Anyone deal with people badmouthing your school nursing program?

Fun2, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2005

I think you handled the situation as I would have.

Do not let anyone else's negative comments get you down. She may have been denied in that program or something.

Those "instructors" may have been fired from that school. There's not any way of telling.

Some people just like to run their mouths to make themselves feel better. :uhoh3:

Keep a positive attitude, and good luck. :)

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Nov 23, 2005

Only once. Turns out the person that did it got rejected 3 times. I think that had a lot to do with it.

smk1, LPN · Nov 23, 2005

if it is constructive then listen, otherwise let them know taht you will be just fine and thanks for the concern. Some of the opinions could be valid, so listen for bad policies or students simply not liking the organizational arrangement of the school etc... those things might have some truth to them. Also, always consider the source. If it is someone who might be a reputable person, try to see why they feel the way they do, or get more info, even though it may not change your decision it may keep you on your toes and save you a lot of hassle. If the person is bitter, didn't get in to that school and is mad, a whiner, poor student or just plain gossipy, then take that into account as well.

KatieBell · Nov 23, 2005

People usually say these things when they are feeling insecure, or not confident. Do not let her lack of confidence spoil anything for you. Any program with a decent pass rate is bound to teach you plenty.

Good Luck

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2005

eandgsma. . .I graduated from a community college nursing program in Riverside County of California some years ago. We heard people bad mouthing it from time to time because they were using a very unique teaching approach that no one else was using. Know what? Every single one of us passed the state board on our first try. That's the final test. I wouldn't take to heart what this other student told you. She's repeating a bit of gossip that you have no way to verify. Although it's not impossible, I find it unlikely that nursing instructors would be trashing another nursing school, especially one they worked at. I think it's more likely that this LVN or other students at her school took some very innocent statements made by the instructors and spun it into this nasty gossip she is repeating. Some people just love to wallow in negativity. I would be willing to bet that if her instructors heard the things she was telling you they would be appalled because she's making them look embarrassingly bad to the rest of the world. Remember the old telephone game from kindergarden where you whispered a short phase from kid to kid and how it never ended up being what it started out as originally? That's what happens with gossip.

The fact is that all nursing schools in California (or any state, for that matter) are approved by the state board of nursing. Their curriculum is laid out for the board of nursing to see and it is no secret. The school must also identify the teaching and learning methods they are going to use with their students. They must follow this plan or they will lose their board approval. The main issue you want to look at with any nursing school is that they teach what you are going to need to know to pass NCLEX? The state board pretty much assures you of that. A very huge majority of RNs in this country come out of AA programs. I did. There is nothing wrong with AA programs of nursing. They do a fine job of training.

The way you deal with this is to refuse to listen to this person's bad mouthing of your school. As hard as it might pain you, you have to stop responding to her comments and defending the school from what she says. I daresay she is also a problematic employee as well--big mouth syndrome. You can't cure that. She will either have an epiphany some day and correct her behavior, some one with authority will force her to stop it, but most likely she has come through her entire life acting this way. It comes partly from a very poor self-esteem and the need to make herself appear important by becoming the center of attention. Everytime you engage her in a bit of a heated discussion, you are feeding this disfunctional need of hers, so you have to not do that. Let her get her jollies by bothering someone else. Just ignore her and don't allow her negativity to affect you. She's going to be in for a rude awakening when she realizes the kind of intense work required for the fewer number of care plans she thinks she is going to be required to do. She'll eat crow then, but I guarantee she won't let you see her doing it.

When I got into supervision and management I began to see this kind of behavior time and again in people who were in subordinate positions. As I said it comes from a poor self-esteem as well as a frustration with their place of powerlessness within the heirarchy of their job positions. Therefore, when they are exposed to those like you who haven't gotten to their level of training yet, they tend to lord what they know all over you--even if it is misinformation and gossip. In her ignorant, disfunctional way, she is misusing what we call her unofficial power. Try to picture in your mind what she would do if one of her instructors suddenly showed up while she was in the middle of this tirade about your school. My guess is that she would clam up quickly. She does, after all, know her place. I hope that gives you some understanding and insight into this person's behavior so you can make the intelligent decision to ignore her. Just to give you a heads up. . .you are going to run across people like this all throughout your life. Many will be people you work with at nursing jobs. You need to understand where this behavior comes from, not to feed into it, and not to let it affect you. Study on.

mary777 · Nov 26, 2005

Ignore her, she'll get the point and eventually leave you alone. Obviously she's not very bright just for saying that. Besides who in the world at this point in life is looking for the perfect school. I would be happy enough to get accepted to any school, even a community college, as long as its accredited, or atleast seeking accreditation, thats all you need. As long as you fulfill your hearts desire whether its her school or any school. Remember she doesn't own the school or know much about it to say that her school is better. Remember to apply to various schools, it's very competitive. Apply to not just one, but 3-7 schools, get some backup, unless you're very confident and sure you'll be getting in, and have excellent credentials. Maybe the Prof. got fired from that school, people do that because they're recented. But hey god has a plan for you and you alone, so ask him where he'd think you're better off, and he will open doors for you, so give all you can to get in, and have faith, don't let people rob you faith, it's all you have to help you move on in life strong, and optimistic.

