I just passed my pre-reg exam but my tutor will not sign me off. Apparently I need at least another 6 months of training somewhere else as he feels that my communication skills are not good enough. I honestly don't think that there is a problem with my communication skills, but I understand why he would think so.
I started off quite quiet and lacking in confidence and unfortunately because of that I don't think I gave people a very good first impression of myself. But as time went by I worked really hard to improve on my confidence and started talking a lot more to my colleagues (I actually got along really well with them!). I also worked really hard on providing evidence to get my competencies signed off. My tutor told me to keep it up as I'd improved, although he wouldn't sign me off on the competencies relating to my communication skills yet as he wanted me to continue doing it. Because he said that, I was on the impression that I was on the right track and that as long as I continued to work hard and improved on what I was already doing, I would be fine.
I don't think that my tutor is the worse I could have got but I wouldn't say he was the best either. He hardly taught me anything as a tutor and I had to learn most of the things I now know myself, and he was also hardly there to observe me as there was usually another pharmacist around and he would be in the MDS department most of the time. To make things worse, because I worked in such a busy store, I hardly got any study time at all whereas the rest of my friends would get at least 4 hours of study time per week, and they would use it to write evidence, prepare for the pre-reg exam etc. I felt like I was at a bit of a disadvantage as I had to do all those things in my own time such as after work, which was hard as I would be so tired by then. And because of that, I was also really far behind in my preparation for the pre-reg exam.
As it was drawing near to the exam, I decided to concentrate on preparing for it and because I was trying to focus on preparing for the exam, I kinda neglected providing evidence for my tutor to see for around 2 months, although I noted down any points during that period of time that I felt could be useful as evidence to show him after the exam. At that time I was feeling really confident about my performance as everything seemed to be going well. I felt like I'd come such a long way since I first started.
Little did I know that as I was busy preparing for the exam (I took 2 weeks off work prior to the exam), my tutor was planning to fail me as a pre-reg. When I went back to work after my exam, he told me the bad news and that's when my nightmare began. He told me that there was no way that he'd sign me off no matter what I did. I was so shocked I couldn't do anything but cry on the spot.
The last month of my pre-reg year was a total torture as I felt as though all the hard work I put in for the past 11 months were for nothing. When I found out that I'd passed my pre-reg exam, I didn't feel the happiness I should've felt. I feel like the first impression my tutor had of me stuck with him and even though I'd improved so much especially in the 2nd half of my pre-reg year, it's as though he hadn't noticed. A lot of the things he said about me weren't true (some used to be true much earlier on but were no longer the case) but it was hard to argue as he'd managed to get my manager on his side and it was 2 against 1.
I feel really discouraged and I've been feeling really stressed and upset seeing my friends getting registered as pharmacists while I'm left behind. I feel like I've let my parents down as well. I know he says I still need 6 months of training but I was wondering if it's possible for it to not be set at 6 months. Is there any way that I could request to continue training for as long as my new tutor thinks is appropriate? Wouldn't it be fairer that way? If I'm really as bad as he says I am then fair enough, I don't mind training for 6 months or more, but what if I'm not??
Please help.. This is a nightmare..
Last edited by a pre-reg; 3rd, August 2011 at 08:00 PM.
Unfortunately, typical of many and that is why we must do something. Why did the Tutor not suggest assertiveness training? Me I would fail the Tutor for dereliction of duty.
johnep
Perhaps John. However we do only have one side of the story.
Looking however at the post above, this pre-reg clearly can express him/herself very well. For the tutor to say that no matter what happened he would not sign off is brutal and to me demonstrates a lack of ability in mentoring. Let's be honest, if you can demonstrate appropriate communication skills a month before signing off what more can you do?
There is probably more to this story but whatever, the student needs the support of this mentor. If a complaint is put in now after failure I wouldn't think it would carry as much weight as if it was put in earlier. The mentor must be regarded as a "friend" until the appropriate time has elapsed.
It will be difficult but not impossible. For what it is worth, 34 years later I still remember my pre-reg year as abysmal and have no respect for my tutor who has probably long since passed on. It was worth seeing through for the wonderful career I have subsequently had.
Correct as usual Tony, I must say that I pretty well enjoyed every minute of my two years as a apprentice. I regarded it as a holiday from study and burning the midnight oil. One incident I remember was when a diver asked for Oil of Swallows. This was supposed to be a protection against 'the bends'. Cannot remember exactly, but believe was sulphur heated in olive oil (from Squires Companion). Stunk the shop out rather like the episode in Hello Dolly. Banned from doing anything like that again. Although we used to make up a colloidal solution of sulphur using potassium sulphide.
johnep
Thanks John and Tony.. I do realise there're 2 sides to every story and that it would be ideal if you could hear both sides of this one.
I was just wondering if it would be useful for me to appeal to the GPhC and see if they could not fix my extra training at 6 months as they've suggested this based solely on what my tutor's told them about me. Isn't that kinda unfair as they've decided it without hearing my side of the story? Are there cases where one was allowed to extend his/her training for as long as his/her new tutor thinks is appropriate rather than fixing it at a specific period of time based solely on his/her previous tutor's opinion? I honestly don't think that I need another 6 months of training. Like I said, If I'm really as bad as he says I am and my new tutor thinks so as well then fair enough, I don't mind training for another 6 months or more, but what if I'm not? Wouldn't it be unfair if I have to do another 6 months of training even though I don't need it just because my tutor thinks so? It's really frustrating because I don't think he realises how much I've improved since he's rarely around to see me. I know he's my tutor but sometimes I feel like I don't have his support, and it's really discouraging..
I honestly feel for you. What you described above sounds like a horrible nightmare! And i really wish you get things sorted ASAP ! Tomorrow it will be my fifth day of training and I still sort of can't find myself. The team is great, Everyone is very helpful but for some reason I'm lost, lack confidence and over-worried about the exam. I appreciate you shared your experience with us! It will help me a lot! Thank you
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