Students requesting help with HW and interviewing a nurse for HW purposes

Nurses General Nursing

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...but state you don't know anybody and come to allnurses.com... I'm curious, what would you do if this website didn't existed?

When I was in nursing school, I used allnurses.com and other nursing websites as well as books for their resources which really helped me a lot. It never occured to me to ask for help with my HW. If I needed help, I would go to my instructor or go to a tutor or even a mentor.

Regarding interviewing a nurse, the instructors gave you this HW for a reason. Otherwise what would be the purpose of this HW if the instructors think the students wouldn't know any nurses? If it were me, I would interview my nurse I was partnered in clinicals, ask my instructor if he/she knew any nurses, if I was a volunteer approach one of the nurses at the hospital or even ask my doctor's/child doctor's nurse or the nurse at the school health services for an interview. There are plenty of opportunities to find somebody and interview face to face. This is the beauty of it, because you can see the expression on their faces as she/he recounts her/his experience and how she/he built herself/himself as a nurse.

I'm not trying to be mean. I'm actually curious, for those requesting help with homework, what would you do if allnurses.com didn't existed?

BJ

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If I get an assignment like this I will use it to interview someone long term on the floor at the hospital I ultimately hope to be working at. Building connections is key for new grads right now. This is a foot in the door to build rapport with someone on the inside. Doing it online is a very good opportunity wasted.

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If you don't want to help a student then don't, but sitting here arguing back and forth about it is a rediculous way to waste your Saturday.

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If you don't want to help a student then don't, but sitting here arguing back and forth about it is a rediculous way to waste your Saturday.

You feel it's ridiculous.....and yet you added to it.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
If you don't want to help a student then don't, but sitting here arguing back and forth about it is a rediculous way to waste your Saturday.

And yet, here you are...

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
And yet, here you are...

LOL...

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I was trying to encourage you to not sit and argue back and fourth about helping out students. If you don't want to, don't, if you do, do. I didn't sit on one side of the fence or the other and argue with you people. Simple as that, looks like I solved the problem! Now go enjoy this Saturday! (I would be enjoying my Saturday/Sweetest Day, but I'm stuck running an office :mad:)

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I was trying to encourage you to not sit and argue back and fourth about helping out students. If you don't want to, don't, if you do, do. I didn't sit on one side of the fence or the other and argue with you people. Simple as that, looks like I solved the problem! Now go enjoy this Saturday! (I would be enjoying my Saturday/Sweetest Day, but I'm stuck running an office :mad:)

Thanks, what would we have done without your input? Silly us for discussing things on a discussion board....when we could have just asked you what the answer was.

Enjoy your day in the office

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I was trying to encourage you to not sit and argue back and fourth about helping out students. If you don't want to, don't, if you do, do. I didn't sit on one side of the fence or the other and argue with you people. Simple as that, looks like I solved the problem! Now go enjoy this Saturday! (I would be enjoying my Saturday/Sweetest Day, but I'm stuck running an office :mad:)

I'm writing a paper, my toddler is taking a nap, and my husband was called away to attend a death. Debating at AN.com *is* enjoying the Saturday I have been dealt today. :)

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Specializes in LTC.
I think you missed my point. When an instructor requires you to interview a nurse, the expectation is that you will actually interview a NURSE. When you approach a bunch of strangers on the internet, you have no idea what these people's backgrounds are. People can and do lie online, and I'd be willing to bet any amount of money that there are people here who present themselves as nurse and aren't really nurses. You simply have no way of knowing that a stranger online is what they purport to be.

For that reason, I wish the administrators would change the TOS to reflect a rule that interview requests from students not be allowed.

My instructors wanted us to list contact information for the nurse we interviewed. She randomly selected a couple and actually contacted them.

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Sorry your Saturday stinks so bad. I'm finally off work, now I'm going to go pick up my toddler and go play football on the beach! Enjoy your debating!

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.
I'm a SN, but haven't had an assignment like this so far. If I do eventually have to interview a RN, I think the big reason why I would prefer to ask someone on AN would be that I don't want to impose myself on anyone.

I wouldn't want to ask the RNs I see in clinicals to answer questions for me because I see them while they're working and don't want to interrupt--they already have enough to do! I could ask them if they would mind answering a few questions when they're done with their shift, but that would really depend on how approachable and open to helping a student out on their off time they seem.

If I ask to interview someone on AN though, I don't have to worry about bothering people that don't want to be bothered (although, sometimes it seems like the act of just asking bothers enough people on its own!). The RNs that don't mind helping a student out are free to answer, and those that don't want to can just move on to another thread.

I can only speak for myself, but I wouldn't be asking online because I see it as the easy way out or because I want to be lazy and make the RN do all the work.. it just seems like it would be the least intrusive way to ask a RN for help.

Edited to add:

I would only do this for interviewing purposes, not for general homework help. If I had any questions about any other assignments, I would most likely go to my peers (and possibly the appropriate student forum) first.

You bring up a good point. I know I do not have time to answer interview questions during work. I do not mind it I just do not have the time. When I was a student there were a lot of RNs who were not receptive to students and I felt like I was keeping them from their work. I feel clinical time is so limited anyway that homework such as this takes away from the clinical experience. I think interview questions are fine to ask on all nurses. Most homework such as careplans, lab values, interventions, etc., etc., I feel should not be asked on a forum such as this because this is part of the learning experience to become a nurse.

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I thought I was the only one who had a problem with this.

There's a lot to be said for having a real life conversation with a real life human being. You'll get your answers but you will also get a lot of more personal and nuanced information.

The purpose of the assignment is not just to get specific information.

The idea is that in doing so and talking to others in your profession you will learn a thing or two about the actual individuals who practice it, how they think, and live, and relate to others -- and also, how they will relate to you once you enter the profession.

A person who takes shortcuts with an assignment is probably going to have some problems when it comes to performing in the workplace because it shows a lack of respect for the job.

It's just a good habit to get into -- going that extra mile -- while you're still in school. Because it is what will separate the good nurses from the bad once you get out into the world.

And the world is not going to wait for you to figure things out so best to get on top of it now.

Also, as others have stated, you have no idea who you are talking to online, the internet is famous for attracting a contributing cast of whack-a-doodles and ne'er-do-wells.

Also, what really makes me nuts about those interview posts is that the poster usually states that "HELP! I have to turn this assignment in tomorrow!" Seriously? You just found out that you have to do this complicated project tomorrow? What happened to time management? Again. Another good habit to get into while in school.

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