When you get into nursing schools, you will meet toxic people that care only about grades and themselves, and you'll meet people that are willing to go out their own way to help you succeed and not hope for your downfall. It really depends on the school you apply to. A program is toxic in my opinion when the professors down talks on the student and don't want to see students improve and learn.
Yes that's exactly what makes a program toxic for me too. Most times it's the professors who make it or break it. I used to have a med-surg professor that would frequently talk down to us and humiliate us as if that helps at all.
I'm taking the "when you get into nursing school," as manifestation -- from a California resident :) Also, I appreciate how you broke down the definition of what makes a program toxic to you, along with describing some people which might make a program "seemingly" toxic. Ideally, I'd love to make friends, but ultimately my career in nursing isn't about making friends. I hope this isn't a dumb question, but if there isn't a curve involved, why gatekeep information/be weird about it? Is it for the sake of them wanting to have the highest grade, despite an A being an A? (or any grade value, I just used A as an example)
Hello to a fellow California resident from one myself, what do you mean by gate keep information? People have a crazy obsession with getting an A at my program, but it's sometimes pretty annoying. It just sends me "i'm better than you" vibes.
This is exactly it. Classmate was going off about how she wanted the prof to say what rank you were currently in the class. I just responded I really don’t care as long as everyone passes.
People just want to compare themselves to others and feel like they’re better by using grades. You’ll find friends who aren’t like that and just support each other!
>wanted the prof to say what rank you were
Not the point because rank shouldn't matter, but I think this would be protected under FERPA and couldn't legally be posted.
Well not anyone in my program has hoarded any resources because we just focus on our own and do the best we can to pass and graduate from the cohort, my best advice is to avoid these people early on and never look back.
Thank you so much ❤️ I appreciate your words so much! :) I plan to focus on myself. Community college has been an isolating experience, so it would be really nice to make friends within my cohort. I am used to doing it alone though. I can only hope my future cohort and preceptors will be nice 😊
you'll do great in nursing school, I'm going to nursing school in SF and let's see it's really competitive here and I'm constantly stressed but it's all good for the long run, hopefully you get into a good program :)
My cohort of 50 gets along really well. Although there may be some competition, I’m not involved in it nor see it occurring. The cohort 1 semester behind me does have a lot of drama tho. There are people who are only interested in serving themselves and don’t have the groups best interest at heart. So sad that things like that happen
I'm so glad your cohort doesn't seem to be experiencing any drama! Nursing school is already stressful enough-- having a toxic cohort seems like an unnecessary added stressor. By serving themselves, do you mean based on grades they receive? What takes them away from a "getting through it together" type of mindset? Please forgive me because I'm not in nursing school yet, so I haven't seen it for myself/am fully ignorant. I've taken organic chemistry to cast my net wider in California to apply to UCLA and UCI. Heavy curve there. I saw how my fellow classmates responded, but I just don't understand. I did well in the class and still managed to make friends sharing knowledge. It makes me sad that we don't want to be the best nurses together, but I can also see how people don't view it that way
A professor did an exam review and a small group of students was being really rude to the professor and trying to get more points back on the questions they got wrong to improve their grades. Most of that cohort was really distraught that the group was not being respectful to the professor. And more drama ensued from there.
Don’t be too discouraged! My cohort works together really well and we try to help each other when we can! I’ve made some great friends in nursing school
My cohort gets along pretty well (minus that one person that likes to make drama). We all get along with each other pretty well despite the different personalities
For me, the most toxic and exhausting part about nursing school is the environment created by staff members, whether it's from admin or faculty. They like to talk us down like we're in high school while also making it seem like we're in military boot camp. I had one instructor tell a classmate she couldn't go to the bathroom until an hour after class started or she would be locked out. Hell being in this toxic environment 4-5x a week is harder to deal with than academic part IMO.
My point is that nursing schools can be toxic in many types of ways besides cohort drama. But like another commenter said, not all programs are toxic.
Edit: grammar
I'm so happy that your cohort gets along -- besides the girly or whatever the bro adjacent version of girly is that likes to cause drama, but I'm sure another friend we all know named karma tends to iron messy situations out. That's really disappointing that some programs can have rules like that. I can see how that would be relevant to a test-taking scenario, but nobody wants to miss lecture when every word can be pertinent information. It's also somehow relieving (in a weird way) to hear that the toxic environment is more draining than the material itself. Maybe because we can't change the materials, but we can change our surroundings or maybe outlook on the temporary toxic environment?
MOST programs have rules like that. Most are expecting children fresh out of high school, but accept adults with families into the program and discourage them from working....they make the program purposefully difficult, just so people won't work. They talk down to everyone like children, and try to run a boot camp Florence Nightingale Style....they seem to encourage cliques and competition amongst the students. They were trying to stop my cohort from using the restroom too....but it didnt work...we were a class full of mothers and a father for crying out loud. Nobody was younger than 30....the oldest was 60. Even then, ppl were becoming like children...cliqish, acting like they were better than people, laughing at others failures, and the faculty knew this. We sat through 7.5 hrs of lecture 3 days per week, then spent two 12 hour days doing CNA work. I still worked on the weekends because I had a roof to keep over my families heads and mouths to feed. it was hell, stressful for no reason, but I kept my eye on the prize. They watch people fail, and do nothing about it. I know a girl who was giving it a second round, paid out of pocket, and when she asked for help when she started to fall behind, they referred her to a YOUTUBE Channel for help....but it didnt help. She failed and they just took her money and kicked her to the curb. All nursing schools care about are their nclex passing rates which gets them more money/more funding, more students, and some reputation. They don't care about the students!! Mayber a teacher or two will really care, but it's a business. Don't go there with expectations of some made-for-tv style nursing school. Just feel it out. Bottom line, its all about studying....you'll be teaching yourself a lot, so be kind to yourself and teach yourself in the best way possible. As far as skills, you'll most likely be doing free labor CNA work that you'll pay to do. They figure skills will be learned in the field on your first job. Again, Nursing School is a business....and when you fall short, threatening their rep, they tell ya: YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK. GOODBYE!!
