So I had orientation yesterday, we start on tuesday. For the most part orientation was very very boring but they did give out a lot of useful information. Some of the students were taking notes on the important things like procedures for exit Hesi's and Med Math exams. The people I noticed who weren't? My friends/former classmates. All throughout orientation they were walking in and out of the gym getting something to eat and drink right in the middle of presentations and announcements that were being made.
Then at the end of Orientation we were given our assignments that had to be due the first day of class. I knew we were going to be getting some (from what I have seen on this site and from what the upperclassmen told me) and I told all of my friends, even putting out a message on FB to them telling them that we were probably going to be getting an assignment at orientation. So we get one and what do they do? They complain. "Why are they giving us work" "can you believe we got hw before school? OMG" Then they were annoyed that they were giving us papers to sign up for the National Student Nursing Association (the membership fee was part of our tuition) and the nursing sorority....why would you be annoyed by that??? I just really feel these people haven't done their research and its sad because I know they are great people and smart but I have a feeling they are going to be slacking off majorly and they won't "get it" until the first test comes rolling around.
Most of them already stated on facebook that they are planning to go out and party or something this weekend and said they aren't reading some stupid student handbook. Our assignments are due Tuesday, which is a 2 page paper, about 60-100 pages to read in Fundamentals, Med Math and Patho and they gave us basic med math problems due as well. They, along with a lot of people in my program are use to having everything handed and told to them. The faculty made it clear that they will not be handing out ANY paperwork, everything will be on blackboard and you're responsible for it, even the syllabus. None of my friends bothered to go to the nursing department to get a book list, I went and got it when I went to take in all my clinical forms and being nice, I offered to email it to them and told them we'd need them before the first day.
The professors were up introducing themselves and the upperclassmen were in there too, so by their cheers and claps you could tell which ones were really good. So I'd ask my friends if that is who they had and they'd say "there's no professor listed on my schedule" and I told them that they had put up the professors names recently so it was now on everyone's schedules, you just had to print them out. Most of them still had the original schedule print-outs we got when we first registered for classes which was months ago! Room assignments were changed, professor names were added. They never check for updates in their schedule, they NEVER check their school email and most of them have never tried signing into blackboard.
I just hope they pick up their game and are able to keep up because I know they are all smart students and they want to be nurses but I don't think they are taking this seriously. They don't see these classes any different from pre-reqs. Hopefully they won't learn their lesson when it's too late to rebound. I have a few classes with them and while I will continue to be their friend, I cannot let them hold me back or down from doing well and I am just fine with studying with some of my other nursing classmates who do the reading and keep up with materials. If they want to contribute then I will study with them, but if they expect me to let them photocopy my notes from class (which some of them have done in pre-reqs) or fill them in on the reading that they should have had done the week before, it's not going to happen.
Not all of my friends were like this thankfully, some were definetely a little overwhelmed and nervous but willing to work hard and were grateful of the heads-up I gave them. And my friends weren't the only complainers, a lot of my classmates were. There are 175 of us starting and something tells me we definetely won't have this many going into the 2nd semester in January.
Thanks for the answers and I know my personality probably has a lot to do with it. I'm not a partier so I really won't have to worry about that kind of thing. As far as condemning them too quick? I don't think I've done that either since I've been friends with them for the past three years in pre-reqs, so I definetely know how they are for the most part. It doesn't shock me and I really don't care for study groups much anyway because I like my own style and method of things (probably too picky if you've noticed) lol.
The only reason it rubbed me the wrong way as someone else said is because I'm in NYC, getting into a nursing program is competitive and I know plenty of people who would probably have the first 3 chapters of every book read before class just to have a chance. There are also a good number of older students in our program who took it all very seriously, so I dunno, maybe I'm just much older than I need to be LOL.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Thanks for the answers and I know my personality probably has a lot to do with it. I'm not a partier so I really won't have to worry about that kind of thing. As far as condemning them too quick? I don't think I've done that either since I've been friends with them for the past three years in pre-reqs, so I definetely know how they are for the most part. It doesn't shock me and I really don't care for study groups much anyway because I like my own style and method of things (probably too picky if you've noticed) lol.
The only reason it rubbed me the wrong way as someone else said is because I'm in NYC, getting into a nursing program is competitive and I know plenty of people who would probably have the first 3 chapters of every book read before class just to have a chance. There are also a good number of older students in our program who took it all very seriously, so I dunno, maybe I'm just much older than I need to be LOL.
