Whiny Classmate Rant

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I'm so frustrated with most of my classmates. They seem to expect a lot of handholding and catering to and make a fuss when that doesn't happen and they are expected to take some responsibility for their own learning. We were supposed to have a test today, and half the class pitched a fit because we had one on Monday (on a topic we've been going over for plenty of time), so the teacher extended it until next Monday. This means we're going to wind up having at least one longer test combining two units we still have to cover instead of a short test for each unit.

The last section we went over was really short and took less than two class periods to cover, but apparently everyone still wants as much study time as we had for the really long and detailed units we covered first.

One of the student's reasons for thinking we shouldn't have a test today was that she was ABSENT from two classes last week. She thought this was a totally appropriate reason for the test to be delayed for the whole class.

I'd have more sympathy if the tests were actually hard, but it requires some effort to do poorly on them.

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I haven't actually started NS yet (I start in Jan.), but I went to beauty school a few years back, and I can only imagine what you're going through. I would also be willing to bet that they're fresh out of high school. Unfortunately, most of the younger students come from households where they have pretty much been catered to their entire lives, and they naturally expect it to continue in the classroom and jobsite. Most of them also probably have their parents paying for their education, so they don't appreciate it. The most frustrating part is, it seems like the instructors (at least at the beauty school I attended) don't really apply much discipline to the "whiny students" as it requires too much effort, and takes too much time. I hope it gets better for you, and I especially hope I don't have too much of it to look forward to myself!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

In my experience as a faculty member, it's not just the younger students. It can just as easily be an older student.

Sometimes the older students think that they shouldn't have to work hard at school because they have other committments in their lives. They have jobs, families, etc. and they figure that all they should have to do is pay the money and show up. ("I can't do all that work over the weekend, my family is important to me!" "I can't study for a couple of hours each day, I have a job and a family!" "I'm paying for this education, you should give it to me ... I shouldn't have to do all that homework because I am paying the faculty to do the work." etc. etc. etc.)

Some of the older students are simply "over-extended" and have taken on more than they can handle. Some can handle work, family, and school -- but others can't. Those who can't may want more spoonfeeding than the younger students with fewer outside committments.

I've learned not to make assumptions about how "good" a student will be based on their age.

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I would also be willing to bet that they're fresh out of high school. Unfortunately, most of the younger students come from households where they have pretty much been catered to their entire lives, and they naturally expect it to continue in the classroom and jobsite. Most of them also probably have their parents paying for their education, so they don't appreciate it.

I think llg is closer to the truth in my case- I'm taking my classes at the local community college, and most of my classmates likely do NOT have their parents paying for their education and probably worked their way through high school too. There are a lot of parents in the class, and I think I'm in the median age range at 27.

So what llg said is the sense that I get from the school in general: it's set up to be a supportive environment and there is a lot of free remediation available, but rather than getting people up to speed, it's created this weird sense of entitlement/expectation that teachers should make doing well in the class as easy as possible.

Given the state of public schools in this city, I think the remediation and supportive environment is really important and a very good thing, but maybe there should be a little more tough love thrown in in terms of what is expected of the students. Like not shouting down the teacher when he tells you the next test is sooner than you'd like.

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While I don't necessarily disagree with the points that llg made, I do have to say that for someone who has learned not to make assumptions about how good a student will be, based on their age, it kind of sounds like he or she has determined that most "older" students will not be. Unfortunately for me, most (not all) of the students that I attended school with were what I had described as "fresh out of high school" and had no work ethic. Maybe this has caused me to have the wrong impression of this age group. I think anyone of any age should be willing to work hard and ALWAYS be respectful to their instructors even if they don't necessarily agree with what the instructor is saying.

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What irks me is people who don't take responsibility for themselves. I have gone through things in my life that have given me a "by your own bootstraps" kind of mentality toward success and life. If it is something that the person wants, then they will be willing to work as hard as needed for as long as needed to achieve their goal, regardless of age.

I understand where you are coming from and being irritated at fellow students. I have been there before too.:o

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I was one of those students fresh out of high school years ago. Just showed up for class and not putting any effort into school work at all, dropping it few months later.

Now Im back to college with 7 years gap in between and alot more direction and maturity. And I do see other students in my classes that was like me when I was younger self. But since nursing school is a very competitive field, I always think of them as a competitor.

Spent the night partying and not studying for that exam? I dont mind.

Didnt do so well because you dont have good studying habits or just dont want to put in the effort? I feel your pain.

I always see the positive side of this. That person will take up a more qualified student's seat in that class which takes them more time to complete the prereqs. Since that person will end up doing bad, it will give you more of a chance of getting accepted if that person applied too. It sounds bad but this is a dog eat dog world.

Same thing applies at work too. Stand right next to a incompetent worker and you will shine in front of your boss.

So yeah, I kinda root for those types of students. They make my life alot easier. One more thing, once they start dropping courses........ the parking spots gets alot better too. lol

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Specializes in MS, ER.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Amuse yourself by watching these whiners and complainers, and make a mental note to never let yourself become one of them. Go to school, do the work, make good grades and pass the boards. Let these idiots **** off the instructor, and use the extra time they coerce to your advantage.

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I haven't actually started NS yet (I start in Jan.), but I went to beauty school a few years back, and I can only imagine what you're going through. I would also be willing to bet that they're fresh out of high school. Unfortunately, most of the younger students come from households where they have pretty much been catered to their entire lives, and they naturally expect it to continue in the classroom and jobsite. Most of them also probably have their parents paying for their education, so they don't appreciate it. The most frustrating part is, it seems like the instructors (at least at the beauty school I attended) don't really apply much discipline to the "whiny students" as it requires too much effort, and takes too much time. I hope it gets better for you, and I especially hope I don't have too much of it to look forward to myself!

I've noticed that a lot at the community college I go to. It's like I'm back in high school again. Some instructors put up with it and some don't. I'm sure if these young students were paying for their education out of their own pocket, they would take school more seriously. It's a waste of money to pay for school and then cut class to hang out with your friends in the cafeteria.

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I agree with pp, just work hard and use the extra time to your advantage. You sound like a very driven person and student. Ignore them! Soon enough, you'll be working with someone who whines...as I'm sure you have before---and that is REALLY annoying---but practicing ignoring the whiners now will help you then!

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Specializes in ICU.

In one of my classes this semester, the whining got so bad in the first couple of weeks that I was seriously embarrassed for the students. They were asking for everything....drop a test (we only take three!), let us have a cheat sheet, tell us exactly what's going to be on the test, curve the grade...I wouldn't have been surprised if they asked if the tests could be open-book and take-home! Granted we have a first-time teacher and she's not the greatest...but still! Buck it up...you're adults, for crying out loud!

And don't even get me started on the talking, the texting, the letting-the-door-slam-loudly-behind-you-when-you-come-in-late-rather-than-shutting-it-softly-like-a-reasonable-human-being and the annoying-loud-food-eating! Ugh! Are people really lacking ALL self-awareness??? Ok, I started anyway. I stop.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.
So yeah, I kinda root for those types of students. They make my life alot easier. One more thing, once they start dropping courses........ the parking spots gets alot better too. lol

OMG...:yeah:that's funny!

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