Being bullied at school (I thought we were all adults here!)

Students LPN/LVN Students

Published

You are reading page 2 of Being bullied at school (I thought we were all adults here!)

minniebrown

64 Posts

When I was in middle school, once or twice a bigger kid picked on my little bro or sis. What I would do is go up to them and tell them to leave my sibling alone or I will kick your @$$. Every time the bully was a boy and bigger than me, but it didn't matter. They always left them alone after that. So basically, prepare some "choice" words for them after clinical, or ignore them. But decide not to put up with it anymore. They are doing it because they know it bothers you. Stand up for yourself and don't let someone stop you from your dreams.

NurseDirtyBird

425 Posts

When I was in middle school, once or twice a bigger kid picked on my little bro or sis. What I would do is go up to them and tell them to leave my sibling alone or I will kick your @$$. Every time the bully was a boy and bigger than me, but it didn't matter. They always left them alone after that. So basically, prepare some "choice" words for them after clinical, or ignore them. But decide not to put up with it anymore. They are doing it because they know it bothers you. Stand up for yourself and don't let someone stop you from your dreams.

Just don't threaten anybody! "I'll kick your @$$" works in the schoolyard, but in the grownup world, it's how you go to jail. Definitely stand up for yourself though. You always hear, "ignore them, they're just jealous, they'll stop if you don't give them a reaction." That's BS. People like this are just jerks who get off on making people feel bad. Give it right back.

minniebrown

64 Posts

Just don't threaten anybody! "I'll kick your @$$" works in the schoolyard, but in the grownup world, it's how you go to jail. Definitely stand up for yourself though. You always hear, "ignore them, they're just jealous, they'll stop if you don't give them a reaction." That's BS. People like this are just jerks who get off on making people feel bad. Give it right back.

I was not suggesting to threaten someone, but to stand up for yourself. I gave the example just to show that sometimes you have to project an air of confidence and don't let others walk all over you.

Specializes in Acute Care, Adults, Telemetry, Stepdown, SNF.

These bullies sound awful and immature, I'm sorry you're going through this. Ignore, ignore, ignore. Don't speak to them, don't help them. You are in first semester, sit back and watch them fail and flail...There's a chance these adult children will not make it through the program, and hopefully the instructors will notice and "intervene" in some way, as these are not the types of nurses we want caring for others! Study hard, learn all you can, and continue to be the best student you can be!! Hang in there!

AZ_LPN_8_26_13

462 Posts

I guess my opinion on it is that you are not there to make friends or to get approval from anyone. You are there to get your education, do the best you possibly can, and get your degree. I barely speak to people in my classes. I have a couple of friends but I am there for my education, not to worry about other people. And I think that is how you have to take it. Just ignore them. They are doing it to get under your skin and it's obviously working. Move your seat and sit up front or just plain act like they are not there. The thing is you are in college. This is not high school anymore. You are paying for these classes so get in there and focus on that.

These are the tactics I've used and continue to use. I'm an older guy, I just got my LPN, and I am enrolled in an LPN to BSN program, so I've got some schooling left to go.

Like I said I'm an older guy, and I don't want to put up with this sort of nonsense, so if that means not interacting much with fellow students or belonging to so called "study groups" well so be it. OP, I know exactly how you feel and you don't have to tolerate it. What I did in several of my prenursing and nursing classes is what is described - I sat right in front with most of the class behind me. More of the class ended up knowing who I was than me knowing them, but hey you do what you need to do. Thats why I get people all of the time asking me how I've been since we finished and I don't honestly remember some of them LOL because I sat in the front row.... It doesn't bother me because I'm there to get an education and be a nurse, not to socialize or make friends

AZ_LPN_8_26_13

462 Posts

These bullies sound awful and immature, I'm sorry you're going through this. Ignore, ignore, ignore. Don't speak to them, don't help them. You are in first semester, sit back and watch them fail and flail...There's a chance these adult children will not make it through the program, and hopefully the instructors will notice and "intervene" in some way, as these are not the types of nurses we want caring for others! Study hard, learn all you can, and continue to be the best student you can be!! Hang in there!

Unfortunately many of these people will pass and go on to be nurses. And they will be this way in the workplace. It's a real problem of the nursing profession - a sort of "elephant in the room" no one wants to talk about. I've actually written a research paper on it (got an A)

AZ_LPN_8_26_13

462 Posts

When I was in middle school, once or twice a bigger kid picked on my little bro or sis. What I would do is go up to them and tell them to leave my sibling alone or I will kick your @$$. Every time the bully was a boy and bigger than me, but it didn't matter. They always left them alone after that. So basically, prepare some "choice" words for them after clinical, or ignore them. But decide not to put up with it anymore. They are doing it because they know it bothers you. Stand up for yourself and don't let someone stop you from your dreams.

The problem with workplace bullying and nursing school bullying is that it is not your "schoolyard" "give me your lunch money" type of bullying. If it were that easy to pin down it wouldn't be a problem. You can't really compare the two. There actually exists a sort of scale of violence so to speak with one end being hostile glances and body language and at the other end actual physical attacks.

If you don't learn to deal with it now it will carry over into your nursing jobs. You will be marked as a target and you will find yourself in the same situation. They can't bait you in a conversation if you don't talk to them. I get the feel from your posts that you want this group to like you not leave you alone. Unfortunately if you start running to authority figures in the workforce you will be labeled a whiner or someone who can't get along with their coworkers. Your manager will care if you can come on time and do your job. NOT if you are liked and have friends at work. A bully who takes good care of their patients and doesn't cause their boss extra paperwork, phone calls, and meetings will be favored 95 % of the time. Welcome to the jungle.

beshacohen

56 Posts

Just piping up to say that I was bullied in nursing school, and I am not in the same situation in the workplace. Nothing has changed except the cast of characters. It all depends on the milleu.

Don't let adult children get in the way of your goals. Ignore them. Studying solo is more effective than group study anyway.

If you don't learn to deal with it now it will carry over into your nursing jobs. You will be marked as a target and you will find yourself in the same situation.

owly234

3 Posts

I understand exactly how you feel!! I'm currently being bullied myself. It started with hanging out with who I thought were my friends...We had a celebratory get together for being accepted in, and being a rookie I got a little tipsy. I was left behind and the next day, they were telling everyone and making fun of me about it. I'm worried I may be kicked out if the wrong people find out. They can't do that right? It's not like I did anything wrong, and I didn't drive. But they're really making fun of me and attacking me. I feel your pain on this issue.

righteousjenn

708 Posts

Specializes in CVICU.

I haven't encountered bullying recently, but I was horribly bullied in elementary and middle school and parts of high school. What I've come to learn about who I was bullied by is that most of the time, what they're bullying me about is their OWN insecurities. The secret is is to let them know that it does not bother you. Like for example, if someone was making fun of my shoes in a bullying type of way, I'd laugh really sarcastically and be like "that's SO funny huh" and laugh to myself like they're the idiots. OR you could kill it with niceness and being polite even if they are being mean. People like that never go far in life if they can't learn to live like adults. In a few years, you'll be laughing all the way to the bank while they're stuck doing the menial stuff because they don't have the social skills to advance in their fields.

I'm in disbelief that this actually goes on at the college level! My heart goes out to all of you who are being bullied in nursing school...it's hard enough without that added stress! Keep your eyes on the prize, these people aren't worth your tears! They'll probably be gone by next semester, judging by how immature they sound (one can only hope). Best of luck OP!

+ Add a Comment