My frustration with inconsiderate classmates

sharpeimom · Jun 24, 2009

my college professor husband came up with an effective (usually) method of dealing with students who defy his "no phones on in class" ban. if a phone rings or vibrates and a student reacts or answers it, he takes it and answers it, "this is dr.___, and ___ is busy listening to the lecture in ___ class and she's not allowed to talk to you right now." or else "hi, this is ___'s dad and ___ can't talk right now but she'll get her cell phone back at the end of the semester." works better than just his note on the syllabus!

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

SamyRN · Jun 24, 2009

Late to my class? You miss the quiz points and must stand outside until the next break. Talking during class? (I'm not talking about a brief question like "What page number was just said?" but chatting)- I assume you would rather be elsewhere, and that can be accomodated. Cell phone ringing during class? I will send you out where you can text, facebook, or chat to your heart's content.
Being in the classroom is a privilege, not a right. Sometimes people forget this. .

You are MY kind of instructor! I believe cell phones should be outlawed in schools, churches and theaters. Whenever one rings in any of those settings, it's as though someone is screaming "I am a rude, self-centered, self-absorbed brat!"

S

jazz_is_my_game · Jun 25, 2009

I really hate this, too. We have groups of (largely international) students who ask ridiculous questions that are completely useless/irrelevant or should be looked up in an oxford dictionary. For example, we spent half of a three hour lab trying to explain the meaning of the word "intervention" (it was a key word in our care plan assignment). LOOK IT UP IN YOUR TRANSLATION BOOKS THAT YOU CARRY IN YOUR POCKETS or similar...

By reading your earlier post and this one...it seems that you have an issue with international students (and I see you are in Australia -flag by your name).

jazz_is_my_game · Jun 25, 2009

Y'all already hit my annoyances...but I just have to say that I hate people who have full-on convos during class and text consistently. They forget that other people have paid $$ to hear the professor, not them. But those kids are always the ones crying when grades are posted, so whatever! lol

rachelgeorgina · Jun 25, 2009

most international students who "waste your time with ridiculous questions" probably also speak 2-4 other languages in which they excel but instead they chose to come to the usa and pay ridiculous fees and learn a new language in a few years so they can experience the great education system that the us offers. for the hour you study, they study one extra hour looking up words we've had the luxury of hearing and knowing throughout our life....So take some time and look at their efforts as they get into the same programs you are knowing 1/2 the language... Don't judge a person by their inability to speak english.. you'll be very surprise to see what kind of person you meet.

I have no problem who have trouble with english (second language or otherwise). What I do have a problem with is people who hide behind their language problems as an excuse for their poor learning or desire to take up an entire three hour lab with ridiculous, redundant questions, like the meaning of the word "intervention" (most of these students carry digital pocket translators) or how to take a pulse at the very end of first semester when we've been doing and practicing cardiovascular nursing all term.

You are right. There are a hoard of international students who study their butts off and are a great asset to the class. There are a whole other hoard who are simply taking a degree in order to gain residency in australia and couldn't give to pies or a pear about the degree, their learning - or anyone else's learning for that matter. I'm pretty sure these kids don't spend double the time I spend studying - else they'd know how to take a respiratory rate after taking respiratory nursing, and wouldn't be poking the poor patient's wrist, trying to gauge a respiratory rate.

What I really have a problem with is the fact that their language problems tend to take up most of the class time. We were supposed to be having a practice session in our simulation labs with our tutor the week before a final assessment for the semester. There were only three of the fancy mannequins (the types with a pulse, BP etc) in the lab that day, so the class had to split into groups and take turns. The international students in the class were in the first group. My group, the second group, didn't actually get a chance to practice for our assessment with our tutor on the dolls that lab (it was a three hour lab) because she had to try and teach them the whole course at the bedside so they could pass the class the next week. That, in my opinion, isn't fair - language problems or not. I work really hard and even though I speak english, I deserve lab time and time with my tutor same as those who don't speak good english.

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2009

Well, we are in the part time program while most of us work full time. There are about two students who usually arrive about ten minutes late to class. The professor is very understanding since he knows we are part timer while working and these two drive far from work to come to class, they make sure to enter through the back door and sit quietly. They are few students who are from last semester and liked to talk, but this medsurge professor, has not problem in calling them out. We are not allowed to talk while he is giving lecture, he has not problem if you step out, but he does not tolerate conversation during class, which is great as last semester I had to make sure I never sat around them and one time they came to sit by where I was sitting and I moved somewhere else. As far as for phones, we are a good group, for the most part all of us remember to put the phone on vibrate but I have to share what happened to me on my first quiz with the professor. I am not sure how you are all tested in your school but our school is VERY strict while taking an exam, you are not allowed to enter with a single thing, pen, scantron and calculators are supplied to you, if you have a bag pack or purse they are left in the back of the room. Well, as I come in I put phone on vibrate and put in the my bagpack which then went on the back of the room and what do you know in the middle of the exam my phone goes off....LOL.... I was sooooooooooooo mortified, embarrassed I cannot say more...LOL, what happened was that I did it so fast that for some reason the SET button did not take. To top it all, my mom who was calling, left a message and every once in a while you will hear a beep...sigh...how could I concentrate on the test when I knew the beep was coming any minute...LOL (funny now, but not then), finally one classmate who I know well was finished and as she was walking out I raised my hand the professor came over and I whispered what I had done, I apologized a million times and told him to please give her my bagpack, he was so cool and understanding, he knew it was a mistake. Anywhoo...I am in my 40's and yes, there is a gap in generation courtesy, I deal with patients and well in my full time job and as I see them they have the nerve to answer the phone while I am evaluating, I tell them that if they (or a companion with them) have to take the call, they must step outside. People have lost their etiquettes now with cell phone.

How is that for my two cents?

Nicole2010 · Jun 25, 2009

There is a generation gap with respect, but I also think it is how someone is raised. Im 25 and I notice more disrespect among the classmates who are in their late 20's to mid 30's. They have their side coversations, have to fight the teacher about everything, get what they were fighting for and still complain.

My phone is always on silent, unless my husband is doing something dangerous (he's a cop) then I put my phone on vibrate because he will text me to let me know he is ok. I have more of a problem with the side conversations and the whinning. I've noticed that people don't want to take control of their education, they want to be spoon fed the information without reading the book. Also, alot of people have that victim mentality. If they failed a test, there is some great reason, not because they didn't read the book or because they were out partying all weekend. It's is never their fault their grade sucks.

I almost think I was born in the wrong generation sometimes. I can't believe peoples behavior at clinical as well. We only have 1 clinical a week, so why do students show up with a hang over. It's not rocket science, don't drink the one night before the clnical. Students don't have their careplans ready and have no interest in looking up information about their patient and it's very obvious. I couldn't imagine not coming to school or clinical prepared.

Ok Im dont venting! Thanks

SpaceCataz · Jun 25, 2009

I have yet to begin nursing school, but I just finished getting my BA in music from a UC. I was a transfer student--in at 25, out at 27--so I was a good deal older than almost all of the undergrads and many of the grad students. Cell phones going off during class are a pet peeve of mine and I consider it to be high treason, and as previous posters have mentioned, some professors have strict policies about cell phones. One went so far as to pass around a smashed phone that purportedly went off during class once and threatened, "Don't let this happen to you." The music department was one of the notorious places on campus that got horrible reception so it wasn't a problem there, but in other classes--Greek, and the geololgy department in particular--there would be occasional transgressions. I'd feel just awful for the professor and embarrassed for the student.

Tardiness was more of an issue, or simply not coming at all. I think that has more to do with age than the cell phone problem since kids don't take class too seriously, that they feel they can get by without attending; as long as they do the assignments and reading they'll be fine. Hmph, yeah right. Although not disruptive, in some ways, that's worse than the cell phone crime as an affront to the prof. Hell, I had outpatient surgery on my foot one morning and *still* attended class at 10.00, a bit out of it on propofol or versed or whatever they gave me.

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2009

My school, three absenses and you are out of the class, which means you have to take one year to re-take since we are part timers - of course these are for unexcused absences and well all know how resourceful and imaginative some can be to give a very compelling reason for being absent. But really, who can be absent for a lecture in nursing school? Miss one class and you are soooooooo lost. Another reason, is the professor themselves, they have to stand out and make it a point of "not in my class attitude", which is perfectly understandable to me. I suppose the reason we have not big issues is that most of us in the part time program are late bloomers, older and with other responsibilities, it was hard to get it (harder than the full time, transitional and accelerated), so we take it very seriously. None of us want to wait a whole year to re-take the class (program opens once a year).

SpaceCataz · Jun 25, 2009

that most of us in the part time program are late bloomers, older and with other responsibilities, it was hard to get it (harder than the full time, transitional and accelerated), so we take it very seriously. None of us want to wait a whole year to re-take the class (program opens once a year).

Exactly. Not to mention that late-bloomers are generally more serious, responsible, and know that nursing (or whatever they may be doing) is what they want to do with their lives.

quinnie50 · Jun 27, 2009

i hear you...i am 49 and recently graduated from nursing school...i honestly couldn't believe how rude some students were...i don't even know how half of them passed because they spent the entire class chatting on the internet and not listening to the professor...it's a different world these days...how sad