Do you keep your personal life private while in nursing school?

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Do you keep your personal wherabouts to yourself--such as if you have a family, if you work, etc?

I've learned to not reveal much to myself because there seems to be other students who get quite bitter or jealous that someone else

a. doesn't have to work

b. doesn't have any children

c. gets financial aid

I became friends with a woman during my pre requisite classes. We really clicked and I felt like I had known her my whole life. I opened up and told her everything, about my financial status, who was helping me pay school, etc. And she became very jealous by telling me that if she has to work full time, then so should I. It was ridiculous.

I've encountered other students like this before, so I have made it a habit to keep my personal life very private to avoid any hostility from other students who may have more responsibility than I do

This thread reminded me of something: Sometimes on the first day, (even in college, sadly), instructors have you go around and introduce yourself to the entire class and tell your whole life story. Am I the only one that despises this practice? It wastes time, and if I or anyone else cared to get to know someone that badly, we would go up to them on our own time and ask! It just seems like something that should have been left in grade school.

This also includes the first clinical day when an instructor makes us go around and state to everyone in the group why we want to be a nurse. It's so cheesy and I have approximately 5 sec to make up some Hallmark sounding b.s. It feels horribly fake. Does it matter why I'm there as long as I do my job?

I hate when teachers ask you to do this. It grinds my gears.

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I'm relatively private, however...I dont mind sharing a little info about my circumstances because it may help a fellow student nurse. Even if they have different scenario from myself, my experiences vs. theirs may actually create a cumulutaive body of information that can potentially help us both. Financial aid, scheduling, time management can be so confusing and its great to be able to bounce ideas and solutions around with classmates.

If someone asks if I have kids etc. I dont mind telling them...you just have to try and read the context of the question and decided if the person is inquiring in a polite way just to get to know you, or if they have manipulative motives. You just have to try and "sense" that.

I never discuss, politics, religion, financial status, or specific grades. If someone says "what did you make on the exam?" I may say something like "I did ok" or "i did very well" or "i didnt do as well as I wouldve liked"..but I dont give the actual grade. (I have a 4.0 and it really rubs some ppl the wrong way lol)

I am a believer in categories of friends - there are work friends, school friends, neighbors, etc. - What I share and do with each group may vary greatly.

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I am a believer in categories of friends - there are work friends, school friends, neighbors, etc. - What I share and do with each group may vary greatly.

Well said!

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

I ended up being great friends with my classmates. We studied together. Went out together. Ate meals together. Vented to one another.

I wouldn't share that you drink regularly. I'd steer clear of bragging about grades. I miss nursing school....

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am a very private person so I keep my personal life quiet in a setting like school or work. I did become very close with a fellow classmate and opened up with her. We are still close post graduation.

I don't keep private to keep someone from getting jealous. I keep private because that is how I am and have always been.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
I'm relatively private, however...I dont mind sharing a little info about my circumstances because it may help a fellow student nurse. Even if they have different scenario from myself, my experiences vs. theirs may actually create a cumulutaive body of information that can potentially help us both. Financial aid, scheduling, time management can be so confusing and its great to be able to bounce ideas and solutions around with classmates.

If someone asks if I have kids etc. I dont mind telling them...you just have to try and read the context of the question and decided if the person is inquiring in a polite way just to get to know you, or if they have manipulative motives. You just have to try and "sense" that.

I never discuss, politics, religion, financial status, or specific grades. If someone says "what did you make on the exam?" I may say something like "I did ok" or "i did very well" or "i didnt do as well as I wouldve liked"..but I dont give the actual grade. (I have a 4.0 and it really rubs some ppl the wrong way lol)

I am a believer in categories of friends - there are work friends, school friends, neighbors, etc. - What I share and do with each group may vary greatly.

I think you answered almost exactly as I would. I have made a couple friends that I may share slightly more with but it's still somewhat censored except for one person.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I also have different levels of friends- casual acquaintances in school and hobbies, decent friends that hang out at work, and my close

crew I hang out with on my free time. I like distance at school because I've seen some nasty emotions and talking behind other people's backs otherwise, and my close friends know my hates and dislikes sometimes better than I do.

Not everyone is going to be your best friend, and that's ok. I also never discuss politics, religion, my grades, or money with anyone except those closest to me.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

To those of you that are quite friendly and open with your school peers/classmates, I have a 2 concerns. As you read here on AN, you'll see many posts from newly-employed newbies expressing their extreme disappointment that their NEW peers/coworkers are not as open and chummy as they were accustomed while they were in school.

They then perceive this as the staff being UNFRIENDLY and ALOOF and unsupportive when in reality it just probably is that the staff are just quietly keeping to themselves. There's not much opportunity for on-the-job leisure time (as you've no doubt read about the super busy and overwhelming work environment). And there's often not much in common between a 22 y/o newbie and a 30 - 40 + y/o- ish experienced nurse who probably has a whole lot MORE on her mind than being interested that a boyfriend is going to the shore for Labor Day weekend and you've got to work (and prob Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years too). (Just FYI - I did very recently read a post from someone here lamenting this!)

My other concern is that you be careful and know your school 'friends' very, very, well, esp if you party-hardy. In this day of electronic immediacy, you don't want to jeopardize your current academic and future professional career because some 'mean girl friend' decides to blab about your personal details. Sadly, it DOES happen.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like your mothers, but I am a nurse who could be working with some of you. And I just want to give you all a heads-up, personally and professionally.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I think it can be a double edge sword. Having support from classmates will definitely be helpful. But externships and new grad jobs in this area tend to be pretty cut throat so I wouldn't be surprised to see some backstabbing going on.

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Well everyone should love me then because I work a full-time job with 3 kids and a baby on the way :) Seriously though, I would not be jealous at all if I met someone with no kids and did now work. I would think good for them for going to nursing school before they start a family. What I went to school for after high school unfortunately is going down hill so I had no other choice but to go back to school. I would never make anyone feel bad though for having it easier than I do. I am pretty chatty and usually tell people everything. If they get mad or jealous, too bad for them. There comes a point in your life where you just have to not care what those people think. As long as your happy, that is all that matters. In my experience so far though with my prereqs, I have gotten along very well with everyone. Even the people at my orientation seemed very friendly so I am hoping to make some good friends in my program.

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There are 32 students in my class, and from the first day we were exchanging phone numbers and we even set up a group on facebook to quickly ask questions that we do not understand.

With that being said, I am social to a point. I mean, I have to be with these 31 people for the next 3 semesters, and many times we will work in groups, study together and go through the good and the bad at clinicals, but I do not share all parts of my live. NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES OF TALKING FINANCES AND MONEY WITH PEOPLE. Politics and religion as well.

People to share this experience with, will make your school time go by so much easier. When you know there is someone who is as frustrated as you are when you are trying to learn something, helps tremendously!

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That would keep a lot of the commotion down.. But at my school we have to be close to be able to make it through the program! We are a family:) We all have each other on our Facebook pages and have created one specifically for our class. It helps so much to be close to each other like we are. We actually enjoy going to class and seeing each other nearly everyday.

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