Mean classmates? (long post)

I just have to complain about this!!! My clinical group as 8 students. 5 of the 8 are pretty good friends, but no one is ever excluded from learning experiences, or lunchtime groups, etc. My problem is wtih one student who is just SOOOOO mean and rude. She is not really that close with anyone, b/c she choses not to be. I have always been friendly towards her, but now she has begun to critize other peoples "skills." For instance, while anther classmate was preforming a required skill with our (very capable) instructor, she decided to chime in at least three times with the, "but I thought you were suppose to use your right hand.....I though you were not suppose to put that in the sharps box..." Meanwhile, this other student was doing their best, not endangering the patient, etc. She is a BACK-SEAT DRIVER and it's driving me crazy! NO one is every present when she does her skills, so we cant just do it back to her. Usually I'd just try to include her with a lot of conversations, etc, but I am beginning to dislike her so much that I just want her away from me. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire How should I professionally handle this? OUr professor is very easy going and slightly stressed from having to follow around 8 students, so I don't want to bother her with this. THanks for listening to all this!

[ocicat]

WOW, do I feel for you. Have been there. IT is hard when the person is on the same power level. The best way to handle these kinds of issues is with humor. Sort of the Miss Manners approach. Be extra polite. Maybe you could start a joke about the student who holds things differently is like some famous tennis player known for there odd way of holding a racquet but being a star player.

Just a suggestion. good luck.

[RNSuzq1, RN]

She is a BACK-SEAT DRIVER and it's driving me crazy! NO one is every present when she does her skills, so we cant just do it back to her.

Just curious - why isn't anyone ever present when she is performing her skills?

[nurseunderwater]

of "nasty" students in my class....accused me of cheating because I scored well on tests. Just think of it like this and maybe this will help. This person is obviously so insecure at the core that she needs to make her feel better, so much so that she is uses her disproportionately huge ego to try and undermine other students confidence in themselves as well as the instructor. I always liked the idea of Karma. What you put out is what you get back... You know the school bully? Sometimes when they grow up they even want to be nurses. Save your energy, she's not worth it and you'll be needing all the extra you can muster.

[jaimealmostRN]

Thanks so much for the advice/nice thoughts! This girl is driving me crazy, b/c I just CANNOT see the good in her. I feel she may be jealous of something, but of what I'm not sure. This is her second time taking this class so perhaps that is why (although there are a few others re-taking who are perfectly nice people!). Also, no one besides our teacher is there during her skills b/c...I'm not real sure. I don't think anyone wants to be around her very much so no one announces to "go to 'Jill's' (fake name) room b/c she's doing a central line dsg change!" Anyways, keep that advice coming! Otherwise I may have to sedate myself b/f clinical (Just kidding! :chuckle )

[Catma63]

Her second time? Urhm.....be it by chance Med-Surg?

[LeesieBug]

I wouldn't want any student watching me ...I would have a lot of trouble concentrating on what I was doing if other students came in to watch, let alone made comments!

One solution is to ask her nicely to be quiet when you are working, and save her questions for after you are finished with your client because the questions distract you. There is nothing wrong with letting someone know, politely, that they are disturbing you. If she did not cooperate with this, I would politely ask the instructor to talk with the group about holding questions until after the proceedure, when watching another student.

Our clinicals don't work that way, thank goodness. We are each busy with out own client, and our instructor is the only one hovering over us.

[guest22304]

Has the person doing the actual work told her to be quiet, she is trying to concentrate? Perhaps that may shut her up. Otherwise, I would ignore her.

[Carolanne]

WOW, do I feel for you. Have been there. IT is hard when the person is on the same power level. The best way to handle these kinds of issues is with humor. Sort of the Miss Manners approach. Be extra polite. Maybe you could start a joke about the student who holds things differently is like some famous tennis player known for there odd way of holding a racquet but being a star player.

Just a suggestion. good luck.

I agree with the humor approach, don't feed into her forked tongue. Sounds like she has a chip on her shoulder, it's her and not you. Try to grin and bear it ... this too shall pass.

[jaimealmostRN]

Her second time? Urhm.....be it by chance Med-Surg?

:chuckle you must be psychic! Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm just going to politely say that I need quiet to concentrate (she likes to point out little mistakes so I don't want it to appear like I'm trying to always be right and get upset when I make a mistake.) Or maybe just the evil eye will shut her up :chuckle Again, thanks everyone, (sigh) only a month and a half left... :uhoh21:

[Mandylpn]

I just have to complain about this!!! My clinical group as 8 students. 5 of the 8 are pretty good friends, but no one is ever excluded from learning experiences, or lunchtime groups, etc. My problem is wtih one student who is just SOOOOO mean and rude. She is not really that close with anyone, b/c she choses not to be. I have always been friendly towards her, but now she has begun to critize other peoples "skills." For instance, while anther classmate was preforming a required skill with our (very capable) instructor, she decided to chime in at least three times with the, "but I thought you were suppose to use your right hand.....I though you were not suppose to put that in the sharps box..." Meanwhile, this other student was doing their best, not endangering the patient, etc. She is a BACK-SEAT DRIVER and it's driving me crazy! NO one is every present when she does her skills, so we cant just do it back to her. Usually I'd just try to include her with a lot of conversations, etc, but I am beginning to dislike her so much that I just want her away from me. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire How should I professionally handle this? OUr professor is very easy going and slightly stressed from having to follow around 8 students, so I don't want to bother her with this. THanks for listening to all this!

If she butts in when you are doing your skills, stop for a minute and ask her to hold her questions for later, that you are trying to concentrate. Geeze.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

If she butts in when you are doing your skills, stop for a minute and ask her to hold her questions for later, that you are trying to concentrate. Geeze.

I agree. It'll get her attention, and get the message across.