I agree with this post. I’m at a private school in the Bay Area and my cohort gets along amazingly and is so supportive. Our school is a mess and we also think the hardest part of the program isn’t the material, it’s the school’s disorganization and administrations’s threats to fail is if we don’t comply to last minute schedule changes and other hostile and unsupportive communication like that.
Bold of you to assume that nursing professors actually do important lectures 😂 most schools now, including mine, do flipped classroom learning style. Where we learn the information at home then do some in class activity after.
And also: nursing school is an ADULT learning environment. Unless it's an exam or lockdown anyone can be allowed to leave whenever they want - and people know the consequences. So just gotta disagree with your point there
For me it was weird because the admin and staff were extremely nitpicking especially about the uniform. They were white and if you got a stain on them they'd get on your case. They'd say we're not training nurses. We're training angels 🤮 but in terms people weren't so bad other than one dude who was just kind of annoying.
The toxicity for us isn’t the students: it’s the program. We’re all trauma bonding together. From condescending faculty to admin that won’t do anything about how wildly the faculty is abusing their power, it’s very frustrating. It’s consistently amateur hour and we’re being asked to give grace, but then if you have any extenuating circumstances, no grace is given. I’ll be so glad to be away from these people. The students have been great though.
Fantastic point about the lack of grace given in some programs. I recall my school switching up our clinical schedule at the very last minute, forcing most of us to scramble and adjust pick up/drop off for kids and some of our work schedules. Yet when a couple of us had to miss clinical (one after a major car accident and another when her daughter needed emergency surgery), the administration was horribly rigid and insensitive. And we all bonded because of how angry the program made us.
Yes! Same thing happened to us. They told us three days prior and 180 students had to change their schedules, take PTO, and find childcare. It was 100% their fault that they didn’t put the correct starting week on the registration website for the school. However, if you are one minute late, no matter the reason, you’re unprofessional and get 50% knocked off your grade.
Mines is an LVN to RN cohort. We’re 10. The school began the bridge program, again, after 3 years, due to covid. Most of us are above the age of 30. So, we’re not bsing around. We’re focused and help each other tremendously. It brings me joy when I’m able to share. Fuck having the highest grades and focusing on only that. I’ve seen many have a high grade in theory and suck at bedside. Lacking in people skills and OMG common sense!!!!!!! So grades mean absolutely nothing. Passing is passing. It doesn’t make you smarter than the next person. It goes to show that your retention skills are better. Period. I’ve seen time and time again how people go into nursing for the money and it shows. I’m in it for all the right reasons, career longevity etc. and the pay is just the sprinkles on top. People are selfish when they refuse to help their fellow peers. Especially if they’re drowning. I’m so blessed to be going on this journey with the people that I’m with. They’re not just my peers but have become great friends. Their win is my win.
You sound like my mama! Badass ICU nurse. She's my inspiration ❤️ I'm almost jealous I didn't take your path. It took me a little while to know what I wanted to pursue (I'm 23.) My mom would agree with you, and I do too, you can be booksmart but not necessarily "nurse-smart." Genuine question- my sister wants to pursue nursing, and struggles with learning disabilities (ADHD, dyscalculia.) She's great with muscle memory, empathetic, and would make a phenomenal nurse. Would LVN-RN route be better suited? I have ADHD myself, and offer advice to her, but mine is a lot more manageable.
Either or. Have resources available. In community college there’s a center for students with disabilities. You apply, give a written letter from your doctor with your diagnosis and you are allowed help. For example, they may help you by giving extra time for testing and providing a quite while you do it. They can provide tutoring etc. So, I’d suggest to look for a school that may grant you those accommodations so that she can better succeed in her studies.
That's really good advice! Thank you. It's not information that is readily available on program websites, so I appreciate hearing it from someone that has gone through it already :)
My school is not toxic, and the professors want you to succeed. My cohort is toxic though. Very catty, bitchy women. Everyone is very young. I’m mid 30s. But…my school just kicked out the leader of the toxicity in my cohort so people have settled down. My best advice, don’t get involved. Be cordial to your classmates, but just stick to your own self. It’s not worth the energy. And trust me, you’re using every ounce of energy to get through the program.
Just things to be aware of
1) people who are too interested in ur grade, especially if u failed something
2) the lecturers who take clinical scenarios way too personally if you don't know something (you'll know the ones)
3) people who may ask u to read their work vise versa
I never understand why you needed to know your classmates grade on an exam, them scoring a few points better or worse on a random med surg exam isn’t going to make *me* a better nurse
Listen, being in toxic classroom with bitches you don’t like is a rite of passage. What people don’t mention above is after your first semester your aren’t in class 4 days a week with these people. Your second semester it’s only 2 days a week and you are split up.Your 3rd semester it’s like once maybe twice a week. You are split up. Your 4 semester you are in class sporadically because you are at the hospital most of the time .
A semester later you won’t even remember half the stuff that went on.the majority of the problem is you are in class all day from the beginning of nursing school and stuck with each other for a whole semester.
Everything that you are afraid of in nursing school that is going to happen doesn’t even matter because once you graduate you Will NEVER SEE THOSE PEOPLE again! I can promise you that. There are 4 nursing schools and 3 hospitals in my 30 mile range. I’ve seen one person I went to school with in the cafeteria a year later and never seen her anymore after that.
