Outcast in school

Lmomma · Feb 27, 2015

OP, how long ago did you start classes?

I am sorry you are dealing with this. I find too that my class is like high school, very immature catty grown women acting like fools and gossiping. I found my niche and have 3 very good friends and study partners. A good study partner is invaluable. I couldn't make it thru the program without these ladies. Try to find someone you can connect with. If that's not possible then just hang in there and study study study. It'll be done before you know it. How long is your program?

canigraduate · Feb 27, 2015

Firstly, the same people who went to high school go to nursing school, so what you are feeling is real. It is sad that these social situations carry on into nursing school, but it is what these people know, so it is what they do.

Secondly, nursing school is a place to learn, not socialize. If you make friends, great, if not, so what? It is necessary to network, but not necessary to develop personal relationships.

I think it is time for you to do a self assessment. What do you want out of this experience? If your primary goal is to make friends, you have chosen the wrong venue. Nursing school is hard and stressful, which is not a great environment for developing relationships. If your primary goal is to prepare for the NCLEX, that is well and good and you will most likely succeed.

If I were you, I would find an activity that you can do while you are in school, such as running or crafting, and develop friends in that arena so that you do not feel alienated. Also, you can volunteer at a hospital if you need to develop a relationship with someone who understands the pressures of the medical/nursing field.

There is always allnurses.com to turn to if you need help with specific issues.

Good luck!

ctuimalo · Feb 28, 2015

Same thing happening in my current class, dont discourage yourself sometimes its better to keep to yourself and not surround yourself with all of that non sense, try to hang in there and if your school offers some tutoring try looking into that. Best of luck to you =)

Newnurse65 · Mar 5, 2015

You guys are awesome! Thank you for all the kind words, and encouragement

idasavealife · Mar 6, 2015

I'm sorry you feel this way. I know exactly what you mean. At times I feel like this too. I kind of learned to just sway and fly where I fit in at that time. Tune out all the extra stuff and remember why i'm there and take that as a experience to break my mean streak of just not being a peoples person. There is no way to be a great nurse without being a peoples person and learning to deal with all type of personalities because it wont end here. Work field believe it or not is the same way. Prayer and just taking "whooosaaaa" breaks helps lol hope this helps

Alisonisayoshi, LVN · Mar 6, 2015

Ok so odd reply, but here goes: in my class we have one outsider, who is doing fairly poorly, was never prepared in study groups, asks others to pick up slack, isn't well liked ect. To the point that no one will study with her, she's regularly ignored, really a lot of behavior by many students is fairly cruel to her. But, and this is a big but, she recently really began changing her general behavior. She has become the first person you find willing to help you when your overwhelmed, willing to take on difficult complex pts when we get assignments, studying quietly on lynch breaks and offering to others to join her. Focusing on being the best student nurse she can be, and it shows.

She picked up on what others found frustrating about her, and changed her behavior. I looked at her with admiration today, it takes a big person to investigate why classmates where shunning her and then work hard to earn their respect, and the respect of her instructors. I say investigate if it's something specific about you. If it is, work to change it as my classmate did.