Group work sucks....at times

[StocktonNurse, BSN, LVN, RN, EMT-B]

Hello all...been awhile since I have posted here. Today I am here to vent. So today I have a group assignment due. I have worked within this group for almost a year. We have gained some members and lost some. My vent is dealing with people who fail to produce quality work for a paper that is critical for our grade. Maybe my standards are higher than others. It's almost like half of my group took a mental vacation when they wrote and edited our paper. So of course...here's the scenario I place my self in...the boat is sinking...are you going to sink or swim. So I'm swimming laps around these people and having to help edit, rewrite, and restructure our paper. Another individual in our group took the job of co-editor and failed to follow through in my terms. In addition we have a major pharmacology ATI final next Friday.

Breathe...I actually attempted some mindfulness this morning. It worked a little, but I probably need to put in more practice.

[JaaaeyRN]

Sorry to hear that. Nursing is a team work. Not a master piece from only one individual, you will find that out soon or layer.

When I was in school, we had to evaluate our peers. Yes we was graded on the project + peer review. This helped to encourage people who were lazy to do their part (s). Sometimes, you will have to be more assertive. Tell them things need to be done or you will report to your instructor. It's a nursing world. When you have problem with your peer, talk it out. If it doesn't work out, then escalate to a higher position. In your case, it's your instructor.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Another individual in our group took the job of co-editor and failed to follow through in my terms.

What stuck out must to me about this post was this sentence, especially when you said MY terms. You can't expect everyone to live up to your terms. You CAN expect them to live up to the terms of the assignment.

Nursing is a group effort. You will work with people who you work great with and you will work with people who are difficult to get along with. I know group project stinks but it's preparing you for your career. Don't set standards or terms for your coworkers/classmates. That's not your responsibility.

[StocktonNurse, BSN, LVN, RN, EMT-B]

Totally appreciate the feedback. So here's what happens at the end of class. I'm a little frustrated, but I vented to another peer and felt better because they acknowledge frustration in their group also. So, I'm ready to leave class and then two classmates discuss how angry they are in their group because of a particular member. This member of their group lashed out at them in emails and belittled the team because their parts of the paper was not up to her standards. I believe it went as far as name-calling or saying their parts were "ridiculous". Of course as these two classmates became more angry, they escalated and threw out inappropriate terms like "that little b-word", and "she's crazy because she dates like 15 guys on the weekend, how hard is editing". Then they asked me how my group was going, and I told them they we have our issues, but stated their issues were far worse, and they needed to have an emergency team meeting. I told them that because their member went on a personal attack, it created animosity or anger amongst the group members.

This is an example of why I want to stay civil within my group, although we as a group have to communicate when there are problems. For sure, we will start physical assessment in two weeks. If this new class has group work, then as a team will have a meeting and list current issues and solve them. I do have enough frustration that I wouldn't mind disbanded the group, but I will reserve my energy and make things work out.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

When I had group projects in nsg school, we set it up so that each persons portion was due to the group prior to it being due to the instructor. That way, we had a chance to fix or completely do their portions.

I distinctly recall a particular group project where 2 of the 4 in our group didn't have their portions complete. Our topic was prostate scopy. I forget the official term. Oh! It was turp! Trans urethral prostate ectomy! 😀

I and another student completed all of the work so that we'd get a good grade. That's simply what we focused people do. We get it done. We know others won't.

My work on this project truly helped me as a nurse to understand prostate problems, which, even in a non medical Lvn job, helped me immensely to understand my pts needs.

We choose to learn because we understand we reap the benefits! 😀

[shanon0403]

I loathe group assignments. Idk why teachers insist on it. You are dependent on others, and it's difficult as working students to find time to get together. I had a partner who did nothing for one project and I was so tempted to talk to the teacher, but I can't get people in trouble like that. I have known others who have told though and their teacher was sympathetic and graded accordingly. Just remember if you decide to go that route that you still have to be in class and work the floor with your group members.