immature nursing students

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I saw a comment from a 21 y/o nursing student to another 27 y/o nursing student on a webpage. It really bothered me because the 21 y/o pretty much stated "you're 27? what were you doing all this time? I already took my pre reqs blah blah blah." This bothered me because the commenter is a future nurse. She supposedly is in a nursing program and look at how judgmental and ignorant she is being! I think her comment shows a lack of maturity and is so rude. Honestly, I wonder how many students are really at this level of maturity. How are they going to react when they have to deal with an older patient and bodily functions? Will they be able to handle that? And if they do succeed in passing nursing school what type of nurse will they be? This just bothers me and I really don't need comments but I guess what I am trying to say is I like to hold a lot of faith in the integrity of medical professionals. I expect them to be just that, professional . If I recognized a nurse or doctor or PT/Ot/Rt/CNA etc at a random location acting like a 12 y/o I would just wonder how they got to their position. I think admission committees should do character background checks. There are so many good students being turned away and unfortunately some bad appels being accepted.

I think the bigger question is: why are you so concerned about what someone said to someone else? I get the impression that you are assuming if someone says something that smacks of being "uncaring" that you assume they won't be good nurses/ill prepared to be a nurse.

I think developing a thicker skin would help to let these comments (which really aren't any of your business anyway) roll of your back. This "OMG can you believe so and so said this to/about someone" mentality has potential to set you up for getting involved in the drama that can plague nursing at times.

Specializes in Neuro.

I can't talk. I am a stumbling idiot oftentimes. I giggle at sexual things and I make inappropriate comments without catching myself. But I am professional with patients and I am fairly well behaved in class. I just don't take myself very seriously, but I take nursing very seriously.

Honestly, the student might have just been having a daft moment. I wouldn't pass judgment on their maturity level.

I can understand how that comment can be mistakingly taken as offensive. It would bother me too (I'm 26) if someone told me that as well (well sorry for having kids and getting married! ;)). But I do think that sometimes people say things without really thinking it through, and that could have been one of those moments where "you put your foot in your mouth"! But hey with age comes experience! And this is just how some will learn. Like some other comments here, I have seen some "immaturity" in some of my classmates, but it's either they get with the program or they'll be outta here! And some were not in their teens anymore!

Immature nursing students are no concern to me. I don't care how they present themselves or what they to others. In school, I surround myself with those that take their studies seriously. I stear clear of those that don't.

You know, I'm pretty darn tired of hearing about older nursing students complaining about other students that are younger than the average 22 year old. I caught a lot of flack from the older nursing students in my class for the mere fact that I'm young--too young in fact.

I graduate from my BSN program in Aug of 2010 and I am 18 right now. I took my prerequisites in high school. I knew what I wanted to do and I took the initiative. Immature? I think not. I get that I am a rare case, and that not all young nursing students may see nursing school as I do.

What bothers me the most, however, is the fact that I hear many other students make plenty of inappropriate jokes that are met with uproarious laughter. Admittedly I think some of them are funny, but I know that if I had made that joke, I would just be considered an immature little kid. To demonstrate, during OB rotation we watched a movie illuminating the importance of breastfeeding when one older student turned to me and said "I bet that's more boobs than you've seen in a life time!"

Yeah, appropriate. :banghead:

Another thing that older nursing students do that rubs me the wrong way is that they state that they have "more at stake" than the young ones. I think we all have the same thing at stake: a career and the prestige of putting the letters R.N. behind your name.

This is the attitude I have gotten from a lot of older nursing students. However, there are some that are absolute heroes to me. Some are mentors and some are friends. It's just that those select few that choose to point another select group out as their scapegoat that drive me nuts.

We're all nursing students, let's focus on graduating and passing the NCLEX rather than busting each other's chops, shall we?

I will say, the maturity level of a person is not always related to their age. This summer, I have met some wonderful pre-nursing students just like me. Some were fresh out of high school, some were my age(33) or older. Nursing is a profession that you have know that you know that's what you want to do. If you're talking about doing "peri-care" and another pre-nursing student(over 25) says "Gross! I could never do that! I don't want to see naked people" You're like, Hello! Why do you want to be a nurse? It's frustrating to me that people get into nursing school, then drop out the first semester when they see what it's really about, leaving open spots that could have been filled by someone who had lower grades but would make a better nurse. I had a medical class in high school which covered all the aspects of being a nurse, BP, urine samples, adult diaper changes, blood, etc. plus I have an aunt who is a nurse, so I knew all along it would be the career for me and I could stomach it. It bothers me when someone is going into it because they think the money is good, and others who just want to be a nurse get left out. Life is not "House" or "Grey's Anatomy"

Specializes in IMCU.

I find more and more that some people just don't have their filters in place.

We all say some really stupid stuff at one time or another (at any age). Some more than others. My hope is that, when I say or do something silly, that someone has the courage to be honest with me about it. Then again I am older and am a bit better a receiving feedback/criticism (not great but better).

There are older people who think they can say anything like to whomever they choose. Nothing to do with immaturity -- just poor choices.

Wisdom only comes with life experience. Some really have yet to deal with any really difficult things in life.

I think the bigger question is: why are you so concerned about what someone said to someone else? I get the impression that you are assuming if someone says something that smacks of being "uncaring" that you assume they won't be good nurses/ill prepared to be a nurse.

I think developing a thicker skin would help to let these comments (which really aren't any of your business anyway) roll of your back. This "OMG can you believe so and so said this to/about someone" mentality has potential to set you up for getting involved in the drama that can plague nursing at times.

I believe the OP saw this on a webpage. So wouldnt it make it as much her business as this post is yours? You obviously have an opinion, but the OP shouldnt? On another note, I do agree with you about the thick skin.

I can sorta understand the OP's questioning. I know younger students who are very immature and I know younger students who are very mature. Same goes the other way.

I've been told by others that I should not be in school at my age. Some of the immature students look down on me and treat me like I know nothing, talk to me like Im 2, make me feel ashamed that I am actually back in school.

The way I look at it is that it's none of their business why I didn't do my schooling when I was their age, and as others have said, learning is done through ones lifetime. When one stops learning, one may as well stop living.

First of all, why are you worrying about what some internet poster says or not says? Why is this bothering you? Does it involve you in someway? Why are you allowing others to influence your thoughts and actions. Unless you were the poster of the comment, how does this concern you?

Secondly, when in nursing school, the only person you should be worried about is yourself. I'm not saying to not care about others, cuz i know we do and will. But, as a nursing student, yourself should be number one. You are the one who is going to be doing the exams, labs and clinicals and work...not some random classmate. Worry about yourself before you start worrying about what other people think and say. And, don't let them influence your decisions and thoughts. :)

I don't know, but something about the OP's post strikes me as a wee bit hypocritical. OP- according to your own philosophy, you really aren't in a position to judge others.

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