What should I do - Abusive Instructor

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Hi, I need some advice. I have an instructor who is repeatedly abusive. She has over 30 years of experience and constantly harasses students. If it is not done her way, then she will fail them. I don't think this is fair when students only have had maybe 5 days to learn. I don't think we should run to the dean for everything, but I don't believe students should be in a hostile environment. I can't handle the stress anymore. I know instructors have experience, I do too (a little, maybe not 20 years), but I know things aren't done in the real world as they are done in nursing school. I know to do things by the book in nursing school, however, I know it's not fair. Whatever.

This instructor is betraying (sorry, for lack of a better word), 'she knows but does't tell'. I don't believe new and innocent students should be exposed to that. Students with good intentions and maybe with awkward techniques, be exposed to that evil. I want to go to the dean (or whoever) for harassment. She has favorites so I don't think students have a fair shot. Maybe take other legal measures. I am putting effort in to this. Should I just withdraw? What are the consequences of all this?

Go to the dean.

Your instructor has a boss, too who can make her listen. Also, get other people to go to the dean, too. There's power in numbers. Who knows? Maybe you're not the first one to complain about this instructor.

Most schools have a chain of command, and when that chain is broken, all that happens is the faculty gets frustrated with the students. The chain of command ensures that the dean doesn't hear every silly little complaint (which he or she does not have time for) and also ensures that nursing students learn how to deal with problems themselves before tattling.

If you're frustrated with an instructor, you go to that instructor. If that conversation gets nowhere, you go to the lead instructor. If that goes nowhere, you go to the chair of nursing (or whoever is next up the chain), and if you've gone through the entire chain and still feel that you need things to be addressed, then you make an appointment with the dean. There is no way to frustrate the staff more (and lose credibility for yourself) than to jump above everybody's head and waste the dean's time.

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Go to the dean.

Your instructor has a boss, too who can make her listen. Also, get other people to go to the dean, too. There's power in numbers. Who knows? Maybe you're not the first one to complain about this instructor.

I think there's a risk in there, and that without knowing exactly why this teacher is so horrible, that it's ill advised. Especially considering this poster has had previous "issues" with another teacher.

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I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I'm pretty sure the post you're referring to is a facetious post :roflmao:

If it wasn't intended to be..... I have no idea.

Based on what though? What details that the OP provided leads you to believe that the OP should go to the dean & the dean would listen? From what the OP had posted if the OP would go to the dean, all that would do is paint a target on his/her back.
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Just kidding :bag:

Is that really how you think academia works? Say something, no one listens, now I'm the enemy for speaking up?

My answer was based on life experience not just of me, but of many others. Many nursing schools have bad instructors and it's effectively handled via the chain of command

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I get that it's frustrating when each preceptor has a different way of doing things. You learn one thing from one instructor and then you go to the next one and they tell you that you're doing something (whether it's giving injections, making a bed, etc.) wrong, and they tell you to do it their way instead. It is aggravating because you are made to feel like you're doing something incorrectly, when you are really just doing it the only way you've been taught... but you just have to suck it up. Smile and say, "oh ok, thanks for showing me, I'll do it that way next time". And then do it their way next time. It's really not a big deal. There are many different ways of doing the same thing and everyone believes their method is the best way. If your preceptor uses a technique you do not like, or that is not "the correct standard", just keep that thought to yourself. Don't forget, your preceptor has the power to pass/fail you. In other words, don't bite the hand that feeds! When you are out on your own you can do things the way you like.

On another note, OP, can you please give us some examples of her "not following standards"? Unless you have some concrete evidence of her doing something that is actually harmful to patients, I don't see why the dean should care that your preceptor doesn't perform exactly 'by the book'.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Is that really how you think academia works? Say something, no one listens, now I'm the enemy for speaking up?

My answer was based on life experience not just of me, but of many others. Many nursing schools have bad instructors and it's effectively handled via the chain of command

Yes. That is exactly how it works. The OP neve once told us what is wrong with her instructor, just that they are "mean".

You told the OP to ignore the chain of command & go straight to the dean. With no proof (none she has shown to us) she will look silly & yes, she will paint a target on her back. You tell the OP to follow the chain of command but to jump & go straight to the dean is *not* effectively following the chain of command.

I wouldve agreed with you to report the instructor *if* the OP had showed us proof. But she has yet provide us with a shred of evidence that the instructor is how she/he says she is then the OP wouldn't look so bad.

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I'm just going to chime in and agree with others that you haven't given examples of why you are having issues with the instructor. Please give us some examples to best help you. Some professors don't sugarcoat and frankly it is their job to fail students that are not safe. If your instructor only wants things done his/her way then do it their way. If the next instructor wants it done differently then you adapt. Once you become a nurse guess what? You can do it YOUR way...as long as it is safe of course! Hang in there.

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Fibroblast,

I'm currently finishing up my junior year in a BSN program, so I don't have tons of experience but I have learned that if you want to make things easier for yourself in school, you have to adapt to your professors, both in clinical and in lecture.

