Hello! I just finished my 1st semester of nursing school (RN) and I can't tell you all how much I LOVE nursing. My classmates & instructors are a different story.
We take all of our exams on a computer, but there is a glitch in the program where the computer spontaneously changes your answers when you submit them. I've talked to all of my instructors about this and all they will say is, "We know the computers do it. You just have to be careful with your mouse!" It's been very disappointing to me that people who will preach ethics and integrity continue to use a system that is flawed and they KNOW it's flawed because they don't want to have to manually enter the grades into the computer. This system cost me a letter grade on my average this semester. I've actually come to accept this, but does anyone else think that it's wrong that they keep using a system that they know is costing students points?
I am going into nursing not for the paycheck or the little letters after my name. I'm going into nursing because I want to be out in the field, helping people who need it most. I want to work at a free clinic or a homeless shelter. A good 3/4 of my class is in it for the money and/or the respect that comes with being an RN. And I can NOT stand them. About 1/3 of the class signed up to do a charity race and 4 of them had an absolute FIT bc they couldn't be on the same team together. The reason their team had to be reorganized was so other people could do the 1st relay and go to work. One even went so far as to say, "They shouldn't have signed up for the da*n race!" The reason being on the same relay team was so important to them? They had bought pink tutus to wear. I'm sorry, but putting a tutu before someone's job tells me EXACTLY what kind of nurse you're goung to be--the kind I don't want anywhere near anyone I care about! Oh, and by the way, no one was ever told to organize their own teams. In fact, they were told NOT to so that work and family obligations could be taken care of first.
Others in the class are pretentious show offs, bragging about grades they didn't make, or constantly telling stories about what a horrible nurse some distant relative with some rare disease had. They monopolize everthing and the instructors seem to eat it up! I literally can not stand the people in that room. They have horrible, shallow, self serving attitudes and I have no idea how I'm going to survive 18 more months with them.
Did anyone else go through this? How did you get through clinicals with these people?
I won't give up because of the rotten attitudes of my class, but they are the reason that nurses get a bad rap for being ill-tempered, incompetent or just plain stupid. I've actually had people make fun of me because I go to a homeless camp once a month to bandage any wounds, bring them some supper & just generally check on their well-being.
We have some of those! Actually, before I started NS I decided to stay out of the gossip and drama. So everytime a conversation turns to bad mouthing or gossiping other students, I excuse myself or slip away. Its a surprise, I know, that I rarely get to talk to anyone, but now that we are halfway through the program, its like one big soap opera of whos sleeping with who and she did what!? crap and im one of the only few people that hasnt been dragged down into it.
Its especially frustrating though, when they speak so poorly of the patients. Some people are extremely judgemental and just down right cruel in their remarks about patients. They especially like to make fun of the obese, and those with an STD. I just had hoped there would be more kind-hearted people like myself because of the nature of this profession, but I guess not! Oh well, we can just do the best we can and ignore the morons out there
Save yourself all the stress and aggravation...worry about YOURSELF and not everyone else. Are you jealous of your classmates? Who are people to judge others and say they are only in NS for the money, W*F, impossible. I don't think nurses are paid enough for everything they do.
I guess I got lucky because I have a wonderful group of classmates. We have helped each other out through study guides, study groups, fundraising and charitable causes. We raised over $2000 and a truckload of supplies for tornado victims in Alabama in 5 days which also happened to be finals week.
We have a Facebook group and a Google Doc site to keep in touch and share help, it has helped us get to know one another better. I figure we have to see each other 4 days a week for 2 years, it is better to be nice and get along.
"I am going into nursing not for the paycheck or the little letters after my name. I'm going into nursing because I want to be out in the field, helping people who need it most. I want to work at a free clinic or a homeless shelter. A good 3/4 of my class is in it for the money and/or the respect that comes with being an RN. And I can NOT stand them."
Arent you special. Hows the view from those ivory towers?
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I think generally if you look for things to dislike about others you will tend to find them. The same goes vice versa.
Happiness in life is largely a matter of choice. You will be a happier person if you look for the good in people. Your opinions reflect more on you than it does on them.
I've been worrying about this too. I start a ADN program this fall and I am hoping I get along with everyone. On the other hand, I have to remind myself that I am not going to nursing school to make friends! I am going to learn how to be a nurse and I need to worry about myself not what I think about my fellow classmates.
You'll be fine. Unless you are an elitist douchebag that looks down thier nose on people that want to make a living (**cough** op **cough**) rather than save the Universe
Just be yourself and dont **** off the instructors.
I've been worrying about this too. I start a ADN program this fall and I am hoping I get along with everyone. On the other hand, I have to remind myself that I am not going to nursing school to make friends! I am going to learn how to be a nurse and I need to worry about myself not what I think about my fellow classmates.
I've been worrying about this too. I start a ADN program this fall and I am hoping I get along with everyone. On the other hand, I have to remind myself that I am not going to nursing school to make friends! I am going to learn how to be a nurse and I need to worry about myself not what I think about my fellow classmates.
Most people do get along. We learned how to do it in kindergarten.
The ones that complain about the quality of people in their class are usually the ones with the issues.
They wear their disdain like a badge of honor and can't figure out why they are the recipient of negative energy from the rest of the class.
I am sorry you are feeling so miserable this early on in your career. I empathise but find it hard to believe that there is 'noone' nice in your class. I would take the time to get to know 1 or 2 people individually and not judge them as part of the larger group.
As for people doing this for the money. Well, I have been a nurse for 20 years and whilst I love my job (most of the time) I do it to receive a paycheck to help support my husband (who does his job also for money) in the bringing up of our kids.
If they think it is an easy way to get money then they will find out further down the line and once graduated that there are much easier ways to make more money than getting abuse, dealing with bodily fluids, shift work and the other delights of nursing. Time will weed out the ones who are not really cut out for nursing.
I wish you luck in your studies. I would concentrate on your studies and not worry about your classmates so much.
PS. Think of nursing school as good training for working on a real floor..:)
Best thing would be to learn how to get along with and respect them as individuals whether you like them or not because they were just as smart as you in order to get into the program, some might even be smarter on paper unless you know without a doubt that you were #1 on the admission list. These people just might be your future co-workers and in some oddball twist of fate *gasp* a manager or supervisor someday. As for the computer issue, that's a crappy situation that needs to be taken up the chain of command, but after that your vent got a little bit on the side of *I am sooooo much better than the rest of my class*
Breaking news: some people are going into nursing for the money and/or the prestige! Whatever people's reasons for going into NS shouldn't matter to you. Graduating as a competent nurse should be your priority.
As others have said, you have to learn to work with all types of personalities. I have 60+ students in my cohort and there is a sprinkle of Type A personalities. When I'm in a group with one, I know how to work with them. It's a learning process. You're going to need it when landing your first RN position, where you'll be the newbie.
rather than save the Universe
jellybeany
22 Posts
We have some of those! Actually, before I started NS I decided to stay out of the gossip and drama. So everytime a conversation turns to bad mouthing or gossiping other students, I excuse myself or slip away. Its a surprise, I know, that I rarely get to talk to anyone, but now that we are halfway through the program, its like one big soap opera of whos sleeping with who and she did what!? crap and im one of the only few people that hasnt been dragged down into it.
Its especially frustrating though, when they speak so poorly of the patients. Some people are extremely judgemental and just down right cruel in their remarks about patients. They especially like to make fun of the obese, and those with an STD. I just had hoped there would be more kind-hearted people like myself because of the nature of this profession, but I guess not! Oh well, we can just do the best we can and ignore the morons out there