Classmates and Stress

FutureIsBlue, LPN, LVN · Oct 2, 2004

Ignore her. You will be wasting your time if it keeps bothering you. Focus on why you're in school.

jschut, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2004

I must agree with the above poster.

In LPN classes, we had an older teacher for a class, and she was made fun of incessantly, which really burned me up...

I liked her, the others didn't. Why? Because she was old and shaky. May have been the beginning of something else?

It all summed up who the more mature students were and who the immature students were.

I ended up with an A in the class and some nice conversation after a mock interview we did...what did the others get? Lower grades and no opportunity to enjoy a lovely older lady's company or wisdom....

As far as Miss Priss....ignore her every move if you can....or ask the instructor to please ask her to be quiet so you can hear.

Good Luck to you! :)

Nikki730 · Oct 2, 2004

Just know that however you handle it, this girl does not sound like she will be in the program long. Does your school have "check-offs"? (Activities such as vital signs, head-to-toe assessments, medication passes, catheterizations, etc.) Her poor grades, disrespectful behavior, and lack of work ethic will come crashing down on her head very soon due to the high stress and demands of the material.

I suppose you could always go to the teacher about her creating an unfriendly environment. We've had students go to the teacher in our program regarding comments/hostility between themselves and another student. This teenager needs to learn something---that this isn't high school anymore. Anyone who wants to graduate from the program must learn to make peace with ALL their classmates or the next 2 years will be nearly unbearable or just flat out impossible. Do the other students look embarrassed when she makes her snarky comments? Could they serve as witnesses if you told a teacher about the nasty things this brat has been saying about you? Maybe the other students will tell her to tone it down (may not tell her this at the moment, but later on.) That's what we said to the two people in my group who were having a conflict. The teacher would probably make it clear that her feelings about classmates are okay--as long as they don't turn into nasty faces and hateful remarks and sulking. Which sounds like what she's doing right now.

Sorry you are having to deal with this situation. I would just avoid her as much as possible and she will eventually need your help/forget about whatever grudge she is holding.

Are your seat assigned? Could you just show up early, take a seat further away from her?

(((HUGS!)))

skislalom · Oct 2, 2004

just know that however you handle it, this girl does not sound like she will be in the program long. her poor grades, disrespectful behavior, and lack of work ethic will come crashing down on her head very soon due to the high stress and demands of the material.
i suppose you could always go to the teacher about her creating an unfriendly environment. do the other students look embarrassed when she makes her snarky comments? could they serve as witnesses if you told a teacher about the nasty things this brat has been saying about you? maybe the other students will tell her to tone it down (may not tell her this at the moment, but later on.)
sorry you are having to deal with this situation. i would just avoid her as much as possible and she will eventually need your help/forget about whatever grudge she is holding.

i have to agree...it sure doesn't sound like she'll be around long - once reality smacks her in her smart mouth face :chuckle . let it be your mantra "she's leaving soon, she won't be here much longer...yes!"

in the off chance that she actually does hang on...either confront her-preferrably with a witness (or 38) and bring it to the attention to the instructor. the longer you let her annoyance to you stew...the worse you are gonna blow (and you will) when you do. she is disrupting your studies already...which like you said, you are paying good money for. you have a right to a non hostile learning environment. does your school value and enforce the students rights and responsibilites? ours does...perhaps touching on that could be an option.

good luck with the little tart...keep your cool.

~t

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2004

Sounds like a pretty typical 17 year old to me.

I'm your age too and kids that age may as well be from another planet, there is no communicating with them, we are way too old and couldn't possibly understand what life is about for them.

Heed her advice and shut up. j/k :)

fnimat1 · Oct 2, 2004

Susan,

I agree, ignore her.....she definitely doesn't appreciate that fact that she was able to get into nursing school in the first place. IJMHO but I don't think she's going to make it to pinning....unless she matures fast!!!

Fatima

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 2, 2004

I'd remind her "I paid to hear the lecture and to learn, not to hear you snore or make fun of the instructor, or any other juvenile behavior you're insisting on. Telling people to shut up is just going to ensure that you won't be respected, until you act like you deserve to be respected."

hypnotic_nurse · Oct 2, 2004

Sounds like a pretty typical 17 year old to me.

I usually agree with you, Tweetie, but the 17 year olds I know who've made it to college don't act like this. :)

I think she is not nearly ready for college, and I doubt she's in your class for very long. I'd talk to one of the instructors (not the older lady) about it; they need to be aware that she is going to have difficulties caring for seniors (I wouldn't want her working with MY parents!).

oregonrene · Oct 2, 2004

this girl does not sound like she will be in the program long.

My thoughts exactly. She will be weeded out soon enough. Just put a smile on your face and ignore that smart-aleck kid (I'm with you - a 17 year-old should never say "Shut Up!" to somebody old enough to be her mother :angryfire ) It won't be long before she drops out on her own (or is failed), then you can do the happy dance - plus you'll have a little bit of extra elbow room :rotfl: .

LydiaGreen · Oct 2, 2004

I am surprised that this continues to be a problem. If she was late once or twice, that would be one thing, but I am amazed that the instructor is continuing to tolerate her late arrivals if it happens as often as it seems from your post. My instructors locked the door at 10:00 on the dot (or whatever time class started). If you were late and felt it was a good REASON (not an excuse), you could knock on the door and explain yourself - otherwise, you were out of luck. If you were going to be late for a good reason and discussed it with the instructor first, that would be fine. The whole point is that our instructors valued not only their time, but our's as well. We paid tuition for a whole class - not to lose the first fifteen to twenty minutes of every class because of someone else's lack of respect for the instructor and her fellow classmates. Perhaps a quiet discussion with the instructor, letting her know that the constant interruptions make it difficult for you to concentrate and difficult for you to HEAR the instructor. I would certainly leave out the part about the 17 year old making fun of the instructor.

I, for one, would certainly not "ignore it". You have paid a lot of money, sacrificed a lot of time with your husband and your children, and worked VERY hard to get to where you are. You shouldn't have to accept getting less than the best out of each class. You PAID for the class, you have to right to receive the benefit of same.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 2, 2004

Sand thing is about people like that, it usually sets an example of what kind of nurse they'll be IF they even graduate (i.e. showing up late for work, having a la-tee-da attitude about anything not involving them, etc.)