I also live in New York, and graduated from LaGuardia Community College's LPN program 4 years ago. So, yes, I do understand how hard it is to get into an RN program, especially at CUNY schools. And, truthfully, I think that for the most part, you'll be better off studying alone, also. I never really went for the study group thing because for one, the group was never balanced. It was always someone who came to take rather than contribute, and also, I enjoyed studying at night. Burning the midnight oil was the BEST time for me to retain knowledge, and NO interruptions. No phone, no doorbell, everyone asleep or at work. Studying early helped me, also. I never allowed myself to get behind in reading.
guiltysins, you aren't responsible for anyone but you. to borrow one of my mom's expressions, "part of being/becoming a responsible adult is being willing to live with (and to be held accountable) for the consequences of your actions."
what the heck does all that really mean? it means:
1. no lame excuses when you screw up, don't meet a deadline etc.
2. no broken promises, if you say you will, then do it. if you promise you won't do something,
then don't decide you'll do it too just because "everyone else" is.
3. if you do mess up somehow, be mature enough to make things right -- whatever that takes.
4. it's totally ok to say, "i'm sorry" if you were at fault. it isn't a sign of weakness, but rather,
I agree with everything other posters have said. I will complete my nursing education in 6 weeks :yeah:and I must tell you, you will see that nursing classes are NOTHING like taking other college courses (even pre-reqs). You have to read, practice, write, and study, then read, practice, write, and study some more.
After the first semester, you'll learn that there is little, if any, memorization on exams...they assume you have memorized the material and you need to APPLY that knowledge to clinical situations. AND, all of this knowledge builds upon previously learned material. It's not like you can memorize, spit out, and forget about stuff like you can in other classes. You're instructors WILL put you on the spot at clinical.
While you have to take time out to de-stress, get some fresh air, exercise, etc. there's not much partying going on in nursing school! If your friends have this perception, they are in for a big surprise. For instance, only 8 of my originial classmates are with me now. You are right in the fact that it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to get through these tough years ahead. You need your classmates and they need you...it's just like a team, and that's the way it works on the hospital floor, too. You'll see after the first exam who you can study with...it's best to work in small groups and with people who can offer different perspectives.
My word of caution? Do NOT enable your friends. This is not just an education, this is people's lives. It's very dangerous to "carry" classmates who don't know, don't care, or worse, think they know everything. Overconfidence is big pitfall in nursing...listen and learn from seasoned nurses.
Good luck to you...it's a long, hard road but it's worth it! If you want it badly enough, you can do it! And, your instructors are seasoned nurses who've seen it all...nurses "read" people for a living! They will see soon who is dedicated and who is not. Good luck to you! :redpinkhe
I agree with all of your posters, forget about what everyone else is doing and worry about yourself. You sound like a responsible student, and thats awesome, and I have confidence that you will do great in the nursing program. The only thing to just keep in mind is to not completely lose yourself in the books. Make sure that throughout your semesters, you have "you" time. Everyone is different and blows steam in many ways, and it is true, you will come across people that take school for granted and always seem to pull great grades, but to each is own...you will find other students that are similiar to you in terms of "ethic" when it comes to studying and responsibilites as a nursing student. These will be the people that you stick by :)
Do not start your nursing program career by putting yourself in the position of doing the dirty work for your friends. Your responsibilities begin and end with yourself. Give them the opportunity to mature and take on their own responsibilities.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
It is probably too soon to imply they will fail out or to say they don't care. It is obvious you have done your homework (literally and figuratively) and they have not. Therefore their learning curve will be steeper than yours and likely more painful.
But I agree with the poster above you warned you not to start off looking at what others are or are not doing. It is just as possible at least one of these friends is going to wind up sailing through the program doing well, becoming a favorite and all around getting grades and kudos that you won't feel he or she deserves because they go out and party or somehow manage to make it all look like no big deal, even while complaining about it.
Now is when you recognize that everyone is an adult. Don't rescue them. Learn hard and fast to watch what you yourself are doing and not others. You are going to do well and I congratulate you on getting in!
Your friends will find their way (be it in or OUT of nursing school).. don't worry about them. I think you will find that you'll gravitate to people that you CAN study and share information with. It may not be your friends from prereqs.. you may make a whole new set of friends. Some of your friends may fall in line with you and your new classmates. But what is really important is that you do your work and let your friends worry about themselves. (I know that can be hard to do). Good luck!
Time to find new friends. This is your future, and you need to look out for yourself; these people are now training to be nurses. Blowing off studying and not taking it seriously may someday compromise patient care (if they make it through school, which they very well may not if they keep those types of attitudes towards studying.) Just like someone else said, you've been enabling them by gathering info and giving it to them, etc.
As students, we all need to lean on each other from time to time. There is a line that needs to be drawn though; I have a group of friends who I have been with from the very beginning. We are all good, and we all get good grades. I learned pretty quickly, though, that two of them didn't work well in a study group because all they did was complain and want to chat about anything other than what we were studying, so they stopped being included because it was disruptive.
