Group Project Hell - ...

[Inori, BSN, RN]

So i'm taking online nursing classes, I end up in a group no one's stepped up to be "leader" Because we have a big assignment due in a few days so I took the project as its leader, got everyone's contact info, and divided the workload and emailed it out. I tried to be as fair as possible and alternated peope so if you got a hard question this time you'll get an easier one for next chapter and if you were main poster then the next chapter you're the commenter.

Drama of at least 2 people don't like each other,one asks me to tell other person how to do it right (nope i not getting in the middle) one person special requests that people do it a certain way and don't assign anything yet until we talk.

Anyways I asked others to try their hand at as leader to organize the rest of the semester's work. For now I'm sticking with my plan because we're on tight deadline and do not have time to lose for discusing what to do who will do it. I already divided it and if you dont like it then you be group leader next time.

Do you have any tips for how to have a successful group projects? Or how to be a good group leader? Do you ask for feedback first then decide? or just plan it and tell everyone thier roles.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

this is a different kind of learning experience than you all thought, but it's a good one and good on your faculty for using it. this is a model for learning teambuilding and leadership, both of which will be part of your professional life. i suggest you check out some info on tuckman's theory of team-building--"forming-storming-norming-performing"-- i've taught it in different setting (healthcare, boy scout leaders) and it's really useful to help you know what's going on and what to do next.

i don't usually recommend wikipedia for homework, but these two articles have good references you can go to later prn.

tuckman's stages of group development - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

more info on high-performing teams... high-performance teams - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Inori, BSN, RN]

@GrnTea Thanks! I'll look up tuckman's theory and try to apply some of it because like it or not I seem to be defacto team leader. I didn't know this was on purpose by professor and part of my education! now i'm embarrassed that I sent professor a very long email saying how I felt this group project was wasting valuable time .. lost to managing group drama.

Ah so i have to figure out how to handle a "disgruntle member, causes friction, passive aggressive, AND get her to do her part. This group member criticizes my methods, implys that workload is unfair, and makes vague suggestions on reassigning work yet doesn't step up to the leader role.

Anyways so far I only acknowledge what is a legit complaints and ignoring the rest. My current tactic is to email the team with the assignments so if everyone does the work except for her then its' obvious. I'm hoping that group / peer pressure will defuse the situation.

I don't understand why she behaves this way. Ultimately it comes down to either she does the assigned work or she can find another group. Cause enough drama in the group that I have to step in to mediate she gets a 1 warning and then anything after I will call a vote to boot her. In my previous class I got profiled as a democratic / Laissez-faire type of leader.

How best to handle disgrungle/nonteam players/passive agressive? I'm out of ideas...

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Not all homework assigments are there to personally torture you and become the bain of your existance. For every assignment in nursing school there are very specific "lessons" to be learned. Nursing is a unique profession that force you to deal with passive aggressive/aggressive co-workers/family members/patients and have to deal with extreme behaviors on a day to day basis.

GrnTea gives EXCELLENT advice!!!! Read her suggestions and they will probably give you the best path. Each situation requires different tactics and solutions depending on the personalities involved. What specific behaviors is she displaying and maybe we can give you some detailed responses.

Take the leadership role and remind them that you are all training to be professionals and learning how to cooperate with each other for a common purpose (like a care plan) is the real lesson here.

P.S. Send Another e-mail and apologise for the previous one. Let her know what you learned from GrnTea and where you learned it........ I am sure will impress your instructor that you actually discovered a very important part of the nursing process and are willing to admit when you have been slightly incorrect. Another important part of being a nurse. :hug:

[Inori, BSN, RN]

You were right this assignment wasn't design to purposely make life difficult. Nor was the intention to force us to deal with it w/o guidance. Professor emailed me back said to call her and appreciates that I bought it to her attention. OK hehe i thought prof was using the same method I'm using on classmate ignore and hope she goes away. Interesting ... so this is tucker's stages exactly! So it seems person is passive agressive and also stuck in storming stage of lets discuss what we'll do first but I skipped ahead to the performing stage going with the idea of well plan must be good and works if no one complains.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

:hug: Se and you figured that out with just a little guidence!!! Fisrt lesson. Done!