Don't You Just Love It?

[Ruby Vee]

Don't you just love it when someone posts a "homework question"? Something like "Why are all doctors so obnoxious?" or "What do you do about lazy CNAs?", but with no context? If it's a real question, you would expect that there would at least be some context in the question. Instead of "Why are all doctors so obnoxious?", there could be an explanation of why the poster believes all doctors are obnoxious, complete with a story about being mistreated by a doctor. Or a story about a lazy CNA . . . with a bit of an explanation about what the CNA did to make the poster believe she or he is lazy. But not, just the bare bones question that could have been a header.

And then, when someone attempts to answer them, either to ask for context or to hint that this might be a homework question and that the poster should do some thinking for himself or herself, the poster goes on the attack.

"I hope me and my family NEVER encounter you as a nurse!"

"You have no empathy!"

"You shouldn't even BE a nurse."

Really?

Someone posting homework questions on a nursing forum with the obvious intent that we nurses do their homework for them has no idea what makes a good nurse. They have no idea what a nurse is or does. And they really don't know anything about the poster they're attacking, including whether or not that person is a competent nurse. So how can they be informed enough to conclude that the person they're attacking shouldn't be a nurse or couldn't be a good nurse?

I have no problem helping out new nurses, student nurses and wannabe nurses -- it's the main reason I participate on AN. (Well, OK, that and the funny stories I often find on the ER forum.) But I'm getting tired of spending my time and effort answering questions and then being attacked because the poster doesn't like my answer.

Either someone wrote a long tale of woe, expecting everyone who read it to jump on their bandwagon and is amazed, hurt and insulted that someone dared to suggest that some of their problems might be attributed to THEIR actions, someone posted a homework question and is incensed that other posters might expect them to do some thinking for themselves, or someone started a thread with no other interest than just stirring the pot.

If you keep having problems with your co-workers no matter how many times you change jobs, chances are it's not them, it's you. Blowing rainbows up your skirt isn't going to help you deal with that problem.

If you've been a nurse for a year and are on your third or fourth or fifth job, it's not the toxic workplaces you've encountered, it's you.

If you've flunked the NCLEX twice, taking it again without some remediation is not going to be any more successful than it was the first two times. You may have been a straight "A" student or gone to the world's best nursing school, but you still have to pass the test.

Nursing is not a calling, it's a career. When I'm sick, I'm not looking for Florence reincarnated; I'm looking for someone competent. If all you have to offer is compassion and a calling, no thanks. (And I'm sorry, but I would not want you to be my nurse. I don't care how compassionate you are or how certain you are that nursing is your calling . . . I'd be really concerned about how well you remembered your unit's protocols and whether or not you really know anything about the drugs you're handing me. (Especially if you're insisting that I take my anti-hypertensives when my systolic is 80, but I digress.))

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

They need to know! I agree with that. But math requires continuous practice problems. If someone is at point zero and has no idea which way to start the problem, I don't think it's a bad thing to work the problem out step by step explaining each step. It gives the student a step by step of how to work the problem in the future. Also, when these students accept their first nursing assignment- they will go through a new grad nursing orientation. Knowing that helps me sleep at night. I don't expect my students to "know" everything upon graduation. I expect them to know where to find resources. Students are using AN as a resource. I just don't find that a bad thing. What is challenging- and also challenging with teaching online courses is that it is often times difficult to "lead" the student to the correct answer because it isn't real time unless you are instant messaging.

The other is that the curriculum is so packed with content, that teaching the critical thinking part is also a challenge. Student come out of high school without the ability to critically think. Adult students- they have acquired those skills either through higher education or life experiences. So, my argument is rather than "blaming" the students we should be helping them. And yes, we will always have the ones who come on here wanting us to do their homework for them. But I pointed out earlier that it's not my responsibility to police. I guess I am happy that they are using AN as a resource (although not with the best of intentions).

If a student posts "here's the problem. I have no idea how to set it up. My teacher talked so fast that I'm massively confused. Can someone here help me set it up and I will try and solve it?"

I will tell them the basics of problem set up (desired/on hand) and ask them if they can figure out what info from the problem is useful and what is a distractor. And guide from there.

Or here is the problem I got x mL but the book says y mg/mL where did I go wrong? Even if hellllpppp mmmmeeeeee!!! is added

This is much different than this is my homework tell me the answers.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I love it about as much as I love the pretense of "Articles" on allnurses. Seriously, this feature is ridiculous on an anonymous internet forum. All that separates articles from regular posts is the citation which is I guess supposed to lend a sense of legitimacy and credibility to them? I just don't get it.

[onedayitllbeme]

I don't understand under what what context or nursing class students are asked questions such as why are all doctors obnoxious or why are all CNAs lazy.. I never took these classes in nursing school. I still stand by my contention that it is best not to answer questions that you feel are not asked from a honest place or for the right reasons, not to waste time/energy becoming a detective trying to figure out why OP asked the question. Usually the answers to the questions are read by so many that they might help people that are encountering so many different types of issues. I truly guess I just don't get why people care so much. People are only hurting themselves if they really thing their answer to nursing school is to ask allnurses community the answer to all their homework problems.

[nekozuki, LPN]

I want to hug this article so, so badly. Seriously. I want to just wrap my arms around it and hug the stuffing out of it.

I'll settle for hyper-linking it on every stupid post I ever see again.

[stronginchrist]

I personally believe this poster help me to realize and to remember that I should (and/or maybe others) as an aspiring nursing student should always remember that it is important to be competent and KNOW what you are doing academically as well as being passionate about the career/calling. This actually help me to remember not to get carried away with the "bliss" of following the average dream and forgetting on the fundamentals and "the actual work" of nursing. It is almost like a little nudge to let me know that I have to remember that it is not only just about being "that" nurse who makes people smile and feel warm hearted but to also know about dosages, different types of medications for different type of conditions, and using discretion. I really like this post for the critical side of nursing and this actually helps.

[ak2190]

All I can say is "welcome to the internet". This is exactly how it goes in every other forum I frequent, it's not a nursing thing. If you focus on it too much, it just irritates you more. Indifference and ignoring are the best responses.

[friggasdistaff]

I am a Dean of a nursing program and teach in the classroom as well. I run up against assumptions like this on a daily basis. The students of today are from the entitled generation and do not hesitate to let me know regularly that I owe them something. Many of my students do not want to learn the information required to be a nurse; instead they want the answers to the test. Not only that, but just the multiple choice answer that is correct and in the order the question appears on the test. To these individuals I say...you probably did choose the wrong career. Nursing has never given me anything....it was necessary to learn to think on my feet and to perform under pressure. There was no one (no one I respected) in the nursing field who would just give me the answers. Akk of my mentors demanded that I think my way through the problem and ask all the questions I could think of. They were like the instructor when I took driver's ed, they were there with me but I was in control of the situation. I love to teach and when approached with a question, I will ask the student what they think and then I will ask questions that will lead the student down the correct path; however, the student provides the answer. If the student does totally miss the mark, I will ask "have you thought about this?" and then present a couple of scenarios for the student to think about. I find it frightening that nurses who cannot critically think and depend on others to carry them will be providing my care in not to many years. I further believe that if an individual is working with someone who is lazy, the person is lazy because they have been allowed to become lazy. If you are a nurse working with a "lazy CNA" why not delegate tasks to the CNA instead ofcomplaining about a lazy co-worker. Do not enable the person and I believe you will both be a lot happier in your chosen career paths.

I find it really troubling that a Dean would generalize his/her student population in such a way. I am a first year nursing student, I am also in my mid thirties. The age range of my cohort is anywhere from 19-50. You do a disservice to your students by painting them all with the same brush.