What should I do about this awful instructor???

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Hi everyone,

Ok I need MORE advice, I always need advice..LOL...ok anyway..here is my situation...

The other day in one of my clincal labs (we were in the school lab not in actual hospital) another instructor came to help with our class (she comes and helps on a continual basis but she isnt our regualr instructor). My current instructor, whom I adore had asked me a question about my degree, I currently have a BA from another college, then she suggested that I look in to some direct entry (master programs for students with non related bachelors degree) Anyway this other instructor overheard our conversation and in front of the whole class said, "I just dont think its right that they would let you into a masters program, some of us got our masters the right way and have experience to back it up, I have 16 years experience and what do you have?" :angryfire

I mean I understand where she is coming from, I might feel the same way, but I cant help it, I never said that I was going to jump right into management or any thing...I just want to be a nurse and the MN program seemed to be the best way for ME to get there...I was just really mad that she said that and embarrassed me in front of the whole class and I didnt even bring up the subject, my usual clincal instructor approached me with the idea.

If that were the only problem I couldve gotten over it but since then she has come back to help us more with our class and subbed a few times, each of those times she glares at me, even though I have never said anything to her (not even when she embarrased me in front of the whole class)!! When I ask for help she just gives me attitude and makes me feel stupid, ex. "cant you get this, I mean its not that hard!" Or she scolds us/me like we are children.

Then when we went to do our clinicals in a LTCF she was there with another class. My partner and I were giving a bed bath and our instructor came in to see how we were doing, while she was in the room with us, the awful instructor came in and started chewing out my instructor, in front of both residents!! Ironically she was scolding my instructor for our "unprofessional behavior" which included: one of my classmates tying her white jacket around her waist and for the fact some of my classmates were standing in the hall. I can understand why we shouldnt stand in the hall but our specific instructions were not to do ANYTHING unless our instructor was watching, there were 8 of us and 1 of her so it was kinda hard. Even though the girls were standing in the hall they werent being loud or rude, just waiting. I may be wrong but for her to lecture my instructor in front of not only the residents but my partner and I was extremely unprofessional, meanwhile her students were outside the glass facility doors, smoking, talking loudly on their cell phone phones and drinking soda.

THen if thats not enough our instructor told our class that we would be reviewing that day with her class and a few of us said that we would rather not review with her. Some of her students must have overheard or something bc when our class walked into the review room she made the comment "I heard some of your students didnt want to review with me, well thats too bad bc this is the review". We did not mean for any of her students to over hear or anything we thought we were expressing our opinions in confidence...

oh and wait there is more....she teaches a saturday class for any student who misses a day during the week and during that particular Sat. she was going over restraints...one of my classmates was attending that sat. class and this awful instructor told the class as she was demonstrating how to tie restraints, that the reason they used restraints was to "teach that resident a lesson" and I quote that!!! When my classmate came back to our class she was up in front of the class demonstrating what she has learned and said, "now I'm about to put this restraint on you to teach you a lesson" she was serious and didnt understand that this was not the thing to say...(she didnt know!) Our regular instructors jaw hit the floor! She then told us that that is what the other instrutor had told her and she didnt know that she was kidding or whatever...oops...

Sigh..I transferred schools into an MN program but I still have to go to my ADN school to finish up some pre reqs so I keep running into this instructor...what should I do, I dont think its fair that other students have to put up with her attitude either....I considered reporting her but I know that we are sooo short on instructors as well, Ive talked to my regular instructor and she said that she talked her but that was before the whole clinical episode so if she did talk to her she surely didnt chage her attitude...what do you guys think i should do???

sorry so long!!! appreciate any advice or even any situations you may have had that was like this one!!!!

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Lots of issues here. Sounds like she is unprofessional, to say the least. I would take advantage of the opportunity to evaluate your instructors and make sure you give specific information, not emotional diatribes. BTW, never apologize for whatever education you have. It is something no one can take from you and if it makes someone else feel insecure, that is not your problem. Just do your own personal best.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

The only thing I can suggest is to go to the Dean of the school and have a discussion with them. Have letters signed from others and other documentation to show that you are not the only one that feels this way! And have your facts very factual...no 'feelings' or 'subjective language'...just the facts as YOU have personal seen them.

After that..it is handed to their department and you will proably have to trust them to make a choice. In other words...you did your part to help, now you have to trust in others to make the right choice based on your presentation of the facts.

That would be the professional thing to do...give facts and hope for change. Then you must trust in others to either follow suit or continue your endevor once you are gone...

Always remember that we choose our battles, so choose well, be rational about the outcomes, and let your self know that you did what you could do...

Let me ask you..what do you WANT to do??? What have you thought of? Usually that is a good guage ;)

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Good points, thanks all.

Although her actions make me mad personally I wouldnt report her for just that. I do think that she does not provide a conducive learning environment for any of the students in the class not just me. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt but her attitude continued to be awful. When she told my classmate that the reason we used restraints was to teach that resident a lesson, I have to admit it burned me...but since I did not experience her saying that first hand I dont want to say anything about that, if my classmate does that is up to her. I thought about taking it to the dean but i'm afraid that she will know it was me even though its anonymous...Im pretty sure if she thought it was me she would say something to me...she already doesnt like me...I just dont know if her actions are "bad" enough to report...what do you guys think?? I know we are soo short on instructors...

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The only thing I can suggest is to go to the Dean of the school and have a discussion with them. Have letters signed from others and other documentation to show that you are not the only one that feels this way! And have your facts very factual...no 'feelings' or 'subjective language'...just the facts as YOU have personal seen them.

