Group project rant

Nursing Students General Students

Published

It really annoys me when you have a total of 4 people involved in a group project, two are actually doing the work, one doesn't even bother to show up for class (or shows up over an hour late when he does) or contact us (i've contacted him several times with no replies, except for "i'm workin' on it" and never elaborates just what "it" is even after asking), the other sits around during class and whines "i don't know what we're ("we're???") doing" yet hasn't even begun to research their their part of it, but has plenty of time to text-message her b/f while we're supposed to be discussing this project (yes, i pointed out how inconsiderate the cell phone thing was). It is not up to the others in her group to hold her hand and to point her in the direction. I'm all for helping someone, but she needs to stop using the desk for a footstool, and use it to write ideas on. Not to mention stop using the school computer for AIM, and use it for project research, which is why the prof. sent us in the comp room to start with. How many professors do you know that will take an hour of class time, to dedicate to internet researching. Most would say "do it at home."

This presentation, along with a 2000 word essay to accompany it is due next Tuesday (8 days from now).

The prof. said that if we had any problems to let him know (just emailed him for the 3rd time over this). And i'm really hoping that mine and the other guy's grade are not affected by those that aren't taking this seriously. I know the other guy got tired of sounding like a broken record, trying to figure out what the other two are doing, etc. And i'm sick and tired of both of us killing ourselves for this project, and other people not giving a crap if they help or not.

Cannot wait till this class is over. I'm all for teamwork, if the whole team participates, but since that's not the case, i'd rather not have group projects.

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

You know...

Had one class where group project was such that we graded each other - we graded the two who did nothing accordingly, the entire group got the same grade - the grade of the person who had the lowest grade according to our evaluations of each other.

Another group in another class - we graded each other again - but this time we got the grade according to how we each did - the entire group did not get the same grade. That was fair - and we were allowed to boot non-participating members - which we did!

Yet another group - we all got the same grade no matter who did what according to the grade on the project.

you know, there is only one fair way to do group project grading and that is the 2nd way.

And you would hope people would outgrow this BS by the time they get to grad school considering most of us are older than the average young'un - but I can tell you from experience they don't.

I just finished my last group project EVER last week - pulling people along by the teeth stinks! It was in that group that I received the absolute ugliest email I have ever receieved. You know - some battles just aren't worth picking. She's the one who has to look herself in the eye when she brushes her teeth in the morning, I just hope she treats patients in a more courteous manner than she treated me. Had the issue been pushed, I had the email and all the supporting docs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

Ooooohhhh the dreaded group project. Know that feeling. So I have to vent. Sorry so long!

In undergrad I had to do a project with my best friend and some random classmate. Well....talk about social loafing...my best friend decided that drinking and football games were more important than our project and let me to do all the work. Hmmpf...I was fuming when she got an A- and I got a B+ in the class..what made me fuming was that we had alll the same grades on both midterms and I got a higher grade on my paper...so it must have come down to the peer eval's about the project..like I said before hmmpf...

In grad school, recently we had to give a presentation on arthritis. There were three of us. Well my friend and I did all the research and put together the entire powerpoint. We tried for WEEKS, not days, weeks, to get our other group member to meet with us.

He lied and said he tried to call us and couldnt get ahold of us..hmmm..seeing as though my cell phone NEVER shuts off and has caller id, as well as my friends phone, I dont think he ever called...he could have emailed or set up something in class...we tried and he always said he was too busy. He suggested that we just email him our work and he would just add his on...or he wanted to do our group project over the phone!!! Well...we didnt want to do that, my friend and I wanted to meet...well he kept pushing it off until the day of the presentation..I was fuming!!!

I got kind of mad and told him he was meeting us at lunch, no excuses...well he said he would and he didn't, he went home (didnt bother telling us he was leaving and wasnt going to meet us) and didnt even show up until the middle of the class our presentation was in (walks in while the presentations are going on)!!

The best part of this story was that this person told my friend and I that we couldn't take up much of our 9 minute limit bc he had a lot to say. Keeping in mind we had no idea what he was going to say, even on the day of the speech, we left him 4 minutes....mind you, his part of the presentation was to lecture on rheumatoid arthritis....want to know what he talked about for 3 out of 4 minutes??? A rabid dog!!! It had no bearing what so ever to rheumatoid arthritis..my classmates later told me that the look on my face was priceless while he was lecturing....This is what he wanted 4 minutes for???? I dont even think he planned a speech at all...sigh....My friend and I ended up getting the full points but as for him, well who knows!!!

