Nursing Student Friendliness Versus Friendliness of Students in other Majors.

shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 6, 2017

I found nursing students to be very friendly and supportive at my school. People are graded on clearly defined criteria, so there is no need to be competitive. Everyone can earn an A.

coleyoley · Oct 6, 2017

I start my ABSN program in January, but there is a BSN program at my current university where I'm getting my public health degree at and I've definitely heard that the vibe in the program is cutthroat. I applied, but haven't heard back and I'm pretty set on where I've been accepted, but it's just crazy to me that even within a program people are competetive and cutthroat. Someone that I know said she felt like her classmates would stab her in the back.

Healthnutiam · Oct 6, 2017

I'm glad you are surrounded by a supportive cohort. What I have noticed is there are some nice supporting students, but most tend to hang in groups, where if you are not in their group, and especially if you are confident, and doing well, they tend to do very subtle things to undermine or ostricize the person or other group.

The social work students I have seen tend to be more encouraging to other students, and celebratory for a persons accomplishments.

It seems that both nursing and social work attracts a "typical" personality.

Of course this will be different depending on where you go and who ends up in which cohort, but I was curious to see if this tends to be the case frequently.

Healthnutiam · Oct 6, 2017

Congratulations on starting in January!!

It sounds like you have been accepted at a different university, other than the one you're at now, so hopefully they are less cutthroat.

It is crazy that things have to be that way in any program. I think it has to do a lot in the nursing program, a lot with Stress and Anxiety and it just brings out the worst in people sometimes.

Nursing does involve a lot more of a time commitment because there's so much information you have to remember, so many things have to memorize, and then you have to understand some basic concepts, but it does take up a lot of your time. Just the general atmosphere is stressful than most other degrees.

So I can understand a little bit how people can be more on edge or you know in that fight or flight mode.

ilovebirds · Oct 6, 2017

The group I'm graduating with is full of people who are complete, uh, words I can't say on this website. Lots of catty, petty, drama queens (and kings).

We learn to take care of our patients, but we're failing to take care of each other.

Healthnutiam · Oct 7, 2017

Thanks for sharing. I completely agree that many times we do not take care of each other, a lack of kindness, compassion, and just letting people live and be, without the harsh judgments and criticism.

If a person is not hurting anyone, then let them live and be in peace, and at the very least, remember that we all have our journey.

I like to remind myself that if I had to walk someone else's journey, who knows what choices I would have made? Who knows how I would have turned out? Maybe alot worse off than the person who's being judged.

Nightmaren, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2017

I'm sure personality types play a factor, but I'm not even sure if that alone can account for the differences in interpersonal attitudes within the programs. I think that program/institution culture plays a huge role in shaping these relationships and is also something that is often passed down from upperclassmen to underclassmen -- even shaped by the teachers themselves.

In my nursing school program, there were "class representatives" that were designated for each cohort and we noticed that they essentially shaped the culture of each class. For example, in our class, we would basically pool our notes together, have student-led study sessions that were open to all, and huge student-organized celebrations at the end of each semester. There was a lot of unity and friendliness that was noticed by even the faculty.

The class that came in after us however was extremely cutthroat! Nobody even ended up running for their representative until student council prodded them to do so. I kept in touch with friends who got held back and had to be placed into the newly entering cohort and they described a very survivalistic mentality where everyone was competing for the same jobs. It truly surprised me what a change it was.

I suppose these are sort of two extremes, but an interesting dynamic I noticed nonetheless!

Shawn91111 · Oct 7, 2017

So far I have found most nursing students that are in the same courses, or the students 2 semesters ahead, are pretty friendly in the program. With pre-reqs and needing the best GPA, best TEAS score, best rubric score that there was more competition as there were limited seats available in the nursing program, and people are less helpful. Once you are in the program though I feel that people are striving towards the same goal, and that roadblock of limited seats is gone. At least that's how I see it.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Oct 8, 2017

Hello all!
I have been a student in both a nursing program and a social work program.
I have noticed some differences within the cohorts of both nursing students and the social work students, and how the students seem to relate to each other differently.
There seems to be a difference in the level of competitiveness or "cutthroat" atmosphere of it all.
The students of one program seem to be overall, friendlier than the other. Also, more open minded, and less judgemental toward others.
Has anyone else experienced this, or is it just me?

Engineering, chemistry, and nursing... The engineering students were, by far, the most competitive followed by the chemistry students and then the nursing students.

Practicing engineers vs practicing nurses... same experience but more extreme... you never know who's going to get the boot in the next round of layoffs or who's going to get picked for the cherry projects so you're always looking to outshine your neighbor in the next cube.

Healthnutiam · Oct 16, 2017

Yes. It can be quite different, depending on the school, cohort, and even individual classes. I love to see the no nonsence instructors put people in their place if they don't "play nice"(:

studentbear, CNA · Oct 16, 2017

It felt cutthroat when I was at a community college completing pre-reqs but I haven't had that experience now that I'm in my BSN program.