Dear Lord, give me the strength to deal with yet another GROUP PROJECT

NuGuyNurse2b · Feb 5, 2014

Is real-life nursing like a group project? Because if it is, I need to run for my life. I am losing my mind here...I have HAD IT and I'm only a few weeks into the semester.

I'm pretty sure that was the learning objective for the group project.

lth1123 · Feb 5, 2014

I can't take this anymore. Every semester, another group project, another headache. Okay, Miss you-decided-there-should-be-a-group-meeting-after-class-with-no-warning, how about an email or a text, I got plans and can't drop them for your every whim so cut the hissy fit and give me at least a couple hours notice. Or you, Mr. I-have-strong-ideas-about-what-we-SHOULDN'T-cover-but-no-actual-input-on-what-we-should-do...either give suggestions or just go with the flow. Or the rest of you, who don't check your email or respond to group requests - thanks for the apology four days later as we're busy turning in the final product, while you're on your cellphone during the entire class...catching up on email Thanks Lady who gave us all her slides in a completely different format, forcing one person to take an hour to fix her junky looking presention made up of multiple fonts and text colors, complete with citations in MLA (uh, have you seemed to catch the drift that we're using APA here?) and several misspellings. And a huge thank you to the teacher who stuck me with these people, causing me to rip my hair out and dread going to school.
Is real-life nursing like a group project? Because if it is, I need to run for my life. I am losing my mind here...I have HAD IT and I'm only a few weeks into the semester.
In summary:

LOL!! KMSL! All to keep from crying!!! This is so true on so many levels. I don't have anything to add you said it all. Just know you are not suffering alone.

RunBabyRN · Feb 5, 2014

Yeah, group projects are very hit and miss. My relief came from my first semester, when the girl who spent all group meetings texting her boyfriend and did little to no contributing to the project failed out that semester (we also had clinicals together, and she'd told me about her exam grades, to there were multiple factors at play leading to her failure). Fortunately, since then, I've had wonderful groups, but frankly, there really aren't any "slackers" in my class. The one girl was the only person I'd had any genuine concerns about being a nurse. There are some people I'd rather work with more than others, but for the most part, I've been pretty lucky this way.

But yes, group projects can be REALLY bad like this. And yes, there will be times you are working on group stuff as a nurse, and you may or may not get to choose with whom you're working. Best to learn how to "deal" with it now.

flying_ace2 · Feb 5, 2014

I HATE group projects....

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Feb 5, 2014

I detest group projects. I get they are trying to teach us how to deal with coworkers, but I can do that. I have had enough work experience to know how to deal with people. I would rather work alone and get my A for myself not work alone and get an A for the group of people who do nothing. Ticks me off.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 5, 2014

Last semester, we were assigned to groups of 4 and one girl in our group was never prepared, never participated in discussion, always had a blank look on her face, etc. Her friend was also in our group and always gave her full participation points. It drove me insane. She ended up failing out, so even the "help" didn't work.

This semester, we have to write a paper in APA format and do a 10 minute presentation in groups of 2. Luckily, they let us choose our partner. I was able to get another serious student. What a breath of fresh air! Someone who actually works! :)

Mandyy1391 · Feb 5, 2014

I hate group projects

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 5, 2014

LOL!

They NEVER go away.... srsly. But they do evolve. By the time I was in grad school, my fellow students were more homogeneous, with similar study skills and smarts, so there was much less angst. In doctoral classes, we basically just met once.. to divvy up the work and reach consensus on how it would be structured; afterward, all communication was online or by conference call.

So - I feel your pain. I know it's not much consolation, but you will definitely be able to apply those 'group project survival' skills to future educational programs.

seconddegreebsn · Feb 5, 2014

I don't mind when we get to pick the group, but when I get stuck with some random folks things go south VERY quickly.

After another morning of bickering over who did what and why they didn't bother to loop anyone else in (forgot to add the martyr to my list above--the person that strikes out on their own and does things without even bothering to check with the group, then gets butthurt when called out), I'm pretty much like:

Thanks everyone for letting me vent.

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Feb 5, 2014

loriangel14, RN · Feb 5, 2014

We did ours differently.Each part was done by a member. When you handed it in or did your presentation you knew which part was done by which person. Each member did not get the same grade. Plus you handed in a journal and if someone didn't pull their weight you wrote about it.One project i did we all got As except for one person.