Your definition of good clinical instructor and bad one

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For everyone who has had clinical already, and those getting ready to....what is your definition of a good clinical instructor? And a bad one?

My worst instructor had a "no questions rule". You were not allowed to ask questions in front of a patient because the patient might realize you were a student. (As if the stupid uniform didn't scream I'M A STUDENT - BEWARE!) That's OK if all your questions pop into your head before you enter the room, but sometimes you don't realize you need to ask a question until you find yourself in a situation where you've never been.

My best instructor was very laid back. If you paused & glanced at her during a procedure, she'd give you a prompt. If you asked her to completely walk you through a procedure the first time, she'd do that also.

She was very straight-forward about how procedures in the "real world" can not be expected to look like what we did in Lab. She wanted us to be able to function independently once we're on our own. Not to just have a bunch of rules & steps that don't usually work in the "real world".

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you will know a bad one from a good one trust me. If you do get a bad one don't put up with the crap contact their supervisor asap. I put up with mine but told her off in the end. I did it in a professional manor. JUST DON'T PUT UP WITH IT PERIOD. You pay for them to teach you and if they are mean,rude, ect. you aren't getting your moneys worth.

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I'm glad I read this post. I am in my 1st year Clinicals. My clincal instructor is horiible. She forgets to get patients the night before, makes us feel like we are nothing all the time. She even told me that Nursing is not for me and the I should reconsider Nursing and Stay home with my child. But, I explained to her that why should I? Even patients feel bad for us becuase of the way she treats us. I email her 2 days ago that I am going to be a Nurse and see you Monday! however, I am afraid that she is going to fail, but we will see. I am not going to let her control my decisions. Yes I was crying Monday because that was plain mean, but I need to move on and do what I have to do. THIS IS FUNNY, BUT SHE ALSO TOLD THAT SHE IS ONLY OUR INSTRUCTOR, BUT NOT OUR GOD. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? WHY EVEN SAY THAT? EVERYWEEK I GET DISCOURAGED FROM BESIDES THE FACT THAT SHE LOVES TO INTIMIDATE US IN FRONT OF ANYONE.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I think sometimes people will say they have a good instructor or a bad instructor for the wrong reasons. (not saying in this thread just what I have heard from people through the years on teachers in general)

IMO a good instructor will be supportive and encouraging, they will challenge you and expect a lot from you. They will always have an open communication with you so you never feel afraid to ask questions. They will teach you without belittling you but also won't coddle you.

There is a lot more but I think that sums up a lot for me right now until I think of more to add.

A bad instructor will do the opposite.

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Hmmmm. I have a wonderful nurse who I say over and over again I would love to hang out and drink margaritas all night with- just to hear her stories. She's been everywhere, done everything, and her name tag looks like alphabet soup she has so many degrees and licenses. BUT, she is disorganized, runs late in the am, keeps us late in the afternoon (and we all have another lab to go to after our clinical), tells one or two people one thing and another few something different. She is inconsistent in her teaching and what she teaches, to whom. She's a terrific clinician and I always learn something from her, but I am so glad this semester is almost over, because I hate feeling like I don't know what to expect, or what is expected of me. Especially when doing what I know, with the experience I have, earns me a reprimand for not doing it the way she wanted. And she's never said what she wanted.

I also have a clinical instructor who I knew would be tough, and she is, and I love it. I have never had thigh sweat so bad, as when I'm standing in front of her trying to explain the meds I'm about to hand out, or describing the interventions I'm going to provide for my patient. I have had to look things up two or three times (though not last week! I finally got everything right the first time- but I still had flop sweat) even when I thought I knew something cold. She isn't mean though. She is very kind, but you have limited chances to try her patience, and don't get the same thing wrong over and over. Do not make her tell you something she made clear, more than once. She is very organized, very clear about her expectations, and gives praise and recognition where it's due. I'd rather have someone up my butt, letting me make mistakes, but with a watchful eye, because it is the best way to learn. Do you remember every test question you got right without thinking about the answer too much? I remember every question I've ever gotten wrong, and learned why, and have never made the same mistake twice.

Nice and fun doesn't always mean good. I'll take the instructor who makes people cry, thank you.

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I agree...you don't have to be nice or be anybody's friend, but I think students derserve respect. We all went to the Dean last week, so they are aware of the situation. Today we found out she is not teaching next semester because she got discontinued from our program. Im sure she had problems with other students though. I rather have a professor who tells me Im in the way of failing then telling me to stay home and not come back to Nursing School. That is crossing the line.

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to comment. I had a nursing instructor who made me cry many times in clinical. She even asked me if I would want a nurse like me taking care of my mother. I came close to a nervous breakdown that semester and still can not drive past the hospital I had clinicals with her. I graduated in 2008 and am trying to decide if I want to pursue an MSN to teach. I learned NOTHING from this woman because I was in a state of panic/fear for 15 weeks.

I know what kind of instructor I will not be.

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My best instructors have always shown an interest in their students: wanting us to succeed, to learn something and excel. They sought out opportunities for us to watch or try new things, were friendly and helpful even when you made mistakes. They understood that clinical is a LEARNING experience, and not everyone is perfect at everything the first time they do it. They gave positive, constructive feedback on assessments/careplans/documentation.

I have really only had two instructors who weren't awesome - but they were awful like some of the stories I read here! What I didn't like about those two was:

1 didn't seem to have a great interest in us .. and if she did, she didn't show it. She made me feel stupid for making mistakes. She would ask questions vaguely so that it was hard to understand what she was looking for, and when you didn't miraculously know what she wanted to hear, she laid into you like you were the worst student ever. She NEVER could remember our names... even when she was looking right at us and we had a hospital ID badge and a school one too. That made everyone in the group feel like she didn't even know who she was talking to half the time, so how could she give accurate feedback if she never knew who was who?!

The other was difficult because it was her first time leading a clinical group and it showed. There was little she would let us do without her by our sides...but there were 8 of us on the floor. So if your patient needed a simple dressing change, but the instructor was helping someone else, you had to wait (even though you had been "checked off" in lab to perform that intervention on your own). It was extremely frustrating, especially as it was our first rotation. I wanted to do and see as much as I could to feel more comfortable... but I felt like all I ever did that semester was group up with other girls on the floor and do bed baths. Which is disheartening when you are learning all these other skills back in the lab, but are never able to perform them.

ETA: I didn't even realize how old this was hahaha :)

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