How I feel about group projects...

SeattleJess · Jul 27, 2015

I had one instructor who made us have "group essay" tests in one of our last 2 courses of nursing school. When we could choose our own group, that was fine, but random groups were assigned in 4 of the 6 tests. I, as well as few others were P***** on several occasions. I am an admitted control freak, and dammit, I wanted to be in control of my grade, not whomever was doing the writing. Wooosah, it's over now, think of my happy place, think of my happy place...

WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.

The group essay test, that is. Damn, I didn't think group projects could get any worse than what I've experienced but group essay? Was that like a timed essay exam? The horror....

naptimeRN · Jul 27, 2015

This thread is my personal therapy at the moment. I feel like we are in a circle reliving our nightmares together hahaha

Purple_roses · Jul 27, 2015

This thread is my personal therapy at the moment. I feel like we are in a circle reliving our nightmares together hahaha

Ain't that the truth. We should start a TV show and call it Nursing School: The Day I Realized I Don't Control Everything (cue screaming).

allnurses Guide · Jul 28, 2015

I just did my part and if one person wanted to take control, I was fine with that. I did solid work, got my stuff turned in on time... but I'm no leader and never had been. I just kinda went with the flow.

If someone was feeling the need to do everyone's work over again the night before, stay up 'til the break of dawn and get it "perfect", they could have at it... I'm going to bed and I'll see you in class tomorrow :up:

Most of my groups had excellent natural leaders... one of my groups had a Ms. Bossy Pants Pushy Puss who butted heads at every turn and pitched a fit and decided to do her part of the group presentation her own way. Well, we said fine and her part of the presentation was awful. She alienated the audience with her crap and went crashing down in a ball of hell hot flames... it was the most beautiful fire I ever saw.

naptimeRN · Jul 28, 2015

The problem I find is that people do not even do their part. I'm fine if no one else wants to step up and be the leader, but please just do your part. I'm in a group project right now that's five weeks long and no one has heard from two group members in literally 3 weeks. Will their portion get done? I doubt it. But hell if I am going to do it at this point. I'm working full time, school full time, and about to pop out a baby any day now. My crap still got done in time...several days early. I feel majority of these people just sit back and figure someone else will step up and do it. And when I email I get responses days later of "I'm too busy" or "I have life issues". I need to stop ranting before I set myself off into early laborðŸ˜–

naptimeRN · Jul 28, 2015

Nope, not done. Because I just had another beautiful excuse e-mail waiting for me in my inbox this morning. I had e-mailed a group member asking her to use citations on her portion and send references (you know, to avoid the whole everything she did is actually plagiarism thing..) and she basically tells me that she is unable to do so and will not do so because she has diarrhea. I'm laughing. I'm crying. I surrender.ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜ðŸ˜µ

Purple_roses · Jul 28, 2015

Nope, not done. Because I just had another beautiful excuse e-mail waiting for me in my inbox this morning. I had e-mailed a group member asking her to use citations on her portion and send references (you know, to avoid the whole everything she did is actually plagiarism thing..) and she basically tells me that she is unable to do so and will not do so because she has diarrhea. I'm laughing. I'm crying. I surrender.ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜ðŸ˜µ

Tell her not to worry, her bottom doesn't have to do any of the typing.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 28, 2015

Nope, not done. Because I just had another beautiful excuse e-mail waiting for me in my inbox this morning. I had e-mailed a group member asking her to use citations on her portion and send references (you know, to avoid the whole everything she did is actually plagiarism thing..) and she basically tells me that she is unable to do so and will not do so because she has diarrhea. I'm laughing. I'm crying. I surrender.ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜ðŸ˜µ

I would've replied & told her she can citate (?) on the toilet. Suck it up buttercup, take some Imodium & finish the work! But I'm not nice.

allnurses Guide · Jul 28, 2015

I would've replied & told her she can citate (?) on the toilet. Suck it up buttercup, take some Imodium & finish the work! But I'm not nice.

Yeah, you can bring your laptop into the bathroom and use it while sitting on the toilet.

Don't ask me how I know this.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 28, 2015

Yeah, you can bring your laptop into the bathroom and use it while sitting on the toilet.
Don't ask me how I know this.

Lol. Don't act like none of you have never been on the toilet & AN! Hahaha!

allnurses Guide · Jul 28, 2015

Lol. Don't act like none of you have never been on the toilet & AN! Hahaha!

Well, I remember when I was a kid, my dad would disappear into the bathroom with a newspaper for about 30 minutes. He also was smoker.

The smell of newsprint, cig smoke, and the results of the bathroom visit . . . . makes me think fondly of my deceased dad.

n.igmatic1 · Jul 29, 2015

WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.
The group essay test, that is. Damn, I didn't think group projects could get any worse than what I've experienced but group essay? Was that like a timed essay exam? The horror....

We had just the class period to complete the essay tests. We had topics based on the readings that we were to explain, expound and pontificate upon. Holy Christmas cakes! It was terrible. To make matters more fun, they were highly subjective, so when grades were posted, and points were missed, there was no clear reasoning as to what, when, how or why the answer was not up to snuff. But as I said, it's all over now. Thank you (insert deity/spirit/whatever- of your choosing)!