Just an intro: I am a second...er, third career pre-nursing student. I'm doing pretty well in my prerequisites so far and am loving the sciences even though they are wicked hard. I wonder why I ever waited so long (mid-30s now) to start a career in the healthcare field. I'm hoping to get into an Accelerated BSN or MSN program since I have my Bachelor's already and also considering applying to as many ADN RN programs in order to get into a program once I'm done with prerequisites. Even though I'm older than most of my classmates, I don't care how long it takes. My friend was a programmer and manager in computer science and became a nurse in her 50s; it's never too late to do anything if you have the ability and drive to do something. I quit my high-paying job so that I would have more time for prerequisites while taking a lower-income job that didn't require that much attention.
OKAY! Sorry for the long preface...here's my issue: I recently encountered a pre-nursing student who, upon hearing on one college I was applying to, said, "Oh, you're my competition." That sort of took me aback; I immediately tried to assure her that I probably wouldn't be applying at the same time, etc. so that we could work together as cooperative lab partners (I was kicking myself for sitting by her that first day but tried to be friends). So far, I've only encountered really encouraging, excited pre-nursing students...I've also met nurses who were really happy about their jobs!!! It wouldn't be so discouraging but she began just being really snarky to me. She was seemingly intelligent as well. I ended up dropping the class, btw, mainly because the teacher was incomprehensible.
Anyway, I never thought of other people as being my competition until this moment. And now, I feel really discouraged. _I_ was my competition because I've never been in healthcare or concentrated on science so much. I hate that now my thoughts are "tainted" by having to "beat" someone rather than trying to achieve my own set goal.
Is it bad to think that I hope this student realizes that it's not about beating someone but rather eventually helping someone in healthcare? Isn't that the main reason why people become 2nd career nurses?
wow all this from one off hand remark? Maybe she was kidding? Maybe she was serious either way who cares? I say bring it on!
Most of my classmates I had no idea what majors they were and they didnt know mine. The ones that were nursing and found I were, were more like, "Cool! Me too" and thats about it.
The only attitudes I saw were from the EMT students. They all looked like they played football in highschool, had spiked hair, wore designer jeans and polos with popped collars. One day I witnessed one carrying a backboard and he fell, so another one said, "Are you OK?" and He replied, "OH Im an EMT student, I can fix myself" To which they all laughed this really loud arrogant laugh. Me and this other nursing student just looked at each other and rolled our eyes.
That's pretty funny you mention EMTs- we have one in our A&P class and he's dead-on your description. Doesn't socialize with us, big strong guy. Very serious.
That's pretty funny you mention EMTs- we have one in our A&P class and he's dead-on your description. Doesn't socialize with us, big strong guy. Very serious.
Yup and motivated-these dudes are super pumped up, high fives everywhere lol
Lol I've just been reading this trhead and have to say NO MORE MAKING FUN OF EMTS! my husband is one and is in the paramedic academy, my cousin, aunt, and uncle are all medics and none of them act or look like that. I guess it just depends on where your from but I'ld be single if my husband looked or acted like that :) just my
Although after he did a clinical last year with my cousin he showed me these stupid nurse jokes taht my cousin had on facebook that annoyed me...mmmhhh my cousin also played football maybe some of its true...
I stay far away from people with competitive attitudes like that. It's one thing to surround yourself with people that want to do well in school, but it's another to associate with ones that will step on you the minute they sense that you are getting an edge up on them.
I try to avoid talking grades with classmates too. Not that I would lie about it if asked, but I don't go around bragging about it or asking what grade people got. Once a classmate asked me what I got on a recent microbiology test (she got a 70), told her I got a 98 and she said "Oh, you suck" ... Why do I suck?? I worked hard for my grade, I don't pay anyone off to get them. Told her there's no secret to getting a good grade, you just have to make sacrifices to make sure you arm yourself with the knowledge to get them. Well, turns out we studied together for the final, she got a 90. Now she knows what I do and what she has to do ...
... and I have the satisfaction of knowing I no longer suck
The truth of the matter is that, while it's true getting in to nursing school is very competitive....the only student you can do anything about is you. The only competition that you have any control over is trying to do better than you did last time.
It's sad that this student chooses to see YOU as the competition instead of themselves....but, I wouldn't let it get you down. Just keep doing all you can to be a competitive applicant (ie, do the best job you can in your pre-reqs).
