What do I do after my clinical instructor told me I will never be a good nurse?

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I'm in my 2nd level at a community college. This is my 3rd clinical. I had no problem at all during my first 2 clinicals. The instructors told me I would be an excellent nurse and I always got a 4/4. However, in this clinical my instructor told me otherwise. I had put up a post before asking if I was sensitive in thinking my instructor was not fond of me, when I was putting 110% into my work trying to do my best. However, my instructor pulled me aside and told me I would never be a good nurse. I was just shocked. It was only my 3rd day at her clinical. I have about 8 more days left of clinicals. She told me this at the end of the clinical so when I went into my car, I just cried and cried. I have my nursing care plan due the coming week and I tried so hard, putting in extra things to show that I really want this. I don't know what to do..

Specializes in LDRP.

I believe a lot of situations like this may just have to do with the clinical instructor having a bad day. I had somewhat of a similar experience. I only had 3 shifts left during one of my clinical rotations, and my clinical instructor who had only been giving me rave reviews the entire semester, all of a sudden was extremely concerned about my competence and telling me she was thinking she would have to add more clinical shifts to my schedule to make sure I could pass. I had already been having a bad, crazy busy day, and this just pushed me over the edge and crushed my entire spirit for the rest of that clinical rotation. It was a shock to me that all of a sudden she doubted my nursing capability when she had given me such praise every time before. Even the nurses on the unit who had overhead my instructor's concerns told me that her criticism was unwarranted and outrageous.

However, I did what a lot of other posters on here suggested - I did everything I could to prove her wrong. I was lucky in that she gave me specific areas that she wanted to see me improve upon in my last 2 shifts, so I busted my butt to do my best, especially in those areas. She came to visit and evaluate me again on my last shift, and she recognized the extra effort I had put in and told me I would pass without having to work extra shifts. I was even eventually formally recognized by my nursing school faculty for excellent work in my clinicals!

So use the criticism as motivation to work harder and, though I know it can be hard, don't let it get you down! She is only ONE person, and YOU need to remind yourself of your true worth and potential! Good luck, and keep your chin up! :nurse:

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Specializes in none.
I'm in my 2nd level at a community college. This is my 3rd clinical. I had no problem at all during my first 2 clinicals. The instructors told me I would be an excellent nurse and I always got a 4/4. However, in this clinical my instructor told me otherwise. I had put up a post before asking if I was sensitive in thinking my instructor was not fond of me, when I was putting 110% into my work trying to do my best. However, my instructor pulled me aside and told me I would never be a good nurse. I was just shocked. It was only my 3rd day at her clinical. I have about 8 more days left of clinicals. She told me this at the end of the clinical so when I went into my car, I just cried and cried. I have my nursing care plan due the coming week and I tried so hard, putting in extra things to show that I really want this. I don't know what to do..

That's just one person's opinion. If she was a good nurse she would be out there nursing. Doesn't sound like she is good teacher either. Didn't she say in what way you won't make a good nurse or did she make a general statement? To put it all in perspective, a teacher told me that once now she's dead of cancer and I am still going. Some people get their kicks from psychologically hurting other people. Just continue to do your best, because you will never please this tree swinger. Remember after you finish school you may never see her again or if you do you can laugh in her face. But I'm just being cruel.

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See if you can find out from previous students what makes her tick. I had a clinical instructor that expected a student to come spend time in her office to go over care plans, etc. Once I did, her negative energy toward me left, and I got better grades. I didn't really change my work, she just changed her attitude toward me. Good luck!

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I had the same clinical instructor situation .Very rude , But I Graduated top of my class ,and am a good nurse, She on the other hand had to give up nurse instructor and went back to the hospital. Some people just cannot handle power. Always trust yourself.You know if you can do this,Never let anyone else tell you different

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I had the same clinical instructor situation .Very rude , But I Graduated top of my class ,and am a good nurse, She on the other hand had to give up nurse instructor and went back to the hospital. Some people just cannot handle power. Always trust yourself.You know if you can do this,Never let anyone else tell you different

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Where do these clinical instructors come from? If any one of the clinical instructors said that to a student, they would be out on their orifice.

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Specializes in none.

They come from a secrete Stud Farm the government runs in the Jersey Pines outside of Mizpah, NJ.

Most of the ones I know are great. Some think that they are queens in search of a crown. It could be arranged.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

Had the same situation happen to me. I was so nervous duing my first couple of LTC clinicals-I almost quit. Then, I felt more and more comfortable and finished with top grades. The main instructor did come up to me (afterwards) to let me know that she never thought I would make it. Gee, thanks. Then, another instructor wrote a pretty insulting and very mediocre recommendation when I asked if she could write a letter for financial assistance. It was so degrading. Why didn't she just say no? Passive aggressive, IMO. I shared the letter and everyone had a good laugh, but of course I never submitted it for help. That's ok-I paid for my own education and am proud of it! wish I would have kept the letter to submit to the P.A. notes website! Personally-these negative nellies debbie downers just loooove put downs-it is another form of bullying. Do your best, ignore these toxic people graduate and you will be fine! You will be just fine away from these judgmental people. Trust me.

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management.

That's one person's opinion; a very bad one at that. You didn't accomplish all that you have if you weren't meant to be a good nurse. There would be clear signs to YOU that you weren't cut out for this profession. Unfortunately, there are some very unhappy people with a little bit of power, who like to see people squirm. Keep your head up!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

What do you do if your instructor told you you'd never be a good nurse?

First, thank her for her feedback.

Second, go over her feedback to see if there is indeed something you can benefit from in it. Be honest with yourself about what you're good at and what you might be having a problem with. If necessary, get a friend/classmate's opinion.

Last, ignore her attitude. If you are going to let one person's opinion derail you from your nursing career, you better get out of nursing school now because it only gets worse when you're on the floor practicing: there will be doctors, patients, family members, management, and so on who will be taking shots at you if they're not happy.

Although keep in mind this saying: if one person calls you a duck, ignore them; if ten people call you a duck, check yourself for tail feathers. If another instructor says the same thing about you, take a honest look at what you're doing in clinicals. It doesn't mean you really are going to be a bad nurse and you should bail out of the program, but you may be doing something wrong that is catching the attention of different clinical instructors, and you should work to correct it.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/SNF-LTC/Supervisory.

Prove the B* wrong!!

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Oh my. I only read the original post, so I don't know what has or hasn't been said. You know what you do? You let everything she says roll off your back from now on, don't show her that it upset you at all, just do the work you have to do and try to stay out of her way, and count down the days until the rotation is over. I'm sorry, but what a B*&$#. Seriously. I have had my fair share of bitter clinical instructors and you know what they should do? Find a new profession if they are so miserable that they take it out on nursing students, who have it hard enough as it is. Stay strong -- someday when you're an RN, you'll look back on this semester and laugh.

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