I am in a two year RN program at a community college. I have a law degree, and I am studying nursing so I can do HealthCare Law or Medical Malpractice. No one at my school knows that I have a law degree (except the administrator), and I don't plan to tell them, because I don't want to answer legal questions for the next two years, or draw attention to myself.
Sadly, I am disappointed with many of my classmates in nursing school. They are very boring to talk to and somewhat blue-collar-ish. I am always friendly towards them, but half of them don't return my friendly gestures because they probably don't understand my nature (I am shy and reserved, but pleasant). My classmates in law school were just so much more interesting, and friendly! I got along great with all of them. I was expecting to really like my nursing classmates too, because I thought most nurses were really nice people. But these people are just working class snobs (they don't like anyone who does not act working class like them).
I probably should have applied to a Masters level Nursing program, in order to find people like myself in nursing school.
I was just wondering if others out there are a "fish out of water" in their nursing programs.
OP (if you are still posting and if you are not, in fact, a troll):
You may indeed be smarter than your classmates; but that's a great assumption. I, too, chose a community college route. I'm from "working class, blue collar" folk. I didn't know that any type of cheese other than the off-brand version of Velveeta existed until I left home. I've travelled the world, lived abroad, and have a BA in another field.
You also wouldn't have known it from sitting next to me in the classroom. I wasn't there to make friends, I was there to get through nursing school, learn as much as possible, and finish. I'm sure I appeared as blue collar and boorish as the next. I spent my spare classroom time studying or talking local university basketball. No haute culture discussions in the lab room, that wasn't what I was wanting or expecting.
You probably are experiencing an enormous culture clash. Rather than take offense, why don't you take note? Do you ever listen to "This American Life"? One of the things I love about that show most is how it takes these ordinary folks, people that you think you wouldn't have anything to do with, who wouldn't have anything interesting to say to you, and it tells this amazing story of their lives. It shows how interesting we are individually, uniquely, no matter what our background or current situation in life. Perhaps if you looked at your classmates in this light rather than in a negative one, you might find more in common with them.
These are the people who will make up a large portion of your coworkers and pts. Why go through life finding the negatives in people? Why not go through life finding the positives? Tell me, if you would go on a study abroad exchange, and experienced a major culture clash, what would you do? Would you whine about how no one understands you, how you are smarter than all these people and can't find a decent conversation to save your life? Or would you put aside these thoughts, try to learn as much about these people and their lives as possible, and try to learn what these people had to offer? Why is this situation any different?
I did read the entire 17 pages. I don't know which was more amusing, some of the OP's statements or the pi$$ing match between which posters have more experience being blue collar than the others, and therefore which ones have the right opinion of the OP. Given the state of the economy, all of our kids or grandkids might be able to properly claim winner of the working class, blue collar wars you all are waging. Don't fret.
Whitepillow, I don't even know what to say to you. Do you think none of us do any good in the world? You are the only one who donates time and money to charitable causes? You are the only one who makes eye contact and smiles when walking down the street, who holds the door for the woman with the walker, who volunteers once a week at the low income health clinic? Have more faith in your fellow nurses and nursing students than that. I'm sure you are a kind and good person; I'm sure most people who are here are, as well. How about assuming the best of everyone, instead of assuming the worst?
OP, if you've only started classes, I suggest you take a deep breath, open your eyes and ears, and put a smile on your face. Nursing school is difficult. It takes a lot of reading and studying as well has hands on skill to make it through. It can also be a bonding experience. Cleaning up a massive code brown, experiencing your first code, inserting your first IV successfully, giving your first injection, all of these things will be bonding experiences with your classmates, if that is what you are looking for. Give yourself and your classmates a little time to adjust to one another. You may find you all have more in common than you realize. And even if you don't, your common experiences in nursing school will give you something to build upon.
So IQ *can* range?? I had no idea. Mine has been between 132 and 145. I've been worried that I was losing brain cells or something! Seriously! lol! :chuckle
Remember too that an IQ test is just a snapshot. I'm sure my IQ would look an awful lot lower before my morning (brewed forever and a day) tea.
You know, during high school I never really 'applied' myself, however since that time when I became interested in medicine I really put myself into it.
I do believe honestly that you can really do anything you want if you are willing to work for it - I study relentlessly and have been throughout the program and have learned a little bit more about myself. I think that intelligence really boils down to how much time you put in to the 'area' and how much of it you are able to remember / link to other information at the appropriate moment.
I never thought I could be a doctor, but I really believe now that you can do whatever you want if you invest yourself - one of my classmates reads our assigned material once and knows it, I read it a few times and know it, it just depends on you. Be humble, because if you 'know-it-all', you're destined to look dumb at one point because no one is perfect all the time.:twocents:
OP (if you are still posting and if you are not, in fact, a troll):
You may indeed be smarter than your classmates; but that's a great assumption. I, too, chose a community college route. I'm from "working class, blue collar" folk. I didn't know that any type of cheese other than the off-brand version of Velveeta existed until I left home. I've travelled the world, lived abroad, and have a BA in another field.
You also wouldn't have known it from sitting next to me in the classroom. I wasn't there to make friends, I was there to get through nursing school, learn as much as possible, and finish. I'm sure I appeared as blue collar and boorish as the next. I spent my spare classroom time studying or talking local university basketball. No haute culture discussions in the lab room, that wasn't what I was wanting or expecting.