Mr.N8 · Nov 27, 2005

Wow, what an uppity (you know what).

Good responses: "Must be nice to walk on water" or

"YOU appear very upset and sensitive about this..."

"YOU seem to be having a difficult time with xyz's program..."

Let HER keep HER own neurosis

eandgsma · Nov 27, 2005

Thank you all for your responses. Daytonite, you have a lot of great advice for me and insight on the kind of person she is and that I will face in life. I don't know why I let her get under my skin so much. I used to work with people like her all the time but in those situations, those people weren't saying things in front of a group of people or in the middle of a public place. The fact that she was in the middle of the class speaking loudly across two rows of students got to me. I've only spoken to her about school when I was one on one or sitting next to her in class. Anyway, I have been ignoring her and I appreciate everyone's advice on how to deal with people like that. I should have known better to say anything snotty back to her.

To be perfectly honest, I have a problem being surrounded by those younger than me in class who act like they've seen it all and know it all. Its usually the quieter ones who have more experience in life regardless of age. Although, I CAN have a bad day and open my mouth too much. :devil:

Thanks again for letting me vent and all the great comments.

-N

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 29, 2005

People bad mouth our school all the time. It has become the norm because it is a fairly new program with a very limited amount of spots available. It is not a community college and the cost is 3 times higher.

The people who never shut their mouths about the school are usually the ones who get rejected or know that they hardly stand a chance.

I would just continue to brush it off and concentrate in my studies. Good luck :)

JentheRN05, RN · Nov 29, 2005

Hi,
I don't post much but this has gotten under my skin. I am in a Spanish class (to satisfy my humanities req) with a girl who is an LVN. She graduated from a different community college LVN program and is pursuing her NP. We have spoken several times about the school we are attending and the nursing program there. I have heard nothing but good things about the community college I am attending and how great its nursing program is. The school I am going to attend (I am on the waiting list, will definitely get in for next fall) has a great NCLEX pass rate, over 90% for 5 years in a row, the best for a CC in CA. Anyway, this girl proceeds to tell me that "her school" has instructors that said they don't like the program where I am going to go because they focus too much on care plans and that's why they have such a high drop out rate, they are sticklers for clinicals, etc. Now, she is saying this from the middle of the classroom. I told her, what is wrong with that? What is wrong with them being hard on you for care plans and clinicals? I think that is a sign that they want you to be good nurses. Then she said "well, these teachers used to teach here so THEY would know." I finally told her, W, are you going to the program here? She said NO. I said, Well what do you care then? I heard nothing but good things about it and I'm in next fall, maybe even sooner. So, please don't say anything else about it. I haven't spoken to her since and that was a couple of weeks ago. It keeps bothering me though because she acts like its not good enough to get your RN through a CC but she got her LVN that way. She is a little know it all even when she doesn't know what she is talking about.
UGH! Anyway, anyone else have a problem with someone badmouthing your school? And how would you deal with this?
Thanks - N

I went to a similar kind of college. Very expensive, hard to get in, and 5x as hard to graduate from. Drop out rate was pretty bad. But we had clinicals from week one, NCLEX pass rate was 100% the class before mine (not sure what mine was, but I passed first try) I did get some flak from other schools (larger big 10 schools) but the fact is, they didn't even get into clinicals until 3rd year of college! So it may have been hard, and even harder to pass, but I tell you what, those students (when I was working days) who came to my floor from my old school ask good intellegent questions, the ones who go to the 'big ten' college, aren't even able to IV meds, half can't pass meds yet, and they ask really silly obvious questions. I would take a student from my school any day of the week and twice on Sunday to take over one of my patients. You couldn't pay me enough to have the 'big ten' college students take over my patients near as often. I was constantly having to check with those students about BP's meds you name it

Sorry I've rambled, haven't been to bed yet, but you get the idea!

~Jen

TinyNurse, RN · Jan 8, 2006

noone bad mouthed the program I graduated from, but please remember people will always find a way to be or sound superior. Also alot of people are loyal to the school they graduated from.

my mom and I graduated from the same college. Now my little sister wants to pursue medical assisting at a different school........... secretly i wanna say "nooooooooo, you have to go to (insert my school name here)", but I don't because I'm proud of my sister just for pursuing her goals!!!!

don't let these people get to you!!