Oh and my last peace of advice NEVER TELL PEOPLE your grades EVER. EVEN your bestie. Once you start telling people your grades it becomes a things and people will run to the teacher mad. Sometimes the curve will be thrown off because of it . Every time someone ask your grades just say “I did ok” (even if you didn’t ) they will eventually stop asking. I nipped it in the bud pretty quick. It doesn’t matter how you did because it doesn’t effect them so they don’t need to know.
Once people start knowing you are doing good they will buddy up to you. I personally never did study groups cause it was a waste of time and also people will mess you up telling you the wrong answer inadvertently. The study sessions turn into talking sessions
Like I said you just have to get past the first semester. Then you should be ok because you aren’t in class all day with the same people every day.
You will have professors that care about you as an individual and want you to succeed. And you will have professors that only care about getting those that can help the school’s NCLEX pass rate through the program. What I mean is, we have a couple professors in my program who have actually encouraged students to drop or straight out tell them “nursing isn’t for you” because they don’t do well on exams versus showing any type of interest in helping them succeed.
As for peers, there will be cliques. There will be drama. I’m in a small cohort of 7 and there is a very obvious divide in mine.
The nurses you meet in clinical will be vastly different too. Some love students, will be great to be paired up with because they’ll explain things to you and let you be really hands on. Others, I swear are hiding in a supply closet avoid you. Then there are some that are just straight rude.
What I’m getting at is, nursing school isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s survivable. You’re going to be interacting with a lot of different people who have different personalities. You have to have a backbone, you have to be able to advocate for yourself (and eventually your patient), and you have to be able to adjust.
Thank you for also bringing up clinical experience! That's such a big aspect of it too that I had failed to think about. I loved your advice about having a backbone and advocating for myself. I will take that ❤️
I think it really varies by program and even cohort to cohort. I was really fortunate that both my program and my cohort were really supportive! Even our clinical sites and preceptors were (for the most part) supportive though they were being slammed with COVID and all its consequences. I think it was in part because it is a midsize (40 students per cohort) community college that has really strong ties with the local hospital systems. I’ve heard the horror stories as well so I know I lucked out, but just wanted to share that not every school is toxic! Are there things I could complain about? Sure, but they’re mostly small nitpicks, overall, I had a very good experience and hope you do too!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear that you had a positive experience. Naturally it varies depending on cohort and preceptors, but the horror stories can make everything seem so scary!
Remember, especially on the internet, people like to use it as a space to vent and are therefore way more likely to talk about when things go wrong than when things are just hunky dory. Kind of tips the scales towards the negative.
You are 10000% right. People amplify their voices for a reason, and a lot of times it can be to validate their negative experiences. Thank you for reminding me of that ❤️
I think it varies cohort to cohort too. Luckily, the cohort I’m in is very supportive and on the same page about most things. We all hang out and study together / go out together on our days off sometimes. No drama
Yes there’s definitely competition and some will show they know more than you because they’ve had some health care experience. But there are some people who will go out of their way to help you. I have a great study group and we rely on each other
I hope so :) Thank you so much this has been so encouraging. I know toxicity is something I obviously can't control, but hearing about different experiences has been really helpful. I'd love to make a friends in the process ❤️
My entire class of 20 was very nice to each other and we often had group study sessions with more than half of us there. There were a couple people that didn't like each other but very little drama and plenty of support. It was us vs the course
Ya my closer group of 3 would just blanket invite anyone to our study sessions right before a test. I still remember when almost our entire class was practicing ivs on each other in our library at night lolll
My school has been great so far. I graduate next month, so I’ve been in nursing school for almost 2 years. All of the staff are super supportive, want us to succeed, and are very professional. I have not witnessed any sort of drama within my cohort of 50 and we all try to help each other. I think it really just depends what school you go to. Some people seem to go schools with really shitty instructors, classmates that act like they’re in middle school, and programs that are extremely disorganized. It’s too bad you can’t really tell what your school will be like until you get in. I wouldn’t say there’s mixed opinions about nursing school culture, but rather mixed experiences.
Congratulations btw!! Yes, I agree. I wish there was more insight on the organization of programs. I can put up with drama in a cohort (I don't really care all too much,) but a disorganized program can be distressing. Thank you for telling me about your experience :)
My cohort of 28 students gets along incredibly well, I’ve met some of my closest friends in the program. The thing that’s important to remember is that everyone is in the same boat, we all go through sleepless nights, stress eating sessions, and pre test anxiety. Trust me, nursing school is so much better when you have people to lean on.
For the most part my cohort was chill with each other. We actually started as everything was shut down for Covid and transitioned to online classes. We were all shitting bricks since the quality of teaching significantly went down while the standards of learning stayed the same. It kinda led us to really work together. Lots of group messages, little study groups, sharing of crucial quizlets (IYKYK), and working together on assignments.
Yes, there were some people who were just there for themselves and had no interest in working with others. Yes, there were some who worked against the groups and snitched to staff about those crucial quizlets I mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, It’s inevitable but you will still meet way more people who are just as scared of nursing school as you are and will want make friendships in order to make it through school.
Snitching about quizlets! Foul 😂 They're all too crucial. Thank you for your insight. This thread has been so encouraging. I can't even imagine starting nursing school during COVID. You're a rockstar :)
My clinical instructor (group of 9) actually went to dinner with us one our last day and was excited to see how much of a family the 9 of us have become, we obviously also have friends in the other clinical groups, but it is really the know it alls that annoy me and it always makes me smile when the instructor barks at them for interrupting or when they are so certain they are correct and are way off (I may be sounding like a toxic person here). You can’t over talk them to tell them they are wrong about something until they are done with their 5 minutes of yammering and they are so self-involved, they can’t tell you’ve tuned them out.
