Dear Nursing Students: We Need to Talk About Homework Help

Nursing school and the assignments that instructors give require effort on students’ parts to get the most out of the work. Why are some of the assignments given, why isn’t it always about the answers, and how should students ask for help when needing assistance? Gain a little insight into the minds of instructors and experienced nurses and why homework questions on allnurses aren’t always well received.

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Dear Nursing Students: We Need to Talk About Homework Help

Dear nursing students,

There is a reason this site is called allnurses: It's for all nurses (and anyone remotely interested in nursing or its related professions). That means that your instructors just might be on this website too. That means we can recognize postings asking for help with one of the assignments we've given. Sometimes, we can even narrow it down to exactly who you are- and that isn't always going to be a good thing.

One of the very common threads we've seen from nursing students are requests for interviews. I know that students don't have insight into the exact reasons instructors assign the work they do, so here's a little insight into the purpose of these interviews:

Sometimes, it's not really about the answers. It's more about pushing you out of your comfort zone, getting you to talk to people you don't normally interact with, making connections in the nursing field, and several other purposes unrelated to what you may be asking the person you've been assigned to interview. It's amazing how much more you can learn going off on tangents when talking to someone rather that just seeking the answers to specific questions.

The key point of an interview is the interaction: a back and forth exchange of information. That is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to do in the format of an anonymous internet message board. It also puts an undue amount of work on anyone who would be willing to respond: rather than the simple act of talking while you listen and take notes, they must take the time to type out lengthy responses. It also makes it quite easy for you to utilize copy and pasting functions, making many who decry such requests feel as though answering on this message board is essentially doing the work for you. Be considerate when asking nurses for interviews: do it in a format they prefer (in person is best, phone is a second place option, email is a distant third) and in a way that decreases their work to do you the favor. After all, they aren't getting any compensation for providing an interview.

One of the other issues with requesting interviews in this format is that you never know for sure who is answering. The person may be a nurse, the person may be someone who thinks they know all about nursing but isn't a nurse. Is that a risk you want to take? No, I'm not going to whip out my diploma and license when you come to my office to interview me, but you've got the fact that I've got an office and an ID badge that confirms that I am, indeed, a nurse.

Interviewing a nurse in person can also provide you with a better chance at finding a job after graduation. Right now, many areas are seeing a glut of new grads with not enough new grad jobs to go around. Sometimes, it's not what you know that influences whether you get that job you interviewed for (or even get the interview!) but it's who you know instead.

Now, let's move on to general questions. We instructors and knowledgable posters here at AN are willing to help out with any questions students may ask- with a caveat. You know the saying you have to give a little to get a little? Well, that works when asking questions here as well. Instead of flat out posting a question, let us know what you've already found and what specifically you are having trouble with. That makes it much easier for us to find a starting point and give you the help you need. It also makes it easier for us to guide you to the answer- that is what helps develop critical thinking, which you will need to master in the nursing workforce.

You will get out of nursing education what you put into it. Keep that in mind when you ask for help and how you ask for that help. Also use all of your resources: most instructors are willing to email back and forth, set up appointments, or even just show up unannounced during office hours- that's what they are for. Instructors can be an awesome resource when you need help- you just need to ask.

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Rose_Queen

About Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

(Editorial Team / Admin)

Rose_Queen started her nursing career over a decade ago in the OR as a new grad. She has experience in multiple surgical specialties and currently works in cardiothoracic surgery.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

Bravo Rose! This should be a sticky on all student forums!

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Can't say I can relate to this, we don't have interview assignments.

Edit: What I mean is that I've never seen this type of homework so I'm not understanding the post - are you saying members post her just looking for answers and not really interviewing an actual nurse or person? I don't recall seeing these kinds of topics.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

You've never seen that? Weird, I see then 2-3x/week. Maybe you're not hanging out in the "Nurse Management" forum?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
klone said:
You've never seen that? Weird, I see then 2-3x/week. Maybe you're not hanging out in the "Nurse Management" forum?

Don't forget General Nursing, on responses to articles, etc...

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I'm not there yet. But, it blows me away when people put this stuff. (I have no tolerance for lazy people) I'm working hard for my grades. It just seems crazy to me! I'm sure Nursing school is intimidating and overwhelming at times. But, if you slack during school and cut corners there, you're going to be a lousy Nurse.

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Hypothetical - If someone has such an assignment and lives in a rural area, completing their BSN online with no known nursing contacts, what is the best way to go about tracking down someone for an interview.

(I am not in this situation, just thought the question should be posed for many who are)

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
resqbug said:
Hypothetical - If someone has such an assignment and lives in a rural area, completing their BSN online with no known nursing contacts, what is the best way to go about tracking down someone for an interview.

(I am not in this situation, just thought the question should be posed for many who are)

Call around to any facility within a reasonable driving distance, even if that distance may be up to 100 miles or more. Call the public health department nurse responsible for the area. Call schools- they should have a school nurse, even if he/she isn't in the school every day. Even setting up an appointment to interview a nurse over the phone is more reliable and easier on the nurse than posting on a message board. Those who are completing an online BSN may already be employed- what about those they work with?

I actually interviewed one of the nurse educators for the OR where I work when my MSN required a nurse educator interviewed. It was as simple as sitting down at a table over my lunch break, taking a few notes, getting not only the answers I needed but also a lot of insight into the transition into an educator role (this nurse educator had taken the position only a few months prior)- it was actually an enlightening experience and went well beyond the actual assignment.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

Google

White pages

Telephone

There was one on here just recently (last couple of days) who posted requesting help with an assignment and then proceeded to throw a hissy fit because some of us encouraged her to get off line and talk to an actual nurse manager in real life as opposed to someone who may or may not be an actual nurse or manager

I dont really have a hell of alot of confidence in students who insist on the easy route as opposed to the best route as a means of writing assignments

resqbug said:
Hypothetical - If someone has such an assignment and lives in a rural area, completing their BSN online with no known nursing contacts, what is the best way to go about tracking down someone for an interview.

(I am not in this situation, just thought the question should be posed for many who are)

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
resqbug said:
Hypothetical - If someone has such an assignment and lives in a rural area, completing their BSN online with no known nursing contacts, what is the best way to go about tracking down someone for an interview.

(I am not in this situation, just thought the question should be posed for many who are)

The thing is, almost ALL RN-BSN programs have some type of community health project that requires interacting with other nurses. So I don't believe that in any US community, that there is NO OTHER RN to be had in a 50-mile radius. And if so, I would suggest the student talk to someone at their school regarding their predicament, and worst case scenario, the nurse can actually CALL the nearest hospital or nursing home, even if it's 100 miles away, explain their situation to the nursing education department, and I'd be willing to bet money that there is a nurse there that would be completely willing to help the student out and offer a phone interview.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
resqbug said:
Hypothetical - If someone has such an assignment and lives in a rural area, completing their BSN online with no known nursing contacts, what is the best way to go about tracking down someone for an interview.

(I am not in this situation, just thought the question should be posed for many who are)

A person can't be completing their BSN online without being an RN first. There's no way they wouldn't have any nursing contacts.

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