When ill equipped students affect your grade...

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I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar situation as myself...Here goes: I got docked 5% of my grade because I refused to hold an incompetent group member's hand during clinicals and there seems to be no recourse. Is this what nursing school is really all about? Do I just have to bend over until I graduate? I was under the false impression that we are all responsible for ourselves and that we should be working with a group of equal peers. Silly me.

Nursing is a profession that promotes caring for others, supporting those who need support whether the "those" are patients or peers. Developing that quality begins in school. Teaming is not just about bringing what you know are excel in to the table it is about sharing with the other members of the team. Advocating, providing a different perspective and developing the skill that allows you to recognize the areas you are weak in and may need to be "carried" and offering assistance to your team mates in the areas where you have strengths. Believe me, you are not great at every thing. If you are while in school, please believe me when I say your come uppance is waiting just around the corner. If you develop the reputation to be all about you, you will be miserable once you graduate and are depending on the team to help you reallylearn and grow in your new profession.

There really isn't an "I" in team anf the "I" in profession refers to " I on the vision". If your team member, classmate fails nursing (and you represent the rest of us) fails.

With all due respect, nursing is not all about you the individual. We care, we share, we serve, each other and our patients. nanacarol

wi' all do respect, a wee bi' of the martyr?

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It is evident to me that you do not embrace the concept of introducing the concept of sharing and caring for each other even as students of nursing. Since I am aware of this disconnect, I enter into an agreement for you and I to agree to disagree. Those of us who profess to be part of the nursing community should, in my humble opinion, promote the development of the character of sharing and caring for each other first. If we don't, we will continue to encourage the introduction of nurses who are in it for themselves. Some where I read, back in the day, that a team is only as strong as its weakest link, I like to think that applies to nursing school and nursing students. Not to be judgemental more than I am already accused of being, the individual who posted originally seems to have a missing piece of the nursing and Sister Florence Nightingales intent, which I believe is to give of oneself without using a what's in it for me scale. I could be wrong, I admit it. I would prefer a nurse who willing gives up five points in a grade to ensure that when she/he is not caring for me, the team member who is has been show that he/she is not in this alone. Again, that's just a seasoned nurse's perspective, I could be wrong and living back in the day. nanacarol

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It is evident to me that you do not embrace the concept of introducing the concept of sharing and caring for each other even as students of nursing. Since I am aware of this disconnect, I enter into an agreement for you and I to agree to disagree. Those of us who profess to be part of the nursing community should, in my humble opinion, promote the development of the character of sharing and caring for each other first. If we don't, we will continue to encourage the introduction of nurses who are in it for themselves. Some where I read, back in the day, that a team is only as strong as its weakest link, I like to think that applies to nursing school and nursing students. Not to be judgemental more than I am already accused of being, the individual who posted originally seems to have a missing piece of the nursing and Sister Florence Nightingales intent, which I believe is to give of oneself without using a what's in it for me scale. I could be wrong, I admit it. I would prefer a nurse who willing gives up five points in a grade to ensure that when she/he is not caring for me, the team member who is has been show that he/she is not in this alone. Again, that's just a seasoned nurse's perspective, I could be wrong and living back in the day. nanacarol

disconnected, a true thought i think........your managerial quotations, and over long sentences are indeed disconnected.....from the reality being faced by this student, that of being dumped on, and psychologically abused.

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nanacarol -

I want to work with you. In fact, I am going to show up to work and give you my entire patient load for the day while I sit in the breakroom and have coffee. Thanks for being a great team player!!!!

