GQGomer

Here's the situation: one of the women in my class is trying to take over the class at everyone else's expense. She has already taken courses that most of the class hasn't taken yet, so she already knows the info we're covering. As a result, she yells out answers and intimidates the rest of the class to the point many are afraid to ask questions. On the few occasions other classmates dare to speak up, she jumps in and overrides the instructors' answers. The instructors have let her get away with it so far, so I doubt talking to the instructors would help. In skills lab, if there is anything that requires one person to demonstrate, she pushes her way in so no one else gets a chance to do anything. Making the situation worse is, a few weeks into the semester, our class voted for classmates to act as liaisons between the class and the instructors. She mainly was voted in d/t her personal friends plus, at the time, the other students who didn't know her too well voted for her because they *assumed* she was "smart." Most students, at the time of the vote didn't realize that she wasn't "smart" & that her knowledge was just a result of already have taken the classes. At the time of the vote, we also hadn't been in class long enough for most students to come to the realization that this classmate was pushy and overbearing. However, now, a lot of students have realized why this woman knew answers (d/t previously taking similar coursework) and also are realizing this woman is selfishly hogging all of the opportunities in the class to the point no one else gets opportunities to participate in certain things. The upshot is that a lot of people are regretting voting for this woman now that they are realizing what she is, but we're pretty well stuck with her as a liaison. The situation has been escalating especially since she got voted in and also with the instructors not reigning her in. The bottom line is she is trying to show off and she also has the attitude that the classes are all about HER. She's also a real butt licker with the instructors, so that exacerbates the situation making her even pushier and more out of control. So, we have a classmate who thinks the classes are her personal playground and everything revolves around her and to heck with the other 30 students. The question is: how to best manage this woman so the rest of us can benefit from the class? Or are people like this just lost causes?!

I have about 4 obnoxious students in the class - one guy and 3 women. I just sit there cringing in embarassment for them - that is, when I'm not ready to stuff a sock in their mouths. Nursing school seems very "Micky Mouse" next to normal university classes. In all the coursework I've taken (for a previous career), I've never seen this kind of behavior in any university setting. Thinking it's due to some the people in the class being small potato, not much on the ball types who aren't used to anything beyond their own limited worlds. Anyway, these classmates yell answers out, yap, etc in class. AKA the class loudmouths. Ironically, those of us who are more controlled in class are actually the top students of the class. Then we have the instructors. One is excellent, but one seems to be practicing psychobabble on the class. Upshot is: strikes me that these people have very little going for them so they're over compensating. Leave your insecurities at the door, folks. Let's act like professionals - whether students or instructors.

Seems some of the "female" doctors get the same thing; only it's "foctor!" Find it a little confusing that so many female pts are happy to see a male OB/GYN, but not a "male" nurse. I say kudos to the murses...lots of great pt lifting power!

Just a bit archaic.

Sorry for all who can't find work. A lot of people think it's the same old cyclical hiring pattern (happened in the 90's too), but this time is different due to terrible economy. It's a combination. Employers are hurting and they're also afraid to hire not knowing what is coming down the turnpike at them. Hopefully, the USA won't end up like Japan with an economy bumping along the bottom for 15-20 yrs after a major recession/depression. One of the biggest problems for employers right now is having politicians in office who are spending the USA into oblivion/humongous debt and also legislating (or threatening to) laws that are very anti-business. Every time you hear these politicians pandering to the public re "getting the greedy companies," just remember those kinds of sentiments against companies are killing jobs too. People need to wake up to this. Please start looking beyond the political rhetoric. If you want jobs back, this economy needs to turn around. It's not going to turn around as long as people are short-sighted and keep voting in these politicians who are spending this country into the poorhouse (with all sorts of freebies and goodies for the public) and who are also anti-business. There are some pretty dire consequences. Let's all get out and vote next week and get these spenders who are killing the economy OUT of office. BTW, for those who think Bush did this, you're wrong. It was the Democratic Congress during the Bush era (and prior) who set these wheels in motion; particularly, the housing debacle (and that is what set all of this off). The Community Reinvestment Act was at the core of the whole thing. It wasn't even the "greedy" bankers as so many people naively think. Sure, those bankers became greedy (and so did the middle class) once the seeds were sown, BUT is was definitely the Dem Congress who planted, fostered, and insisted on planting those seeds (all to grab voters/power). BTW, for those who don't know what Cap & Trade (now called American Power Act) is: it's also an economy killer. The politicians are trying to push it off as some sort of environmental issue. Nope, it's a money-maker for the billionaires. People are so naive. That bill needs to GO (and they sneaked some of it into EPA rules), and so does the Obamacare bill. They are both going to destroy what is left of this economy in a few yrs. In addition, Bernanke needs to quit printing "fake" money. It's setting us all up for some pretty nasty inflation in a few yrs. Anyway, I suggest you do some real research (and educate yourselves on economy as well as the nuances of finance/Wall Street/monetary theory, etc too so you really get a good grasp on what is political rhetoric vs. the true realities) and quit listening to political rhetoric. It's very plain and simple, one simply cannot spend what one does not have. The paradigm is the same whether applying it to an individual household or and entire country's national budget. We all need to start looking beyond the ends of our own noses with the "what's in it for me?" attitude and start focusing on the long-term effects on this country and our entire economy. This IS what what eventually make ALL of us prosperous. Let's focus on saving this country and our jobs!

OP, You're bright and beautiful. THAT is why! They can't stand it. You're best trying to get along, but don't pander (that may come off as a weakness to the pirrhana types). Don't give out too much personal (aka ammo LOL) info either. Try to think like a man to a degree. You'll be a lot less bothered. Be assertive, but also let these things roll off. Keep your focus on your patients and career goals. Best.

Can't resist! Meowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In *general*, the lower down the totem pole of life, the nastier and/or more small-minded people are. (Luckily, there are exceptions, and they always draw admiration due to their grace.) Have never quite figured out what the point is. Seems like pointless wheel-spinning. Anyway, it has always been my experience that those with the most on the ball are usually the nicest and most sincere. I suppose when people are treated well, they generally don't have reason to feel nasty, and those with more on the ball are generally treated better. I always try to make it a point to treat everyone well, but I don't get too involved either. I suppose I rarely notice. Call me happily oblivious. LOL at the comment above re: greed! Yep, when it comes to money, people will eat their own mothers! (...although they rarely see it in themselves)

You women are a bunch of HENS! Clucking over a "snotty" student? Clucking over her attire? Ladies, it's no wonder you can't get along! REALLY, don't you have something better on which to focus? Perhaps the PATIENTS!

WHY am I so amused? Guessing someone is a teacher or former teacher. Seems I hit the nail on the head and a little too close to home for comfort. Advice: get a REAL degree and get the hell out of the tax payers' pockets. Repeat after me class: "Middle class welfare queen!" People like you are dragging this country down. You're always wanting something for free at someone ELSE's expense. Get some pride and get a REAL work ethic!! We are NOT your parents nor do we owe you a darned thing. Fend for YOURSELF...you're an adult, correct?! Or...perhaps you'd prefer to move to Europe and LEACH off the system like all the bums there do...we don't need more bums here! (May I suggest Greece?!!!) No wonder people like you never get ahead and no wonder you're always so full of class envy. If people like you spent nearly as much time on a real education and developing a REAL work ethic as you do scheming to steal from the tax payers while mired in envy, you might actually get somewhere in life. Geezus. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (Betting this one hates the "rich" too...chuckle). Whatever happened to this country's spirit of independence and pride in doing for oneself? Where is the integrity? Let me give you a little hint: all those CEO's and other "rich" so many love to hate actually worked a LOT harder than most people have ever worked to get where they are in life. Perhaps you'd do better to emulate them rather than to hate them. There is much to be learned from others' successes. The US used to be such a great country. Hopefully, one day, she will be restored to her former glory... BTW, in case it's not clear, you are not, I repeat NOT, "entitled" to OTHER people's hard-earned money. STOP thief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barring a few decent places, most private companies (whether health-related or not) don't have great benefits these days. They've been whittled away over the years. In addition, this economy is exacerbating the situation (and it's doubtful it will improve until gubment gets its paws out of the free market). Actually, many years ago, a lot of the bennies were put into place in lieu of higher salaries. Anyway, the only people who really get consistently good bennies are the gubment workers and union workers. Sounds good on the surface, but guess who's paying for all of that? Yup, you got it: YOU (by way of taxes in the case of gubbie workers and by way of higher prices for union workers). If we all weren't taxed so much to pay for all those other people (ie WE pay for all those gubbie workers' salaries, health insurance, and retirements, etc), we'd all have plenty of money to buy our own health insurance as well as enough to sufficiently fund our own retirements. Unfortunately, the private workers (and that includes most nurses) are forced, by law (ie by the politicians/legislators via their enforcers, the IRS) to pay for OTHER people instead of being able to use our OWN hard-earned money to pay for ourselves. Ever notice the voters who vote for these socialistic type politicians are always the ones who stand to gain much more in bennies, salaries, raises, and other assorted freebies than they pay in on taxes? Yup, there's some real greed out there, and it's not just the greedy CEO's - there's a Helluva lot of greedy middle classed individuals who are always scamming out of someone else's wallet. From WHERE DO those people think their bennies and other goodies are coming, anyway??? They're coming from people like you and me. Sigh.

If you're thinking about an NP, you might also want to look into PA. They're essentially pretty similar in the long run re practice in the real world, and will most likely become even more similar as NP's and PA's continue taking over more of the primary care sector (the MDs and DOs aren't exactly thrilled, but the gubment thinks it's a good cost-saving measure, so thinking roles for both are likely to be expanded). BTW, if entry-level NP ends up being a doctorate degree (in 2015), it might be easier to go the PA route at that point. It's 2 yrs after a bachelor's (usually a BS in biology, but as long as you take any additional required science courses, almost any undergrad degree will work whether BSN or even a non-science bachelor's...as long as you take the science courses in addition). BTW, for those with BSN's with GPA 3.5 or higher, you'd basically need only to take a few more courses (mostly chemistry) in order to be accepted to an MD (or DO) program. Food for thought for those many highly gifted and bright BSN RN's out there who may be thinking about furthering their education...

Re comments about lack of respect for the fluff fields, that's just the way it is. Pragmatically, some of the less demanding degrees are full of busy work with little merit. Regarding the teaching "profession" (if one can actually call it a profession), it's a joke. Those people are glorified babysitters. Most can't even muster the brain power to do something as simple as college alegebra. Re courses such as social studies and similar areas that students are required to take: those courses seem a lot more like liberal propaganda and indoctrination of young minds. The liberals pretty well run the educational system in the US. The 3 R's are lost in the process. Those 3 R's are highly significant in attaining and doing well in future employment as an adult. Let's just put it this way, most nurses could do a much better job of teaching children what they really need to know including some of the hard core math and sciences. It's a travesty that people are required to spend 4 years on mostly pure rubbish coursework in order to teach. To reiterate, the leftist slant has no business in the world of impressionable young children. Teachers, in general, are paid far too much based on the level of difficulty (ie. ease) of their degrees and also based on the number of days they actually work compared to most people. They are basically fluff-educated government leeches sucking off the tax payer. Quite frankly, it's not fair to the children in this country either.

Based on the comments re BSN mainly being a lot of additional theoretical coursework, it seems that it's to be expected considering the people who make up the curriculum are most likely in the world of academia (vs the real world of nursing). Professors, in general, are focused on research mainly because they're required to do it (esp if they want tenure...ie a secure job lol) since it's one of the main ways a university drums up outside sources of money. (They usually go begging private industry to fund whatever portion the tax payer doesn't fund...and it's generally in conjunction with some sort of research project). Anyway, it seems the BSN programs would be useful for those planning to pursue a career in research or academia. It might behoove some of those who sit on curriculum committees to put less emphasis on research and more emphasis on physiology and application thereof. That would probably better serve most nurses in actual nursing practice. I imagine most going for BSNs are planning to practice in the real world; whether patient care or management. Research ability and ability to write a good research paper really doesn't serve that population too well. For the majority, it's most likely tantamount to superfilous busy work. To reiterate, the extra emphasis in a BSN program would be better spent on the actual physiology and application thereof (with maybe one or 2 management classes thrown in, but most of that is easily learned on the job). However, when you have people living in the cloistered world of academia, they tend see things from only their perspectives and, in the process, they sometimes lose sight of the "real world." Clinical practice, management, and research are 3 separate enitites. Research should be reserved primarily for those pursuing careers in research (and hence, for those on the PhD track; not those on the DNP track...and it really has no place at the bachelor degree level at all).

Well, as it stands now, without unions for nurses, nurses have no job security, put up with LOTS of crap, and also since most nurses work for privately-owned entities, no gubment bennies (such as guaranteed retirement pension after 20 yrs - 401k that most private workers have is good as only a tax shelter). Yep, nurses just get stuck paying the taxes to pay for all those gubby workers and their pensions and other bennies.