Are You Being Bullied in the Classroom

lizzyberry · Mar 21, 2007

I think bullying is wrong I cant believe adults are actually doing the bullying. What kind of people are they? I would do the speech on that Good luck

squee-gee · Mar 21, 2007

I'm so sorry you are being subjected to that crap. I have school age children, so hearing about anyone getting bullied really gets my goat. There should be zero tolerance for it in schools - including the college level. Of course, one doesn't expect to hear of it in college, because the maturity level is supposed to be higher there - not in your class, evidently. Make sure you hold your head high, and don't let them see that their words have any effect on you! And don't stoop to their level - don't make any disparaging comments back (no matter how tempting!). I think doing an oral report on the subject is a great idea, as long as it's ok with your teacher (it's not exactly a nursing subject). Good luck, and be strong!! :icon_hug:

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 21, 2007

I think a report is a great idea, but make sure to have nothing but facts, no personal opinions (which is how most nursing school projects go anyway).

Jayfa · Mar 21, 2007

The sad thing is these people are all mature? aged students. The average age is mid-thirties. The main bully is in her mid-forties!!

Jayfa · Mar 21, 2007

Yes, I have no intention of personalising it. I will be marked on it, so I intend it to be factual.

muffie, RN · Mar 21, 2007

their poor actions only illuminate their jealousy of your knowledge and your thirst for knowledge

knock them out with your presentation

let us know how it goes next week

Mommy2NQ · Mar 22, 2007

Im sure their children are bullies too. The apple don't fall far from the tree. They need a life.

CRNI-ICU20 · Mar 22, 2007

Doesn't it strike you as alarming that people who exhibit this level of anger and meanness toward a fellow classmate are in the NURSING PROFESSION?

I wonder why ANY nursing school professor would not stomp on this really hard...

It baffles me..

Some students are booted for the most inane reasons....yet this bullying thing goes unchecked...

I am just shakin' my head.

CRNI-ICU20 · Mar 22, 2007

So...to answer your question...of were any of us bullied....

Yes...I have been....

Alot in nursing...

When I first rec'd my RN...a supervisor made fun of me in front of other nurses that since I didn't attend a traditional nursing school, "I must have received my nursing degree in the mail"...and walked off and laughed...

I graduated number two in the state that year...and no...it was just as hard if not harder to do it the way I did....but I did it to save myself and my children who had been abandoned by my ex (their father)

On another occasion, I was ganged up on by a hateful night shift bunch who used to tamper with my IV rates, (I caught one of them cranking up the pump to 999 on a CHF patient) When confronted, she lied and just said she was trying to clear the air out of the tubing...a patent lie...

I took it to my supervisor....she wasn't even reprimanded...but I started taping all my pump switches and lockouts....so I could keep a close eye on my drips....this same night shift was ruthless with others....very clique-y and backstabbing.

I went to day shift, and one night shift nurse went to the day shift RN's and told them that "you're going to have trouble with her..."

I had never been out of line with any of them...ever...

Once I was on call....and to "punish" me, they all had ONE PATIENT each...and they called me in to take a patient who had already died to do post mortem care....while they all sat on their butts and watched me...

Yup...sometimes, there are some real demented people in the nursing profession....

There have been more recent episodes....whereby a chaplain took notes on her perceptions of what I was saying to an out of control family member...I mentioned this on another thread...and painted me as some sort of jerk to this family member....then took it to my boss...who then called me in her office an proceded to reem me out...

There was and incident where a lab person began to yell at me over the phone, so I just hung up on her, and was told by my supervisor that "this does not reflect the values of _______Hospital. "....to which I said,"her yelling doesn't relfect my personal values of taking care of myself...and if she yells at me again...I will hang up on her again....there is nothing in my job description that says I have to listen to that" and "when you write a policy that says I have to....then I will."

She backed off...but I know that this will somehow be woven into my yearly eval....which is just another way to bully someone...demean and tear them down...

I think the spirit of this is all about CONTROL....

Keeping person cowered and subjugated is the name of the game with these people.

Blessed2BeMommy · Mar 22, 2007

Hi guys
I had a situation in class yesterday where i was the victim of bullying by a number of other students. Briefly, they were making fun of my level of class participation. It was not in fun - it was nasty!
I have a class presentation due next week and am considering making class bullying my subject. The tutor has been advised.
So, all you students and new graduates out there, I'm doing a survey on whether you've been bullied in class and, if so, how did you deal with it?
I'm hoping that I can get my message accross to these people without having to involve the Institute and without confrontation.
I would appreciate your input. Thanks.

Oh, yeah, I've been put through the wringer. I was told to keep my mouth shut, that no one was interested in what I had to say... I was told that the problem was that I addressed the instructor instead of just "chatting" with my friends like everyone else does.

I had one girl who would put her arm out and wave her face in front of me during our clinical discussions. She would consistently cut me off if I said anything. She was extremely rude at all times. From what I understand, she was even worse behind my back and made all sorts of rude comments about me and my family. I have a recently disabled husband and six children, which is why I have to work 3-5 12-hour shifts each week while attending a full time accelerated nursing school program. I maintain a 3.70 GPA (If you look just at last block's grades it was a 4.0) and work my butt off to attend school and care for my family.

I know that my clinical instructor was horrified by it and took it to the administration who stepped in and told her to cut it out or risk being booted from the program.

But until this block, when she started to cut me off and drown me out AGAIN (and one of her little lackeys was chiming in) I finally said firmly, "Tell you what, I'll just wait until you're finished and then I'll take my turn." And I maintained eye contact with her until she apologized and allowed me to finish.

She's been much nicer to me since then.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2007

Many bullies are just weak, oppourtunistic people who can't stand that someone who might just be "better" than them, would dare to think themselves above that person. However, most of us don't care and really only focus on the main goal: Our own passing and license. don't stand for abuse, but stand up for yourself! If you cannot be your own advocate, how can you advocate for patients?

Thankfully, I haven't really had to deal with this as we are all friendly to each other and our struggles. I have a few friends in clinical/class/etc who I really want to succeed so I coach a little, but I hope for them to make it through. Plus some of us are planning a 1st year spring break trip to sunny Mexico after getting jobs!! LOL