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I would have docked you all of your grade for the day. One day you will need help, or be seen as "incompetent" to another...probably when you graduate. I don't care how much you know someday you won't understand something. How would you feel if those fellow nurses did not help you out? I hope it never happens to you but what goes around comes around. So, I'm sorry to be mean but yes this was a good move by your instructor in my opinion. Have some compassion for your fellow student.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I understand why that can be frustrating getting a lower score than you desired. I too have felt annoyed when having to do group work with people who I felt weren't at the same level as I was. Our instructors told us that since we are trying to become nurses, all we will do is work with others and lend a hand to those who are incompetent in our career as nurses. We have done a lot of group work in nursing school to try and develop skills necessary to care for others and work with the healthcare team. Perhaps your instructor was basing your decision and attitude on how that would look in the clinical setting as an RN. Try imagining that all your coursework, including working with your classmates will help prepare you in working with others as a nurse. Good luck!

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I would have docked you all of your grade for the day. One day you will need help, or be seen as "incompetent" to another...probably when you graduate. I don't care how much you know someday you won't understand something. How would you feel if those fellow nurses did not help you out? I hope it never happens to you but what goes around comes around. So, I'm sorry to be mean but yes this was a good move by your instructor in my opinion. Have some compassion for your fellow student.

Hmmm, you may want to read this thread a bit more closely. We're not talking about a day's worth of points. Do you suppose I should fail the nursing program because this student is unable to learn the necessary material and skills? Don't be silly. Myself and my entire class have spent countless hours throughout the entire semester with this student to no avail, so please don't be so fast to place blame. Keep in mind that this student comes to class and clinicals unprepared (with no clinical prep done, coming late, and without knowledge of the required readings). Again, at some point there has to be some personal accountability.

I have never professed to know everything, and I will remind you that I am a STUDENT NURSE who is, herself, in school to learn. Peers should be willing and able to help each other and benefit from each other's experiences...not expect their fellow students to somehow ensure their success. Nor should the instructors have such unrealistic expectations. We're not talking about simple teamwork people, I have been very clear about that.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I am really starting to think that some of the people so adamant that the OP should carry this other student are doing so because maybe their co workers or students carry a lot for them. I do not see how someone that is self sufficient and focused on their learning can try to justify not having to help, but having to CARRY another student, and justify them being babied by the instructor.

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Specializes in IMCU.

Hmmm...

I recently had to have a little think about this myself. We have a person in my class who is extremely slap dash about things. I have no desire to be teamed up with them because they have made a number of dangerous mistakes. Yet I know at some stage we will be working together. This person really freaks me out and listens to NO ONE and hasn't adjusted anything as a result of their close calls.

I am convinced there will be a monumental error associated with this student and I DO NOT want to be her teammate when it happens.

So, as far as the OP's question...I think you should revisit this with your instructor. BUT, I wouldn't use quite the same language and tone as you did here. Also, if you and the other student really are having to help this person with everything as you said -- you need to stop it. Teamwork is one thing -- propping up is another.

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Specializes in Float.
...one day you will need help, or be seen as "incompetent" to another...probably when you graduate. ...... how would you feel if those fellow nurses did not help you out? have some compassion for your fellow student.

to be seen as incompetent and to have proven yourself to indeed be incompetent are two different things.

pass nclex=competent=registered nurse (graduate).

fail nclex=incompetent=op's classmate (student).

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It sounds like there is a lot of history to that story. If you think you were treated unfairly I would recommend that you ditch the sarcasm (stuff like "hold her hand", "silly me", and "do I just bend over?" and discuss the matter with your instructor in an adult - like manner. Being able to communicate with others (especially people who have some authority over you) is an essential part of nursing, and quite honestly the overall tone of your OP wasn't the best.

I would also keep it in perspective. Are you close to failing your clinical? If not I can assure you that once you are a practicing nurse pretty much nobody will care, much less ask you what your grades in nursing school were. Promise. How you present yourself to them and communicate with them will matter a great deal, though. Even if you were treated unfairly, this could be a reallly good learning experience for you. Good luck! I love being a nurse, can't say I loved nursing school, though!

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Specializes in pediatrics.

when i was in nursing school we had a lot of students that were weak in clinicals, so some of us did have to push others and help others along. Nursing is all about helping each other reguardless of a class mate or a patient. don't forget some of us do have different reasons for becoming a nurse while others are smarter than others some of us are kinder than others.:nurse:

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