higher education if you do not receive an appropriate answer. I believe the grievance process would be similar with a private school but you would not be able to go to a state board of higher education---the process would end with the general administration of your institution. If you are going to a proprietary school, bring your complaints to the corporate office. That would get their attention!

As unbelievable as it may seem, schools don't always "weed out" the bad instructors. Some people who are abrasive and engage in power plays with students do the same with other faculty. If the instructor is as passive-aggressive as you say, maybe even the director is afraid of her.

I hope all goes well for you with the new baby and that you can get this out of your mind---at least for a little while---as you welcome a new member to your family. Please take care and make sure you get some time to heal from the C-section.

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Specializes in Psych.

You might want to pay for at least a consultation with a lawyer to see if there's a case you would have any chance of winning.

Did the school ever provide any kind of grading criteria (e.g. 5 pts. for x, 10 for y, 15 for z) so it was clear what the targets were you needed to hit? Or did she just zap it with a D?

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

What is really disgusting is that we pay the money to be abused. I could never understand why some clinical instructors were so brutal. Yes, I know that you have to be strong when it comes to saving lives. I swear that I had one clinical instructor who must have been brutally picked on as a teenager. She was just so wicked.

I hope things clear up for you and the nurse can be talked into changing your grade. I believe every nursing school has their one or two brutal instructors. I can take being tough, but being a good instructor. Some instructors are just downright mean. I would never want to go back to nursing school, again. It was probably one of the most stressful times of my life.

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