Are most nursing students cruel?

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Is it just me or do a lot of people in the nursing program seem rather cold and cruel? I do not mean to generalize but, many times, I notice that most nursing students I talk to don't seem like they are getting into it for the right reasons. I know we all want to earn the big $$$ but are people really foolish enough to believe that making 30$hr will make up for being involved in a profession that you are not prepared for. Call me crazy, but the not so kind people I encounter in the program do not seem like the type of folks who will be able to find the joy in cleaning behinds, wiping up blood and doing all the other nasty tasks that come with nursing.

Has anyone else noticed what I am talking about? Does anyone out there feel the same way?

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

In my school some of the students are definitely a little bit "mean". These are the ones who when they become nurses are the ones who give nurses a bad name and bring down morale. Some of them are bullies and pick on others and the instructors. It is terrible. I would not want someone like this taking care of me but I guess as long as thier competent in thier duties i could put up with it. The personalities you see in school carry over to the work place.

I work as an LNA in a hospital and see the reality of nursing. Most of these "mean" students are housewives and do not know what they are in for once they start working. If they truly are in it for only a paycheck the will not last long. I actually feel sorry for them.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate. Maybe these 'mean' nursing students are stressed out due to the rigors of nursing school and tired of pre-nursing students bugging them. Pre-nursing students are everywhere. I think we multiply like rabbits.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I haven't really noticed "Mean" students, but maybe I have just been lucky. What I have noticed is that the majority of nursing students are perfectionists, and a bit on the obsessive side. I can't say anything because I am like that too, but maybe thats what it takes to get through the program.

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Specializes in 2 years as CNA.

So far all of my experiences have been nothing but good. I have changed my major several times so I have met people in many different professional areas and I have to say nursing has been the best. I have already made some great friends and that never happened in any of the other programs I was in. Everyone seems to care about helping eachother out and we all stick together.

I am sorry you have had the unfortunate luck to meet some cruel and cold nursing students. I hope that changes for you. Good luck.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Treeguy, I assumed you were referring to nursing students meaning those already in nursing school. Are you talking about pre-nursing students or nursing students?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It's hard to judge a person's insides by their outsides or tell what kind of nurse they are when they interact with patients one on one and we're not there.

I'd like to think that most nursing students aren't like you describe. I do know that in the students I see on my unit they certainly don't fit that discription at all. Perhaps a few might, but the overwhelming majority of them are pretty good. They are very nervous, trying to to their best, and of course stressed and overwhelmed at times.

Good luck to you.

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Oh, I got a nice little "greeting" at my orientation.

I noticed there was a woman there that I actually graduated from high school with. I'll call her "Karen".

I hadn't seen her since graduation...now her and I ran around in different circles and never, ever had a 'run in' that would have left-over animosity.

She came over to speak to someone at the table I was at, and I said, "Karen, do you remember me?" She looked at me dead in the eye and said, "Yup!"--and kept on walking! I just sat there like, what a %$#D@!

I didn't speak to her after that. Apparently there was no warm and fuzzies there, but I just really thought it was extremely rude.

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Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate. Maybe these 'mean' nursing students are stressed out due to the rigors of nursing school and tired of pre-nursing students bugging them. Pre-nursing students are everywhere. I think we multiply like rabbits.

I see what you are saying but, then again, we all go through the same stress and it doesn't turn the rest of us into meanies. I think it just has a lot to do with a person's personality.

I really do think it is fair to say the won't be good nurses because I doubt they can give loving care. Sure, they might know all the procedures, but you can not be taught to love... that has to be ingrained in you.

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

So far I've been pleased with the people in my nursing school cohort.

Granted, when classes actually start that may change...

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

The majority of the people I meet who are pre-nursing students or nursing students are pretty sincere and decent. I've had the opposite experience.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
Oh, I got a nice little "greeting" at my orientation.

I noticed there was a woman there that I actually graduated from high school with. I'll call her "Karen".

I hadn't seen her since graduation...now her and I ran around in different circles and never, ever had a 'run in' that would have left-over animosity.

She came over to speak to someone at the table I was at, and I said, "Karen, do you remember me?" She looked at me dead in the eye and said, "Yup!"--and kept on walking! I just sat there like, what a %$#D@!

I didn't speak to her after that. Apparently there was no warm and fuzzies there, but I just really thought it was extremely rude.

She sounds like a real piece of work, and you don't need that kind of behavior distracting you. Just avoid her like you're doing. You're a better person for it, and it's her loss.

What a jerk!

To the OP: So far, I like most of the people I've met. The nursing program is structured so that everyone (about 100 of us) has the same lecture in the big hall twice a week. We have a smaller group of people (about 15) in another lecture once a week, and then our clinical groups are with even different people (about 10). We get a chance to know some people really well, and others slightly less well, but everyone I've introduced myself to has been very nice and friendly. We all share the same feelings of being overwhelmed and nervous and unsure of ourselves. No one has been outright mean to me, and I haven't seen it exhibited by or to anyone else. We've got a good group, I think.

Continued good luck to us all!

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