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.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
People tend to become touchy and upset when they're called dumb. Imagine that.
The OP didn't call anyone dumb. She said they were smart enough to do the job, but not smart enough to carry on an interesting conversation. That, in my humble opinion, is a major distinction.
TheCommuter, are you implying then that nurses aren't particularly intelligent if they are in fact capable of "doing the job" but incapable of carrying on interesting conversation? It seems in that one simple sentence, you've insulted nursing more than she had. Tell me I'm wrong...
The OP didn't call anyone dumb. She said they were smart enough to do the job, but not smart enough to carry on an interesting conversation. That, in my humble opinion, is a major distinction.
Yea, sometimes it is hard to find people that are on your 'level.' Also those on lower levels sometimes do get annoying with inane banter. NEVER let on that you are either annoyed or above their level because they WILL be offended. Even if it is true.
Position in life has no relevance to potential position in life. Some people choose different paths and lives for different reasons yet are EXTREMELY intelligent. The potential is what matters.
You may find in this world that you have to 'dumb down' more than you'd like but saying it out loud I fear is going to be ineffective.
"Not smart enough to carry on an interesting conversation" isn't calling someone dumb?
What about that? That's not an implication that they are dumb?
You know, I sat in a class and actually had someone say, as I answered a question, "Well, look at Miss Smarty-pants!"
I went to school with some extremely bright people, but there is no question that we all had to overcome a socioeconomic divide. As I said, I moved to a rural area and have been told that I'm "sophisticated," and I know that that can be mistaken for snobbish when the biggest city you've visited is what I view as a suburb.
It caused me a lot of problems on my first nursing job. I got it from the other LPN's who were jealous and threatened that I was continuing for my RN - and being mocked because one is continuing school while at the same time those same mockers are asking for information on how to do it is a pretty clear indication that one is envied. I got it from them because I ironed my uniforms and wore whites. I got it from them because the residents would (loudly) declare that I looked like a "real" nurse. I got it, in short, because I carry myself as a professional and the residents liked that and it raised the bar. I got it from a CNA once when I caused offense at commenting that, at 38, she was young to be a grandparent. I meant no offense, but hey, my friends were having their first children at that age.
I got it from INSTRUCTORS when I would challenge their obtuse insistence that correlation is causation. I had them knock five points off of my nursing grade for "absenteeism" because I missed two lectures without a medical excuse. I never was late for nor missed a clinical, test, or exam and, infact, arrived early to a blizzard. I commuted 135 round trip a day through mountains. They did not do this to other students, and they knocked me off the Dean's List by doing that for what I can only surmise was their desire to "put me in my place."
I am, however, older than the OP and would be far more careful in wording such a post as her initial one. But I completely understand her bewilderment at the environment in which she finds herself.
The continued disparagement of her exemplifies what I will bet is happening to her every day on one level or another. And it stinks to be on this end of the spectrum in such a situation and huts just as much as
you would be if you were snubbed at a formal dinner where you used the wrong utensils.
Many of you are so caught up in your own insecurity that you are being repeatedly cruel to her. While your being offended at her comments is understandable, your refusal to open your minds as to how she may have come to feel as she does is not.
I can relate to the feeling out of place within the nursing school students. I personally maybe have a handful of friends in the class. But, I personally am not there to socialize. I am there to learn. If I make friends in the process, great. But if not then that is ok.
However, you have to think of how stressful and hard that nursing school is for each and every student. I know I am focused on doing well and retaining what I am learning. I do not have time to make friends and get together with people. I do what I can to stay where I am in my studies.
So, the other students not returning your friendly gestures should not be taken as much offense. It is hard to be friendly, funny and lively when you are riding on little to no sleep.
I can imagine the flip-side of this sort of scenario just as easily. Imagine one of your nurse friends gets into law school. She comes back to the unit and rants, "They are snobs, and they argue and discuss things that have no bearing in reality waaay too much, beyond debate in class. And the egos, OMG!"
I doubt we'd see an outcry like we see here, when the situation is reversed. Perception and perspective, you know.
Alright, so maybe I'm oversimplifying my response a little or "pouncing" on one sentence of the OP's posts/responses, but I would just like to say that regardless of WHAT you would consider my background to be (blue-collar, white-collar, just-plain-middle-class, whatever!) I'm in no way an uninteresting lump of a nursing student. I go to a well-respected nursing program, graduated in the top of my high school class, received excellent test scores, and can actually talk to people about anything I darn well choose-and do it quite eloquently, if I do say so myself. I did not make any of the above statements to "toot my own horn." I simply made them because it is a little offensive to be seen as some sort of doltish, second class person because I chose nursing. And it's not just me-many of my other classmates are smart, interesting, very diverse people who are going to be capable of doing a whole lot more than mindlessly passing Colace.
To further prove my point, I would just like to add that I consider many of my nursing professors to be some of the most intellegent and fascinating people I have come across (yes, they have their PhDs, but most started...guess where....community colleges!). Their depth of knowledge, skill and passion for the profession is amazing.
So yeah, I guess my feathers got a little ruffled by some of the sentiments on this thread and I just felt the need to say that some of us (maybe MANY of us) are dynamic and dedicated people who CHOSE nursing over other professions because of the exciting opportunities it gave us. Quite the opposite of simply choosing it because we weren't smart enough for other things.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
TheCommuter, are you implying then that nurses aren't particularly intelligent if they are in fact capable of "doing the job" but incapable of carrying on interesting conversation? It seems in that one simple sentence, you've insulted nursing more than she had. Tell me I'm wrong...
No, I was repeating what the OP said. Additionally, I wouldn't berate the career pathway to which I belong.
The OP's wording is what has caused such an uproar. I don't think she posted with the intent to hurt or cause anger/defensiveness, but that's what happened. Maybe this will be of value to her in her future communications with classmates, patients, instructors, etc. It's sort of like that whole "it's not what you say but how you say it" thing.
Good luck, Tooty. And I say that with sincerity. I hope you can form some friendships in NS and meet people who you can better relate to.
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts