Group Projects

[BS Nursing Student]

I hate them! Anyone agree? These nursing schools need to realize that adults don't have time for group meetings. Usually one or two do all of the work and there is nothing that you can do about it except warn others not to work with the slackers. I had a paired writing assignment and powerpoint presentation due the last week of class. I did 75% of the work. I failed one of my own courses by .72, but earned an A for this slacker (Actually I got 100%). I have told others not to work with her in the future, but that's about all I can do. I spent years saving money to go to nursing school and others who work think it's okay to put their work off on me. This student also lives out of state, but no one asked her to come to nursing school here. It was her choice and not my responsibility to carry her. By the way, I am using the school's appeal process to appeal my grade in the course I failed. There was a lot of unfairness in the course. (Can't give details, instructor might read). Anyway, back to the projects, I am telling instructors in the future that I want to work on my own, because I can't carry others. Anyone feel the same?

[Roseyposey]

Group projects are horrible. The teachers have some misconception that they teach cooperation and teamwork, what they really do is inflict intense anxiety on people who have good grades and take a lot of pride in their schoolwork. I had to do a group Psychology paper last semester. I was embarrassed to put my name on it. One of the group members was an English major...she ought to pay more attention in class; her part of the paper was the most poorly written drivel I'd ever read. Fortunately, the instructor was more interested in correct APA format, and the group member in charge of that did a great job.

[BS Nursing Student]

These so called projects to promote "teamwork" have taught me who NOT to work with. In the future, some will be asked by myself to find a different group if they come my way.

[linzz]

This is an old thread but here goes, group projects do teach you who not to work with. I had to do a few and one group had me and two slackers, and the other group I was in had two control freaks who actually bullied one or two of the other members. Uggh! Group projects are tough for those that want as a cooperative team. It really is a learning experience about the work habits of others.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

team projects are going to be continued to be assigned because more can be accomplished in teams and because as nurses you are being taught this as a job skill. one of the skills of the job is learning to work as a team with other nurses. this is a skill and responsibility that comes with being in leadership positions. rns and lpns are in leadership positions whether it formally says "leader" on your name badge or not. as an employee you will often be expected to participate in team activities whether you want to or not. i've worked in some facilities that make membership on at least one committee by the nursing staff mandatory. as a paid, working staff nurse i was involved in two large team projects where i had to work with a group of other nurses to accomplish special projects for the hospital. one was the making of an educational video and the other was a community service project that our facility was involved in.

here are links to websites that were developed to help students survive a group project. if your instructors didn't give you any specific directions for your teamwork project, use these as your guideline and go to your instructors with these guidelines and any problems you are having with team members to get help in dealing with them.

• http://www.csc.calpoly.edu/~sludi/semanual/tableofcontents.html - student survival guide to managing group projects. click on the links to get into the text.
  
• http://lowery.tamu.edu/teaming/morgan1/tsld001.htm - use of teams in classes. a slide show presentation on teamwork, how to create teams and how to work on team projects.
  
• http://www.usq.edu.au/course/material/mkt2001/teamwork.htm - teamwork. site specifically for students to help you in working together in a team.
  
• http://www.academictutorials.com/teamwork/ - team tutorial

[GeauxNursing]

Yes, I'd rather work alone. but that is a great idea, to threaten to not put the slacker names on the final copy.

[momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN]

Last semester we had to a group project and form the group within our clincial group ( 7 ppl). Well, it was a mad rush to form groups and me and a friend of mine were left out when four of the 7 made their group without even asking us what we were doing. Then the 3rd girl in our group (we were the remaining 3 so we had to work together) got kicked out of the program! Needless to say 2 of us had to do the work of 4- no fun!