For every mid-term and final, I usually spend a couple of days typing up a study outline document with all of the needed information...that way, it's all in one handy place and I can just study that document. I even color-code it based on disorder because it helps me remember. It's a lot of work, but it helps me, so I do it; I used to email it to my group of friends when I was finished because I wanted to help them out. Then, last semester one of them pretty much stopped studying and waited on me to send her the sheets before she would begin. She even began texting me, asking if I was done yet. She would forward it to her friends as well. When I wasn't finished quickly enough, she posted a status update on Facebook asking if anyone had a study guide made up that she could use. At that point, I decided I would no longer send her the study guide because she had come to expect and rely on it.
Our ADN program also administers some quizzes online; they open for two days and we need to log into the system and take them by the closing time/date. I've noticed that nowadays, the only time I hear from this "friend" is when the quizzes open, and I know it's because she is hoping to get some hints about what is on the quiz if I have taken it before her. I've stopped answering her texts on those days because I refuse to be used, and I refuse to contribute to someone taking the easy way out while I bust my behind. It's so obvious too....her texts are literally, "Hi. Have you taken the quiz yet?" then she asks if it was hard, etc. hoping I will slip and tell her what topics to study. I know that she outright asks other people (who she is closer to) what is on the quizzes. That's academic dishonesty, and I could be thrown out of the program for that. I refuse to do it.
Anyway, your friends may eventually turn out the same way...they may use you as a crutch like my friend started using me. Hopefully they will straighten up and be good students, but I wouldn't count on it. In nursing school, you won't really be helping them because they need to learn how to be good students now, or they won't be good nurses later.
Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Psychiatric Crisis.
Please do not take this post in a negative way....it is meant to shed a positive beam of light
I can tell from your post that you are a smart, intelligent, responsible and motivated young lady. You seem to know exactly what you want and are going after it. Great Job!
It's great to see that you care about your friends however you must remember that are you are not responsible for your friends and their actions. If they mess up--then its 100% their problem and their business. Why does it matter what your friends are doing? How does it affect you?
I used to complain about some students in my class. I am convinced that they cheated their way through nursing school. My complaints got me no where.... I wasted time talking about them when I could have been focused on something that would benefit me.
You friends are not babies and do not need anybody to watch their every move. If they fail their classes because they were too busy "chilln"- then that is on them.
With that said- don't get suckered into doing all of the work b/c you perceive them as being "slackers". If they want to join a group project with you, or complete a study guide together, you make sure that each person has a part to complete. If they are slacking then study with people who do not slack off.
It sounds like you are off to a good start in your approach to nursing school. You are realistic about the responsibilities that await you. You are right by getting a head start on things, like reading the student handbook and completing the hw assignments. Trust me, if your friends do not complete their requirements, and are called on the carpet, they will be leaving an awful first impression. And for instructors like me, first impressions are pretty hard to reverse.
As many others stated here, your friends' lack of interest on the first week is not an indicator of their potential for success. Once classes actually start, and they (presumably) are not prepared, and can't deal with the fact that they will not be spoon-fed, this may be their wake-up call. Or (and this is the worst pill to swallow), they may have the ability to manage by not studying. Some people are just innately better at school than others, some are just better test-takers. you just never know.
I also agree that you may end up in a new circle of friends. I see this often" a groupl who starts out together, and the cliques shift. You may be in different groups for lab or clinicals, so you may find people you connect with intellectually. I would not rule out a study group yet: they often are helpful. But you have to be realastic: if you're studying with people who don't do well, it is of no help. I saw this a couple years ago. A really nice group of students, but none of them passed one of the courses. We (faculty) tried to hint around to one of them about looking for new study-buddies, but she didn't get the hint
My take on your 'concern' is that you will not waste time thinking about what they are doing (or not doing). They are your friends, and you care about their success. But you obviously care about yours more
guiltysins
887 Posts
Thanks for the answers and I know my personality probably has a lot to do with it. I'm not a partier so I really won't have to worry about that kind of thing. As far as condemning them too quick? I don't think I've done that either since I've been friends with them for the past three years in pre-reqs, so I definetely know how they are for the most part. It doesn't shock me and I really don't care for study groups much anyway because I like my own style and method of things (probably too picky if you've noticed) lol.
The only reason it rubbed me the wrong way as someone else said is because I'm in NYC, getting into a nursing program is competitive and I know plenty of people who would probably have the first 3 chapters of every book read before class just to have a chance. There are also a good number of older students in our program who took it all very seriously, so I dunno, maybe I'm just much older than I need to be LOL.