After that..it is handed to their department and you will proably have to trust them to make a choice. In other words...you did your part to help, now you have to trust in others to make the right choice based on your presentation of the facts.

That would be the professional thing to do...give facts and hope for change. Then you must trust in others to either follow suit or continue your endevor once you are gone...

Always remember that we choose our battles, so choose well, be rational about the outcomes, and let your self know that you did what you could do...

Let me ask you..what do you WANT to do??? What have you thought of? Usually that is a good guage ;)

yes, yes, good point, I definetly want to handle this in the most professional way..I want to do the right thing...I understand that if I do report it that I must report the facts and not personal feelings. Do you guys think that this a battle I should pick?? Just in your opinion....I think that I want to report her so that maybe the school board can talk some sense into her..

One class some students were asking her about her other job...she works as a floor nurse in the ER at one of the local hospitals, when we asked her how she liked it she replied "eh its a job" and shrugged her shoulders. Now I dont know about you guys but even though im not officially a nurse yet, I already love my sort of job...I kinda want to be taught by enthusiastic teachers...not someone who thinks of nursing as "eh just a job".

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Lots of issues here. Sounds like she is unprofessional, to say the least. I would take advantage of the opportunity to evaluate your instructors and make sure you give specific information, not emotional diatribes. BTW, never apologize for whatever education you have. It is something no one can take from you and if it makes someone else feel insecure, that is not your problem. Just do your own personal best.

you are right, the perfect opportunity to let her know how I feel wouldve been when we did our teacher evaluations, unfortunetly she wasnt technically my instructor, she just comes to help out our class on a regular basis...soo when we did evals it was for my original instructor, whom I love...I did speak with my instructor about it privately and told her that while I did not appreciate her attitude, my biggest concern was her teaching skills, I mean to say to a student "cant you get this its not that hard?" not only did I start doubting my abilities but I felt really bad!!! She isnt supportive, she acts l ike she doesnt even want to be there, she apparently doesnt like her job all that much either....HEr job as a teacher in my opinion is to teach students and offer support, guidence and a conducive learning environment...to sum it all up its just not fair, I pay quite a bit of money for education and i'd like to get the most out of it!

I do understand though whatever I choose to do, I must report the facts and not let my response be guided by my emotions...

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Keep one of those little spiral notebooks in your pocket at all times. Document, word for word, what she says, and any responses from other students or you.

Ex: On 042505 @1430 Ms. Instructor said, "You haven't earned your degree the right way." I replied, "I feel comfortable with the program and the experiences it will provide me."

If you can get a classmate who witnessed your interaction to co-sign your entry, that will really give you more credibility.

I actually did this with one of my instructors who was a bully (and let's face it, there are a few really nasty instructors out there). I took my documentation to the director of the nursing program, and believe me, it made a difference. That instructor left me alone from then on.

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Keep one of those little spiral notebooks in your pocket at all times. Document, word for word, what she says, and any responses from other students or you.

Ex: On 042505 @1430 Ms. Instructor said, "You haven't earned your degree the right way." I replied, "I feel comfortable with the program and the experiences it will provide me."

If you can get a classmate who witnessed your interaction to co-sign your entry, that will really give you more credibility.

I actually did this with one of my instructors who was a bully (and let's face it, there are a few really nasty instructors out there). I took my documentation to the director of the nursing program, and believe me, it made a difference. That instructor left me alone from then on.

very good idea, thanks!! To bad I didnt think of that before!

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I feel like your instructor should be the one sitting on the Dean's lap yacking his ear off. But as far as you, just let it be. I learned in nursing school...shut up, smile, and just go with it. The last thing you want is to get on her, or anyone else *&%^ list. I've always felt like the reason I made it through school is because my instructors liked me. I've seen it go the other way. I know that sucks, but is a part of the nursing world...Trust me when you graduate... it all gets better.

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I feel like your instructor should be the one sitting on the Dean's lap yacking his ear off.

Hm, Im not sure I understand this line..but yes, that was one of my concerns, I dont want to get on anyones *&^% list by any means....especially hers for that matter...

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I feel like your instructor should be the one sitting on the Dean's lap yacking his ear off. But as far as you, just let it be. I learned in nursing school...shut up, smile, and just go with it. The last thing you want is to get on her, or anyone else *&%^ list. I've always felt like the reason I made it through school is because my instructors liked me. I've seen it go the other way. I know that sucks, but is a part of the nursing world...Trust me when you graduate... it all gets better.

Minor differences, yes; hostility and intimidation, no way. This student is paying that school for her education. She has the right to expect to be treated in a fair and professional manner.

We are trying to encourage people to go into nursing. After they have started their education, the last thing we want is for them to have to tolerate a hostile environment. The school has a duty, professionally and ethically (and legally) to provide an environment conducive to learning.

Speaking up now will give this student the confidence to advocate for her patients or herself when she is practicing and has to deal with an abusive doc/supervisor. Telling her to "shut up, smile, and just take it" is not the answer, and frankly, I am saddened that anyone would think that a student/nurse should just put up with such abuse.

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I feel like your instructor should be the one sitting on the Dean's lap yacking his ear off.

Hm, Im not sure I understand this line..but yes, that was one of my concerns, I dont want to get on anyones *&^% list by any means....especially hers for that matter...

I feel like your instrctor should be the one making the complaints regaurding the bad instructors unprofessionalism. ( If she hadn't already.)

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