Know it all classmates

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Ok Im in my first semester and Im already urked by people. Its mainly people who are currently CNA's making me feel inadequate. When we go to learn a new skill they are used to doing it already on a daily basis and Im learning it for the first time, so it makes me feel should I say "dumb" when these other people can do it flawlessly and Im still going huh? It comes up because usually when we have a skills test its in pairs so they go then you go.

Im not dumb by any means and I hate feeling that way.

Do I just need to step it up a knotch to be good at the stuff by the time we get to doing it, or just get over it and learn along with everyone else?

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, Im sure most RN classes have alot of CNA's.

Im normally pretty soft spoken and introverted so Im thinking its just my own complex. But I hate feeling inadequate. Im hoping nursing makes me tough.

Specializes in Neuro.
Someone who thinks they know everything (despite their actual knowledge) and someone who actually has a skill that you don't, doesn't seem to be the same thing to me

I totally agree. My program is accelerated, so we were required to have either our CNA or a paramedic certification to be admitted. Some people got their CNA to get admitted and never used the skills, some people got their CNA and have had a lot of experience with those skills, and some were paramedics and know entirely different skills.

My paramedic classmates are aces at IVs and EKGs but have probably never done a bedbath before, and CNAs are vice versa. I have actually singled out people who have experience with certain skills as people to ask for help when we get there. I think it's great that we all come to the table with different specialties and experiences and skills, and we can LEARN FROM EACH OTHER as well as from the instructor.

If you are dealing with people who are actually snotty because they have already done these skills, then that's a problem and I don't blame you for being annoyed. But if they just happen to be good at something, don't view it as magnifying your own faults, but as an opportunity to learn from them. Have that person go first in checkoffs and watch the things they are doing. Then you will be better prepared when it's your turn.

0 Votes

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I would have been very grateful to anyone just trying to help me out of the goodness of their heart, trust me. I'd love an inside edge from someone who knew stuff already. But Im talking about people who have the attitude, "dont you know this?" or "your just not doing it right" with an annoyed attitude. Because their bothered we have to even do that particular skill becuase they do it every day at their work.

In my head Im like" uh nooo Ive never done this before, Im not an expert yet."

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU.

then these are just people you should stay away from. these are just people that are going to make you feel inadequate and make the whole experience negative. you dont need any negativity!!! you need to surround your self with positive, and most importantly positive people!! i have a close friend in my program with me and her favorite saying, says it all "together, we can do this!"

and ps, maybe it wouldnt hurt to remind some of those people that they once needed help too. in my experience, know-it-alls, know very little. m

remember, if you need any help.....

0 Votes
Specializes in CNA, Medication Aide.

this is my first semester in nursing school and we have a few of them as well i am a cna and i don't a damn thing i have been a cna for about 15 years but i don't know everything but we have the ones in our class that think that because they were cna's that they do but like the others have said before use them to your advantage since they know so much get them to show you what they do know and if that doesn't work ignore them

0 Votes
Specializes in Acute Care.

I think they can be great resources, as long as they don't mind teaching and can leave their egos at ther door. (There are some great ones in my class). All the same, there's nothing like those brief, shining moments when they look just as dumb as you do. :p

0 Votes
I think they can be great resources, as long as they don't mind teaching and can leave their egos at ther door. (There are some great ones in my class). All the same, there's nothing like those brief, shining moments when they look just as dumb as you do. :p

:yeahthat:

0 Votes
I witnessed a STUDENT correct an INSTRUCTOR once.

What is the problem with this? Aren't we all learning together? Do you still think the instructor is up on some kind of pedestal and can't make mistakes or that they know it all, somehow?

Today, I corrected my instructor who referred to the sympathetic nervous system as the fight response and the parasympathetic nervous system as the flight response...and several classmates thanked me.

0 Votes
What is the problem with this? Aren't we all learning together? Do you still think the instructor is up on some kind of pedestal and can't make mistakes or that they know it all, somehow?

Today, I corrected my instructor who referred to the sympathetic nervous system as the fight response and the parasympathetic nervous system as the flight response...and several classmates thanked me.

I think its just more of a respect thing.....

0 Votes
I think its just more of a respect thing.....

you can correct anyone in a respectful way, whether you are mentoring them or they are your superior. Correcting errors itself is not disrepectful.

0 Votes
you can correct anyone in a respectful way, whether you are mentoring them or they are your superior. Correcting errors itself is not disrepectful.

I couldn't agree more Jov. Respect is respect, facts are facts....there's no reason in the world that you couldn't respectfully clarify a fact that anyone says (instructor, student, patient, whomever). And I would hope that would hold true whenever someone needs to correct something I say.

Peace,

Cathie

0 Votes

point taken

0 Votes

I am first semester nursing. One of the pre-reqs for nursing one is that you have to be a CNA before you start. Some have more experience than others. But we all had to pass the CNA. Do you have a skills lab that you can practice. We have to be tested on suctioning and catherization, they should be in the same place as you. Our group of 12 help each other and help as much as possible. Especially since we know we are going to be together for the next two years and we worked to hard to get into the program

:heartbeat

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment