Are You Being Bullied in the Classroom

[Jayfa]

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.

[Godbless08]

I wouldn't say that I have been bullied in nursing school because I never allow things to get that far. I have health problems and have learned over the years that life is too short to be mean so I'm very nice to everyone until they cross me. I'm also very small, smart and not very healthy so that makes me a good target for bullies, but they learn right away that they are messing with the wrong girl. Although I'm not physically strong, my mouth works just fine and I have no problem standing up for myself.

In my experience, the best way to deal with bullies is to confront them right away when they cross the line and let them know that you will not allow anyone to treat you badly, and if they continue to disrespect you, stay away from them or report them if you have to interact with them. If you demand respect, people will respect you and if you allow people to walk all over you, they will do eactly that.

I have also learned that it is in your own best interest to be respectful and kind to everyone, especially in nursing school because you never know when you might need your colleague to save your behind. I'm starting my last semester (BSN program) in the fall and most of the bullies in our program have been dropped from the progam or been left behind. It is easier to get through nursing school if you have people you can go to for help, and it is harder to ask for or receive help when you treat people unfairly. Thats my advice to all the bullies.

[SPNTalley]

yes i have been bullied in class, and who would ever think a future NURSE would be doing it? it makes me sick

anyway, here is my story: my nursing class was going to do a relay for life for breast cancer (i live in Florida, so it was EXTREMELY hot outside) and i wasn't feeling very good that day. the girl, ill call her Sarah, was self-proclaimed team leader our relay team. i sent her a text saying that i didn't feel very good and that i wouldn't be able to make it. i had to go to the hospital. she replies with "That is so F-ed up, you let the whole team down. you don't do anything to help the class and everyone knows it. i knew you would do this" and its weird she said that, seeing as how i got the national honors award for my grades and she didn't. anyway, it turns out that i am allergic to beef, soy, and cows milk. the ingested toxins though out my life was finally catching up to me. now beef sends me into anaphylaxis. Sarah is a b*tch.

[MattiesMama]

I was the target of bullying in the beginning of nursing school, to the point where I literally had a nervous breakdown and had to change campuses.

Actually, to be more accurate, I was initially suspended (with the very real possibility of expulsion hanging over my head) because this particular group of girls finally pushed me to my breaking point, and I fought back-basically by flipping out on them, throwing a couple F-bombs, generally making a fool of myself in the process-and they went to the administration and said that I had threatened them. The truth was eventually found out and they were disciplined (the ring-leader was expelled) and I got re-admitted-but I had to switch to a campus that was over an hour away for my own safety.

While I was waiting for the new semester to start, I did a lot of research on bullying among adults-it's actually called "mobbing"-so I have a lot of compiled information about this subject. If you want, PM me your email address and I can send it to you. I'm glad you are doing a report about this, it is VERY prevelent and nursing is one of the professions that has the highest incidents of it.

[MattiesMama]

I haven't read all the posts but wanted to add that unless it is an instructor doing the bullying, in which case my heart goes out to you, at our mature ages I would hope that we are independent and self-assured enough to ignore them and focus on our school work.

You know, I was told this so many times by so many people..."just ignore them", "they are just jealous"-and I DID ignore it, for a very long time. I tried to take the high road and not let it get to me, I tried to be the bigger person. Unfortunately, that came back to bite me because it just escalated-they became more and more cruel in an attempt to get a reaction out of me. And when I finally did react, and administration became involved, I had a hard time proving my case because I hadn't reported the behavior to anyone.

Anyone who is the target of bullying should keep a written record of everything that has happened, and report it. And also keep a record of who you reported the behavior to, along with the dates, what you said, the action that was taken. In a perfect world you wouldn't have to do this as an adult learner in a profession where people are supposed to be compassionate and caring, but that's not the world we live in.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Ignoring bullies doesn't work. Putting them in their places with a good helping of "I don't give a ****" attitude does.

Fake it, if you have to. Just do it.

[indreams84]

There is an extreme difference between bullying and several students vocalizing their problems with a student who monopolizes the class time during class, with with their own 'experience' or 'opinions' or 'feelings' on the matter. Many times we will have to tell 'that one student' who always has to have a say in the matter to ****, because in the end, Im paying for the instructor and education- NOT a classmates 2 cents on everything.

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

There is an extreme difference between bullying and several students vocalizing their problems with a student who monopolizes the class time during class, with with their own 'experience' or 'opinions' or 'feelings' on the matter. Many times we will have to tell 'that one student' who always has to have a say in the matter to ****, because in the end, Im paying for the instructor and education- NOT a classmates 2 cents on everything.

I completely understand, because we all know every class has at least one of those people! I can see how one of those people can construe students coming to them and telling them (nicely) to SHUT UP, as bullying, but we ARE paying tuition to learn from the teacher and not your personal stories about how your grandma mixed up her prescriptions one time..

I have never confronted one of these students myself, but I am guilty of making faces at them or sighing really loud in the middle of their story.. they usually don't seem to notice anyway because they are always sitting in the front row and are too self absorbed in their own pointless story to even notice what is going on around them.

sorry if this came off malicious, but those people freakin' annoy me!! just my

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I haven't been bullied since JHS. I got picked on in Elementary School at times and in JHS and in JHS I finally took a stand and haven't had problems since. I would stand up for myself in any bullying situation and I would also stand up for any person I saw being bullied.

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

Almost all my classmates ask me about my test scores. I don't know why people care so much. I never ask anyone unless they are good friends. Some people are crazy competetive. I get good grades and sometimes people do better than me but I don't hate them, I congratulate them. I get along with everybody and I have never had any problems with anyone. ( At least no one says anything bad face to face)