Rant...frustrating CBE class

[Om Girl]

So I just got home from teaching a weekend childbirth education class and the reviews I got were so...half a**ed.
(FYI I teach at a hospital, I'm ALACE trained, I teach comfort measures and also educate them on medications)
So the reviews came back like this...
*uncomfortable chairs (I have NO control over this)
*too much information
*not enough information
*too many videos (I show about 90min of video in 2days/6hr day)
*not enough discussion about pain medications
*I cover all medications used in labor, at what times in labor they're given, what the side effects are and when/who delivers them. (2.5 hours of time)

Apparently I'm just frustrated and realizing that you can't please everyone!

[tlcdoula]

I am sorry this has happened to you, and my only suggestion would be to not take the evaluations so personal. I know that can be hard. I also work at a hospital and teach classes. One thing I have found that makes the whole "chairs are too uncomfortable" thing less of an issue is to let people know that if they are uncomfortable in anyway to please get up and move. I let them know it is okay to sit in the chairs, on the floor with their pillows and blanket or even on the birth ball that I bring to class. I remind them that I can adjust the temperature of the room too, and always jokingly say how horrible I feel when I get back and evaluation that says the room was too cold or too warm especially since these are areas I can adjust.

Just curious, but did you mean to type that you have 2 - 12 hour days? If so those are very, very long days or did I miss read that part?

Honestly I have found that the longer the class period the more difficult it is for people to process the information and be comfortable. Perhaps seeing if you can make the classes shorter, but go for more weeks versus longer classes, all at once.

[Om Girl]

Originally Posted by tlcdoula

Just curious, but did you mean to type that you have 2 - 12 hour days? If so those are very, very long days or did I miss read that part?

Oh my that was definately a typo...I teach Saturday/Sunday each day is 6 hours! Two 12 hour days would be torture to myself and the parents-to-be!

[tlcdoula]

Originally Posted by mamalotusyoga

Oh my that was definately a typo...I teach Saturday/Sunday each day is 6 hours! Two 12 hour days would be torture to myself and the parents-to-be!

LOL - that is what I thought, but I have heard of some strange things so I thought I would double check

[myfourkids]

frustrating class

You can't take the reviews too personally - however - you can take the notes and use them to improve your class.
If the chairs are uncomfortable, ask classmates to bring pillows, it's important that they can focus on you and not an uncomfortable chair, right? (even though that's a silly complaint in my book)
And maybe at the beginning of class you can let people know that you'll give them time to ask whatever ? they want (a 1 hour q & a is always good).
Hang in there!

[Twinklefae]

Is there a section on the evaluation which asks for "Things I can improve" or "complaints"? People like me, who tend to follow rules will think up something that was wrong jut to fill out all the parts of the paper. Might explain the chairs comment. Not mean, not directed at you personally and fills out that section.