i am half way done with nursing school and i am to the point where i cannot stand half of my class. i am a pretty average student, not the best and not the worst. i’ve never worked in the healthcare field and the first time i stepped into a hospital was my first day of clinical. i just wanted to share my annoyances…as the student who didn’t have a heads up of what to expect. i wish i was forewarned about the social aspect of nursing school because in reality you would be spending about 2 years with the same people and you are going to have to learn to tolerate them.
i have categorized my “annoyances” from most annoying to least annoying, although some people fall in several categories. (i really do feel like the stressors of nursing school are taken a toll on me causing me to be annoyed about everyone and everything but hey, here it goes)
1. the very competitive nursing students.
you may have been the smartest student in your anatomy class but now there are about 50 of you sitting in that classroom. each and everyone striving to be at the top of their class. a few of them are going to shine brighter than you. it is a very annoying feeling. you will develop some negative feelings towards them and try to find a few aspects of life that you are better at than them. well don't. befriend them, if anything they are a great resource
2. the students who study less but get better test scores.
i sat down to take my very first test in nursing school and i was stressed. i studied every single day since the lecture, i felt like i knew everything. the girl who sat next to me was also stressing but only because she crammed the night before. i got a 70% and she got a 95%. how is this fair? several people have told me that not everyone is a good test taker, i’d rather have a nurse that studies a lot then crams, etc, etc. umm no. she clearly knows what she is doing and her test scores prove it till this day.
3. the complainers. your instructors are people too, with their own personal lives, kids, hobbies, friends and some are still completing some sort of upper division courses for higher education.
teachers don’t get paid well; they don’t do this for money. they obviously love nursing and teaching. they are the most compassionate bunch of nurses you will ever meet. and guess what? at some point they have all been nursing students. it has recently become a pet peeve of mine, when i noticed a trend of several students constantly complaining about how much they dislike their teacher. if you don’t like something, tell the teacher! it's as simple as that. 99% of the time there is a fair rationale as to why they put that question on the test or why they gave you projects back to back or why your clinical schedule is so crappy. and the other 1% of the time? well, human error, don’t hold a grudge. and please don’t complain about teachers to other teachers, so incredibly unprofessional. they are collegues.
4. know-it-all's.
there will be at least one. the know-it-alls are in a completely different category as the competitive people or the people that get better test scores than you. if you state that you are unclear about something they will pull you aside and explain it to you in their own individual way. i know it sounds like they are trying to be helpful...but it won’t feel like that. it will feel like they have officially taken on the role of a teacher without anyone asking them to do so. when coming to class you almost expect them to jump up there and start lecturing. they correct the teacher, they interrupt lectures but most of all they think they are better than everyone. there were a handful of them in my class and it got to the point that when they would start talking i would deliberately ignore every single word they were saying, important or not. and the whole entire time, the only thing i wanted to remind them is that we are in the same classroom, learning the same subject; at the same level of nursing school so please do not act like you are above all. so if i could go back and do it again knowing this what would i do differently? i would ignore their behavior because two semesters later, they have been put in place several times by instructors and one of them failed a semester. (disclaimer: i am by no means happy that they failed out i am just trying to stress the point that even if people act like they know it all, they clearly don’t know it all)
5. those who don’t have to work while in nursing school.
you may come across a few people who constantly talk about how they are so grateful that their significant other is able to support them while they go to school. they can’t bare the thought of having to work while completing their education. and they will verbalize this every single day, after every single test. and here you are working full time because that is the only way you can support yourself. some call them fortunate, i call them annoying.
6. the ones who already work in the health care field.
it’s a tough economy out there. in case you haven’t heard….not many places are hiring new grads. the only worry in my mind at this point is passing nursing school. sooooo with that said….why is it so important to tell everyone, everyday that you have a job lined up for you because the clinical manager loves you oh so very much. if you say it once, that’s great j if you say it again after you are asked, that is awesome. but if you announce this to the whole class during the discussion of what they will do after they graduate… then that’s just boastful. not a single person would say, “hey good for you, look at how fortunate you are” and if they do they are lying.
anyway…well this is my little rant. whether you are in nursing school or waiting to enroll in a nursing program…this is what you should expect. i promise…there will be at least one person in your class that falls in each category…can’t wait to graduate so that i never have to see these people again!
how about everyone else? what is your annoyance with the social aspect of nursing school? i’d love to hear that i am not the only “annoyed beyond belief” one out there.
Thanks everyone who did not take my post too seriously and realized that I was just venting...had i know there was a whole thread dedicated to venting i would have posted it there! I really shouldnt have to defend myself for all the things that I am frustrated about...however, i just want to emphasize the fact that i do not dislike all the people that know it all, that are able to go to school full time without having to work..it's just that it breaks my heart when i see people struggling in school because they have to support their family by working full time..and then having the students that dont work brag about it in front of them, consistently. Or the students who study hard and dont do as well on those darn nclex style questions and then someone telling them OH ITS EASY. and THATS what trully gets to me. I re-read my original post several times and i dont beleive in any of my categories did i say "ALL" people in that category annoy me. So lets be nice now :)
:) Unfortunately I fall into the category of a know-it all but funny enough I have to study constantly
It is not unfortunate! If you study a lot then you deserve to know it all and you actually DO know it all. It's people that ACT like they know it all that get on my last nerves haha! You should be very proud of your "study ethic" it takes a great deal of discipline
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I just read your post BeeFree and honestly that is one of the most lighthearted "vents" I've ever seen. You even put a plug in for your hard-working instructors, and you sound like someone I would like to work with some day.
Now, I'm going to read the rest of the 8 pages, uh-ohhhhhh :) dum dum da dummm (cue doomsday music)
great post! The original post did not come off as hateful. I felt like she was giving an FYI of things that will annoy you, but you should get over. My dad use to say "the dog that gets hit, barks the loudest." That is what it sounds like here to people upset with her post.
