Other Students Repeatedly Asking me for things....

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Hello! I need to ask some advice. I'm currently (obviously) taking a class. In this said class I have some people who are in attendance & are doing the same things I'm doing but they are repeatedly asking me for copies of my notes & other things.

I'm highly annoyed, I work full-time, have a child, manage the same things they do & the sense of entitlement to what essentially is my time in very bothersome to me.

Any advice on how to handle this situation? I'd like to be respectful. (I'm also irritated because I had to miss a class & am having health issues! I don't like coming up to "please send the notes" as if I'm the company secretary and am expected to have things ready at beckon call)

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Specializes in Infusion.

I don't believe you have to be nice about it. I would let them know that you don't have extra time to copy off notes for class. And don't say you are sorry either. I would say you are running behind today and need to get going. Don't put up with the requests. I have only helped out a fellow student once or twice and the person let me know in advance that they would have to miss a class because they were required to travel for work. I was happy to send notes and even rewrite them to send via email. I wouldn't be happy to do this after every class. Find a new seat also. People who try to use others this way are parasites. Break loose now.

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What's so special about your notes? Do you have a lovely handwriting? Is this the reason why people want to read them?? :)

For me, I'd rather read my own notes. I don't like getting cross-eyed from other peoples' handwritings.

You can either politely say, "No, sorry I have to go now... I'm not sure if I can get you a copy on time -- pretty busy myself." Or just tell them, they can make a copy and hurry, because you have to go.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Just say "No." You are under no obligation.

Of course, as an alternative ... you could say, "How much is it worth to you?" If you notes, etc. are so great, maybe you could make a few bucks with them.

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I've been in similar situations...my answer is simply, "No, I am not able to do that at this time." (...or ever!) I don't mind sharing notes, but I will not be a note-taker for the lazy students who 1) are frequently tardy, and or 2) miss class altogether.

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Wow! I wish I can afford to miss A nursing class. I wonder how people can do that??

It makes me think WHY people do that in the first place? With that much material to cover -- how can anyone miss class? (physically not be there anyway).

I have to admit though, in a few classes -- I haven't been there mentally. Not because the material or the prof. is boring, I'm just sleepy! :clown: There are just days that I prefer my bed over lecture, lab, or clinical. (Of course, I would NEVER admit this to any professor!) SHHH :p

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Thank you guys! I wish my handwriting was lovely. But no, I use my laptop & write on the PP in onenote. At first, one lady asked for copies of me recording (then it turned out she was recording also! I asked her why do you want mine?!) she thought it was funny.

I sent copies of my PP for 2 chapters previously but now it's like send the next 4! Um, no, I was trying to be respectful but I don't think so now. I don't like it b/c I'm thinking, you're here as much as me. You sit in the same class as me, & now you're asking me to find time to reformat & email YOU my notes. Which by the way frequently say things like "muffin man" which you don't understand from the 1st time.

Why try to browbeat me into it? I was trying to be nice b/c I will likely see these people later on, but I don't know if I care about that now.... only through the end of July for this class. And niether are in my next classes so. (I believe the big issue is that the class did poorly on the test but I did very well. But that's because I read the ******* chapters!)

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Ah, the ol' "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll feed himself for life."

You're not obligated to help them. A simple "I don't have time to supply you with all my notes, but you can see how I took the notes with the other ones. Just do what I do!" should suffice.

But really, how long does it take to export a file and send an email?

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Specializes in Infusion.

Why should the poster have to spend 2 minutes exporting a file and emailing it. If classmates are too lazy to make their own notes, why should the poster lift a finger for them. I think it is rude for people to ask for notes unless they have a reciprocal agreement with you and it is for a limited period of time.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I would point the way to OneNote and call your work finished. If they can't learn to do their own work (barring illness, emergency) they will fail out of nursing school.

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I've been in similar situations...my answer is simply, "No, I am not able to do that at this time." (...or ever!) I don't mind sharing notes, but I will not be a note-taker for the lazy students who 1) are frequently tardy, and or 2) miss class altogether.

A bunch of us in my A&P classes get together and share our study guide answers with each other. We end up changing our location when the people who do NO work try to get our answers. I don't mind giving some answers when I know some people just didn't have time to finish it all, but they need to make an effort. I don't give away my hard work. If you work hard, I'll help you. If you're a slacker, don't even ask.

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Why should the poster have to spend 2 minutes exporting a file and emailing it. If classmates are too lazy to make their own notes, why should the poster lift a finger for them. I think it is rude for people to ask for notes unless they have a reciprocal agreement with you and it is for a limited period of time.

I'm not saying one "should" just give their time and effort away. When I was in A&P a classmate printed out all the powerpoints and whatnot for me and just handed them over. I brought her Jamba Juice every day (summertime buy-1-get-1 deals are the shizz!) and we studied together... But I was the one with the better grasp of the subject, so our study times were to her advantage. I didn't HAVE to meet with her, but there was an understanding that we were both working toward the same goal and that common ground helped us to work together.

A big part of nursing is teamwork. You don't HAVE to draw labs while you're relieving someone, or catch them up on their charting, but you do it anyways with the understanding that you're doing the right thing. Granted, nursing and school are different beasts, I think it's good to get used to being one of the "good ones" since the dividends are so great.

But, if they're just demanding the notes, with no offer of reciprocity or even appreciation, then the chagrin is justifiable. The OP asked for opinions and advice, so I shared my two cents. It probably took longer to make the post than it would have to send the notes.

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