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.
Telling a student that they failed when you tell them that they failed, after the end of the semester, and not one day sooner, is what some clinical instructors do. Specifics of what the student did wrong, no, of course not. Nothing but a tirade about how the instructor enjoys being the cause of students leaving the nursing program. This gem of a clinical instructor has taught at the same institution for more than 20 years. The school thinks this instructor is great. They must. She is still there. You meet her "failures" all over the area. They are practicing RNs, having obtained their RN education elsewhere. Do you really think that all of these people were such the after the fact failures that the clinical instructor painted such a horrid picture of? I doubt it. It is a shame that such people keep their jobs and present such a poor picture of nursing instructors to so many for so long. When caught in the clutches of such an "instructor", best to make plans to complete one's education elsewhere.
I spoke with the assistant dean today and found out the results. Funny how the teachers or program director would not contact me but she was very timely every time I spoke with her or left a message. Anyways, my CP's were bad which I knew they would be since I was not given proper instruction that they were failing. But, she told me that she documented everything which makes me happy and in that way when this happens again to another student which Im sure it will since it has practically every semester (she has only been there for 5 now) it will not be the first time it and action will be taken. I want to switch schools but, this community college that I am attending is the most recognized in my whole area better than even 2 four year college programs at good colleges. At least now I will make an 'A' instead of a 'B'......you know pregnancy brain and all, and I will not be having her as a clinical instructor again. Also, when I do pass with an 'A' I can throw it in her face since she has told me to drop out...ha hows that. Oh and I plan on becoming very active in the Association of Student Nurses maybe be a fundraising officer since I was for Phi Theta Kappa. I want to thank you all for your responses and I learned my lesson......document everything no matter what and if going up only one part of the ladder of the chain of command does not work, keep going up until your voice is heard!
Oh and by the way, I had my beautiful 6lb 12oz baby girl Erin on the 17th, 3 days before my scheduled c-section.....you can never time a baby coming though. Thank you and I will take care of myself and family and get my education and be in the field that I love soon.
I spoke with the assistant dean today and found out the results. Funny how the teachers or program director would not contact me but she was very timely every time I spoke with her or left a message. Anyways, my CP's were bad which I knew they would be since I was not given proper instruction that they were failing. But, she told me that she documented everything which makes me happy and in that way when this happens again to another student which Im sure it will since it has practically every semester (she has only been there for 5 now) it will not be the first time it and action will be taken. I want to switch schools but, this community college that I am attending is the most recognized in my whole area better than even 2 four year college programs at good colleges. At least now I will make an 'A' instead of a 'B'......you know pregnancy brain and all, and I will not be having her as a clinical instructor again. Also, when I do pass with an 'A' I can throw it in her face since she has told me to drop out...ha hows that. Oh and I plan on becoming very active in the Association of Student Nurses maybe be a fundraising officer since I was for Phi Theta Kappa. I want to thank you all for your responses and I learned my lesson......document everything no matter what and if going up only one part of the ladder of the chain of command does not work, keep going up until your voice is heard!
Oh and by the way, I had my beautiful 6lb 12oz baby girl Erin on the 17th, 3 days before my scheduled c-section.....you can never time a baby coming though. Thank you and I will take care of myself and family and get my education and be in the field that I love soon.
I'm confused. In your original post you had said you were failing...but now you went FROM a 'B' to an 'A'?
I spoke with the assistant dean today and found out the results. Funny how the teachers or program director would not contact me but she was very timely every time I spoke with her or left a message. Anyways, my CP's were bad which I knew they would be since I was not given proper instruction that they were failing. But, she told me that she documented everything which makes me happy and in that way when this happens again to another student which Im sure it will since it has practically every semester (she has only been there for 5 now) it will not be the first time it and action will be taken. I want to switch schools but, this community college that I am attending is the most recognized in my whole area better than even 2 four year college programs at good colleges. At least now I will make an 'A' instead of a 'B'......you know pregnancy brain and all, and I will not be having her as a clinical instructor again. Also, when I do pass with an 'A' I can throw it in her face since she has told me to drop out...ha hows that. Oh and I plan on becoming very active in the Association of Student Nurses maybe be a fundraising officer since I was for Phi Theta Kappa. I want to thank you all for your responses and I learned my lesson......document everything no matter what and if going up only one part of the ladder of the chain of command does not work, keep going up until your voice is heard!
Oh and by the way, I had my beautiful 6lb 12oz baby girl Erin on the 17th, 3 days before my scheduled c-section.....you can never time a baby coming though. Thank you and I will take care of myself and family and get my education and be in the field that I love soon.
I am in a very similar situation except that the other students, while being very supportive in private, are too afraid to speak up about what they saw - that she really did treat me differently and that the standards are very different in different clinical groups so that someone who would never have passed with my instructor, passed because they were with someone else. In fact there are at least 4 of them who would have definitely failed (2 of them who ought to really - they are just scary, IMO!) but they lucked out, got other instructors and passed.
But it's all good. I spoke with our Dean of Students (and plan on speaking with him once more this semester so that this doesn't happen to any others after me). They worked it out for me to have a few hours of clinical a week, and some individual instruction, and I feel so much better about clinical now. My clinical instructor this semester has been awesome - she has been so kind and so supportive. When I started this semester I was so raw and broken down from last semester, and she has literally nursed me back to wholeness. I have also gotten to take a long hard look at what it was about me that annoyed my previous clinical instructor so much about me, and hope I can apply some of that insight not only in school, but in the workplace too.
So, like you, when I go back this fall, it will be in a much stronger position. I had gotten the only B in my whole transcript in this course because I was so stressed out - and now I know I'll get an A or at least an A-, since it will all be material I already learned once.
So I'm spending this semester actually enjoying my life and my family, gardening, tutoring and occasionally helping my poor stressed-out former classmates with their schoolwork!
Congratulations on your baby girl! And maybe that is the silver lining in all of this - that you can have some stress-free time for the first few months of your baby's life. :)
!
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
Telling a student that they failed when you tell them that they failed, after the end of the semester, and not one day sooner, is what some clinical instructors do. Specifics of what the student did wrong, no, of course not. Nothing but a tirade about how the instructor enjoys being the cause of students leaving the nursing program. This gem of a clinical instructor has taught at the same institution for more than 20 years. The school thinks this instructor is great. They must. She is still there. You meet her "failures" all over the area. They are practicing RNs, having obtained their RN education elsewhere. Do you really think that all of these people were such the after the fact failures that the clinical instructor painted such a horrid picture of? I doubt it. It is a shame that such people keep their jobs and present such a poor picture of nursing instructors to so many for so long. When caught in the clutches of such an "instructor", best to make plans to complete one's education elsewhere.