Stupid classmate tricks

Published

So, in honor of stupid human tricks, we have the stupid nursing tricks and stupid hospital tricks threads on the general nursing forum. The eating in class thread made me realize that we don't have a stupid classmate tricks thread! Many, many years ago, when I was in nursing school, we had one classmate who tried to interrupt every lecture to tell us about a friend/relative/coworker who had EXACTLY that illness we were discussing. Every...single...time. So, what stupid classmate tricks have you seen? It could be:

-something hilarious, a simple mistake

-an annoying behavior

-An attempt to pull something over/cheat/etc that ended badly

-anything that just made you laugh

Note: the intent of the thread is a good-natured laugh, both at others or yourself. I was distracted once and was charting on a patient going home with home health via car. The patient needed assistance with ADLs, wound care, and his condom catheter. I charted that he was dc'd to home with his spouse via condom catheter with follow up by home health for wound vac, ADL assistance, and private car!

Anyway, I obviously told her no. I busted my butt on those reviews, not for her to copy & get the extra credit for nothing.

Whoops, that got away from me too soon! I appreciate you saying that you said "NO" to your moochy friend who wanted credit for your work. Every prereq. I had had at least one student who would catch my mercy and compassion vibe and try to act like the birdie with the broken wing to get out of work by using MINE. Uummmm. NO. I usually helped a little and the drew the line. Their post rejection attitudes were gross. I PRAY I haven't made myself a target for snark monsters that I will have to deal with in nursing school. But I will learn how to handle it. I am no longer in jr. High :). One more week until the acceptance calls rolls out (breathe in. Breathe out.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Whoops, that got away from me too soon! I appreciate you saying that you said "NO" to your moochy friend who wanted credit for your work. Every prereq. I had had at least one student who would catch my mercy and compassion vibe and try to act like the birdie with the broken wing to get out of work by using MINE. Uummmm. NO. I usually helped a little and the drew the line. Their post rejection attitudes were gross. I PRAY I haven't made myself a target for snark monsters that I will have to deal with in nursing school. But I will learn how to handle it. I am no longer in jr. High :). One more week until the acceptance calls rolls out (breathe in. Breathe out.)

I didn't even think twice about letting her copy. I don't remember how many chapters we covered but I know the reviews were loooong & they were fill in the blank. She did end up copying someone else's work. I wouldn't be surprised if she acted the same way in the BSN program she failed out of.

Good luck! I know how nerve wracking the waiting is!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I remember having a lot of people that would just ask ridiculous questions like, "excuse but if you're in a situation where you have an iv but no fluids, is it better to let the patient get dehydrated or try to infuse them with water?? And what if you only have salt water??"

Where are you doing your nursing, dude?? A desert island?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I love the one in my class who makes a simple concept incredibly complex by coming up with some crazy scenario in her head.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Corrections.

I have a classmate that raises her hand as if she is going to ask a question then, when called on, restates everything the instructor said immediately prior to her raising her hand. I mean, I understand the need to assess for comprehension, believe me I do, but shouldn't that be an internal dialogue? We also have a pair of 20-year-old girls that spent the last Med Admin skills lab taking selfies while holding IV bags. Oy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I have a classmate that raises her hand as if she is going to ask a question then, when called on, restates everything the instructor said immediately prior to her raising her hand. I mean, I understand the need to assess for comprehension, believe me I do, but shouldn't that be an internal dialogue? We also have a pair of 20-year-old girls that spent the last Med Admin skills lab taking selfies while holding IV bags. Oy.

Wow. I was young & immature in nursing school but...that? The 18 year olds in the class never did that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Another favorite nursing student caricature is the one who decides that s/he needs to co-teach. In my skills lab, we have a girl who paraphrases everything the teacher says right after she says it. She's not doing it to check for her own understanding, she's trying to reiterate it for the rest of us! It comes of as very arrogant, but we just try to laugh it off.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

We had a young girl who was always coming in to clinicals hung over. The last 30-45 min was always reserved for a group conference to reflect, ask questions, etc. I like to use this time to ask real questions, things that matter and I'm at the age where I value a quality education. Our hung-over princess would close her eyes and/or sigh, acting impatient. After finding out she mocked me behind my back for being a teacher's pet, I made it a point to ask extra questions on purpose. Everyone else knew what I was doing and enjoyed seeing her get more and more exasperated. She barely passed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

LOL! I think I'm one of those students that nods/shakes her head during lecture. I honestly have no idea that I'm doing it, but when I do notice it I stop immediately! LOL :) Eventually, I start doing it again....HEY! At least I'm paying attention! LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

How about the one that asks stupid questions that were already covered in the chapter we were supposed to read before lecture. It is always the same woman and she wastes at least 5 minutes of every lecture hour. I REALLY wanted to say something by the end of 2 years of this, but didn't.

Or, the ones that freak out if the instructor's power point slides aren't in the exact order that ours are. It's okay people, Chill out. You can take an extra note or two.

Or the ones that never come to class and send out stupid emails asking where the test is, what we should focus on, study guides and tips. Ugh. I have 5 days left. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.
We had a young girl who was always coming in to clinicals hung over. The last 30-45 min was always reserved for a group conference to reflect, ask questions, etc. I like to use this time to ask real questions, things that matter and I'm at the age where I value a quality education. Our hung-over princess would close her eyes and/or sigh, acting impatient. After finding out she mocked me behind my back for being a teacher's pet, I made it a point to ask extra questions on purpose. Everyone else knew what I was doing and enjoyed seeing her get more and more exasperated. She barely passed.

This is so funny!! I have done this, not that the person was hung over but she was annoyed that I was well liked by the instructors. I was just always prepared for class!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

On my very first clinical day, a classmate and I were attempting to remove a bedpan from beneath a very large patient. We were reminiscent of the three stooges as we played a twisted version of tug-of-war with this bedpan. Finally, it dislodges and a perfect round ball of poo flies out, and rolls under the bed. My instructor peeks in and sees me sprawled out on the floor under the bed, trying to catch this elusive ball of waste. My classmate was trying so hard to stifle her laughter she was red and shaking. The poor patient probably thought we were the biggest idiots on the planet!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion