I am continually amazed at how many posts we get here from students, asking to be spoon-fed information for them to write a paper, or do a presentation, or finish a care plan.
Here's an idea - take this opportunity to hone your critical thinking skills. Pretend a message board full of nuses does not exist. How might you find this information?
Hmmm...your textbook.
Your instructor.
Student colleagues
Pubmed searches. Hopefully you're aware of Pubmed and how to do searches. If not, here's the link, it's a very valuable site: Entrez-PubMed
How about nurses with whom you work or do clinicals?
Is a message board full of strangers you don't know really your best source? Probably not. We may be a bunch of hairy men living in our moms' basements. You don't know us and what our knowledge base is.
So, in summary....spoon-feeding you information is NOT going to help you develop your critical thinking skills and discernment. Please do your own homework.
Yes, exactly. I'm not saying that everyone asking for help is a lazy slacker. I'm just saying I'm seeing a lot of posts from people asking for answers that they should be seeking on their own.
An example - a few months ago a CNA student asked for someone to explain the proper way to wash your hands. Seriously?
This is a bit off topic but the comment about the CNA made me think of it. I've seen a lot of posts asking for directions on how to do the state skills procedures. It makes me wonder about the instructors of their courses. Our instructor explained everything, step by step.
I agree with the op. Just yesterday we had 2 students on here blatently asking for us to answer their homework. I did my homework, they need to do their own. What kind of student are you if you expect others to do your work for you? No one will be there to tell you the answers on your state boards, and then you will understand why you need to do your own work. Harsh? not. Reality is more like it.
I am so glad you started this thread, because it is something that, 2 years ago happened so rarely. I have been off the board for the last 2 years because I was going through a lot of personal stuff, and since coming back here I notice that this is almost a daily occurrance.
The students who do this have to know, you don't know where you are getting your answers, it could be from a student who is ready to flunk, or someone who wants to throw you off to teach you a lesson. This profession is too important and you have SOOO MUCH to learn, it would behoove you to learn on your own rather than have someone here spoon feed you your answers. Believe me you will retain much better if you do the footwork yourself.
There is nothing you can't find the answer to. Google is your friend. When you are sitting for boards, there is no one here that is going to be giving you the answers. You will have to depend on what is between your ears to pass.
If a student or new nurse has a question I believe in helping them, not spoon feeding them as others have said.
To the "newbies", part of the challenge is learning who your resources (experienced Nurses) are within your institution and seeking them out for help/preceptorship. You also have to remember that nursing school is tough for a reason, nursing is a multifaceted profession that requires the ability to critically think and work collaboratively with your colleagues.
:confused:I for one have never asked about any specifics about an individual careplan, skills, research, ect on here because I didn't have time to breathe much less come on here and ask questions!!! I would like to learn from the experienced nurses on here, but at times it seems we are not welcome here. On one hand you welcome students and on the other hand you slap us down.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I have no problem with students. I was a student for several years. In a few months, I will be a student again for several more years.
My problem stems from students coming here asking information about...say...lab values. Did you *try* opening your lab textbook? There's a wealth of information right at your fingertips. Part of doing a care plan is digging through your textbooks. Part of being a student is learning how to find the information on your own. Having someone tell you the answers is not going to help you be a better student.
If you have never come here asking for help on careplans, skills or research, then my post was not directed at you. :)
And it's not just the fact that homework is posted that bugs me, it's the fact that people are posting the exact same questions over and over and over and over again.
I'm quite certain that the search bar at the top right side of the screen wasn't added just to make the website look pretty (it does, though, doesn't it? :)).
:confused:I for one have never asked about any specifics about an individual careplan, skills, research, ect on here because I didn't have time to breathe much less come on here and ask questions!!! I would like to learn from the experienced nurses on here, but at times it seems we are not welcome here. On one hand you welcome students and on the other hand you slap us down.
I think that the reason some posters on this board get annoyed lately is because some students really have the nerve to think that they will find someone naive enough to do their homework for them..come on, when I was a student a barely had a time to ask homework questions here on board and if I did it was probably to gain an extra perspective about a project.However,I think that a hard-working students who ask sound questions are more than welcome on this board
I am bothered by posts that ask about obvious homework material when the student doesn't include any of their own train of thought. I am happy to clarify, illuminate, elaborate and even correct as long as there is something there to work with. It shows me that the student has put forth some effort, and often their writing reveals where there is a breakdown or insufficiency. I like to encourage those who appear to be diligent that the muddle of data they're struggling with will eventually make sense.
The posts that really irritate me are those in which a student asks us to come up with a topic for a research/term paper and supply a good chunk of the material or a pile of leads to begin tracking down the information. That's a pure cop-out and it won't help anyone. If you really are that confused or lacking in inspiration, it's time for a chat with your instructor or advisor.
I think we are fairly student-friendly here, but many of us do chafe at requests that indicate we're being used. Giving easy answers isn't fair to the other students who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work, and it really isn't fair to the future patients of anyone who is willing to skate by on someone else's easy answers.
HAHAHAHAHA !!!!! How about BEFORE COMPUTERS? BEFORE THE INTERNET??
I was lucky to have an ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER !!!!
Oh, yeah - stake out a place in the library, gather up 4-6 books you THINK might be helpful, and dig out the material you needed. Jot down what you need, including the biblio. Write your paper - no spellcheck, no grammarcheck.
Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.
llg made a really great observation. I am a pre-computer, msg board nurse. We did indeed work together. My class consisted of 17 students. We didn't all like each other but we helped each other out, watched each other's backs, studied together, laughed and cried together. And learned alot from each other as well.
CrazierThanYou
1,917 Posts
This is a bit off topic but the comment about the CNA made me think of it. I've seen a lot of posts asking for directions on how to do the state skills procedures. It makes me wonder about the instructors of their courses. Our instructor explained everything, step by step.