This may sound silly but... - Page 2

Treat the instructors like they are humans. That means saying "Good morning" and "How is your day going so far?" Really listen to their answers. You know, stuff that you would say to any other human you are stuck in a room with for 4 hours. I think we forget that our instructors are real people and they lose out on being treated like one.

Don't point out every spelling mistake in the power point or mispronunciation of a term. It just makes you look like a tool.

Don't tell "related" stories in class. Ever. The other students will hate it as much as the instructor does. The only difference is that the instructor has to pretend to listen to you, the rest of the class can tune you out.

I disagree with asking and answering questions even if you are wrong just to be heard. Your questions should be thoughtful and pertinent. If you happen to answer a question wrong, so be it, but don't shout out answers everytime a question is asked.

Never tell them they are wrong. Just don't do it. If they say clouds are made of kittens, keep your mouth shut and confirm in your text. Sometimes in nursing, instructors will be relaying information that does not make sense to you at first or the "real life" versions of events. It may not be the same as what you read. Don't call them out because odds of you being wrong about something in nursing are greater than them being wrong. Ex: Alcohol ingestion may lead to hypoglycemia in DM patients. My instructor said this and a student in my class literally raised her hand and told the instructor she was wrong because the carbs in alcohol breaks down into sugars. Turns out it can decrease hepatic glucose production. Our instructor was a diabetes nurse educator. She did not appreciate being called out in class like that.

Be respectfull of your classmates. Your instructor sees how you treat others. If you are snarky to your peers now, they will not be encouraging of you beciming their peer someday.

(Wow, this is much longer than i expected... [twss])

this was not a problem since i was the only male in the class. having said that, at times it didn't work to my advantage when everyone else was silent, and the instructor asked a question she would always turn towards me and expect me to have the correct answer. furthermore, i could still hear her saying "mr.gitano what is the most accurate way on getting a pt.'s temperature?" those days you were suppose to stand up and then reply to your instructors question, "mrs. monserrat the most accurate way to obtain the pt.s temperature is via rectal" and she would continue without stating that i had giving her a correct answer "now name the 3 ways to obtain a body's temperature mr. gitano" "there are 3 ways to obtain the body's temperature are oral, rectal, and axillary mrs. monserrat"

p.s. those days the ear & the skin thermometer weren't invented yet... just in case someone post the other ways to obtain a pt.'s temp.

This.
Make sure you've read all the chapters BEFORE they are covered in class, show up on time, concentrate in class (no facebook checking, LOL). After exams, meet with your prof. to see what you got wrong even if you did really well. That will show your prof. that you take the class seriously...and it'll be private so you won't get the label from your classmates.
My thing was to throw out nerdy, topic-related jokes when appropriate - it made me stand out since I was able to understand the concept enough to turn it into something funny, shows confidence, and sets you apart.

Try to figure out the answer to your question. Does this happen because of such and such? It shows that you're attempting to think critically and I believe most instructors are more willing to have the conversation instead of just giving you an answer. If you're asked a question in clinical and don't know the answer, let your instructor know that your not 100% and will look it up and get right back to them. They are usually very busy with other students.

Try to be prepared for lecture and please do not be one of those students who has a uncle, grandparent, friend of a friend, or whatever who had such and such disease or procedure that you feel the need to tell everyone about. You're there to learn not give idle chit chat that nobody wants to hear. The instructor will hate it if you call them on a wrong. They are always right and if not refer back to the first part of the sentence Good luck!!

[QUOTE=chevyv;6603914] They are always right and if not refer back to the first part of the sentence.QUOTE]

Exactly! Love the way this was said!

I know that those involved in the student organizations do get to work more closely with the professors.

Absolutely! In fact, extend this respect to everyone, at all times, whether they are present or not. Commend in public, criticize in private. Be aware of gossip; avoid sharing, receiving, and becoming the subject of it.

The best allies to have during nursing school? Custodians and security guards. Learn their names, say hello and goodbye, give them a minute out of your busy day. You never know when you'll forget a book in a locked classroom the evening before a long weekend, or anticipate a dead car battery or flat tire. When I was a student, I drove a '79 Buick with a busted fuel gauge. One day, the inevitable happened; of course, it had to happen on a snowy Friday afternoon in February, a month after my AAA card expired. Jim, the security guard, gave me a couple gallons of gas and I was on my way in half an hour.

Congratulations, and good luck

mm

Don't be one of those students that goes to the instructor after a test and challenges every single question they get wrong. Accept the rationale and move on. Most of your instructors are knowledgable, and if they are not, toe their line until you get out of their class.

I agree with many here. Be yourself. Participate in class. Don't just sit there and just listen. Volunteer to say and do things when its offered. You'll want the instructor(s) to remember you without coming off as a goodie-two-shoes or teacher's pet. Private meetings are a good way to get to know them, but don't make that the only option. I find most instructors want to get out of class as quickly as the students do.

BTW just to clarify, I didn't mean answer every single question even if you know that you don't know the answer.
I meant, attempt to answer questions and don't be afraid that you will get it wrong...getting a wrong answer is OK, don't let the fear of being wrong, stop you from participating!