How do you handle leechers aka LAZY STUDENTS in your class?

heavenbound · Sep 30, 2011

Yes, that has recently helped me. I was experiencing a similar situation the first three quarters of school. As I begin to notice what the students where doing and continuously called me with stupid questions that they should have known the answer to, I began to make myself of unavailable when they called me, and made myself busy in their presence to minimize them seeking assistance from me and the possibility of me giving them the cold shoulder. I hated to do that but it was the only way I could possibly stop all the calls and questions about the assignment. I have even directed some students to the instructor for assistance... afterall, that is what we pay them for.

I have come to realize that some students are just lazy, users (if you allow them to), and are always trying to cut corners. It's scary because these are some of the same students that I will be starting clinicals with in a few weeks. I have even had some students that only spoke to me when they need something from me. My advice it to remain focused on your goal and just worry about you and getting yourself through nursing school. I struggled with this at the beginning as I wanted to help everyone but when I saw them depending on me and not trying to help themselves first, that is when it all changed. Oh an heads up, when and if you start to make yourself unavailable be prepared because they will formulate a group and talk about you or if they are from the same country they will talk about you in their language, but who cares. Keep your head held up and keep on moving forward. Now that I have distance myself is that aspect, but still will speak and have minimal conversation with certain students, I now feel a lot better and have been doing pretty well thus far.

BTW, I am glad you did not do anyone's paper for them in exchange for money. Sometimes it makes you wonder how the hell did some of these students get into school. People may beg to differ, but I strongly believe that school is the foundation and what and how you act in school will determine what you will do and how you will act in the professional world point blank. So if you are a cheater, lazy, cut corners, and do just enough to get by, that is what kind of NURSE you will be upon graduating. These kind of people sickens my stomach, but they are out there and we all will encounter them at some point.

Good Luck, and thanks for sharing because I thought I was the only one who experienced this crap.

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 30, 2011

Say "no". Lazy people are lazy people. You'll meet them everywhere. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile.

You're not burning bridges by saying no to those requests. They're trying to game you and cut corners. If necessary, go all Jules Winnfield on 'em. I have. It works.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Sep 30, 2011

why do you feel like you have to handle them? Just tell them the truth - you are too busy to be of any assistance and offer no other excuse. Your objective is to pass and become a nurse, not make friends with users/losers

NCRNMDM, ASN, RN · Sep 30, 2011

Thankfully, I don't have that problem in my nursing class. We all help each other, and we would do anything for our classmates, but we don't ask each other to go over boundaries like that. We write our own papers, do our own work, and find our own ways of studying. That being said, if I make notecards and someone else uses that method to study, I will share with them what I put on my notecards, and I will let them see a copy of them as an example. If I had people like that in my class, I would tell them that I couldn't help them, and that I refused to let them leech off of me throughout nursing school. I would report the student that asked me to write her papers in exchange for money, and I would tell the rest that I would be glad to help them study AFTER they had put some independent effort into it. Just say no to the lazy people. It doesn't matter if they like you or not, all that matters is that you are honest, fair, and that you pass nursing school.

AOx1 · Sep 30, 2011

I am a nurse educator, and unfortunately this happens constantly with lazy students. They won't work and instead rely on others to do it for them or make a thousand excuses why their work is late. They put a lot of pressure on good students to pick up slack, and are the reason we must be so strict about excused absences. I had a student pressured by lazy ones last semester and shared my tactic: no help until I see that the student has made real effort. Ex-"can I see your care plan?"= no. "I've researched my patient's case, here is my information & plan so far, would you look & see what you think?" = yes. But again, help needs to be a two-way street, and only IF/WHEN you have time. Luckily, lazy students are usually few, and most fail out.

I love my students & refuse to waste time on the lazy who won't listen, try, or work. There are far too many students who work hard & need my help. The rare lazy ones feel entitled because all their lives they have been babied. The nursing profession won't baby them either.

Saysfaa · Sep 30, 2011

I'd turn in the ones asking to write their papers. Otherwise, I help people in most cases. I don't do things for them, usually. I try to help them learn how to learn instead. I thought it would be easy to explain that but it hasn't turned out to be. I don't give them a lecture or anything or a hard time but a well choosen question or two about what they have done themselves usually puts off the ones just interested in freeloading (the assessment that they are interested in freeloading comes from their attitude and comments).

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Sep 30, 2011

First off: do not write anything for them, even for money!!

I am all fine and good with students sharing what they learn/know. Some students need it, because what they are doing on their own is not helping. They sometimes need the perspective of a smarter student, to figure out what they are doing wrong.

If you do indeed want to help your classmates who are putting forth the effort, then by all means, form a study group (if you have the time). You will immediately see who is coming to the group prepared.

When you speak of your notes, are you referring to ones YOU have made (based on readings), or just lecture notes? If someone is absent and didn't get the lecture notes, that's one thing. Give them the audio of the lecture (if you record it). If they are your notes, then I would NOT share them. If it's a website or article that you found interesting, that's fine too 9although everyone has equal access to the net and can do the same). I think you really need to feel out the students that are looking for your assistance. You are not repsonsible for their success, only yours.

EarthhAngel2013 · Sep 30, 2011

I have students ask me all the time, what methods do you use to study. I tell them what I do (NCLEX ?'s, finding pages in the book, blah blah. Do I do it for them HELL NO!) hopefully it will help them. If they refuse to put put the effort that's their problem.

Friends I will let them make photo copies from me, if they missed a page here or there. All our info for class comes from different sites on the internet. Most of my friends and I are returning students, we are determined to pass this semester and get through the rest of the way. Now the newbies, do I allow them to copy my stuff, hell no, cause I am using most all of my stuff from last year,and some extra new things this year. There are some returning students who are giving out info to the newbies and it ****** me off cause if I had had that sort of help last year then I would have PASSED! I had to pay for all this information twice.... They can get it or don't I don't care. I'm not there for them I'm there for me....

The writing papers for money thing that is so cheating. I would tell them if they ever bring it up again, that if it is brought up to you again the instructor's will be informed. That may seem harsh, but I made my grades fair and square through crazy hard work, and yes even having to repeat the first semester because I was not prepared to move on.

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2011

I believe you can lead another student to techniques for studying but you shouldn't be copying your study aids that you worked so hard to prepare. I actually don't tell anybody how I study for tests because it works great for me but I would feel really bad if it didn't work for someone else that was desperate for a passing grade. And writing a paper for someone else.... yeah, I call it plagiarism

heavenbound · Oct 1, 2011

Also another thing that I have learned in passing, is that it is not a good idea to share your work such as care plans, research papers, etc with other students unless you can honestly say you trust them and have formed some sort of bond with them. The reason I say is that plagiarism and cheating is frowned upon and taken various seriously in several nursing programs. One student who was honestly trying to assist another student who was struggling with a paper, shared her paper with the struggling student as guide....and guess the student copied the entire paper and turned it in as her own. Now both students are in trouble and who shall the instructor and Dean believe. So to avoid instances like this, just keep your stuff to yourself and verbally share what you do as far as studying, with others if are so inclined to do so.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 1, 2011

Best way to deal with leeches is not to feed them. Smile and say "No", "I'm sorry, but I can't", "I'm swamped," "I don't know what hints to tell you, I'm not sure of them myself", or whatever other expression you like to get the point across. Get creative :)