Rules for Nursing School

[asgirl]

Following on from the other "Rules" Threads:

1. Turn off your mobile phone, if it absolutely must be on, let the lecturer know and keep it on the lowest possible volume or on silent (it is a rule at my school if your phone goes off you owe the lecturer chocolate or alcohol depending on the lecturers preference)

2. If you are a new student don't act like you know more than the students who have been there for longer (unless of course you do)

3. If the course has an online group and you can read previous questions, do not ask the same question again and again, the lecturer and other people will get sick of answering the same question 5 or 6 or even 7 times (you will be notified if the answer is different)

4. If you tell someone something it's bound to get around to other people so be careful what you tell people (Rumours spread extremely fast)

5. Be polite to your lecturers and respect them for who they are (They are the ones marking your assignments, and I'm afraid they know a lot more than you do presently)

6. If you have a story you are willing to share related to the current topic by all means share it but if it's not related forget it

7. Don't constantly complain about the number of hours you have to attend campus or how long it takes to do your assignments or how much study you need to do or how many readings you have, everyone is in the same boat and if you keep doing that you are likely to get offside with other students.

[linzz]

When I was in nursing school, we were allowed to keep our phones on vibrate in a non test situation. I kept my phone on vibrate during class, it rang once in two years. I did not take a cell phone to clinical, my family had the number of the site and could call only in a dire emergency. The reality is that on a unit, nurses do get calls from home and they deal with them quickly or not at all in an emergency on the unit. There are also some who are on the phone all the time. Many differing situations out there and differing cultures of units.

Interestingly, I found that most absences were from students working during school, not due to family issues. Some students were even leaving labs and clinical because they had to get to work. The teachers didn't like it but they did cut the student some slack if it didn't happen too often.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

...it's none of their business what is in MY pocket.

I have to agree with you here. I do not answer my phone in school and it is on vibrate in school. On clinicals it is also unless I"m in a unit where it is specifically dangerous to have it on (i.e. in the NICU today they had signs posted everywhere about an oscillator in use, all cellphones to be turned off).

I have a child and a husband and a 76 year old FIL at home, none of which are special needs, other than FIL having lung cancer but its not a special need. I just believe that I'm an adult and am responsible enough to do what needs to be done and not let my phone interfere. Again I do not answer it, nor do I text message or anything else in class/clinicals. My Hubby has the contact information for the school should an emergency arise. I'm sure he would call my cellphone first but I don't answer it so he'd have to call elsewhere LOL! But my point is yes - its nobody's business whether I have a phone on me, it is my business and responsbility to keep it quiet and not interrupt. Good call!

I keep mine on vibrate so I can see at a glance if my husband, who is in and out of Iraq, is the one calling me - and if he is, I just might rush to the breakroom (if I can) and answer it, if I'm on the floor. No questions asked in class - I do and have stepped out to answer it if I suspect it's him. It is difficult for him to get a line out and he calls every opportunity he gets. I've done it once since August.

I've had it buzz in with patients and I explain I keep it on b/c of my husband, and they have all said they don't blame me a bit. BTW, that's happened twice since August.

If it's supposed to be cut off d/t medical equipment in use, I leave it in the breakroom/with my stuff - but I leave it on if I can so I don't even need to check voicemail to see if he calls - the number shows up as a Pentagon City area code.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

If you did not study, or read the assignment before the test, and you actually did well on the test, DO NOT tell everyone "oh, I didn't even study last night, and I got a 9?" It tends to make those of us who did study a little mad! :angryfire And it tends to show disrespect to the teacher.

I agree with all but the last sentence - and not that you should say stuff like that, but being able to do well like that is a gift and a talent and has nothing to do with how hard a professor writes a test.

Some stuff comes easier to some folks than other stuff - but yes, they should keep their mouth shut. That IS obnoxious.

As for nursing school rules - definitely stay away from the games; they'll drain your energy and serve as a distraction. Make friends and make time to hang out, but avoid the games.

[barbaratruth, RN]

In addition to many of the above suggestions,

1. I find it annoying when other students ask "What did you get on the test?" Worry about your own grades and don't measure yourself against someone else.

2. This is usually followed by the next comment (because they got 20 points lower than I did), "How do you study?" It's not magic, high grades come with a lot of studying.

3. Don't argue with the instructors if you got a test question wrong because you chose the wrong answer. The instructors spent a lot of time preparing tests and choosing the second best answer doesn't warrant causing a scene.

4. The most annoying is when students who failed a test or barely passed give clinical directions to other students. A fellow student in my clinicals asked another student how to do a procedure, and the C student gave the wrong instructions on the procedure.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

In addition to many of the above suggestions,

1. I find it annoying when other students ask "What did you get on the test?" Worry about your own grades and don't measure yourself against someone else.