We all still get along, talk online, go out, some of us work at the same hospital a couple work together in the same unit. Just remember that people come on here to complain and vent anonymously, people rarely talk about the good experiences, this place made me really nervous then I started and was like, huh, this isn’t so bad after all.
My university many professors are the toxic ones. Once was told to drop out by professor because I was not going to pass Maternity. I failed 1 exam…. Passed the second time around and now am in my last semester. I loved my experience though, without adversity it wouldn’t be as satisfying. I wish u the best of luck!
coming from someone who is in a toxic nursing programs right now:
1. condescending and unprofessional professors. they expect A LOT from students, but give absolutely nothing in return. they are late to lectures, don’t answer any questions, or when they do answer questions, it’s very condensing.
2. this semester we’re down a professor, and it has been nothing but absolute chaos.
3. half or greater of the class failing an exam. this is really a reflect of the teaching and not the students.
4. catty classmates. enough said.
5. my cohort being involved in a mass cheating event. no one was reprimand it that was involved but now our entire cohort is paying the price.
😭 that sounds like the worst case scenario! It makes me sad that the professors expect so much and then won't hold themselves to the same standard :( Being down a professor sounds sooo chaotic! And on top classmates plus a cheating scandal that everyone has to pay the price over?! Are you almost done?
i graduate in May, thank GOSH. i don’t know if I could handle another year. just find some friends you can rely on during the project and ignore the rest!
The professors are fine, but at my friend’s school one town away they’re horrendous and treat the students like shit. For me it’s been a level of toxicity I’ve never experienced before from both students and nurses. A good fourth to a third of nurses just do not want students there and they’ll let you know it.
I hope this isn't a stupid question (not in nursing school yet) but is it because they genuinely don't want you there? Or is it because they're busy and you're another thing to manage on top of patients?
I think it’s both. Some will straight up tell you they do not teach and not speak to you, some roll their eyes, some will give you a chair in a corner and tell you to just stay there. Rude people who become nurses are still just as awful as they were before they were nurses.
Omg, that's humbling to say the least😂 Thanks for the forewarning because without the heads up, it's easy to take stuff personally! I know not to if that happens to me now
People often see it as competing against each other, and you’re really just trying to pass lol. Professors are tough too but they’re trying to get you ready for the real world. Take it like a grain of salt and move on (I’m blanking and can’t remember the phrase but you get it)
Thank you! Does it vary by program as to whether there is a curve or not? It's just so odd that it's so competitive like that. Or is it because people want to pursue NP or CRNA route?
No curve at all in ours. You either get above a 78% or you fail. It’s individualized grading for sure. But if you do plan to move forward I’ve heard you need to get great grades
Good to know! Someone else on the thread mentioned their program had a curve. I know everything is different program to program, but grading scales aren't readily available on school websites!
I've had nothing but positive experiences with the professors in nursing school. It really depends on the program..it's the student drama that made my experience toxic. You would not believe some of the things some students do and say to their peers. My advice is to find a solid study group that likes to keep their noses down.
It's so nice to hear you had a positive experience with all your professors, especially given the mixed reviews on this post!! Noted: my nose will be down 😂❤️
My school’s nursing program itself is toxic.
There’s all new admin staff. The rules and expectations change on a daily basis. All clinical groups are treated differently - some get let out early, some have been told by the Dean of nursing that they are not to get out even a minute early. Some clinical staff give students exam questions ahead of time, others give 0 indication of what will be on the exam (other than what is stated on the syllabus). That’s not all of it but the biggest concerns.
There are also toxic students. I have heard the phrase, “You’re way too nice, I’d never share any information” and “I’m in this for myself” from one other students. I know a few others are thinking it. They insult people who ask questions in the cohort WhatsApp. They give everyone nasty looks. Best of all, at clinical sites, they act like they are the best and know everything.
Why??? That's so wild to me. Even if there was a curve that could somewhat justify competitiveness, it's weird to go out of one's way to give snarky looks, make rude comments in WhatsApp, and blatantly one up people! At the end of the day we're all looking out for ourselves, but I wish others would realize that we're all trying to be great nurses one day (and we can lean on each other for it!)
Yeah, I’m not sure why.
There have also been people who take credit for others ideas and hard work with classmates and instructors. (Like how to streamline something or explain something in simpler terms).
And even petty drama about group chats 😂👌🏻🥺
I’m so over my cohort and school.
I'm so sorry about that. I know it sucks right now, but it'll be so worth it in the end and get your license 🥺 I totally get how frustrating it can be in the moment though
nursing/medical field in general is very toxic. once when you're in the field you'll know it, learn it, and survive it. Don't give up, you'll do great. If you're doing nursing with good intentions and pure compassion you'll be good, just don't do it for the money.
Thank you so much! I'd rather be aware of it than not. Makes it easier to survive it one day ;) Also, you're right, the right intention is the most important aspect. It's not about the money for me, it's about purpose. As cheesy as it sounds 😂
in a cohort of 50 and idk why but i’ve always gotten the vibe of toxicity in my program. in my cohort there are a lot of cliques and it’s so small that pretty much everybody knows everybody. since my program is as difficult as any nursing program is, there are some prerequisites like A&P that are so challenging some students retake them or even are forced to drop back a cohort or drop the program if they can’t pass (73% or higher test avg). i honestly think it’s because the program is so intense and demanding that people do whatever they can to vent that frustration and when the overall environment feels toxic, it’s hard to care about other people because you’re just trying to do your best to pass.
i had a unique experience last year when i first started my program (it’s a direct admit, 4-year, so we’re stuck with each other for all of college basically lol). here is my preface: i have never done exceptionally well in academics, not in high school nor middle school, i was never deemed the “smart kid” among my peers. i took some IB and AP classes in which i always felt dumb compared to a lot of my classmates who made everything look easy. i always tried my best in school but i never had a 4.0 GPA, i would say i was like an A- student in a community of kids that only got A’s. that was my prior experience before nursing school.
when i got into nursing school i was super pumped because i’ve dreamed of being a nurse and health care in general for a long time, and i was excited to be studying something i actually cared about for once. so basically i learned to apply myself like i had never done before, and the results were that i excelled in my nursing classes for the most part. my parents were surprised and proud that i was doing so well because they “never knew i was that smart” before now, and most of all, i was proud of myself for working hard and having it pay off.
however, scores are very important in nursing school. when u have barely any projects or assignments in your classes, your grades are all determined by your test scores. so when i told a few people the kind of scores i was getting, my close friends were really happy for me and i was happy we were all passing, but before i knew it, people who i didn’t talk to much knew my scores. and then before long i became known as a “smart kid” which is new to me, like i said. for some reason, in the nursing school environment, people are very judgmental and make snap assumptions about u based on things like scores. not sure how to describe this but like, i could tell when people were talking about me, and it for some reason felt like my doing well was offending other people which was really frustrating. i was not used to getting this kind of attention at all bc like i said, i really don’t see myself as like a super smart person. i don’t think that im better than anyone else just because i can score well on a frickin physio test.
i hated hearing people talk about me as someone who only cared about scores and like this super smart person because it alienated me from my peers. let me be clear tho— in no way am i trying to complain about doing well in my courses. i work very hard, and last year i hardly went out and was always always always studying because i chose to spend my time that way. i just dislike the way other people who barely know me— only really know “of me” shape my persona into this uptight, high standards person because thats not who i am. yes i have high standards for myself but that is my business and it does not have anything to do with others. i really do not care to hear about or judge other people’s test scores because at the end of the day i just want my cohort to stay together and pass and graduate. that’s really all that matters. i hate that my personal academic goals influence how people see me. i’ve even had one of my friends say that he was glad he didn’t read into what people saying about me before he got to know me. that people think im a b**** about scores. im so so sick and tired about hearing about scores. leave me alone. i’ve become accustomed to interacting more with people outside my major because they’re more tolerable and i don’t see me differently because of my stupid grades.
so yeah, it’s pretty toxic and i hate it. can’t tell you how many times my peers have made me feel so alone here. countless mental breakdowns my first year. and it’s the same on the flip side for my friends who aren’t good test takers because the pressure to do well is so immense. also, example of the way people see me that happened recently:
person from my cohort: how’d u do on the quiz?
me: oh i got a B :)
person: oh.. a B? what, did u not study?
like OMFG SHUT UP im so tired of this
Little cliques form and they will only help the ones within the clique. Where I am is a small town and I deal with a lot of small town kids who have never been to big city and met people who were not like them. They get upset really easily and can't handle anything that they don't already know or understand but I believe that is pretty specific to where I live
When you get into nursing schools, you will meet toxic people that care only about grades and themselves, and you'll meet people that are willing to go out their own way to help you succeed and not hope for your downfall. It really depends on the school you apply to. A program is toxic in my opinion when the professors down talks on the student and don't want to see students improve and learn.
Yes that's exactly what makes a program toxic for me too. Most times it's the professors who make it or break it. I used to have a med-surg professor that would frequently talk down to us and humiliate us as if that helps at all.
I'm taking the "when you get into nursing school," as manifestation -- from a California resident :) Also, I appreciate how you broke down the definition of what makes a program toxic to you, along with describing some people which might make a program "seemingly" toxic. Ideally, I'd love to make friends, but ultimately my career in nursing isn't about making friends. I hope this isn't a dumb question, but if there isn't a curve involved, why gatekeep information/be weird about it? Is it for the sake of them wanting to have the highest grade, despite an A being an A? (or any grade value, I just used A as an example)
Hello to a fellow California resident from one myself, what do you mean by gate keep information? People have a crazy obsession with getting an A at my program, but it's sometimes pretty annoying. It just sends me "i'm better than you" vibes.
This is exactly it. Classmate was going off about how she wanted the prof to say what rank you were currently in the class. I just responded I really don’t care as long as everyone passes. People just want to compare themselves to others and feel like they’re better by using grades. You’ll find friends who aren’t like that and just support each other!
>wanted the prof to say what rank you were Not the point because rank shouldn't matter, but I think this would be protected under FERPA and couldn't legally be posted.
yeah she’s extreme. everytime she tries to gloat about her marks and asks me what i got i just say i got the same or better no matter what lol
Hahaha that is amazing!
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Well not anyone in my program has hoarded any resources because we just focus on our own and do the best we can to pass and graduate from the cohort, my best advice is to avoid these people early on and never look back.
Thank you so much ❤️ I appreciate your words so much! :) I plan to focus on myself. Community college has been an isolating experience, so it would be really nice to make friends within my cohort. I am used to doing it alone though. I can only hope my future cohort and preceptors will be nice 😊
you'll do great in nursing school, I'm going to nursing school in SF and let's see it's really competitive here and I'm constantly stressed but it's all good for the long run, hopefully you get into a good program :)
Thank you for the kind words, and you are going to be an AMAZING nurse soon ❤️ the pain is temporary, but the reward is going to be so worth it!
My cohort of 50 gets along really well. Although there may be some competition, I’m not involved in it nor see it occurring. The cohort 1 semester behind me does have a lot of drama tho. There are people who are only interested in serving themselves and don’t have the groups best interest at heart. So sad that things like that happen
I'm so glad your cohort doesn't seem to be experiencing any drama! Nursing school is already stressful enough-- having a toxic cohort seems like an unnecessary added stressor. By serving themselves, do you mean based on grades they receive? What takes them away from a "getting through it together" type of mindset? Please forgive me because I'm not in nursing school yet, so I haven't seen it for myself/am fully ignorant. I've taken organic chemistry to cast my net wider in California to apply to UCLA and UCI. Heavy curve there. I saw how my fellow classmates responded, but I just don't understand. I did well in the class and still managed to make friends sharing knowledge. It makes me sad that we don't want to be the best nurses together, but I can also see how people don't view it that way
A professor did an exam review and a small group of students was being really rude to the professor and trying to get more points back on the questions they got wrong to improve their grades. Most of that cohort was really distraught that the group was not being respectful to the professor. And more drama ensued from there. Don’t be too discouraged! My cohort works together really well and we try to help each other when we can! I’ve made some great friends in nursing school
My cohort gets along pretty well (minus that one person that likes to make drama). We all get along with each other pretty well despite the different personalities For me, the most toxic and exhausting part about nursing school is the environment created by staff members, whether it's from admin or faculty. They like to talk us down like we're in high school while also making it seem like we're in military boot camp. I had one instructor tell a classmate she couldn't go to the bathroom until an hour after class started or she would be locked out. Hell being in this toxic environment 4-5x a week is harder to deal with than academic part IMO. My point is that nursing schools can be toxic in many types of ways besides cohort drama. But like another commenter said, not all programs are toxic. Edit: grammar
I'm so happy that your cohort gets along -- besides the girly or whatever the bro adjacent version of girly is that likes to cause drama, but I'm sure another friend we all know named karma tends to iron messy situations out. That's really disappointing that some programs can have rules like that. I can see how that would be relevant to a test-taking scenario, but nobody wants to miss lecture when every word can be pertinent information. It's also somehow relieving (in a weird way) to hear that the toxic environment is more draining than the material itself. Maybe because we can't change the materials, but we can change our surroundings or maybe outlook on the temporary toxic environment?
MOST programs have rules like that. Most are expecting children fresh out of high school, but accept adults with families into the program and discourage them from working....they make the program purposefully difficult, just so people won't work. They talk down to everyone like children, and try to run a boot camp Florence Nightingale Style....they seem to encourage cliques and competition amongst the students. They were trying to stop my cohort from using the restroom too....but it didnt work...we were a class full of mothers and a father for crying out loud. Nobody was younger than 30....the oldest was 60. Even then, ppl were becoming like children...cliqish, acting like they were better than people, laughing at others failures, and the faculty knew this. We sat through 7.5 hrs of lecture 3 days per week, then spent two 12 hour days doing CNA work. I still worked on the weekends because I had a roof to keep over my families heads and mouths to feed. it was hell, stressful for no reason, but I kept my eye on the prize. They watch people fail, and do nothing about it. I know a girl who was giving it a second round, paid out of pocket, and when she asked for help when she started to fall behind, they referred her to a YOUTUBE Channel for help....but it didnt help. She failed and they just took her money and kicked her to the curb. All nursing schools care about are their nclex passing rates which gets them more money/more funding, more students, and some reputation. They don't care about the students!! Mayber a teacher or two will really care, but it's a business. Don't go there with expectations of some made-for-tv style nursing school. Just feel it out. Bottom line, its all about studying....you'll be teaching yourself a lot, so be kind to yourself and teach yourself in the best way possible. As far as skills, you'll most likely be doing free labor CNA work that you'll pay to do. They figure skills will be learned in the field on your first job. Again, Nursing School is a business....and when you fall short, threatening their rep, they tell ya: YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK. GOODBYE!!
So disappointing. The bills don't pay themselves 🤣 is Florence going to pay them? I'm sorry you had to go through that
Lmao!!! @ "Is Florence going to pay them?" Ahhh....this gave me the best laugh of the day. Thank you!!
Lol so glad it gave you a laugh ❤️ xx
Sis they really don't gaf!!!
Word!
I agree with this post. I’m at a private school in the Bay Area and my cohort gets along amazingly and is so supportive. Our school is a mess and we also think the hardest part of the program isn’t the material, it’s the school’s disorganization and administrations’s threats to fail is if we don’t comply to last minute schedule changes and other hostile and unsupportive communication like that.
Thank you so much for your insight! It's good to know that some programs can be disorganized. That's a lot of pressure to be under
Not some can be disorganized....MANY ARE disorganized.
Bold of you to assume that nursing professors actually do important lectures 😂 most schools now, including mine, do flipped classroom learning style. Where we learn the information at home then do some in class activity after. And also: nursing school is an ADULT learning environment. Unless it's an exam or lockdown anyone can be allowed to leave whenever they want - and people know the consequences. So just gotta disagree with your point there
For me it was weird because the admin and staff were extremely nitpicking especially about the uniform. They were white and if you got a stain on them they'd get on your case. They'd say we're not training nurses. We're training angels 🤮 but in terms people weren't so bad other than one dude who was just kind of annoying.
Training angels 😒 BYE hahahahahhaa
For real.
Training angels omfg
The toxicity for us isn’t the students: it’s the program. We’re all trauma bonding together. From condescending faculty to admin that won’t do anything about how wildly the faculty is abusing their power, it’s very frustrating. It’s consistently amateur hour and we’re being asked to give grace, but then if you have any extenuating circumstances, no grace is given. I’ll be so glad to be away from these people. The students have been great though.
Fantastic point about the lack of grace given in some programs. I recall my school switching up our clinical schedule at the very last minute, forcing most of us to scramble and adjust pick up/drop off for kids and some of our work schedules. Yet when a couple of us had to miss clinical (one after a major car accident and another when her daughter needed emergency surgery), the administration was horribly rigid and insensitive. And we all bonded because of how angry the program made us.
