Frustrated by "Classmates"

[Dylan'sPet]

I just need to vent-- and hopefully some advice.

I am in my first quarter of a 15 mo LPN program at a local college. In A&P class today, we had a to get into groups to work on answering questions for a study guide-- today is Thursday, our test is Tuesday. Our last test was a week ago. We know at the beginning of the quarter what we're working on each week. Therefore, after the last test, I started working on the next chapter.

I had three people just decide they were going to be in my group. No one asking. Just showing up. So I really had no choice in the matter. Once they all came over, it became apparent that no one else besides me had even bothered to open up the book, and they were arguing with one another over answers that were already on the notes our teacher gave us. On paper. Created by the teacher. Matching the questions exactly.

Arguing.

And then looking to me to explain it to them. Even though it is written. Right there.

I'm trying to get my paper done, and I can't read a question because they don't know their material and I'm having to explain concepts that are in the reading.

(I ended up not finishing my study guide because they took so long asking questions, passing around papers, laughing with one another and basically looking to me for the answer.)

When another question came up, I said what I figured the answer was, and they were busy laughing. When they focused on the question, one of the members said the exact same answer, and then they argued over it. It then became a conflict because I didn't say "YES, YOURE RIGHT."

I became very frustrated and I shut down. I don't work well in groups anyway ( I know that is a necessity as a nurse, and I am trying to be more interactive) so I just started doing the study guide answers without them because I knew I couldn't work with them. Anyone who knew the material should be able to fly through it. They then had a discussion ( while just copying the answers off my work sheet) about how I know all of this stuff, and everyone was surprised I had already read the chapter.

When class dismissed, everyone jumped up, left and I was there alone. By the end of it, I felt angry and used. It's apparent to me that these people immediately picked me out because they think I'm "the smart one". I work full time, I go to school full time, I can't afford to lose precious in class work time to a bunch of fools who haven't even bothered to read the chapter. Not to mention, I am working my *** off, every single day, day and night to do well in this program. It makes me so angry to think that my work is being basically ripped from me so that slackers can pass and go have fun on the weekends.

This is happening more and more frequently, and I'm about to lose my mind. I am so stressed out between work and school and home-- I don't have enough hours in the day or patience.

Can someone please offer some advice or let me know I'm not alone in this?

I really need help.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I rarely did study groups in nursing school for both PN and BSN program; I worked and went to school, and I play nice in the sandbox, have been looked at as a source of reason and a sounding board to nurses and doctors and above all the patients that I interact with.

Not having a study group in nursing school certainly hasn't made me less able to work in groups either.

Don't study with them; choose who you interact with wisely, especially if you feel you are not getting anything out of the interaction.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN]

This sounds frustrating. It also sounds like the group needs a leader to step up. This is in-class time and if you're required to work in groups, then take advantage of it. Step up as leader, get them organized (you do this question, you do this question, etc.) and maybe even teach them the lesson if you already know it. Did you know that you are much more likely to retain information if you teach it to someone than through any other way of studying. Teaching helps solidify the info in your brain long-term. You will also demonstrate your leadership abilities to your instructor (yes, they are watching even if you aren't aware).

As a nurse, you will be responsible for patient education every single day. You will be shocked at how much patients don't know about their own disease processes! Use this opportunity as practice.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

You have several options

1 I would bring it up to the instructor what was occurring and see if you can be independent.

2. Maybe seek out another group of students that are not slackers.

3. Be assertive and tell them that you work best on your own and they need to find another group to copy answers off of.

4. Do the work at home and when you are suppose to get into groups tell the instructor that you did it at home.

[ZoeFrecn]

You're definitely not alone in this! I've had a similar experience to yours in my Microbiology class. I had a classmate sit down and said ‘I heard you got an A on the last test, can you help me with this?' At first I was like sure. But it became apparent that she hadn't done any of the readings, did not come to the class on the topic was covered on and, had made no effort to learn the material on her own. It was frustrating because she was looking to coast and expected me to tutor her simply because I was an ‘A' student. The reason why I got an A was because I spent all my free time studying. Afterwards she didn't even thank me. Which I found to be rude.

Next time she sat down and asked to study with me, I said that I couldn't today I had to be somewhere etc. Eventually she got the hint and didn't ask. I also suggested that if she was really struggling with the material (and she was) that she should get a tutor. You should try a similar thing next time these people sit down with you. Or, you can tell them that you would be happy to study with them but only if they make an effort to do the reading. State that you don't have time to tutor them.

Personally I have no problem helping people, because the best way to solidify knowledge in a subject is to teach it yourself, but I only want to help people who genuinely want to learn. Not those who don't take the class seriously, make no effort on their own and are not polite about.

When I took A&P I was in study groups and I found them really rewarding, mostly because we were all on the same page. We would do the readings in advance and work through the questions together – helping each other. Hopefully this bad experience doesn't put you off.