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.
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.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Great article. Here is one more concern I have. If you have a beef with one of your instructors (as a lengthy post about an instructor's email showed), you might want to think TWICE about posting it here. You would be surprised how easy it may be figure out who you are and were I you, I would not risk ruining my relationship with my professors/instructors over one frustrated and poorly-placed post.
It's against TOS to ask for answers to homework without doing the work first. So no, ignoring it doesn't make it go away, shouldn't be happening in the first place.
Great article. Here is one more concern I have. If you have a beef with one of your instructors (as a lengthy post about an instructor's email showed), you might want to think TWICE about posting it here. You would be surprised how easy it may be figure out who you are and were I you, I would not risk ruining my relationship with my professors/instructors over one frustrated and poorly-placed post.
The internet is not as anonymous as you think!
Amen! I swear sometimes people think the name of this website is "Nursing Students Only, No Instructors Allowed"
It's especially good when a photo of the student is used as an avatar, their name is their UserID, they've given the State and the name of the program where they are enrolled....and then proceed to slam said school, instructors, other students, and their clinical sites. NOT a good plan for a future career
Amen! I swear sometimes people think the name of this website is "Nursing Students Only, No Instructors Allowed"
It's especially good when a photo of the student is used as an avatar, their name is their UserID, they've given the State and the name of the program where they are enrolled....and then proceed to slam said school, instructors, other students, and their clinical sites. NOT a good plan for a future career
Agree. It scares me a little when posters on a supposedly anonymous site use their real information and sometimes picture. Not just the student forums either. Don't the authors of some of the vent threads worry that the boss they are venting about might be reading and know exactly who you are?
As a recent BSN graduate and newly employed RN, I definitely agree with what's been said by PPs. I was always a diligent student and quite frankly it drives me crazy to see students trying to use this site to complete their homework assignments. The interview posts don't frustrate me as much as the critical thinking case studies. Being new to the floor, my critical thinking skills have improved exponentially since graduation and I thought my program did a decent job preparing me through assignments and scenarios. It worries me that some students choose to come to this site to probe for answers instead of applying what they've learned. Makes me worried about what's going to happen once they hit "real world" nursing and don't have the foundation because they cut some corners here and there.
On the other hand, since I am a recent graduate, I can also (kind of) see this from the students' side. I frequent this site because of all the knowledge being passed around. I can understand that students want to learn from seasoned RNs. HOWEVER, I definitely don't think this justifies taking the easy way out by not working through the assignments first. Speaking strictly from experience, I would be struggling significantly if I did not put in the work to build my critical thinking skills. Just my two cents...
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
klone said:
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.
We had to do a health seminar that was open to the public in year 2. We had about 15 groups who all picked a different health idea and then brainstormed how to best present these to the public.
It was absolutely terrifying. Not only did we have to try and get along with our classmates to form some sort of decent interactive display, we then had to interact with the members of the public who came to our expo
I learned loads and it gave me the confidence when going into clinical placements to be able to take patient consults (with my preceptor in back up). It also gave me the confidence to be able provide patient education as a new grad.
Sometimes while it seems like student assignments may not make any sense what so ever however often your clinical tutors really do have an idea what they are talking about
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
kool-aide, RN said:
If you don't like it, don't respond or read it.
WOW!
Its not about not liking it. It's about encouraging the next generation of nurses to approach their work with a standard of excellence as opposed to taking the easy approach
If you a new grad RN with no exp. Completing a RN-BSN program online you may not have contact with nurses . Sure you can call around done facilities and that does take time and alot of effort. I have sympathy for these students so seing the interview posts does not bother me so much. In fact , why not help a student out.
It is better than them making up an interview using creative imagination and turning that in.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
prnqday said:
If you a new grad RN with no exp. Completing a RN-BSN program online you may not have contact with nurses . Sure you can call around done facilities and that does take time and alot of effort. I have sympathy for these students so seing the interview posts does not bother me so much. In fact , why not help a student out.
It is better than them making up an interview using creative imagination and turning that in.
If one is a new grad RN, one has completed clinicals and attended classes- with faculty who just so happen to be nurses. Many schools and instructors are very happy to assist alumni- another resource for a phone interview if the distance is unmanageable.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
Great article. Here is one more concern I have. If you have a beef with one of your instructors (as a lengthy post about an instructor's email showed), you might want to think TWICE about posting it here. You would be surprised how easy it may be figure out who you are and were I you, I would not risk ruining my relationship with my professors/instructors over one frustrated and poorly-placed post.
The internet is not as anonymous as you think!