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.
I'm definetely going to take a more aggressive approach and not let people borrow my notes when they could and should have taken their own. The last straw for me was last semester in physiology when they actually started to photocopy people's notes! Some of them have been asking me if I know their clinical assignments (because they know I looked up mine) and that is nothing but pure lazyness in my book lol. I just told them that they could get them from the board when they go to class, just like me and a bunch of other nursing students got ours. There's no rush, we don't start clinicals until October.
It takes some adjustment since I'm known for being one of those "doormat" friends. I don't want to be known as someone who is so stuck up that she doesn't want to help anyone but I can't be the person that doesn't ever say no either.
Good for you. Unfortunately, you need to look out for yourself. You shouldn't have to try to get your friends to focus. You can only be there for them should they choose to seek help. Good luck with your studies!
guiltysins
887 Posts
I'm definetely going to take a more aggressive approach and not let people borrow my notes when they could and should have taken their own. The last straw for me was last semester in physiology when they actually started to photocopy people's notes! Some of them have been asking me if I know their clinical assignments (because they know I looked up mine) and that is nothing but pure lazyness in my book lol. I just told them that they could get them from the board when they go to class, just like me and a bunch of other nursing students got ours. There's no rush, we don't start clinicals until October.
It takes some adjustment since I'm known for being one of those "doormat" friends. I don't want to be known as someone who is so stuck up that she doesn't want to help anyone but I can't be the person that doesn't ever say no either.