Stop complaining in class!

Whoa, I'm in my first year as well and it's a completely different vibe. There was definitely more of what you're describing in my prereqs (specifically anatomy, physiology, and micro where about 90% of the class was pre-nursing) but now that I'm actually in the program everyone has been very professional and polite. Then again, we're only about a third of the semester in so maybe everyone's best behavior will wear off, lol. It could be because my class is fairly small (~40), maybe it's that the average student is a bit older compared to those in the prerequisites, or maybe it's because about half of my class already have bachelor's degrees in other subjects but everyone has been pretty respectful and cooperative so far.

It can be incredibly irritating when people constantly screw off in class and derail lectures (and then have the audacity to complain about the instructor) but all you can do is worry about yourself. Sit in the very front row, try to tune out as much of the bullsh*t as you can, and go to your instructor's office hours if you feel like you missed something. Cheer up, odds are you'll never have to see any of these people again once you graduate! :)

I could not believe the amount of entitlement the the students had in my program. Cell phones on the floor, talking in class, lots of "we paid for this I can't believe that we have to go to clinicals at this day/time or take this tests/that test". So many students in my class believed that because they paid for their tuition that the professors should listen to them!!!! It drove me crazy! I could not believe the attitudes of my fellow classmates, and the fact that they believed that they should get everything their way. Most of them graduated, and I dread working with some of them. It had nothing to do with age, this thought process and attitude occurred through all age groups in my program, it was as if the attitudes were contagious. That is not to mean that there were not amazing students, and now nurses, that I went to school with, but I was just shocked at how anyone out of high school could act that way.

I'm first-year as well, and my classroom setting is a definite mix of whiners and respecters. Yes, I've heard a few whine about the lectures, tests, and difficulty; but, I've also heard a few respecters talk about how much they like Instructor X and how Instructor Y challenges them so much. Group projects suddenly become simpler than they were in pre-reqs, because the students I now am (mostly) surrounded by are initiators and willing to do their part. Maybe you just haven't found the right collection of people yet? I hope! Otherwise, I'm sorry.

Amen!!!!!!

Why let these things bother you so much? You are there for yourself, not for everyone else, so if they want to gripe and moan about everything under the sun, then that's their issue, not yours. They will be their own demise and will probably not be there very long. Pay attention to what's important and discard all the nonsense. You're going to deal with people like this throughout your entire nursing career (and life in general), so just learn to ignore it and focus on what's important.