You probably are experiencing an enormous culture clash. Rather than take offense, why don't you take note? Do you ever listen to "This American Life"? One of the things I love about that show most is how it takes these ordinary folks, people that you think you wouldn't have anything to do with, who wouldn't have anything interesting to say to you, and it tells this amazing story of their lives. It shows how interesting we are individually, uniquely, no matter what our background or current situation in life. Perhaps if you looked at your classmates in this light rather than in a negative one, you might find more in common with them.
These are the people who will make up a large portion of your coworkers and pts. Why go through life finding the negatives in people? Why not go through life finding the positives? Tell me, if you would go on a study abroad exchange, and experienced a major culture clash, what would you do? Would you whine about how no one understands you, how you are smarter than all these people and can't find a decent conversation to save your life? Or would you put aside these thoughts, try to learn as much about these people and their lives as possible, and try to learn what these people had to offer? Why is this situation any different?
I did read the entire 17 pages. I don't know which was more amusing, some of the OP's statements or the pi$$ing match between which posters have more experience being blue collar than the others, and therefore which ones have the right opinion of the OP. Given the state of the economy, all of our kids or grandkids might be able to properly claim winner of the working class, blue collar wars you all are waging. Don't fret.
Whitepillow, I don't even know what to say to you. Do you think none of us do any good in the world? You are the only one who donates time and money to charitable causes? You are the only one who makes eye contact and smiles when walking down the street, who holds the door for the woman with the walker, who volunteers once a week at the low income health clinic? Have more faith in your fellow nurses and nursing students than that. I'm sure you are a kind and good person; I'm sure most people who are here are, as well. How about assuming the best of everyone, instead of assuming the worst?
OP, if you've only started classes, I suggest you take a deep breath, open your eyes and ears, and put a smile on your face. Nursing school is difficult. It takes a lot of reading and studying as well has hands on skill to make it through. It can also be a bonding experience. Cleaning up a massive code brown, experiencing your first code, inserting your first IV successfully, giving your first injection, all of these things will be bonding experiences with your classmates, if that is what you are looking for. Give yourself and your classmates a little time to adjust to one another. You may find you all have more in common than you realize. And even if you don't, your common experiences in nursing school will give you something to build upon.
:twocents:
queenjean
951 Posts
OP (if you are still posting and if you are not, in fact, a troll):
You may indeed be smarter than your classmates; but that's a great assumption. I, too, chose a community college route. I'm from "working class, blue collar" folk. I didn't know that any type of cheese other than the off-brand version of Velveeta existed until I left home. I've travelled the world, lived abroad, and have a BA in another field.
You also wouldn't have known it from sitting next to me in the classroom. I wasn't there to make friends, I was there to get through nursing school, learn as much as possible, and finish. I'm sure I appeared as blue collar and boorish as the next. I spent my spare classroom time studying or talking local university basketball. No haute culture discussions in the lab room, that wasn't what I was wanting or expecting.
You probably are experiencing an enormous culture clash. Rather than take offense, why don't you take note? Do you ever listen to "This American Life"? One of the things I love about that show most is how it takes these ordinary folks, people that you think you wouldn't have anything to do with, who wouldn't have anything interesting to say to you, and it tells this amazing story of their lives. It shows how interesting we are individually, uniquely, no matter what our background or current situation in life. Perhaps if you looked at your classmates in this light rather than in a negative one, you might find more in common with them.
These are the people who will make up a large portion of your coworkers and pts. Why go through life finding the negatives in people? Why not go through life finding the positives? Tell me, if you would go on a study abroad exchange, and experienced a major culture clash, what would you do? Would you whine about how no one understands you, how you are smarter than all these people and can't find a decent conversation to save your life? Or would you put aside these thoughts, try to learn as much about these people and their lives as possible, and try to learn what these people had to offer? Why is this situation any different?
I did read the entire 17 pages. I don't know which was more amusing, some of the OP's statements or the pi$$ing match between which posters have more experience being blue collar than the others, and therefore which ones have the right opinion of the OP. Given the state of the economy, all of our kids or grandkids might be able to properly claim winner of the working class, blue collar wars you all are waging. Don't fret.
Whitepillow, I don't even know what to say to you. Do you think none of us do any good in the world? You are the only one who donates time and money to charitable causes? You are the only one who makes eye contact and smiles when walking down the street, who holds the door for the woman with the walker, who volunteers once a week at the low income health clinic? Have more faith in your fellow nurses and nursing students than that. I'm sure you are a kind and good person; I'm sure most people who are here are, as well. How about assuming the best of everyone, instead of assuming the worst?
OP, if you've only started classes, I suggest you take a deep breath, open your eyes and ears, and put a smile on your face. Nursing school is difficult. It takes a lot of reading and studying as well has hands on skill to make it through. It can also be a bonding experience. Cleaning up a massive code brown, experiencing your first code, inserting your first IV successfully, giving your first injection, all of these things will be bonding experiences with your classmates, if that is what you are looking for. Give yourself and your classmates a little time to adjust to one another. You may find you all have more in common than you realize. And even if you don't, your common experiences in nursing school will give you something to build upon.