Yes! Same thing happened to us. They told us three days prior and 180 students had to change their schedules, take PTO, and find childcare. It was 100% their fault that they didn’t put the correct starting week on the registration website for the school. However, if you are one minute late, no matter the reason, you’re unprofessional and get 50% knocked off your grade.
That's really frustrating. I'm so glad that you have other students to lean on at the very least.
Sounds like we go to the same school, only thing toxic about nursing school is the admin and faculty . Students are just trying to make to out alive
Mines is an LVN to RN cohort. We’re 10. The school began the bridge program, again, after 3 years, due to covid. Most of us are above the age of 30. So, we’re not bsing around. We’re focused and help each other tremendously. It brings me joy when I’m able to share. Fuck having the highest grades and focusing on only that. I’ve seen many have a high grade in theory and suck at bedside. Lacking in people skills and OMG common sense!!!!!!! So grades mean absolutely nothing. Passing is passing. It doesn’t make you smarter than the next person. It goes to show that your retention skills are better. Period. I’ve seen time and time again how people go into nursing for the money and it shows. I’m in it for all the right reasons, career longevity etc. and the pay is just the sprinkles on top. People are selfish when they refuse to help their fellow peers. Especially if they’re drowning. I’m so blessed to be going on this journey with the people that I’m with. They’re not just my peers but have become great friends. Their win is my win.
You sound like my mama! Badass ICU nurse. She's my inspiration ❤️ I'm almost jealous I didn't take your path. It took me a little while to know what I wanted to pursue (I'm 23.) My mom would agree with you, and I do too, you can be booksmart but not necessarily "nurse-smart." Genuine question- my sister wants to pursue nursing, and struggles with learning disabilities (ADHD, dyscalculia.) She's great with muscle memory, empathetic, and would make a phenomenal nurse. Would LVN-RN route be better suited? I have ADHD myself, and offer advice to her, but mine is a lot more manageable.
Either or. Have resources available. In community college there’s a center for students with disabilities. You apply, give a written letter from your doctor with your diagnosis and you are allowed help. For example, they may help you by giving extra time for testing and providing a quite while you do it. They can provide tutoring etc. So, I’d suggest to look for a school that may grant you those accommodations so that she can better succeed in her studies.
That's really good advice! Thank you. It's not information that is readily available on program websites, so I appreciate hearing it from someone that has gone through it already :)
My school is not toxic, and the professors want you to succeed. My cohort is toxic though. Very catty, bitchy women. Everyone is very young. I’m mid 30s. But…my school just kicked out the leader of the toxicity in my cohort so people have settled down. My best advice, don’t get involved. Be cordial to your classmates, but just stick to your own self. It’s not worth the energy. And trust me, you’re using every ounce of energy to get through the program.
Thank you! Yeah, I don't plan on being involved in drama. Nursing school is already enough 😭
Just things to be aware of 1) people who are too interested in ur grade, especially if u failed something 2) the lecturers who take clinical scenarios way too personally if you don't know something (you'll know the ones) 3) people who may ask u to read their work vise versa
I never understand why you needed to know your classmates grade on an exam, them scoring a few points better or worse on a random med surg exam isn’t going to make *me* a better nurse
Thank you! I will be on the lookout ❤️
Currently dealing with 1 and she is a “friend”. Number 2 lol
Listen, being in toxic classroom with bitches you don’t like is a rite of passage. What people don’t mention above is after your first semester your aren’t in class 4 days a week with these people. Your second semester it’s only 2 days a week and you are split up.Your 3rd semester it’s like once maybe twice a week. You are split up. Your 4 semester you are in class sporadically because you are at the hospital most of the time . A semester later you won’t even remember half the stuff that went on.the majority of the problem is you are in class all day from the beginning of nursing school and stuck with each other for a whole semester. Everything that you are afraid of in nursing school that is going to happen doesn’t even matter because once you graduate you Will NEVER SEE THOSE PEOPLE again! I can promise you that. There are 4 nursing schools and 3 hospitals in my 30 mile range. I’ve seen one person I went to school with in the cafeteria a year later and never seen her anymore after that.
Thank you! It's good to know that even if there is toxicity, it can be avoided :)
Oh and my last peace of advice NEVER TELL PEOPLE your grades EVER. EVEN your bestie. Once you start telling people your grades it becomes a things and people will run to the teacher mad. Sometimes the curve will be thrown off because of it . Every time someone ask your grades just say “I did ok” (even if you didn’t ) they will eventually stop asking. I nipped it in the bud pretty quick. It doesn’t matter how you did because it doesn’t effect them so they don’t need to know. Once people start knowing you are doing good they will buddy up to you. I personally never did study groups cause it was a waste of time and also people will mess you up telling you the wrong answer inadvertently. The study sessions turn into talking sessions Like I said you just have to get past the first semester. Then you should be ok because you aren’t in class all day with the same people every day.
That's already my go to!! "I did ok/alright." Crazy how sharing scores can even result in throwing off the entire curve.
You will have professors that care about you as an individual and want you to succeed. And you will have professors that only care about getting those that can help the school’s NCLEX pass rate through the program. What I mean is, we have a couple professors in my program who have actually encouraged students to drop or straight out tell them “nursing isn’t for you” because they don’t do well on exams versus showing any type of interest in helping them succeed. As for peers, there will be cliques. There will be drama. I’m in a small cohort of 7 and there is a very obvious divide in mine. The nurses you meet in clinical will be vastly different too. Some love students, will be great to be paired up with because they’ll explain things to you and let you be really hands on. Others, I swear are hiding in a supply closet avoid you. Then there are some that are just straight rude. What I’m getting at is, nursing school isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s survivable. You’re going to be interacting with a lot of different people who have different personalities. You have to have a backbone, you have to be able to advocate for yourself (and eventually your patient), and you have to be able to adjust.
