Whats your nursing student/school pet peev???

moonischasingme1 · Mar 31, 2006

I know exactly what you mean. I am still pre-nursing, but a lot of my family members have no idea what it takes for me to accomplish my goals. To other people, my mom will brag/pretend to be proud about how much I study, yet when we're alone--she is constantly telling me to do things and on my case. When I say I have to study, she just sighs and rolls her eyes. It is just the little things that are aggravating! Or how about when she knows I am studying, yet she plays music/tv loud and talks loud, etc. She is just unsupportive it seems. pft.

Good thing I have my boyfriends mother who is an RN so she knows exactly what it takes. I don't think anyone would understand unless they've been through it, really, no matter how much we try to make them understand!! :uhoh3:

moonischasingme1 · Mar 31, 2006

OOH, also, when someone like my brother or step father say something that is anatomy related and I know it isn't right, I tell them the answer--and then they get mad and say I think I know everything! I swear on my life that isn't the case--I don't think I know practically anything, but I did take two semesters of AP, so I have a little background, whereas they have none at all. I hate that! argh. It's like, I can't say anything remotely intelligent without someone thinking I am arrogant or cocky--I just think it is fun to share info that I learn--isn't that the point? Guess not.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Mar 31, 2006

I find it common that my family doesn't understand how time consuming school is for me, how academically challenging compared to general ed classes it is, and how stressful it is. My sister is studying paralegal...she works full time and still has a social life. She can't get kicked out of school for screwing up on a case study, but if I make a mistake in clinical it could be over for me. Also the grading policy is on a ten point scale for her so even though we may both acheive a 90, its an A for her and a B for me. I find that they compare us alot because they see us as both being in college, so we are on equal footing. Its best to not get discouraged...it happens due to a lack of understanding or experience. Just take the time to explain what your experience in school has been like, and be prepared that certain people will never understand no matter how much you try to relate it to them.

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2006

Well, I'm on the other side of the fence. My dh and mil are there for me 100%. My dh knows how hard it is, (since he hasn't gotten any...well you know...for quite some time). Hey, whats a nursing student to do when you only have 5 hours left after studying to sleep before getting back up to do it all over again! Poor guy.

My only pet peeve with them is that when I get an A on a test, which I just got the grade today from this weeks test, I tell my mil and she says "of course you did". They don't need to jump up and down for me, but you should have seen their jaws drop last test when I got my 1st C. I think they believe it comes naturally with me. Wrong! I work hard for those A's, and that darn C still has me at a 91.4%. argggg

Anyway, on to my real pet peeve with NS. In clinicals, those students who sit at a table all day with their patients chart. All day! Then, when I only have one hour to get all my info, since I've been being nursey all day, they say they are busy doing something (finally) when I tell them that a nurse requested a few students to do some 1:1 meals. "I'm watching the wound nurse". Yah, well people need fed, and I have one hour to get all my info. You've sat inside your chart for 4 hours.

Our site doesn't allow us to look at a chart outside of our clinical shift.

That just really irked me.

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2006

I'd have to say how some family members fail to understand why I need to study so much, and why I have missed out on so much family stuff these past 3 years. And I'd like to smack my Mr.I-graduated-magna-cum-laude-without-cracking-a-book-husband, who has a criminal justice degree and flew through college. He really doesn't get how different nursing school is, and how important it is for me to really understand everything, not just merely get good grades on tests. He won't kill someone if he forgets what statute number speeding is, but if I don't recognize someone has drug incompatibilites--it could happen. So it kinda stinks, I think it's hard for others to understand unless they've been there.

tanaynicole · Apr 1, 2006

I'd have to say that my biggest pet peeve would have to be dealing with difficult nurses at clinical.

The ones that won't let you give any patient care, or the ones that expect you to do EVERY THING for the patients. Don't get me wrong not all where that bad, but I've faced more bad than good.

Thank god I'm almost done...hopefully I'll get a good preceptor.

ftr_bb_catchr · Apr 1, 2006

OK my family is super supportive truly! They really are. My husband has started cooking even. But there is one thing that really, and I mean REALLY, bothers me... And let me preface this by saying the first day if NS the instructors tell you to be prepared to fail at least one or two tests, but when I take an exam if I get an A the reaction is "of course you did". OK this just creates so MUCH pressure for when I do NOT get an A. I got a B (gasp) on the midterm (an 88% BTW) my husband's question to me was.. "Well was that the highest grade?" I'm like WHAT?!? Now surely he doesn't mean to make me feel awful, I mean he loves me and is proud of me, but that is exactly how I feel. IT'S THEIR expectations, not mine, that precipitate my anxiety attacks! I'm scared to tell them!

fins · Apr 1, 2006

One of the toughest things can be to appreciate people's efforts even when they're not what you're hoping for. Case in point...if your husband says "of course you got an A" he's not dismissing your accomplishment - he's probably trying to say "I know that you're intelligent, and I see how hard you've been working - that's why your success doesn't surprise me." When you get a B and he asks what the highest grade was, what he was probably trying to say was "wow, if someone as smart as you, who works so hard got a B, it must have been a REALLY tough test. I bet you got close to the highest score."

One of the toughest things in a relationship can be to hear what they're saying, instead of what you're hearing.

ibmaryann · Apr 1, 2006

I am taking pre-req for nursing school. My friend and I have taken both A and P 1 and 2 together. We are currently in A and P 2. We stress and worry about our tests. We tell our husbands how we are not ready for the test and then after the test we score the highest scores in the class. We are even shocked we do so well. THEN our family says, " I don't want to hear that you don't know it anymore because you always make good." The problem is they don't understand that if we didn't worry and study study study we would not have made that grade. I think we feel we need to know all the words and everything backwards and forwards and then alot of it isn't on the test. So now everytime we say we don't know it they say they don't want to hear it.

God Bless,

Mary Ann

Guitar_Heroine · Apr 1, 2006

My family is kind of overly supportive. They take for granted that I've always done well in school, though I'm kind of burnt out and nursing school is a lot more challenging than what I've done in the past. So whenever I try to vent to them about how stressed I am, I always get "you'll do fine" like it's not possible for me to do poorly (which I have done). I'd rather hear that it's ok to have some setbacks and that there are ways to deal with them... frustrating

hlfpnt, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2006

I have to say I think my biggest pet peeve comes from someone very near & dear to my heart...my sister. Because she is a RN & knows what it feels like to be where I'm at, I call her when I feel overwhelmed our get discouraged. A little empathy maybe...not on your life! She just laughs & says, "Sounds like you're a nursing student!" She is one awsome nurse, though! And she is very supportive of my education (lol she let me practice IV's on her).Wish I could precept with her.