Bringing your *new* baby to school....

Nursing Students General Students

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Problem here all....recent member of class had a baby. Now, so far our school has been VERY strict about pretty much everything. Now, I understand that this student is a single mother, on assistance and struggling (well, who isn't nowadays). But anyways she was recently told by our instructor that she can bring her baby to class with her so she doesn't have to miss time. We have class one night a week and we ALWAYS have a test that night because the rest of the week we are in clinical. A lot of the students are complaining that it is distracting, granted she is pretty quiet for the most part but she gets passed around from person to person to be held for the 5 hours we are there and it IS distracting! Plus there are people in class that have had to miss class time because of "children" problems, babysitter couldn't come or whatever....these students feel it is unfair that she was given the choice to BRING her baby to class but others missed time! Something just isn't right about this situation. I don't want to sound like a mean person because I DO want to see her succeed and finish school but at the same time COME ON!!!!!! :angryfire Am I wrong for feeling this way????

Specializes in OR.

I still say that the only people that should receive assistance are the disabled.Let's be honest now, there are a lot of people that milk the welfare system for all they can get and there is a definite sense of entitlement in this country. Anyone can make a mistake once but this girl we are discussing has two children, a boyfriend in prison, and a real inability to understand the concept of birth control. Why should her classmates suffer-most of them, I'm sure, are paying good money(their own, not the government's) for their education. This girl sounds like another state sponsored leech to me...

Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
Problem here all....recent member of class had a baby. Now, so far our school has been VERY strict about pretty much everything. Now, I understand that this student is a single mother, on assistance and struggling (well, who isn't nowadays). But anyways she was recently told by our instructor that she can bring her baby to class with her so she doesn't have to miss time. We have class one night a week and we ALWAYS have a test that night because the rest of the week we are in clinical. A lot of the students are complaining that it is distracting, granted she is pretty quiet for the most part but she gets passed around from person to person to be held for the 5 hours we are there and it IS distracting! Plus there are people in class that have had to miss class time because of "children" problems, babysitter couldn't come or whatever....these students feel it is unfair that she was given the choice to BRING her baby to class but others missed time! Something just isn't right about this situation. I don't want to sound like a mean person because I DO want to see her succeed and finish school but at the same time COME ON!!!!!! :angryfire Am I wrong for feeling this way????

I;ll prob. get flamed for this but I am a firm believer that an Univ. classroom is NO place for a child! I am sensitive to the fact that people have children but I don't want to hear them or see them. It IS distracting and honestly it isnt my problem that some cant find babysitters!!! ugh...pet peeve...sorry...really no offense to those that have kids..I could/would understand if it was once, but every class, NO!!!!!

Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
I still say that the only people that should receive assistance are the disabled.Let's be honest now, there are a lot of people that milk the welfare system for all they can get and there is a definite sense of entitlement in this country. Anyone can make a mistake once but this girl we are discussing has two children, a boyfriend in prison, and a real inability to understand the concept of birth control. Why should her classmates suffer-most of them, I'm sure, are paying good money(their own, not the government's) for their education. This girl sounds like another state sponsored leech to me...

Accidents to happen to good people and not everyone is leeching off the government BUT there are sure plenty that do, and I totally agree with you!

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I still say that the only people that should receive assistance are the disabled.Let's be honest now, there are a lot of people that milk the welfare system for all they can get and there is a definite sense of entitlement in this country. Anyone can make a mistake once but this girl we are discussing has two children, a boyfriend in prison, and a real inability to understand the concept of birth control. Why should her classmates suffer-most of them, I'm sure, are paying good money(their own, not the government's) for their education. This girl sounds like another state sponsored leech to me...

Ok, let's be honest, if we're thinking along the lines of avoidance of milking the system, then what about those people that claim they are "disabled," yet really aren't?

I;ll prob. get flamed for this but I am a firm believer that an Univ. classroom is NO place for a child! I am sensitive to the fact that people have children but I don't want to hear them or see them. It IS distracting and honestly it isnt my problem that some cant find babysitters!!! ugh...pet peeve...sorry...really no offense to those that have kids..I could/would understand if it was once, but every class, NO!!!!!

No flames here . . . . I agree with you.

(I've been gone for 8 days and I can't believe this thread is still going strong):)

steph

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I could/would understand if it was once, but every class, NO!!!!!

Me too.

______

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I agree - ok for the very occasional absolute emergency, but no more than that. People are paying for an education and they deserve an environment that is conducive to learning.

Specializes in OR.
Ok, let's be honest, if we're thinking along the lines of avoidance of milking the system, then what about those people that claim they are "disabled," yet really aren't?
Yeah, I reread my post just now and realized I failed to put in the disclaimer "those who are truly disabled" At work, we get quite a few people who claim to be disabled and just don't want to work. I meant those who are mentally handicapped, can't walk etc. And the thing is, many of those who are sincerely disabled still manage to work at some kind of job...I have Crohn's disease and technically, I could claim disability but that's not how I was raised. I don't expect any special treatment or allowances, because I made the decision to go to Nursing school-also, the people at work don't even know I have any kind of problem.If you want something badly enough, you should be willing to work hard for it-sacrifice is a part of life. The people in this girl's class should band together and come up with a bill for "child care services rendered"(since she passes this child around) and hand it to her. That sure would get their point across.

I am a nursing student with two small children. I am lucky enough to have family to help me with daycare. But if I needed to bring a child to class,my professors would accomadate me. I am surprised at the lack of caring by some students. Humans operate in a community. A community is supposed to provide temporary help in an emergency situation. Not put a person off to the side until they confrom.

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
I am a nursing student with two small children. I am lucky enough to have family to help me with daycare. But if I needed to bring a child to class,my professors would accomadate me. I am surprised at the lack of caring by some students. Humans operate in a community. A community is supposed to provide temporary help in an emergency situation. Not put a person off to the side until they confrom.

Nicely said.

The key words there were "temporary" and "emergency".

Specializes in NICU.

I haven't read the entire thread, but whatever happened to grace and compassion? I think that as future nurses, we should consider that sometimes things don't happen how they're supposed to, and that we need to learn to accomodate. If we consider this such a huge nuisance, then where do we draw the line? What if something is not convenient for us on the job? Are we going to complain, or are we going to accept it and have compassion for the situation? I think that we need to stand beside our fellow students, and show them love and respect and offer to help them out when things aren't going so great for them. Break hostility with love. If it is really that bad of a situation, maybe talking to the professor about other options would be more constructive than building up anger and resentment toward this girl. Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings, I didn't intend to.

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