Nov.7-8, 2012 Mid-term evaluations for SN clinical can be tough! For the SNs whose clinical performance has been acceptable, no problem. However, the SNs who are marginal, not so easy! I have one SN who has challenged my input on their physical assessment and proper documentation. This same SN does not write papers with any concept of what the assignment entails, nor does this SN use required APA format. I needed to return 2 papers that SN wrote after I found myself rewriting each paper. Proceeding papers written by this SN were not any better. So, I handed those papers over to my lead instructor to read. I hope that my lead instructor could offer a different perspective for the SN. Additionally, I referred this SN to the skills lab for remediation of physical assessment skill...tough!
I thought beginning my new role as a clinical instructor would challenging, but this week has made me question my intergrity and concern for patient advocacy on a new level. I wonder how the SN was able to progress through a nursing program to the 4th semester with such poor physical assessment skills, no concept of classroom theory, and poor writing skills. If there were only one issue to consider such as physical assessment, I might not lament. But, after several attempts to work with SN in so many aspects of required nursing basics I feel compelled to FAIL this SN!
To offer a failure to a 4th semester SN as a new clinical instructor speaks volumes about two things. One, I do not know what I am doing as a clinical nursing instructor, I am learning. Or, the program itself has failed to provide this SN every available opportunity to prepare for a challenging and rewarding career in nursing. As a new clinical instructor, do I allow SN to pass clinicals and graduate? I know that SN is not prepared to meet the basic needs of the community. What was I thinking??
Coffee break?
Whatever happened to working smarter and not harder?
Oh my Mary - what a dilemma! But I have to say that you sound like you know what you are doing and have every right to question how the student made it thus far. I will always ask myself (and anyone else who is teaching) would I trust this student to care for my Dad or one of my kids or my granddaughter or me? If you can't say yes to any or all of those, then you have an obligation to do the right thing. While it might tidevastating to the student at the time, it would be MORE devastating to let them graduate and then hurt/kill somebody, but that also assumes they would pass the NCLEX - which might not happen.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and keep us posted!