Paco: I agree in my last semester I was in pathophysiology which is one of the last pre-req's at my school and notoriously hard. The first test I got the highest grade in the class and the girl next to me failed and after that her and her friends always made remarks when I would ask questions or was worried after a test. It sounds silly but it actually made me feel like an outcast for doing well and I just kept my exams to myself after that but it didn't matter. It was a hard class and I worked very hard for my grades so I should have been able to enjoy it but oh well I just waited until I got to my car :)
Paco: I agree in my last semester I was in pathophysiology which is one of the last pre-req's at my school and notoriously hard. The first test I got the highest grade in the class and the girl next to me failed and after that her and her friends always made remarks when I would ask questions or was worried after a test. It sounds silly but it actually made me feel like an outcast for doing well and I just kept my exams to myself after that but it didn't matter. It was a hard class and I worked very hard for my grades so I should have been able to enjoy it but oh well I just waited until I got to my car :)
Now I know the story behind your username ... I would be curious to know how receptive they would be to your offer (if you were so inclined) of helping them get just as good a grade, assuming of course they were genuinely eager to try and not look for easy way out like cheating. Because I am sure you know this as well as me: you're only helping yourself learn the material better by teaching it to others, and even if they got an A in this course along with you, you're not necessarily in all other prereqs with them or perhaps not applying to the same nursing programs. In my case, most of my micro classmates were going for the ADN program there whereas I am pursuing an Accelerated BSN elsewhere.
Lol yes I did love path I had an amazing professor for it and it kind of re-assured me that I was heading in the right direction with nursing because I loved it. She made it so challenging but I think I learned more in her course then any other class that I've had yet. I would have loved to have a study group but they kind of excluded me after that and even when I would try to talk about stuff they would say -oh you already know or you'll get in or get an a what are you worried about and then talk amongst themselves-which sucks because at my school its only a pre-req for nursing and its an upper level course so just about everyone in the class were nursing students for my school...oh well..if any of them are in my class next semester then hopefully it will be different since my school only admitted about 50 students so hopefully we can be friends at that point.
Wow I didn't think anyone was more competitive than pre-med students in my school. Now that was cut-throat. Doesn't look too quiet here either heheh...
wow all this from one off hand remark? Maybe she was kidding? Maybe she was serious either way who cares? I say bring it on!
It wasn't just the one off hand remark. I said that she started being "snarky" to me after that, which means she persisted in making rude remarks afterwards...blaming me for mistakes that I didn't do during lab then having her say "How could you?!" when I don't even recall doing what she accused me of doing in the first place. Then I started second guessing myself and thinking, "Maybe I DID do that..." because I am older than she is and felt my memory was slipping... It got to the point where I was walking on eggshells around her. It was kind of weird that she received her masters in psychology; you would think that she wouldn't be as rude as she was.
I just generally don't want to turn into a competitive person against other people...just with myself. I just got discouraged, that's all. :) I think there's a place for all of us eventually in the healthcare field if that's what you truly want to do!
It wasn't just the one off hand remark. I said that she started being "snarky" to me after that, which means she persisted in making rude remarks afterwards...blaming me for mistakes that I didn't do during lab then having her say "How could you?!" when I don't even recall doing what she accused me of doing in the first place. Then I started second guessing myself and thinking, "Maybe I DID do that..." because I am older than she is and felt my memory was slipping... It got to the point where I was walking on eggshells around her. It was kind of weird that she received her masters in psychology; you would think that she wouldn't be as rude as she was.
I just generally don't want to turn into a competitive person against other people...just with myself. I just got discouraged, that's all. :) I think there's a place for all of us eventually in the healthcare field if that's what you truly want to do!
Hmm me thinks she won this round. Sounds like shes got self esteem issues or just has doubts in her ability, either way dont listen to what these idiots say. Worry about yourself.
My school is competative in that its hard to get into. Ive had counselers tell me I probably wont get in. So all I did was make sure I took all my prereqs before even applying and tried getting a A in every class. I ended up getting one B and all As, but I did get in the first time I applied. I think most people apply without taking any prereqs so naturally those people wont get in right away.
She should not have said that to you, but the truth of the matter is that when it comes to nursing school it is sadly about competition. This is due to the shortage f nursing instructors and hw nursing schools only accept 75 out of 400 applicants (an example). Knowing that information, its hard not to want to be the best so that you have a better chance at getting accepted. Even though that may be the case, her actions were not in good taste.
Don't get discouraged because this competitive spirit continues way into the field of nursing. Many student nurses encounter seasoned nurses who view them as competition. So just let it roll off your shoulders and always keep the reason you want to be a nurse at the front of your mind and you will be ok.
... I would be curious to know how receptive they would be to your offer (if you were so inclined) of helping them get just as good a grade, assuming of course they were genuinely eager to try and not look for easy way out like cheating. Because I am sure you know this as well as me: you're only helping yourself learn the material better by teaching it to others, and even if they got an A in this course along with you, you're not necessarily in all other prereqs with them or perhaps not applying to the same nursing programs. In my case, most of my micro classmates were going for the ADN program there whereas I am pursuing an
Meesterjojo
82 Posts
That's pretty funny you mention EMTs- we have one in our A&P class and he's dead-on your description. Doesn't socialize with us, big strong guy. Very serious.