How do you deal with the conflict in nursing school?

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I graduate in 3 1/2 months and for the past year +. Its this one student that is like a bully. She walks around all day in class and clinical, saying and these are her exact words. " I don't like anybody in this (f'ing word) class? I only like so and so and just rude this girl had to have said this over 500 times since I've been in this program plus she's rude and evil. I asked her why do she say that she said " I don't give a f, because I don't" mind you it was two teachers that went to the DON about her and she did nothing. A few classmates and nothing gets done. I swear its taking all of me not to literally go off. She does this all day every day and the teachers doesn't do anything about it. Its so hard to have a positive atmosphere in the class because of her. Its like high school all over again. I'm so stressed out as is and just to put up with it is really annoying me. How should I handle this? Have you ever dealt with something similar before? Thanks in advance!

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

So what if she knows it was you three? You went to an instructor with a problem, this is the thing she told you to do. You now have 2 choices, shut up about it altogether or write the letter. Many times thing cannot be addressed because none of the "witnesses" are willing to step up.

Just curious. why didn't you wait longer before complaining to the new instructor, to see if she was going to notice or do anything on her own? As an instructor I would like enough time to see what students are doing or are like, without someone trying to "prejudice" me against someone else. MHO.

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I see where you are coming from. However, this instructor had plenty of time since she's been our teacher going on 3 weeks and her words were she was glad we came to her.

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What I find troubling, OP, is the fact that this student was previously dismissed from the nursing program for inappropriate behavior, yet your nursing school saw fit to let her come back. Huh?

You and your classmates are PAYING for an education. If this student interferes with the learning process of others, or creates a hostile environment as to interfere with the learning process, she needs to GO.

Maybe if she is forced to sit out a few semesters and gain some maturity it will do her good.

Write that letter!

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What I find troubling, OP, is the fact that this student was previously dismissed from the nursing program for inappropriate behavior, yet your nursing school saw fit to let her come back. Huh?

You and your classmates are PAYING for an education. If this student interferes with the learning process of others, or creates a hostile environment as to interfere with the learning process, she needs to GO.

Maybe if she is forced to sit out a few semesters and gain some maturity it will do her good.

Write that letter!

I think so too, deep inside I know its the right thing to do. I would hate for her to take care of patients with her attitude. She was kicked out of another school and they let her come to their school..confusing right? This girl is like poison. She curses even at clinical, the instructor does nothing only one instructor got on to her. She's in class all day, you can't even participate because she makes fun at others answers, when we do projects she's laughing the whole time, calling the older women " too old to be in school"..yeah it's way overdue.

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If she is making fun of others answers in class, how is it that the instructors have done nothing about the problem? I don't understand that. It is an instructor's job to maintain a proper learning environment for ALL students. If they can't do that, they need to leave with this student.

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If she is making fun of others answers in class, how is it that the instructors have done nothing about the problem? I don't understand that. It is an instructor's job to maintain a proper learning environment for ALL students. If they can't do that, they need to leave with this student.

Yes, for the past year it has been torture with this girl! And the student that wrote a letter during our first term was sent back by the DON saying take it among ourselves. I'm really at a breaking point, what really did it. Was the older lady who she constantly picks on saying how old she is to be in school (she's only 42) broke out in tears. This lady is a single parent, going through a divorce, working fulltime, coming straight to class from working night shift. It has to be done.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

This sounds like more than just someone with the personality of a hemorrhoid. If she is openly laughing at and mocking others, she definitely needs an intervention. I'm shocked the instructors haven't picked up on the fact that she is actually creating a hostile environment for everyone. If the school authorities won't punt her for this (and tell you to deal with it among yourselves) then maybe it's time you all got together and planned your own intervention.

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You'll have the last laugh on this one. I graduated from my pre-licensure program too. She took the same attitude to her first job, got fired before she finished orientation. Fired from hospital #2, then a clinic, then two nursing homes. We lost count of the jobs she had and she wasn't even working in nursing anymore by year 3.

Just ignore her.

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You'll have the last laugh on this one. I graduated from my pre-licensure program too. She took the same attitude to her first job, got fired before she finished orientation. Fired from hospital #2, then a clinic, then two nursing homes. We lost count of the jobs she had and she wasn't even working in nursing anymore by year 3.

Just ignore her.

That's what I've been doing and it seems to get worse. Do you know how it feel to be tried everyday by someone. It's only so long until you snap.

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This sounds like more than just someone with the personality of a hemorrhoid. If she is openly laughing at and mocking others, she definitely needs an intervention. I'm shocked the instructors haven't picked up on the fact that she is actually creating a hostile environment for everyone. If the school authorities won't punt her for this (and tell you to deal with it among yourselves) then maybe it's time you all got together and planned your own intervention.

Exactly that's why we got together and went to the teacher. Who is also the new DON. She said once she gets those letters she's giving her a warning and will warn the other teachers and if she have any more mix ups she's sitting before the boards at school and take it from there.

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There is no just ignoring this student. The problem is obviously way past that point.

Being told as students, to sort it out yourselves, is your school's way of trying to avoid any heavy lifting. Too bad.

If you get no results via the nursing department and chair of the department, you go to the school's administration. You go to the Dean of Student Affairs. Make sure you use the phrase: Hostile learning environment. Make sure you bring up harassment of non-traditional students. Perhaps when administrators hear this language, they will understand you are SERIOUS and will go higher if need be.

The offending student needs to be kicked out of the program. This isn't something students should be required to sort out themselves.

If you use the above phrases, it will put the fear of God into administrators because they will think you will sue. And the non-traditional students may have an age discrimination case.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
I see where you are coming from. However, this instructor had plenty of time since she's been our teacher going on 3 weeks and her words were she was glad we came to her.

Ah, it sounded to me like first day or so of class, my misunderstanding :)

Sounds like she really wants you to write the letter! If all three of you write separately, it will give her a stronger basis for warnings.

Use first person as much as possible: I witnessed, I heard, I encountered.... Own your own statements, don't make wild demands, try to keep personal opinions out. Just be very factual, don't report what you heard others say (rumors). A well thought out presentation of facts will go much further than just a complaining letter.

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