2. This is usually followed by the next comment (because they got 20 points lower than I did), "How do you study?" It's not magic, high grades come with a lot of studying.

3. Don't argue with the instructors if you got a test question wrong because you chose the wrong answer. The instructors spent a lot of time preparing tests and choosing the second best answer doesn't warrant causing a scene.

4. The most annoying is when students who failed a test or barely passed give clinical directions to other students. A fellow student in my clinicals asked another student how to do a procedure, and the C student gave the wrong instructions on the procedure.

OH YEAH - I don't play the grades game either. I also don't run out of class immediately after an exam and discuss the answers. THAT makes me crazy.

I don't see anything wrong with questioning an answer, especially if you don't understand the question's rationale. HOWEVER, there is a way to do it, of course - and as you said, arguing ain't it.

The clinical skills thing - that drives me nuts as well. I also hate it when someone who used to be a CNA thinks that just because he/she has seen twenty-five Foleys inserted (or whatever) that they know exactly how a skill should be performed. Not always so...RNs don't always do things the "right way" - or at the very least, the instructor's way.

[sshannon]

. instructors stop lecturing if a cell phone goes off in class and won't start up again until the cell phone is turned off.

the nursing instructors insist you don't even bring your phone to class. if you do, and are caught, 1-2 points are removed from your next test score.

once, someone's phone went off during a test. we all froze. the purses and coats were in a big pile on the floor in the front of the class, and the teacher absolutely dove into the pile to try to find the purse that held the contraband phone. we watched her incredulously as she threw things aside, holding purse after purse up to her ear trying to discover which bag was ringing. mercifully, the phone stopped ringing and she couldn't figure out which purse it was. boy, was she steamed. we all sat there, frozen, staring wide-eyed at the scene that we just witnessed. it was really hard to return to the test after that. i laugh now, but we were dying at the time. :sofahider:

my a&p instructor had a rule that said if someone's cell went off during class, that person had to leave the lecture and could not return until the next class. needless to say we all reminded each other to turn the darned things off before class started.

[nursemommyof3]

our syllabus states that if our cell phone goes off during lecture, either ring tone or vibrate, you have your phone taken away, and must pay a $25 fee (that goes into the class fund). Lame.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

our syllabus states that if our cell phone goes off during lecture, either ring tone or vibrate, you have your phone taken away, and must pay a $25 fee (that goes into the class fund). Lame.

I can't imagine that is legal for them to take your phone and then make you pay to get it back. If that was challenged (which somebody someday will do)...it would never fly. I can't believe they would even think that's okay.

[lovejana22]

if you did not study, or read the assignment before the test, and you actually did well on the test, do not tell everyone "oh, i didn't even study last night, and i got a 9?" it tends to make those of us who did study a little mad! :angryfire and it tends to show disrespect to the teacher.

i absolutely hate when people do this!!!! i am taking pre-reqs right now and there is a girl in my micro class that does this after every test. i proud that you can pass with a's on every test but please do not rub it in!!!

[linzz]

I loved that post asking questions during and after class about material that the teacher has just discussed. We had one in our class like that and eventually the teacher told him to listen during class or stay home. I almost did a happy dance right there.

[dani_girl]

Stick this phrase in your head right now...

"Happily forge ahead"

that is my philosophy for nursing school.. my group now uses it.. tell them be it pt/CI/classmates/ect.. what your going to do.. then do it.. (I don't mean this in a mean way..) just.. don't let things deter you.

Also.. show up early to clinicals.. my first CI had us all show up at least 15 min early.. it is now a norm for me.. 2 different CIs later still amazed by it.. you will be astonished by what you learn getting there a few minutes early! Plus do you really think when you graduate and are working you get to walk in the door at 7:01 and it will be cool???

oh.. and feed your nurses.. goes along way. Every Friday (we are 2x a week-8 hr days) one of us brings in food, a set for the nurses and one for us for our post-op. It doesn't have to be a feast, even a bag of cheetos is nice. I have been on floors that were rumored to be vicious to students.. we never wanted to leave and they didn't want us to either! They were great! Why? We showed them respect (duh) and a little peace offering like a box of donuts!!

[Megsd, BSN, RN]

ALWAYS be professional. Act professional around your classmates (at least while on campus, but preferably always), your instructors, nurses on the floor. Anything you do reflects upon the school (especially at clinicals) and doing things that reflect poorly on the school will not benefit you in the slightest.

Oh, and make sure your instructor didn't write your textbook before you provide "honest feedback" about how bad it was.