Group Projects

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I hate them! Anyone agree? These nursing schools need to realize that adults don't have time for group meetings. Usually one or two do all of the work and there is nothing that you can do about it except warn others not to work with the slackers. I had a paired writing assignment and powerpoint presentation due the last week of class. I did 75% of the work. I failed one of my own courses by .72, but earned an A for this slacker (Actually I got 100%). I have told others not to work with her in the future, but that's about all I can do. I spent years saving money to go to nursing school and others who work think it's okay to put their work off on me. This student also lives out of state, but no one asked her to come to nursing school here. It was her choice and not my responsibility to carry her. By the way, I am using the school's appeal process to appeal my grade in the course I failed. There was a lot of unfairness in the course. (Can't give details, instructor might read). Anyway, back to the projects, I am telling instructors in the future that I want to work on my own, because I can't carry others. Anyone feel the same?

Specializes in CCRN.

Ditto!

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I did a BSN completion and there were many group assignments. It does give you a real world idea of dealing with conflict so it is a worthwhile assignment. However, like you both - I don't particularly care to be responsible for the entire thing either.

I agree.....there's always at least 1 slacker! :angryfire

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I hate group projects, primarily because of the time factor and the slackers. Thank goodness in my ADN program we had only one project (we made an A). But spouse in his masters programs had many group projects and I'm sure to see more in my BSN program coming up. Sometimes an A student who puts in A work is drug down to a lower grade by others.

I concur. I prefer to work alone.

I worked many years in the "real world" and can work in group if others cooperate. In a job setting, you can go to a person's supervisor. In school, you just do the work yourself and refuse to work with the slackers, the problem is that if you are a person who does the work, new slackers find out about you before you find out about them and want to join your group. I worked with a straight A student last semester (I also think people lie about their grades). She knew that I was really struggling with one particular course (I spelled it out for her) and she stuck me with the work anyway. My only recourse has been to let others know not to work with her in the future. She will have trouble finding people to work with because she is selfish and I am about the only person who would associate with her.

Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

I totally, completely agree! I can't stand them. I am JUST TODAY getting together with my group for our final project. It is due next week. No one was willing to commit to a time. There is one girl in particular who has done absolutely nothing for the project. I and one of the other ladies in the group decided that we would just do all the work for the group so that we could have it done in case the others didn't pull through! The good and bad thing about our projects is that we get to give peer points. If someone fills in the points honestly, it should be nice and fair. However, I am pretty sure that it doesn't always happen that way and some people give out points based on whether they got along well with the person. :(

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have personally spoke with the slackers of my group projects and told them they need to shape up or their name will not appear on the finished product. I've never considered myself real confrontational, but gee whiz, group projects sure make me very assertive.

Everyone has explained it very well. For the most part, group projects in college are a bad idea. I suspect the real advantage is to teachers as they don't have to prepare lesson plans during those lecture times. Problem with groups in college is it doesn't relate to the real world as there is no authority hierarchy in the group to pressure the lame to work. Ironically, one group project experience teaches you all you need to know about how well or hard others work.

I don't care for group projects. People don't tend to work together, but rather slack or try and take over.

I'd rather work alone.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am taking a RPN (reg.practical nursing) in Ontario and we have tons of group pojects and the groups are assigned so you work with who the teacher tells you to. We get no/little class time for the projects generally so it is up to us to get together which is a pain sometimes. On the plus side we usually get assigned a separate written report on our group experince each time that no one sees but the teacher so we can tell the truth about how things went. Most of our class is pretty good except for a couple so slackers are not usually a problem. I agree that the experience of having to work with others is good practice for dealing with people on the job but sometimes the added stress is not needed when we are trying to get something done on time.

This past semester in our clinical group we had to do a change agent project as our group project. The way our clinical group ended up half of us were close to the hospital and the other half were over an hour away. The only time that we could meet or "would" meet was after clinical when all were exhausted. I have in the past had some very good group project experiences and understand the "concept" of the point that they are supposed to be teaching but I look at it like this after this last project. You have those people that some term "slackers" when in all actuality they may not be slackers at all. We more or less had our "leaders" assigned by the instructor which is totally opposite of what we had been taught about "group process". Our two "chosen" leaders were the kind that more or less "took" over the project and didn't want anyone's help. They thought that they had all the information that they needed and proceeded. I am always a "team" player and will help whenever and wherever it is needed, but, with know it alls, I am more than willing to sit back and take a break since nothing I contribute will match their high standards. These are the kind of nurses that you saw in clinicals that were experiencing "burnout" because they have to have all the control.

So, sometimes it may not be the case of the "slackers" but the case of the "control freak" that is in the group. :rolleyes:

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