Classroom politics

puggymae · May 9, 2007

I am a faculty member and I see this type of behavior all the time from students both young and old!

My best advice is do not get caught up in this behavior and ignore those who do participate in it.

Do they fail? Sometimes they do, but for the most part the people who "stir" all the time usually have other people who carry them through the course work. (Two days before finals I heard one of them announce during break "which one of you brains are going to tell me what I need to know to pass the comp?" And there sat one of my A+ students spoon feeding the other one. My A+ student missed 1 out of 100 questions, the other student made a 79% - 78% is passing).

I have actually had students drop the program because of how other students act - stupid I know but it happens.

Sometimes I intervene - but the students are suppose to be adults, and this type of behavior is very childish and I shouldn't have to call them into my office. BUT I do put it on clinical evaluations if it occurs at the clinical site.

Good luck to you.

Kathyz · May 9, 2007

I just finished my first semester of nursing school yesterday. Are there cliques? Certainly! We're a small group (32 students) with 4 sections. You're with your section 5 days a week. I have friends in my section plus friends in other sections. We meet before class, e-mail each other, etc. I'm going to be w/ them for 2 years. I'm not friends w/ everyone, but do try to be friendly with others if I see them in the hallway or cafe.

A few people stay by themselves and never talk to anyone. That's their choice. You need friends who will support you, study with you and just plain understand what you're going through. Make sure your friends are smart though, because otherwise, you will be carrying them through!

Good luck.

PS: Out of my class of 32 1/4 failed and are out.

WDWpixieRN, RN · May 9, 2007

I would say there were small cliques of 2 or 3 or 4 early during first semester -- usually either people who had taken a prereq or two together, or who started out sitting next to each other in class. Most of that was kind of out of self-preservation and abject FEAR!!! We started with 40 students.

As time has progressed (finishing 2nd semester this week), I think we have all branched out and are in a really good, supportive place with each other. There are 3 or 4 very young kids who sit at the back of the room and chat a lot during class who most of us are perturbed with, but otherwise, I couldn't be happier with our class. There's a few who are a bit more annoying than others (hey, I might be one of those, who knows?), but we don't seem to back stab, gossip, argue, etc. Most of us are in our 30's to early 50's. Most have kids and a life outside of school so really don't have time for that nonsense, either!! I am amazed at some of the stories I have read on this site!!

Good luck!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 9, 2007

Those who act that way are childish and dysfunctional. You will only get caught up in those kind of distractions if they do occur and if you choose to involve yourself with them. The most effective and potent control over people like this is to IGNORE THEM--if it even happens. Part of what people like this are doing is trying to suck other people into their little mind games. It's how they get their jollies and feed their dysfunctional esteems. Wanna get in their game? Use confidence and what you know about life against them, because they are usually easily hurt by those who are more powerful and intimidating, but I wouldn't recommend it. It pulls you down to their level. Not falling for their game lets the air out their balloons. What they are trying to do in the first place is establish some kind of superiority over others because of their low self-esteem.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 10, 2007

Yes, by all means - heed all this advice and completely ignore them. It's not worth your time and you will need the energy to use elsewhere, in more worthwhile endeavors.

I look at it this way - I am not paying an outrageous amount of tuition to make friends and buddies. I have several close friends in the class for socialization and friendship; I don't need the games of others to distract me. I am there to get an education and build professional relationships.

Personally, the rules of the real world also apply to navigating this petty stuff at nursing school. If you wouldn't have been involved in it at work, best avoid it in nursing school.

Just my humble $.02.

Thedreamer · May 10, 2007

There was this group in my class of 5 girls. They just stick to themselves mostly but are well known for gossip, back stabbing, all that wonderful stuff. I had my own run in with them until I came to these boards and got the best advice I could have gotten. Stick with your friends that bring you UP, and dont worry about the people who try to bring you down. And of course, keep a positive attitude, even when its very difficult too. Being positive goes a LONG way and helps you to get perspective.

Ive been a happy bee ever since :) Im making As-Bs on all my tests, and I am having a blast with clinical learning so much (cept dialysis *shudder* Not my cup of tea ^^). Just be yourself, dont worry about the negative things and study study study!

P.s. of those five girls, only three are left. Guess they should have spent more time in the books and less talking about the other students?

Trauma Columnist · May 10, 2007

I went to nursing school 15 years ago. I don't remember any student names, any instructor names. Its all just a blur. I too was in my 30's and had a family. I also worked full-time. I just kept to myself and went on with my own life. Didn't care about cliques (if they even existed), friendships, nothing. Had my own set of stressors at home.

Since you are an adult, you are so right that you have other concerns. Just go to class, do what needs to be done and move on.

Good luck.

GratefulHeart · May 10, 2007

I've read a lot of posts on here where people have mentioned other students in their classes forming cliques, spreading gossip, passing notes in class, etc. Is this just the younger students who just got out of high school doing all this nonsense? It sounds so juvenile. I'm in my 30s and will be starting NS this fall and I cannot afford to get caught up in those kinds of distractions.
What is everyones' experience with this type of behavior? Also, do those who act like this usually become the ones who struggle and fail the course?

O yeah, of course it's there, but I just ignore it. Life is too short, and I don't want to waste my energy or inner peace by going there. My motto is to be friendly to all, and refuse to be carried away into any dung piles (gossip, backbiting, weird alliances, one-upmanship - or whatever you want to call it!).

To directly answer your question: No, they don't always fail the course, but they fail in other ways (like relationally and being a person others trust and respect...).

PurpleFlower · May 11, 2007

Yes there are cliques! I have to say I really didn't notice any till the last sem. It started to get really bad! I think it is kind of sad that people form cliques and things get like that!

decartes · May 11, 2007

I guess cliques are a part of life. Individuals who have more in common usually congregate and form their cliques. I saw this with the old and young. I was never part of a large clique and always sat in the front of the class. However, I always was pleasant to everyone. Sitting in the front made me oblivious to the distractions happening in the classroom and being pleasant with everyone made me not worry about cliques.

I must emphasize that sitting in front of the class saved me from all distractions that have gone on during class.

2bnursenikki82 · Dec 17, 2007

Ugh...I'm in school now and for me it's not the cliques that bother me...i don't really want to hang out with some of those other people anyway...but it's the, for lack of a better word, douchebags who stir things up in class because they think they are so special and deserve special treatment. i was going to actually go into detail...but i dn't want to get caught!!! sadly, those people have passed all their nursing classes and are probably reading this right now...

it's not the cliques that drive me up the wall. it's the students with personality disorders! :rotfl: