rude classmates

kakamegamama · Sep 28, 2007

Oatmeal-well, I hate that. As a former nursing instructor, I understand your frustration---rude classmates was one of my greatest frustrations as well. I was known to ask them to either be quiet or leave the classroom (made me really popular, I'm sure). But, you need to have your rights to learn respected. So, my suggestion is, if you don't think you are getting satisfactory responses from the professor, go with a group of students who share your frustrations back to him and calmly present your case. If you still get no satisifaction and see no positive changes, go as a group up the chain of command. Hang in there. You're the kind of student I would want in my classroom!

oatmeal · Sep 28, 2007

I have spoken with the more mature few in our class, they feel intimidated to go to the professor, they say because we are stuck with him for the next few months, and don't want to further anger him. I did think of going the chain of command route, but also fear retribution from him as well. One person that did speak up to the group had her car "keyed". All this from supposed adults.

User123456 · Sep 28, 2007

are you assigned seats? If not go to the class 15 min early and get a seat directly infront for the teacher. or tell the chit chatters to please keep it down right in class. maybe if you call them out tey will be to ebarrassed to keep being obnoxious. but this could also back fire and make it worse. i think the early to class thing works. and in clinical or lab ask them to please move so you can see. the only way to do it is directly. they may be oblivious to the blocking. just be professional and ask them to please move so you can see. who cares what they think of you. they sound like , well ill bite my tounge. good luck!

oatmeal · Sep 28, 2007

seats are pretty much assigned according to name now that the class is full.

User123456 · Sep 28, 2007

can you pretend you cant see or hear well? (the hearing part is kind of true :)) I cannot belive they keyed the other girls car. how immature. can you say mental issues? :trout:

Sun*shine · Sep 28, 2007

yikes sounds like high school again. can you try be tactful and ask the professor to repeat themselves if people are going to start whispering?

rnmomtobe2010 · Sep 28, 2007

[quote=TrendyNursingStudentI cannot belive they keyed the other girls car. Now, that is crossing the line and very petty! Ignore that ignorance and try to get past what they are doing.

User123456 · Sep 28, 2007

you are paying for an education. if the teacher wont do something then go to the next level or higher. i wouldnt let anyone effect my education like that, i think its time to cause a stink and get rid of the fear factor those bullies have going!

DaFreak71 · Sep 28, 2007

I would send an email and CC it to the following persons: The instructor who is allowing the rudeness to continue, the program director, the dean of student affairs, and the dean of the school. This puts everyone on notice that there is a definite problem and I doubt it would be ignored at that point.

I had a similar situation. I am hard of hearing and have a note on file from my doctor in the ADA office at school. I am required to sit in the front row, dead center of the class. One day, one the "mean girls" thought it was funny that she took my seat. It was a deliberate act. One of her cronies approached me after class and said "I just want to let you know that I wasn't a part of the plan to take your seat". So I sent an email and CC'd it to the lead instructor of that course, the program director, and the ADA officer. The very next day it was resolved. Had I just complained to a random instructor, I would not have gotten very far.

Regarding the intimidation tactics (such as keying cars or other types of bullying), if something should happen to your property, call the police. Save your email that you send out and document the issues in a journal. This could potentially be used as evidence that they had the motive to vandalize your property. Believe me when I say this: No program wants to have this kind of thing going on. You get higher authorities involved and you'd be amazed at how quickly stuff gets resolved.

If all the above does not work, despite trying to getting your situation resolved, I would actually leave the program. Even if it were for only one semester (get a doctors note that you can't medically attend--it can be due to anxiety, which the nursing program does not need to know about, all they need is a general letter) so that way you can re-enter the next class where it's likely you won't have the same experiences. Look at it this way, even though the idea of your graduation being delayed totally sucks, would you rather go through the rest of the program not being able to hear what goes on in lecture or being able to see lab demonstrations? You're gonna be with those "girls" for the rest of the program otherwise.

Jeez, there should be a law that would allow normally reasonable people to slap rude people. LOL. :trout:

*Blessed2BaNRS* · Sep 28, 2007

Wow, oatmeal,

I am so sorry about your issue. We have had so much drama in our 1st semester, and the instructors were getting really upset about it. I was elected class representative and I have had to, on several occasions, get up in front of the class and tell the distracters to either shut up or get out. I am not normally one who can do something like that, as I am a shy person, but when it gets to be that bad, enough is enough!! One of the girls even brought me a pin that says "Enough"!!

Anyway, I can understand your fear of retaliation, because even though all the people in the program are adults, I see so many who act like children and will do exactly as you fear. But, as the above poster said, document everything, and call the police if it does happen. YOU are paying for your eduaction, and it is your right to be able to learn, undistracted.

Things have settled down considerably in my class, as a matter of fact, I have some awesome classmates who I now consider some of my closest friends, and 2 of the ones who were doing the most distracting have actually dropped. When you and others start getting up, pointing a finger at the distracters and telling them to shut up or get out, they will get the message. Of course, having the backing of your instructors is really important, but it sounds as if they aren't too keen on doing their job. That is fine, go over their head. Send an email to them, to the director of the program, the dean of the program and the president of the school. SOMETHING will get done. If not, leave. Your education is more important than to sit there and have to put up with that crap. Yes, it will be a setback, but, who knows, you may get into the class that has the best people ever!!! I know that I feel that way about mine!!! Good luck and keep your chin up!

User123456 · Sep 28, 2007

I agree with the above poster, she said it alot better than I did. and besides if those kind of peoples actions are tollerated what kind of nurses will they make :bugeyes: