Was I mean?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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There is one girl in my class who never comes to class because she works the night shift. I have walked up to her many times and spoken and she just smiles one of those "Do I have to do this" kind of smiles, but I speak anyway.

Well, today I walked up as I was waiting on class to start and she was sitting on a bench. I sat down on the other side and said hello. She gave the same smile as always.

A minute later, she had the nerve to ask me if I had the notes from Monday. I told her no. I know she stayed after class to talk to the instructor afterwards and I am sure she layed the pity party on him. I am not sympathetic for 2 reasons.

1. the way she acts on a regular basis

2. I put off going back to school for years because of that very same concern. I knew I would not have the drive to make it to class every day.

So, tell me, was I mean? I dont think so. I dont depend on everyone else because I dont feel like going to class, and I dont want to be used either.

If she came to class most days, but missed occasionally, I wouldnt mind. I dont mind helping those who try, nor do I mind helping a freind.

TexasAngel. . .I don't know what put in your mind that you were mean to this person, you weren't. You know, I take classes in health information management. We get take home tests for my medical staff services class. There is one lady who started coming up to me in the lobby before classes and asking about questions on these tests. At first, I honestly told here that I hadn't even looked at the questions on the test. And, when she whipped out her copy and aggressively started asking questions and sucking up to me about how smart I seemed and how she thought I would know all the answers I got ticked off. I don't like people who manipulate. She actually bugged me just minutes before we went into class on the day the first test was to be handed in. You want to talk about mean. I looked at her and said in my manager tone, "I'm not sharing any of my answers with you." She just stared at me. I stared her down. Don't you know she's asked me two more times since then for answers! I give her my same reply. Mean or not, I'll be dog-goned if she's going to get a better grade than she deserves on my hard work! When people enable lazy people like this, it only dumbs down professions and makes it harder for other people who eventually end up having to work with them.

You could always help just once...and give her completely wrong answers. She'll probably stop asking.:devil:

Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.
I didnt ever really think I was mean, but I did hate to lie. I think I will handle it much like what you said next time though. Probably just explain that I dont lend out my notes. :wink2:

It really took me by surprise, because like I said, she rarely says a word. Maybe what I should have titled this was " Was I mean? I think not."

I went to the instructor the next morning before my other class and showed him just what I do to my notes, just in case she had said something about me not giving her my notes. I go through the book and pick points to add to my outline, and I told him there was no way I was going to give her my notes. He said he didnt blame me one bit. I do work very hard to make the grades I make. Like I said in a previous post, I bet she wont miss class like that when she gets in the program. She may as well start off doing things right now before things get really hard.

Thanks Daytonite.

Hopefully, she won't get into the program, because if she is that lazy about going to class, she hasn't seen anything yet. Can you imagine her as a nurse?

Now that would be devilishly mean. I doubt she will ever ask again. :nono:

You could always help just once...and give her completely wrong answers. She'll probably stop asking.:devil:

I cant really imagine it, but it could happen. :rolleyes: I didnt enroll again until I was sure I could make it to class, and I cant imagine why anyone else would either.

Hopefully, she won't get into the program, because if she is that lazy about going to class, she hasn't seen anything yet. Can you imagine her as a nurse?

I had to miss class one day last week for work. I went to my teacher's earlier section, but missed seeing one video b/c the morning class had seen it the day before. I asked a few people if I could copy their notes, and in return I would lend mine if they ever had to miss. One girl offered, although someone else had already sent me a copy - she must take notes on her laptop. The girl that offered didn't follow through. She did, however, ask me for notes for the previous day's class. I e-mailed back, saying that was fine, she could meet me after class on Tuesday and we could go photocopy them at the library. No one approached me Tuesday, and Wednesday she e-mailed again, saying "I'm not lazy, but I have to work all the time..." I had to miss for work the previous week, but it's going to be the only time all semester, and I asked permission to attend a different section. Well, she didn't show up Thursday either. This girl has missed 3 consecutive classes, and three more videos and an in-class assignment. The videos work out to being attendance points on the exams, if you were there that day you know the answer, if not you won't. I have no problem helping someone out, and anyone can get sick, have an emergency, or have one shift that desperately needs covering at work. If your work schedule makes attending classes impossible though, you may want to reprioritize. Find a new job, rearrange your schedule, or rethink whether or not you can be in school right now. I put my class notes in a 3-ring binder that generally stays at home, so they're not coming with me Tuesday. I think I gave her enough of a chance, considering she didn't actually provide me with notes for when I missed, and I've never actually met her in person...perhaps if I see her two days in a row in class I'll remember to bring them in with me the next time. I just don't want to give her a whole semester's worth!

Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

So because she doesn't talk much (because she's probably in half of a coma) and because she misses classes (for whatever reason), you said no. Um, I wouldn't classify it as "mean" but I would say "sad". What comes around goes around and last time I checked karma is harder on people who don't share. I always find "friends" in class to swap notes with in the event any of us miss class, it also forces me to take legible notes, and has worked out efficiently in the past. Let me put it this way, one day you may be drinking wine, but the next day you just might be the one picking the grapes. I just think it would have been the right thing to do, just say "can you get them to me before the class is over"....I would have handled it differently, but hey, you asked.

Hopefully, she won't get into the program, because if she is that lazy about going to class, she hasn't seen anything yet. Can you imagine her as a nurse?

I can I worked in ICU for a while as An Administrative assistent and we had a nurse there who never showed up for work on time, she would not come in half the time always called in sick and sometimes just didn't show at all. Obviously she didn't last long there but she got that far and lots of people had been depending on her, many people often had to take on extra load to cover for her thankfully no one ever got hurt but it was a tremendous amount of extra stress not needed on an already stressful unit, its just not the kind of people you want to be working on your Team, as that is what you are as a nurse.

I am really surprised by how many people won't share their notes....

I had loads of people ask me for my notes simply as a study guide, especially at finals. I was always willing to give them out. Actually, after first term, I made notes on all lectures for the whole final, copied them, and gave them to the whole class. I thought part of nursing was education--whether it is for the patients, their families or classmates...

I even gave them to the ones who didn't show up for class. (There was one girl and one guy who chose to spend their time out in the parking lot together during class, even though they were both married.) The ones who didn't put in the hard work didn't pass anyway.

Maybe I am too nice?

I am really surprised by how many people won't share their notes....

I had loads of people ask me for my notes simply as a study guide, especially at finals. I was always willing to give them out. Actually, after first term, I made notes on all lectures for the whole final, copied them, and gave them to the whole class. I thought part of nursing was education--whether it is for the patients, their families or classmates...

I even gave them to the ones who didn't show up for class. (There was one girl and one guy who chose to spend their time out in the parking lot together during class, even though they were both married.) The ones who didn't put in the hard work didn't pass anyway.

Maybe I am too nice?

I think there is a fear of letting someone borrow your notes not so much share with them. Someone mentioned they didn't want their notes to leave their hands as they had not gotten them back.

The guy that sits next to me copies my notes all the time he just wants to see what he has missed I assume, it doesn't bother me in the least but I wouldn't ever let anyone take them out of my position I need them.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I am really surprised by how many people won't share their notes....

I had loads of people ask me for my notes simply as a study guide, especially at finals. I was always willing to give them out. Actually, after first term, I made notes on all lectures for the whole final, copied them, and gave them to the whole class. I thought part of nursing was education--whether it is for the patients, their families or classmates...

I even gave them to the ones who didn't show up for class. (There was one girl and one guy who chose to spend their time out in the parking lot together during class, even though they were both married.) The ones who didn't put in the hard work didn't pass anyway.

Maybe I am too nice?

I see nothing to be surprised about, really.

I've never loaned out my notes, i've made copies of them (too afraid that they would never make their way back to my notebook. In order for me to make copies, i have to go to the student center to do it, and pay 5 cents per sheet. In other words i go out of my way, and use my money for someone else. And i don't mind doing this for someone who's obviously trying. But i'm not doing that for every Tom, Dick, and Jane in class, and certainly not for people looking for a free ride.

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Reading some of these posts has brought up a problem that perturbs me to no end. That is people who deliberately sit around me in order to copy and read my notes as I am taking them during class. It's because they are bad note-takers or their English isn't good. For most of my classes we are at long tables rather than desks. The problem is when these people start interrupting me talking over the instructor to ask me what I meant by something I wrote or they outright want to take my paper when they see I'm not writing anything on it to copy off it. I've had to stop them from doing that because then I'm not able to pay attention to the lecture. I don't have a problem with them copying the notes, just don't interrupt me from my note taking. And, the notes aren't leaving my hands once the class is over.

At my school you may be a notetaker and get payed.....I should take advantage of my talent and make extra money :wink2:

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