Some instructors are sweet as pie, others may be more sarcastic or rude. Like it or not, we are at their mercy as they are the person that is evaluating our clinical skills. Putting effort into assessing how each individual instructor likes things done will go a long way. If they want you to do injections a certain way that is different than you were initially taught, do it their way (obviously keeping safety as a priority, and don't ever do anything if you are questioning safety). If they make jokes often, make a few jokes back (tread lightly, keep it appropriate). If they're more serious, carry yourself in a more serious manner. These tactics will help establish a relationship with your instructor when you're having difficulty in this area.

Adaption skills are crucial to becoming an effective nurse, especially when it comes to interacting with others. Especially in patient care, you constantly have to reassess and readjust to different patient's needs. If you start practicing this skill with professors, other students, nurses on the units, etc., you are putting yourself in a better position to be able to deliver patient-centered care in the long run.

While some things may not seem fair in nursing school, focusing on negative experiences will ultimately make the already difficult process much more challenging. The further along you get, the easier it will be to let things roll off of your shoulder. It's a steep learning curve and just managing the day-to-day grind is exhausting without harping on negative experiences. I'm sure you'll find your way with this instructor and others, just keep your eye on the prize!

Good luck in your program!

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Complaining about a professor and his or her methods is only going to dig a deeper hole for you. This isn't coming from someone from the field, but rather from someone who has taken courses where over half the class has failed, and surviving them and still kicking today. Majority of colleges don't really give a crap if your professor is tough and unfair. As long as they are making money and there are no lawsuits, they are happy. Also, partially the reason why professors like to be ridiculously hard, is so that they can weed out the people who aren't going to do well on the NCLEX exam and get hired.

The best course of action for you is laying low, do what the professor tells you to do, and respecting their position as an educator. As a student, it's your job to learn THEIR methods and not using your own. It's a tough pill to swallow, but a necessary one.

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I had a genuine grievance​ yet understood the futility of trying to take action against an instructor. Guess what? She has been protected by the system and is still there almost 25 years later. Your nemesis has already established herself over 30 years. You are not going to accomplish what no one else could do in 30 years. As previously advised, suck it up and be grateful she has not managed to get rid of you yet.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Back to the topic at hand please:

1. To the original poster - can you provide some specifics? That will help our members give concrete advice.

2. To the responders - please be mindful of the terms of service to be supportive. Its okay to ask for clarification but lets stop the generalizations.

And finally....nursing school is only a finite part of our nursing career. It is stressful as we learn new material, encounter teachers with different ways of teaching and prepare for our new career. Best wishes....

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Okay. Deep breaths fibroblast.

First of all, nursing school is a very frustrating place to be. It's just a different kind of schooling, and it's hard to explain it exactly, but you now exactly what I mean because you're there. My military boyfriend has, half jesting, compared it to the military. Why is the military the way it is? Because at the end of the day, those men and women have to trust their leader and be able to follow orders in a way that preserves their unit's lives. Now nursing is NOT the military (I have a lot of respect for our service men and women and would not compare choosing to become a nurse to choosing to put life on the line for country), but I can see some similarities in that the stakes are high. As student nurses and future nurses, our actions have a direct affect on lives; you could kill someone--literally kill someone. Nursing is strict, it's sterile, it's professional, and at the end of the day--you listen to your instructors because your patients are real people who could really decline if you miss something or do something wrong.

You know how in junior high and high school you always heard your teachers say that you take the higher level math, not necessarily because you'll need geometry for your career, but because it teaches you logical skills? The same thing applies to nursing school. You are learning discipline because you absolutely must be disciplined as a nurse. You have to learn how to be disciplined. Rules seem stupid. It seems stupid that your instructor has a "her way or the highway" mentality. But if you can't figure out how to work with these types of personalities, you won't be able to work with your nursing managers and coworkers and you certainly won't be able to deal with difficult patients.

My question to you would be this: do you respond to your nursing instructors the same way you've responded to members on this forum? As soon as someone disagreed with you, you flew off the handle. I understand you're frustrated. I understand that you feel the need to vent and be heard. But your initial, instinctual reaction was to let a raging emotional response escape before you had time to collect your thoughts. It's ok to feel angry or mad here--but think about it. Think about what you're going to say and articulate it well and professionally, because this will gain respect from others. This is an online messaging board--you have the opportunity to type out a response, reread it, and edit it before you click "post comment." Just food for thought.

Now, onto your specific situation. Your details are vague, so it's difficult to give you advice on what to do. It's hard to tell from your posts whether you really got a bad instructor or if you're having a difficult time adjusting to nursing school. Both are very real problems that we would love to help you through. More details on exactly what happened between you and your instructor can help us help you a bit more.

I wish you the best. Please don't take anything I said above as trying to attack you or be nasty. I'm being honest. And I know what it feels like to be frustrated in nursing school, so I'm here for advice, as is everyone else.

I don't speak to my professors this way, and I am trying to manage my responses or offenses. If Rocknurse really meant no harm, then I am sorry for responding in that way. I am not military style. I am just surprised that nursing school really is like the military. Hair, shoes, uniforms all in order and in inspection. This is new to me. I am very introverted or quiet and am dumbfounded when someone tells me 'if your hair is not up, you will be written up'. To the point of threatening you. This adjustment, I hope, I can get through.

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