I am a masters entry student, so I am new to nursing. My clinical instructor for my first clinical was so cold. Many of my classmates reported similar findings concerning their clinical instructors. One even reported that her clinical instructor told her that she needed to be more confident, and then when she made a huge effort to do so, instead of telling her that she made a great effort, the proffessor told her "well I could tell you were trying". My instructor never gave me any negative feedback the entire semester, she actually often praised the connections I was making in my journal, and then gave me a B- which is failing for my program. I felt like I really did a good job, and I was shocked to receive such a low grade. I have never experienced teachers being so unsupportive of their students. The proffessors I have had in the past always seemed to want you to succeed as long as you were working hard, studied, and had a good attitude. I feel that in nursing I am learning the opposite is true. Its like they feel like they suffered or struggled to get where they are and they want you to suffer even more. It doesn't make sense to me. Aren't nurses supposed to be caring? It seems like they hate humanity to me. I really hope this isn't how all my clinical instructors are. I just want to be a good nurse, I care about the people I am taking care of and I want my proffessors to help me do even better, but instead I feel like they want me to fail. I am just really stressed out. I like caring for the pts but if anything were to drive me away from nursing it would be the lack of support from my teachers and feeling like the odds are against me, that people seem to WANT me to fail and not succeed. Does this make sense.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
There are good instructors and bad instructors just the same as there are good students and bad students...such is life.
Be careful not to displace your personal frustrations with YOUR performance onto your instructor...found myself doing that once or twice. It's just a coping mechanism to deal with stress and self-doubt.
Take everything with a grain of salt and do your best. If you do have a nasty instructor, kill him/her with kindness, respect, and proficiency.:)
First semester my clinical instructor, although very nice, did not give enough constructive feedback. This semester I have struggled in clinicals but my instructor, though much less "friendly", has given me some of the best instruction and advice. I have learned to appreciate her in the clinical setting. Its exciting to go and have her provide "gentle education". The semester is over and I am still amazed with the amount of learning I have done. . .and growth.
nurse4theplanet, RN
1,377 Posts
There are good instructors and bad instructors just the same as there are good students and bad students...such is life.
Be careful not to displace your personal frustrations with YOUR performance onto your instructor...found myself doing that once or twice. It's just a coping mechanism to deal with stress and self-doubt.
Take everything with a grain of salt and do your best. If you do have a nasty instructor, kill him/her with kindness, respect, and proficiency.:)