I've read a few posts here that keep referring to nursing school being so different from what we are used to in school. I am finishing my prereq's now and starting N.S. in the fall. I'm doing an accelerated 2nd degree BSN program. Could you enlighten me as to what I should expect, how tests are so different, etc? I'd like to be mentally prepared.
As for dealing with annoying people, I find it much easier to just put a smile on my face and be kind to everyone. There will always be somebody who annoys you, but you are the only one who can let it affect your mindset. From some of the postings that I've read on this site, I'm sure that we will run into it in the real world as well. We always do.
On a side note, I've been kind of excited about going through N.S. as a cohort. I'm hoping to meet some friends that I can relate to and establish lifelong friendships with. I've got plenty on the outside, but starting school again at 39 really separates you from your existing peers (they're not really interested in hearing about what you are learning; same with my family) and the younger students at school. I can't wait to get into the meat of the program. I think it will be fun.
great post! The original post did not come off as hateful. I felt like she was giving an FYI of things that will annoy you, but you should get over it.
:) I agree and think the post was GREAT - we can all admit that that at some point someone just gets on our last nerve in one or all of the ways she described - OR - realized at one time or another that we offended someone with one of the annoying behaviors/situations. What she wrote was totally true and we can all take something positive away from it. The post was truly directed to those who might not know have experienced it yet. She found humor and frustration in her experiences and many of us who have also been there appreciated it. For those of you who suggested she was whining... well whatever. KUDOS Beefree
great post! The original post did not come off as hateful. I felt like she was giving an FYI of things that will annoy you, but you should get over. My dad use to say "the dog that gets hit, barks the loudest." That is what it sounds like here to people upset with her post.
LOL...I LOVE it! So very, very true. Maybe thats why some people are getting so defensive!
I've read a few posts here that keep referring to nursing school being so different from what we are used to in school. I am finishing my prereq's now and starting N.S. in the fall. I'm doing an accelerated 2nd degree BSN program. Could you enlighten me as to what I should expect, how tests are so different, etc? I'd like to be mentally prepared.
As for dealing with annoying people, I find it much easier to just put a smile on my face and be kind to everyone. There will always be somebody who annoys you, but you are the only one who can let it affect your mindset. From some of the postings that I've read on this site, I'm sure that we will run into it in the real world as well. We always do.
On a side note, I've been kind of excited about going through N.S. as a cohort. I'm hoping to meet some friends that I can relate to and establish lifelong friendships with. I've got plenty on the outside, but starting school again at 39 really separates you from your existing peers (they're not really interested in hearing about what you are learning; same with my family) and the younger students at school. I can't wait to get into the meat of the program. I think it will be fun.
Well lets just say that in anatomy and physiology it is all about patho and how the body works. There is only ONE right answer. In nursing school, all answers are right but what would you do first. What is a priority? What is going to make a bigger difference? I have seriously developed sleeping problems because of those questions They wont all be like that, some will be knowledge based, black or white kinda questions but...there will be some that when you look at it, its like WHAT THE HECK WHEN DID WE GO OVER THIS?? and you probably didnt. but the instructors expect you to use your critical thinking skills and knowledge from day 1.
As far as being excited about going through nursing school as a cohort...you will love it! and I have developed very strong friendships with some people in my class, specifically my clinical group. and you are right..no one else in the world is going through the same program with same teacher at the same time except for the people in your cohort and you can relate to everyone. I am 21 and i am one of the younger students in that class but my study group consists of a lot of mommies in their 30's and 40's and even 50's which have families and even full time jobs ( i am not the typical 21 year old that likes to party i am more on the studious side, well at least in nursing school) anyway it is a fun journey but you will develop some negative feelings towards some people later on, maybe end of 2nd or 3rd semester.
Thanks so much for your insight. It sounds like the tests are really geared for the NCLEX, which sounds good. It will be an adjustment to have several "right" answers to choose from. I appreciate your warning about displaying critical thinking skills from the onset. I hope that I'm able to make the shift well. Thanks for your response. Good luck to you in your nursing pursuits.
Well I am about to apply for clinical and even though I am sure I will agree with most of the things you said when I get there, there is one that is not true ( in my instance anyways). I am not and will not be working while doing my clinicals. If that's annoying then I am sorry you may feel that way and you have every right to an opinion, but I deliberately quit my job so I could focus on school. Nursing is my passion and anything to help me succeed is well worth it. My husband works and supports us right now, but when I graduate he will be able to take a break. So, while there may be those that do brag about the luxurious life of not working while in school, it's not all luxurious. I for one don't brag and have never told a soul that I don't work because I feel that I may get critiqued when it's really no one else's business. Just my opinion though! I really enjoyed reading all your points and all the things I get to dread when I get there! LOL
Only nursing school!!! lol This is everywhere in the world these people, wait 'til you get to work...shoot! I'm just embarking but Lord knows I've been through the gammut of these characters. This is a great share though!
BeeFree963
19 Posts
Thanks everyone who did not take my post too seriously and realized that I was just venting...had i know there was a whole thread dedicated to venting i would have posted it there! I really shouldnt have to defend myself for all the things that I am frustrated about...however, i just want to emphasize the fact that i do not dislike all the people that know it all, that are able to go to school full time without having to work..it's just that it breaks my heart when i see people struggling in school because they have to support their family by working full time..and then having the students that dont work brag about it in front of them, consistently. Or the students who study hard and dont do as well on those darn nclex style questions and then someone telling them OH ITS EASY. and THATS what trully gets to me. I re-read my original post several times and i dont beleive in any of my categories did i say "ALL" people in that category annoy me. So lets be nice now :)