Why is Nursing School so cut throat and competitive???

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN]

I haven't started yet, (I will in a few short months WOOOHOOOO) BUT I hear about it all the time from friends, associates, and on these boards.

I understand being cut throat, and competitive BEFORE getting in, given how hard it is to get into some schools. But I can not understand the mentality ONCE IN.

I mean once your in, your in, no one can take that away from you but YOU.

Those of you that have or are experiencing this, I would love your input. I am strictly just curious, I am not worried about myself when it comes to other students. I am usually pretty good at dealing with all kinds of people even if that means tuning them out. I am just trying to understand this mentality. It seems like everyone made it to the finish line, but is still trying to eliminate there opponent after the fact. Not literally everyone, but you get my point.

Thoughts??

[Felicia327]

I haven't started yet, (I will in a few short months WOOOHOOOO) BUT I hear about it all the time from friends, associates, and on these boards.

I understand being cut throat, and competitive BEFORE getting in, given how hard it is to get into some schools. But I can not understand the mentality ONCE IN.

I mean once your in, your in, no one can take that away from you but YOU.

Those of you that have or are experiencing this, I would love your input. I am strictly just curious, I am not worried about myself when it comes to other students. I am usually pretty good at dealing with all kinds of people even if that means tuning them out. I am just trying to understand this mentality. It seems like everyone made it to the finish line, but is still trying to eliminate there opponent after the fact. Not literally everyone, but you get my point.

Thoughts??

You know, January 09 I started the first half of Nursing Fundamentals (my school breaks them up into 2 classes) Our Clinical portion consisted of 10 students. I, being over-the -moon about FINALLY being IN the Nursing portion of school (after taking never ending pre-reqs), and being an "OLDER STUDENT", was happily sharing any and all info I had gleaned (allnurses.com being one of the shared resources) in the name of helping each other to make it through the semester successfully, and my fellow classmates were all to happy to utilize the info. But, I was the only one sharing information. I would overhear certain "cliques" whispering about new techniques they'd learned, or websites that had helped them. It was obvious that this feeling of Camraderie was felt by me and me alone!!. So I quit sharing and focused solely on my own "business". One girl asked me for any study tips I might be using and I gave them to her. After that, we became close and proverbally "Linked our arms together" and went through the storm. Out of the 10 in the class, only 3 passed, Myself and my storm buddy included!! So, I guess what I'm trying to convey is Study Hard and Often, and be kind to everyone as you go along on your journey, God is a Great Rewarder!!

p.s. Use Index cards to copy information from the book and carry them wherever you go!!!

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Thanks for your input everyone. Maybe it's not as competitive and cutthroat as people make it seem.

No matter what, none of it takes away from my excitement.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

The most significant behavioral problem I've seen in my program has been students with insecurity problems. This can manifest as competitiveness that is not beneficial and some other undesirable behaviors. (Of course 1st semester...that was me. Thank goodness I got my act together!)

[feelingbetter]

I also found nursing school to be reminescent of "high school.!" I just hated that, some people wouldn't ask questions because other would snicker at them, etc. It was very disheartening to me. On the flip side, I have met some great people, who I now call "friends" we studied together, helped each other out and tried to be supportive of each other. We worked on ignoring "The mean girls". Nursing school is life, there are people who would rather not give the time of day to and there are people you can't wait to see!

make it your way, you will be ok.

[byrd262, BSN, RN]

I'm in one of those "competitive" programs. These people are crazy. I can't explain it. I think my school just accepts that type of student for some reason.

I'm with everyone, that competition is not necessary, but I have seen people go from being normal to competitive because of the environment we are in. Me...NOPE...not going to happen. It takes to much energy that I don't have.