Am dreading second year.......

[Dratz]

I am dreading going back to school next week.....not so much because the things I will be learning will be far harder than first year but because I am an older student and found last year that my classmates were the nastiest, uncooperative, jealous, most competitive group of snipes I have ever had to meet. (Although I have met nasty women where I have worked before).

Group work last year was agonizing. I slaved my orifice off with group projects and had to deal with lazy, immature partners.

Cliques formed.....I was left out of everything.

The instructor proved to be the most disorganized, immature, giggly, unprepared bonehead that I have ever had to deal with. The stress in the classroom was insane!!. Students were always jockeying for position and there was much fighting and arguing.

Alliances formed and thats when the kids grew nasty.

Gawd I so dread going back......I wonder too if my health will hold up under all the crap.

Thank gawd for allnurses because no one here judges me on my age, my knowledge and my work ethic. No one here teases or taunts me as I try to get thru paralyzing oral presentations ( and me with anxiety and panic attacks).....and I can always find comfort from all of you when I was snubbed by my fellow classmates the entire year for who knows what reason.

I could definately use some kind words and a hug as I get ready for slaughter again in my very small class (14 students) and very young instructor. Cuz, as strong as I think I am, I cried so many tears last year and was so extremely frustrated with the disorganized chaos, gossip, childish behaviour etc etc.....that I wanted to QUIT QUIT QUIT!!!

Tell me I can make it thru, to ignore the crap in class, to revel being ostracized and left out of everything and to enjoy my own quiet time. Tell me that I will never have to see half these snipes ever again once school is out LOL...and reassure me that I can do this!!!.

Thanks,

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

You go into the classroom with your head held high and don't give anyone power over how you feel about yourself or your goals. Don't let the petty judgements of others rent any space whatsoever in your head. Take it one day at a time knowing it's only one day out of your life and you can do this!

:yeahthat:

Remember, THIS -------> :mortarboard:

[rninme]

Nothing much to add....just wanted to give you my support. I was the oldest student in my RN class.....I had jeans older than some of my classmates! Your maturity will serve you well....keep your head up and don't let them into your head. One day at a time...lol....I got to the point where I just laughed to myself at all the drama my classmates generated. Who needed soap operas??....I got to watch it live! Tune in tomorrow to see if.....:rotfl:

[sister--*]

Please, students, hold your heads up high! What you're going through here prepares you for ALL the different personalities and oddities you'll have to traverse in patient and facility care. It's like a crash course in politics!

Nursing school is crazy....so is the real-life practice of nursing!

I was an older student as well. I experienced much the same as many of you. Consequently, I have often wondered when the world changed from a focus of "we" to the present self-absorbed, "me, me, me, me!"

I found that learning Nursing skills and studying were the easiest and most enjoyable part. Navigating the politics was my challenge!

Hang in there. It is so worthwhile! Nursing needs YOU!

[Halinja, BSN, RN]

Oh I love it! I too have jeans older than my classmates! And speaking of drama...

I was on the phone with a friend recently who mentioned that I needed to get back to school, to get updates on all the soap operas from last year. Things had been getting boring!

Oh, and I had an instructor who leaped up on her chair to shout at us.

I was driving down the road today and thought...I'll deliver pizza's, I'll raise dogs...anything to keep from going back to school. sigh. Oh well. Just one more year.

[sister--*]

Oh I love it! I too have jeans older than my classmates! And speaking of drama...

I was on the phone with a friend recently who mentioned that I needed to get back to school, to get updates on all the soap operas from last year. Things had been getting boring!

Oh, and I had an instructor who leaped up on her chair to shout at us.

I was driving down the road today and thought...I'll deliver pizza's, I'll raise dogs...anything to keep from going back to school. sigh. Oh well. Just one more year.

That's just too funny! I remember driving through a town on my way to a class and seeing a woman about my age walking with a shopping bag. I was suddenly jelous of her and the time she had to go shopping! It was about then I thought I'd really lost it! :wink2:

[ShannaRN]

Gals.... your second year will go so fast you will hardly even have time to notice. Don't give up and don't give in. Those are words from my second year teacher and I will remember them with every challenge I may encounter. Don't worry about what those other girls are saying. Keep focused on graduation and how you will feel during that pinning ceremony.:nuke:

[zoeintx]

I presume most of your classmates are female. It is most unfortunate that many women act this way. I am 39 and have been out of school for 13 years but remember the behavior like it was yesterday. Oh, it was yesterday at work that I witnessed it. Seriously, when I was in nursing school and even now I gravitate to men. They typically do not act so childish and petty. I'm sure you already know this. I don't have time for gossip and all that other stuff alot of women partake in.

I always looked up to the older students in my class who had children, husbands and a home to to take care of in addition to their studies.

I was fortunate that all my instructors were very professional, experienced and prepared. Best of luck to you and don't fret the small stuff. You have much more important things to fret about.:wink2:

Thinly veiled profanity edited per TOS

[81ke83]

So sorry to read about your experience the first year of school. I am an older student and the people, I go to school with are great. We work together and help each other out. Age has never been a factor. Hopefully, this year will be better. Hang in there.....