Advice on Obnoxious student...

[jschut]

We have this "guy" in our class who makes his comments about anything and everything in class (an arrogant, egotistical, Mr Know-it-all)...such as when someones cell phone went off in class (they had it on vibrate, but you can still hear it sometimes) he loudly proclaims, "Ok everyone, I thought we were told to leave the adult toys at home!" which of course got a little giggle from some of the younger gals who thought it was cute. (I guess)

I have some difficulty understanding what is said due to his constant chatter throughout class (not to me, but to another gal who sits nearby). I can't have too much background noise, else I cannot hear clearly.

He "takes over" any group he is in, automatically makes himself the "spokesperson" and tells the others, "We'll do it this way, since I'm the oldest one here." (He's in his 40's I would imagine and I heard that from a member of his group last week.)

He is a decent student and does ask intelligent questions. But he just grates on EVERYONES nerves! And I just want him to be quiet!

I don't want to say anything yet to the instructors, simce school just started and I don't want to make an impression of being a trouble maker.

Any ideas folks?

[micco]

Sometimes I think a person who continually brings up their problems and history is extremely selfish. Everything they talk about is all related to them and how it affects them. there is a lady in the nursing program whose husband has cancer. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. She talks all day about how hard it is on her, she is trying to get an educatoin and he is spoiling it and etc... But it really goes over the limit when she says she wished he would just die now, it would be easier for her this school year. Now, her son is acting out (as expected in this situation) and of course, it has become how it affects her, not about helping her son deal with the situation. But what really blows my top is when she waltzes into class on test day and says I didn't read anything or study, you guys have to help me. yeah, right. I don't want this person taking care of me because I don't want to listen to her life story if I am stuck in a hospital bed with no escape. I think we all need to vent sometime. I feel like I could gripe and complain about this one individal for hours. I tell myself it is part of becoming a nurse, not be judgmental because I don't understand another person's motives.

[TraumaInTheSlot]

WHY not grow a pair and confront the guy? i will never get how you can talk to the entire class, even post it on the internet, but i bet you never spoke to the student himself and voiced your concerns to him. seems like the logical choice, correct?

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

that is how we handle it in our classrooms. on day one (or at some early point in the class) we discuss classroom manners and spell it out for them -- some profs actually have a section in the syllabus about it. they are made aware of the expectations -- one of which includes "holding one another accountable for our actions and speech", "bringing the best of each of us to the discussions while maintianing a positive learning experience for all involved." pretty huh!?

we really do try to stay on track in lectures while allowing for input. monopolizing the feedback portion of class is not tolerated by the other students -- for the most part.

not a bad idea. lay it on the line the first day of class. i'll have to remember that when i start teaching.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

WHY not grow a pair and confront the guy? i will never get how you can talk to the entire class, even post it on the internet, but i bet you never spoke to the student himself and voiced your concerns to him. seems like the logical choice, correct?

Thank you very much for your wise insight into this problem....and as far as you are concerned, more than a pair (in class) has been grown and said person confronted.

He has since calmed down considerably.

I would imagine with a logical choice like that you would see that even though it has been posted on the internet, and a lot of great advice given, that even simpleton students such as ourselves are able to handle loudmouth know-it-alls ~in and out of class.

[cookie78]

Truthfully in my case inparticular it isn't matter of one intervention...when we talk to this girl outside of class she is fully aware of what she is doing, just about all of us have mentioned it to her to her face and otherwise. When we mention it to her again she says, "Don't you think that I am trying, I really think that I am much better than I used to be, I just can't help it if I have lot to share." So we explained to her that maybe it would be better to talk to the instructor during office hours or to friend after class (and believe me she has cornered us all and we often try to save each other because she dominates any conversation.) In fact last semester we recommended she get some therapy and she has but I don't think it is working. No one personally dislikes her or thinks that she is a bad person, it is just that we can see to some degree she needs help. At least half the class has made the connection between borderline personality DO and her and she even suggested it herself. Personally I just think she needs more attention in other areas of her life and I think she doesn't really have a lot of friends probably because she burned them out. So we remind her often and the instructor does her best to shut her down by pushing on through, but it doesn't always work and some days are better than others.

[Jo Anne -OLD]

Truthfully in my case inparticular it isn't matter of one intervention...when we talk to this girl outside of class she is fully aware of what she is doing, just about all of us have mentioned it to her to her face and otherwise. When we mention it to her again she says, "Don't you think that I am trying, I really think that I am much better than I used to be, I just can't help it if I have lot to share." So we explained to her that maybe it would be better to talk to the instructor during office hours or to friend after class (and believe me she has cornered us all and we often try to save each other because she dominates any conversation.) In fact last semester we recommended she get some therapy and she has but I don't think it is working. No one personally dislikes her or thinks that she is a bad person, it is just that we can see to some degree she needs help. At least half the class has made the connection between borderline personality DO and her and she even suggested it herself. Personally I just think she needs more attention in other areas of her life and I think she doesn't really have a lot of friends probably because she burned them out. So we remind her often and the instructor does her best to shut her down by pushing on through, but it doesn't always work and some days are better than others.

You guys deserve a pat on the back. You have done everything you can. Some people just don't want to be helped. Consider it a Pearl of wisdom as you enter clinicals and beyond. This way, you won't feel as bad walking away from a pt. who does not want to be helped.....

I hope I did not sound condecending (sp?) in my last post to you or your classmates.

Take care and keep plugging away. All my best!!!!

[crb613, BSN, RN]

They must be everywhere!!!! I will have to give praise to my instructor, we have one and she shut him down!!! She runs the show and will not let comments get out of hand. Her comment was personal stories can or cannot be interesting we don't have time for them so please keep them to your self or share on your break time.

[DZcarrie]

my (NOT) favorites are those that ask questions such as:

"so, like, what if your patient, like, (throws up,passes out,takes a poo,etc, etc)...or something?"

and other assorted DUMB questions during the lecture. oh, don't forget to ask the instructor where she bought her shoes!