students who don't seem to study and do so well

[italy]

I started level one at the end of january of this year. it's been only a few weeks since school has started and there is this one girl who is in my class. she's always late to school and has been absent twice already. she also sleeps during the lab times. i know the professors told her not to be absent anymore because absences are important. the other day, we had an exam for one of the level 1 classes and she was in class but she spoke to the professor and allowed her to take the test another time. everyone knew she wasn't ready for the exam so she told the professor something. everyone says it's unfair as to how she took a spot for someone who really may have wanted it. recently, we had validations and she never ever practiced in the labs, yet she passed. i thought it was unfair. sure, she may be smart, but all of us try so hard and yet she seems to just pass with flying colors.

[ErinRN2B]

Don't let it bother you. Seriously. You said that you've only been in school a few weeks? She definitely won't be able to carry out a routine like that throughout nursing school... And even if she was, there's now way she would be able to pass the NCLEX.

[ticklemenita]

don't worry about people like that. if something doesn't change they may become a nurse but they may not stay one! you have to keep in mind if this is the way they approach school. they may bring this attitude to work when they practice and they WILL get sued. not knowing what is going on with them makes it hard but try to stay focused on you being the best nurse you can be because it will pay off when it is time for you to work and pass boards! you never know something they are saying in class when she/he is not there may be something they test on the NCLEX. Good luck and hang in there =)

[newRNstudent02]

I think the real problem is that you should focus on your own performance rather then wasting your time pondering about another student's. People need to get over themselves.

[MikeyBSN]

Why do you care so much? You don't know what's going on in that person's life. Maybe she is missing class because her husband is sick. Maybe her kid is sick. Maybe she is extremely intelligent and gets bored in lab. Or maybe she is just a slacker who will run out of excuses and eventually not finish the program. Either way, I don't see how it really concerns the other students.

[MemphisTiger]

Get used to it. Stuff like that happens all during nursing school. People skip all the time, get caught cheating, bully others, etc. and they still somehow stay in school.

[tashacorinne]

Maybe she has something going on in her life right now and maybe this isn't her normal status. She might be sleeping in class and arriving late because she isn't getting any sleep at home due to maybe family problems. Or maybe she has mono and is sleepy/exhausted all the time. Give it some time to truly assess how this person is.

If she is just lazy and doesn't take school seriously, I'm sure they will drop her from nursing school. Nursing school isn't all about grades, it is about your performance too.

[dpowe003]

Ignoring her absences because the above posters have covered that topic, I want to address something else.

Why is it unfair that she passed the validations without studying as much as you and your classmates? No one is owed anything. Perhaps she learns differently from you guys. For example, I find that note-taking doesn't really benefit me. I prefer to just listen to my professors and then read when I get home.

Do not fault this girl for passing without studying at your level.

[RNGrammie]

while i was in school, i missed alot of classes for one reason or another. i rarely "studied" but passed all exams with 87 or better. from day 1...i did practice nclex questions online, from books at barnes and noble every day. i found that lectures were very unintersting to me and i felt that alot of what i was learning was common sense to me. to some, fundamentals, fluids and electrolytes, psych etc. come easy. for others, they have to study very hard and it's more difficult. i once had a fellow student say to me "yeah...i'd get a's on the exams if i didn't have to work and could spend all day studying". well, i didn't spend all day studying....nursing just comes easy for me.

don't worry about what others are doing... or aren't doing. do what you need to do to succeed.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Hater.

I have a natural talent for doing things with my hands and following strict step by step instructions with minimal time practicing, if any. I have a gift for it ( thank you LEGOs! ) but for you to come on and say its not fair? So does that mean you are going to call me out because of it?

No, you know what, instead do what the kids in my class did. Ask for my help since I was able to just get it. Turn another persons talent into an education tool. What a petty complaint.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

The workplace is full of people like that. I believe in working and devoting a lot to work. (I'm a non-trad btw.) Nursing school, however, isn't my job. I don't put much effort into it, mostly thanks to my previous background, but I still do well. A lot of people would think I'm aloof and non-caring, but I don't have time to lose any sweat over it. I show up, sit quietly, ask or answer questions as needed, read a few chapters as needed, and take my tests. That's all I want to do at school. In the workplace I've always been somewhat of an over achiever. In school I'm not because like the person you're talking about school comes quickly to me.

Like another poster said, don't fault us. Fault her for being an immature idiot, but because she does well....no. People in my class complain "He always gets A's and he never does anything. He doesn't even take notes." Annoying really.

[chicagoing, ADN, RN]

sure, she may be smart, but all of us try so hard and yet she seems to just pass with flying colors.

Well, I hate to break the news to you, but life is not always fair.

Have you ever spoken with this girl? How much awareness do you have of her study habits?

Be happy that you are able to even be at this stage in your pursuit of a nursing career. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend college and not everyone has the mental capabilities that are needed to even succeed in college.

And finally, unless what she is doing directly affects you, MYOB.