My nursing mentor is a pain?

We have a portfolio and work 40 hours a week. In the portfolio are a number of activities. At the beginning, she barked at me that I was to complete a set number every week because it is not fair I dump them on her at the end. I was like "OK that's fair!" and then here I am, asking her to read and sign my work, and she's acting like she's busy.

So I'm like... "We only got one signed last week so we're behind as it is, and you didnt put any comments..." and I was deflected again. She runs around looking busy but the patients she was in charge of got their drugs 5 hours late and one included a HIV+ patient who needs them on time!!! No recordings/observations were even taken all morning until I had to take them on top of the patients I was looking after in a different section.

She is good at LOOKING busy but her productivity is NIL!!!! How do I assert my needs? I am not there to replace any staff members I am there to learn.

I take it you are either a new nurse or a nursing student. Unfortunately, with nurses you would expect them to treat each colleague the same as we are all in the same profession. However, that is not the case. Many nurses especially the older ones believe they are superior to everyone else. In your case it might be daunting, but you must learn to stand on your two feet and be assertive. There is no way around it if you believe you are correct. Ask to speak with your mentor privately and document. Look into her eyes and with a clear and calm voice express your concerns. Do not appear flustered or else she will grab onto it and use it to her advantage. She might scream and yell, but if you have a strong case, stand by it. Give her a week to change. If she shows no changes, then you must bring your concerns to the next chain of command, the nurse manager. Following the nurse manager is the nurse director. Usually matters should be resolved by then. When you speak with the supervisor/manager/or director bring your case in that you are concerned with the safety of the patient as medication given 5 hours late is unacceptable and that it is affecting your ability to do your job. Then ask for a different mentor. You do not want to appear accusatory. As a nurse you will have to learn that if a nurse is consistently performing less than acceptable nursing standards, it is your responsibility to let the management know about it.

If you are a nursing student then you must let your professor know immediately as it is impacting your ability to learn. Not everyone can work well with each other.