Thanks for letting me vent. I hate group projects. I like teamwork when everyone pulls their weight and contributes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.
Ooooohhhh the dreaded group project. Know that feeling.

...want to know what he talked about for 3 out of 4 minutes??? A rabid dog!!! It had no bearing what so ever to rheumatoid arthritis.

OMG, ELKMNin06, a rabbid dog! :bugeyes: LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
OMG, ELKMNin06, a rabbid dog! :bugeyes: LOL

yeah, no kidding, thats what I thought. "Once, when I lived in Africa, I had a dog...it was rabid...the rabies took control of its body, kind of like rheumatoid arthritis does...

OMG.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Yet another group - we all got the same grade no matter who did what according to the grade on the project.

I had ones of those in nursing school, luckily i was in a group at the time where everyone pulled their weight.

And since that's not the case this time, i didn't want that kind of grading, it's not a fair opportunity.

The prof. tonight stated "It's rather annoying when 4 able-bodied people are all riding in a canoe and only 2 of those people are paddling, with the other 2 have zero intention of even picking up an oar at anytime. If you're not paddling, don't expect to get to the shore of points. But the ones that are paddling will not sink." My thoughts exactly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Marie,

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap:

I'm in the same situation right now. In fact, I leave to give a presentation on a project in an hour. Two of us did the bulk of the work, another was lost --but never asked for help even though it was offered, and the final student didn't do a darn thing.

We will all give a portion of the presentation. We also have to hand in a portfolio of our work. The portfolio is a solid A, and three of us can speak intelligently on the subject for the presentation (the other portion of our grade). If the slacker falls on her face during her portion of the presentation, so be it. The rest of us have too much work in other classes to "rescue" her when she doesn't help herself.

Daytonite is right in that you can't control other people, but I agree with you that doing his/her work isn't the answer. I applaud you for standing by your convictions.

Good for you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in start in NICU 7/14/08.

*console*

Group projects are good in theory but in practice, they usually stink. I cringe when I find out I have to participate in one. I cringe twice when it is a group assigned by the teacher and not a group I can select on my own (well, the latter can be just as bad if it is early in the semester and you don't know who the slackers are yet lol).

I hope it works out for you - it's frustrating to feel extra pressure to pick up the slack of others. I only hope the grades reflect the effort - I like it when teachers allow the students to anonymously jot down who did what and rate or critique the other group members.

Goodluck and hang in there. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Question: If you and a CNA are the only nurses around and a patient is lying in a soiled bed that really needs to be cleaned up and the CNA, your team member, is either refusing to do it or skips off to take a break would you ignore this team project too? You have to do your tasks in order of importance, don't you think? I think my own grade in a class comes before seeing to it that another student gets "what's coming to them".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Yo Marie,

You go Girl ! :yelclap: Where were you when I was in school !

Could have used your passion !:bow:

Bye the way, what does "taking my turn at the sin wagon mean" ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Question: If you and a CNA are the only nurses around and a patient is lying in a soiled bed that really needs to be cleaned up and the CNA, your team member, is either refusing to do it or skips off to take a break would you ignore this team project too? You have to do your tasks in order of importance, don't you think? I think my own grade in a class comes before seeing to it that another student gets "what's coming to them".

First off, you're comparing apples to oranges, two different scenarios.

No, the pt. would not lie there like that, i'd take care of that. And certainly, that person that skips off like that on a regular basis, hey'd find themselves w/o a job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
taking my turn at the sin wagon mean

It's from a Dixie Chicks' song.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Question: If you and a CNA are the only nurses around and a patient is lying in a soiled bed that really needs to be cleaned up and the CNA, your team member, is either refusing to do it or skips off to take a break would you ignore this team project too? You have to do your tasks in order of importance, don't you think? I think my own grade in a class comes before seeing to it that another student gets "what's coming to them".

Of course you would take care of the patient. But to follow through with your line of thinking, would you then repeatedly do your job and the CNA's for every shift that you work together? Would you not at some point say "enough" and report the CNA's behavior? If a team is composed to take the best care of the patient, and one team member "skips off", and this happens repeatedly, isn't it your responcibility to ensure that the patient receives the two able-bodied medical staff they deserve to care for them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment