Nursing students and their bad behaviors >:(

[PrettyNerd]

Hi allnurses! :)

So, I've been wanting to write this for a really long time now, I just want to vent.

I'm currently in my last semester of nursing school, then I graduate, yay me!

I believe nursing school is an awesome experience that a lot of people work really hard to get into, and sometimes we may get rejected a few times before we finally get accepted into a program. Nursing school is NOT easy to get into, therefore, we should appreciate every moment that we spend in it, doing homework, studying, waking up early, going to clinicals, just embrace it! We worked so hard to get into this program, this will pay off in the end and it will be a huge accomplishment.

Ok so I want to get this off my chest and vent because sometimes my classmates really annoy me!

1. There's that one student that is always coming to class late, not 5-10 minutes, like (literally) an hour late! - NO!!! How is that you are always running that late?! I know she has kids but other students have kids and they manage their time and have everything set to get to class on time. Being constantly late, is unprofessional and irresponsible, not what you want to be in nursing school.

2. There's the students that are always wanting to change the schedule (that's already been set up for us by the instructors), change the rules, or complain about everything to the instructors- For example, if something on the schedule doesn't work for THEM, they go to the instructor and they make them change everything for the class. I look at the schedule and plan things around it, I never think "Hmmm, that assignment doesn't work for me on that day, I have to talk to my instructor". Be responsible and manage your time, the schedule/assignments are set up for us so we know what is due and when. DO YOUR WORK AND STOP COMPLAINING!

3. There's the students that don't like to wear their nursing uniform, what??- We earned that uniform! like I said, I know a lot of people that wish they can be in the program and wear the scrubs we wear with the school's name on it. We deserve to own it and show everyone that we are nursing students.

4. Like #2, we have student's that like to disobey the rules that are set for us. We are not allowed to wear nail polish or have long nails, yet some girls are still doing it regardless, like they think it's no big deal. You need to start acting and presenting yourself as professionals, those are cute on special occasions, but NOT for clinical.

5. There's one student that (I see) disrespects, and intimidates the instructors. She complains about everything and wants things done HER way. She gives the instructors a mean look and is very outspoken about how she wants things to be done (like #2). First of all, RESPECT your instructors, yea they are strict but it's for a good reason, they are teaching us how to be good, competent nurses. Second, Don't try to make things easy because you can't handle the hard work. I've never complained to the instructors because the work was too hard, and I've gotten very good grades thus far!

6. There's people that don't pay attention during lecture! This irritates me! I see them going on different websites in their laptops, then during break or after class, they say "so what were we talking about?" :facepalm:I'm not even joking! During clinical, a student asked what was a [certain condition we talked about in class]....ummm, we had a whole hour lecture on this condition and she didn't know what it was.

7. This is the one I HATE the most! People that want to copy your work. I don't agree with cheating or copying. I don't believe it's right that I worked so hard on an assignment, put the time and effort into it, and then have someone ask me to let them "borrow" it, when they clearly haven't done their work. I also had a student TELL ME after we were done with our midterm that she tried looking at my answers because she didn't know what one of the answers was. She keeps asking for my assignments but I don't understand! We are about to graduate, we are about to be nurses, WORK for it, Oh but she gets mad when I don't give it.

8. The people that look for all the answers online instead of in the book....where they are whenever we have online assignments/quizzes, not only do they look online for the answers (without reading and understanding it from the book) but they pass it around to the class, so NO ONE does the work, they just copy and don't understand the material.

Anyway, that's it for now, this is already too long.

Just wanted to let you guys know that as nursing students we need to work hard, understand the material, read, be organized, ask questions, respect and appreciate the instructors, we are held to a higher standard!

I just feel like I don't have a reason to complain, I knew this was going to be hard, and I'm enjoying and embracing every aspect of nursing school.

Do you guys have people like these in class?

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

It is very admirable that you were able to balance your schooling and your children at the same time. However, I don't think that because somebody else can do it, like yourself, that it can apply to everyone. I believe we shouldn't be so judgmental.

I worked 40 hours a week while in school, got straight As, and came to class on time. However, I don't expect everyone else to be able to do this, since life is so complex and we never know what troubles other people have.

It definitely is a responsibility, but it's not a necessity to show up to class like it is to show up on the floor. Since the floor pays and class takes money from you.

It's not "admirable" of me at all to balance school and family. It's what I signed up for when I began nursing school.

There are many circumstances our fellow nursing students face during school. One of my classmates works 2 jobs to make ends meet. She is never late to class, but if she was late because of her job I wouldn't bat an eye because it (a.) it isn't typical of her, (b.) is due indirectly to financial status.

Now, *just* because of kids? Nope, sorry. It rubs me the wrong way when people use their kids that way. There are times when the inevitable happens when things don't go our way (when a child becomes ill, for example) but that has been few and far between. But being *consistently* late? No.

Those that are consistently late miss much in my program; my profs like to hand out little tidbits of info that may not be in the book/notes but will be on the test, or the like. So, yes: it is a necessity to show up to class on time. Just in a different way than, say, working the floor.

[hartsockd]

Hi "Pretty Nerd",

I am "Pretty Sure" we are in the same {entitled} class... you just described my cohort...

[milesims]

It's not "admirable" of me at all to balance school and family. It's what I signed up for when I began nursing school.

There are many circumstances our fellow nursing students face during school. One of my classmates works 2 jobs to make ends meet. She is never late to class, but if she was late because of her job I wouldn't bat an eye because it (a.) it isn't typical of her, (b.) is due indirectly to financial status.

Now, *just* because of kids? Nope, sorry. It rubs me the wrong way when people use their kids that way. There are times when the inevitable happens when things don't go our way (when a child becomes ill, for example) but that has been few and far between. But being *consistently* late? No.

Those that are consistently late miss much in my program; my profs like to hand out little tidbits of info that may not be in the book/notes but will be on the test, or the like. So, yes: it is a necessity to show up to class on time. Just in a different way than, say, working the floor.

I never said it should be dismissed by the professor, especially if it is against the rules.

However, I feel that other nursing students, without kids, do not have a right to judge another nursing student for being late when they have children. And this is coming from a nursing student without children.

I feel that other nursing students should worry more about themselves than the actions of their peers, whom they know nothing about.

[milesims]

Those may be 2 different things, but it speaks to your character. It's rude and unprofessional to show up late to anything. People showing up late are distracting and disrespectful of the teacher, even if you are the one paying. ESPECIALLY if you only show up late to class but not to clinicals.

Sorry, kids are NOT an excuse. Everyone has responsibilities and issues going on with their lives. You knew this going into school, and there are plenty of other people with kids or jobs that will put forth the effort to be on time. Someone who is chronically late to class is not going to all of a sudden change when they start working, because it's usually not about just circumstances, it's also about character and resolve.

This does not speak to my character.. I have never been late to class, appointments, meetings, or even just meeting up with friends. I also have one of the highest marks in my class.

I think it speaks to your character when you're so quick to judge a nursing student with children for being late, and because you're so quick to judge ME because I believe that others should not be judged so quickly.

I never said it was excusable, I just believe that nursing students without children are not in the position to judge a nursing student with children, because you CLEARLY don't know everything about everyone.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

I never said it was excusable, I just believe that nursing students without children are not in the position to judge a nursing student with children, because you don't know everything about everyone.

She just stated that it was unprofessional to be habitually late to class. Other people manage their time and make arrangements to ensure that they're timely for class and clinicals. I agree with OP, and there is no judgment from my end. It's just a fact.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

I never said it should be dismissed by the professor, especially if it is against the rules.

However, I feel that other nursing students, without kids, do not have a right to judge another nursing student for being late when they have children. And this is coming from a nursing student without children.

I feel that other nursing students should worry more about themselves than the actions of their peers, whom they know nothing about.

I understand this. I truly do. But you seem to be bringing up two different topics here.

"Other nursing students should worry more about themselves than the actions of their peers, whom they know nothing about" -- I completely agree with you here. I don't care, nor do I want to know about, grades/amount of study time of my classmates. It makes for happier, more peaceful relationships with my peers.

However ...

"I feel that other nursing students, without kids, do not have a right to judge another nursing student for being late when they have children" -- as a parent of two children, I do appreciate this. Honestly. However, it's unnecessary. What's different between me versus the 26 year old single student holding 2 jobs, burning the candle at both ends? Just the fact that I reproduced. My classmates support me when it's time to choose clinical sites; they know I have kids, and they give me first choice.

I am lucky to have them.

As an almost 40-something, I've seen the mom card played out in my first career as a teacher. It gets old quickly. I can't even imagine it being played out as a nurse. At least teachers can go home.

Most often, those that play the mom card never stop playing it. Hence, the frustration.

[stephatron289]

People who come into lecture late are not allowed in after 8:00. The professor will send you outside and make you wait to come in until break. That means that if a quiz or a bit of lecture that may be important was introduced during that time, sorry but you missed out. You're an adult, don't throw a fit when you miss out on points because you couldn't get to class on time. I know that there are exceptions to every rule, and I personally don't care if you are late or not. It makes no difference to me and my grade. When you are late almost every day, though, it does make me question how motivated you really are to buckling down and doing what you can to be the best nurse you can be and learn as much as you can. We worked hard to get into nursing school, and now you can't be bothered to show up on time?

If you're late to clinical, that's a different story. We are representing not only our school but the other # of students that are in that clinical rotation. If you're constantly late, what is the impression on that nurse going to be for the rest of the cohort? How is she going to treat the rest of us? Is she going to trust us with performing skills with her? Because, congratulations, you just made us all look unprofessional with one or two actions that were "no big deal."

[Fahrenheit17]

I am a nursing student who has kids and about to graduate. My experience in school has been very unpleasant. For one, my children and I were severely abused by their father. I chose to be a survivor and accomplish something. Both of my children have severe PTSD and throughout all of nursing school, I've battled through one becoming suicidal, the other being all over the map and raising them alone with a full time job and zero support from any source. I'm never late to work, but am often late to school on mornings where pandemonium breaks out in my home. My teenager has had flashbacks and physically hurt me and my youngest son has done things like change the alarm clock on days when I was supposed to be in class. I've struggled through counseling for myself and them during this whole journey. Not to mention the legal battles that have taken place. Two semesters ago, my school instituted a policy that said if you missed a test and you were sick, it could be made up with two hours notice. However, if your child got sick it was considered inexcusable. One parent in a similar situation to mine actually failed a class when her child fell ill and went into the intensive care unit. What has gone on in my home has been very private and on a need to know basis. However, a couple of students (like you) started a campaign against me and made the whole class dislike me because they assumed that I must have been irresponsible. There's nothing like staying up all night dealing with a PTSD related issue just to walk into class humiliated because you are once again late to a bunch of hostile and rude 20 year olds who know nothing about your home life. We have a class Facebook page where people have made fun of me frequently and openly. I have been in the bathroom on breaks and listened to people degrade me and even been humiliated by classmates while giving a presentation. A couple of instructors who still think they are children joined in on the fun at one point. Also, I noticed that one of my classmates seemed to have some very good notes in a particular lecture and when I enquired of her about sharing them, her answer was that she "didn't share her notes" because she worked very hard on them...I was planning to invite her into our group which would have cut her workload and given her more study time, but she clearly thought that she was better than me as the disdain dripped from her lips. There's nothing quite like never having a place to go where things aren't hard. Peoples opinions of me in that place really don't matter to me now because I doubt any one of them would have had the strength to overcome what I did and still have their sanity. Nevertheless, I persevered and will be graduating in a few days. I've been loved by most of my preceptors who have gone out of their way to let me know that they would love to work with me. And all those predators who saw a weakness and decided to pounce, judge and treat me like I was undeserving of even humane treatment will be a distant memory. Oh and the kicker was that while they weren't talking to me, I had plenty of time to listen about how they were test banking it up to be "top of the class" while I was doing it honest. Guess it really burned that I made the highest diagnostic test grade in the class! I did make a few lifelong friends with whom we created some fabulous study guides to rock tests. And will be keeping in touch with them probably for life. The whole point of sharing this with you is to hopefully help you understand that you can't judge a book by its cover. And while you've kept your mouth shut until now, you should know that people still can read a lot in your eyes and feel your cold shoulder. In some ways surviving nursing school was much harder than surviving domestic violence because if you stay in that type of relationship for very long you at least see it coming.

[czerwodl121]

I kind of find this whole post and most of the proceeding comments hypocritical...Everyone's complaining about people complaining...I have these same students in my classes...I hear the gripes and see the one's who continue to pass by skating by on the bare minimum and no it's not fair especially when you've put in a ton of hard work. I hear how they have no life and how that test was so hard and the teachers aren't fair...guess what....who cares? These people are everywhere in life. Those same people are going be subpar nurses at best and this is if they make it through the whole program. Go in do your thing and know that in the end you did your best and you'll be a better nurse for it. Complaining about those around us gets us no where...It's a waste of your time and energy so don't let the sucubusses annoy you because there's a very likely possibility you will run into nurses in the field who complain constantly just about different things...

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

I kind of find this whole post and most of the proceeding comments hypocritical...Everyone's complaining about people complaining...I have these same students in my classes...I hear the gripes and see the one's who continue to pass by skating by on the bare minimum and no it's not fair especially when you've put in a ton of hard work. I hear how they have no life and how that test was so hard and the teachers aren't fair...guess what....who cares? These people are everywhere in life. Those same people are going be subpar nurses at best and this is if they make it through the whole program. Go in do your thing and know that in the end you did your best and you'll be a better nurse for it. Complaining about those around us gets us no where...It's a waste of your time and energy so don't let the sucubusses annoy you because there's a very likely possibility you will run into nurses in the field who complain constantly just about different things...

This is a safe place to allow people to vent so they can go on their merry way to be happy, emotionally healthy nurses. That's the point of a (relatively) anonymous message board: support, griping, and occasionally bantering back and forth. Nothing hypocritical about it. Typically the OP (and pp's that follow) feel better to get things out, and many times gain perspective.

Welcome to the internetz.

[garebare48]

How can you possibly keep up with yourself while you're so busy looking around and judging your classmates? Nursing school was pretty intense for me; I couldn't afford the time or mental energy to worry about my peers' activities.

I don't know how old you are, but someday you will mature to the point you will focus more on your own tasks ("sweep your own doorstep"), and allow others to sink or swim. Some will make it through and some won't, this much is certain; the daggers shooting from your eyes isn't going to change their behavior anyway.

I wonder if any of them pick apart you're grammar (see what I did there--retread your letter)?

Really, best of luck in your career, but you will totally flip when you see what some of your coworkers get away with. 😬

[Dikid]

Umn some people may have disability accomadations to show up late or leave in middle.

Their tardiness is not something that need to justify with you, just to the faculty if the program.

While I agree that it is a privilege and you need to work hard, someone sounds the tiniest bit bitter about the whole situation. I have learnt the hard way that being critical and bitter about other students will not help you succeed. Instead use this as an opportunity to do what is right and stand out.

The ones who are not competent will be weeded out through various testing processes and nclex