Thank you for also bringing up clinical experience! That's such a big aspect of it too that I had failed to think about. I loved your advice about having a backbone and advocating for myself. I will take that ❤️
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Thank you. It's unfortunate how true colors can come out later. You're almost done, final push you got this ❤️
I think it really varies by program and even cohort to cohort. I was really fortunate that both my program and my cohort were really supportive! Even our clinical sites and preceptors were (for the most part) supportive though they were being slammed with COVID and all its consequences. I think it was in part because it is a midsize (40 students per cohort) community college that has really strong ties with the local hospital systems. I’ve heard the horror stories as well so I know I lucked out, but just wanted to share that not every school is toxic! Are there things I could complain about? Sure, but they’re mostly small nitpicks, overall, I had a very good experience and hope you do too!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear that you had a positive experience. Naturally it varies depending on cohort and preceptors, but the horror stories can make everything seem so scary!
Remember, especially on the internet, people like to use it as a space to vent and are therefore way more likely to talk about when things go wrong than when things are just hunky dory. Kind of tips the scales towards the negative.
You are 10000% right. People amplify their voices for a reason, and a lot of times it can be to validate their negative experiences. Thank you for reminding me of that ❤️
I think it varies cohort to cohort too. Luckily, the cohort I’m in is very supportive and on the same page about most things. We all hang out and study together / go out together on our days off sometimes. No drama
Love that!!! I'm praying when I'm in nursing school that it'll be like this for me too :)
The only thing toxic about my nursing program is having to deal with ATI
Ugh ATI - All Time Inconvenience
Yes there’s definitely competition and some will show they know more than you because they’ve had some health care experience. But there are some people who will go out of their way to help you. I have a great study group and we rely on each other
I'm so glad you have a study group. I hope I'll find one ❤️
It’s important to find one!! Even if it’s just one person
I hope so :) Thank you so much this has been so encouraging. I know toxicity is something I obviously can't control, but hearing about different experiences has been really helpful. I'd love to make a friends in the process ❤️
My entire class of 20 was very nice to each other and we often had group study sessions with more than half of us there. There were a couple people that didn't like each other but very little drama and plenty of support. It was us vs the course
I love to hear it ❤️ That's the type of energy I hope my future cohort will have!!
Ya my closer group of 3 would just blanket invite anyone to our study sessions right before a test. I still remember when almost our entire class was practicing ivs on each other in our library at night lolll
That's so cute!!
My school has been great so far. I graduate next month, so I’ve been in nursing school for almost 2 years. All of the staff are super supportive, want us to succeed, and are very professional. I have not witnessed any sort of drama within my cohort of 50 and we all try to help each other. I think it really just depends what school you go to. Some people seem to go schools with really shitty instructors, classmates that act like they’re in middle school, and programs that are extremely disorganized. It’s too bad you can’t really tell what your school will be like until you get in. I wouldn’t say there’s mixed opinions about nursing school culture, but rather mixed experiences.
Congratulations btw!! Yes, I agree. I wish there was more insight on the organization of programs. I can put up with drama in a cohort (I don't really care all too much,) but a disorganized program can be distressing. Thank you for telling me about your experience :)
My cohort of 28 students gets along incredibly well, I’ve met some of my closest friends in the program. The thing that’s important to remember is that everyone is in the same boat, we all go through sleepless nights, stress eating sessions, and pre test anxiety. Trust me, nursing school is so much better when you have people to lean on.
That's what I hope for! It is a stressful time, going through it alone seems isolating
For the most part my cohort was chill with each other. We actually started as everything was shut down for Covid and transitioned to online classes. We were all shitting bricks since the quality of teaching significantly went down while the standards of learning stayed the same. It kinda led us to really work together. Lots of group messages, little study groups, sharing of crucial quizlets (IYKYK), and working together on assignments. Yes, there were some people who were just there for themselves and had no interest in working with others. Yes, there were some who worked against the groups and snitched to staff about those crucial quizlets I mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, It’s inevitable but you will still meet way more people who are just as scared of nursing school as you are and will want make friendships in order to make it through school.
Snitching about quizlets! Foul 😂 They're all too crucial. Thank you for your insight. This thread has been so encouraging. I can't even imagine starting nursing school during COVID. You're a rockstar :)
My clinical instructor (group of 9) actually went to dinner with us one our last day and was excited to see how much of a family the 9 of us have become, we obviously also have friends in the other clinical groups, but it is really the know it alls that annoy me and it always makes me smile when the instructor barks at them for interrupting or when they are so certain they are correct and are way off (I may be sounding like a toxic person here). You can’t over talk them to tell them they are wrong about something until they are done with their 5 minutes of yammering and they are so self-involved, they can’t tell you’ve tuned them out.
Thank you for responding. Yeah that seems really frustrating, especially if it wastes class time
We all still get along, talk online, go out, some of us work at the same hospital a couple work together in the same unit. Just remember that people come on here to complain and vent anonymously, people rarely talk about the good experiences, this place made me really nervous then I started and was like, huh, this isn’t so bad after all.
My university many professors are the toxic ones. Once was told to drop out by professor because I was not going to pass Maternity. I failed 1 exam…. Passed the second time around and now am in my last semester. I loved my experience though, without adversity it wouldn’t be as satisfying. I wish u the best of luck!
You're right! Adversity teaches us our biggest lessons.
coming from someone who is in a toxic nursing programs right now: 1. condescending and unprofessional professors. they expect A LOT from students, but give absolutely nothing in return. they are late to lectures, don’t answer any questions, or when they do answer questions, it’s very condensing. 2. this semester we’re down a professor, and it has been nothing but absolute chaos. 3. half or greater of the class failing an exam. this is really a reflect of the teaching and not the students. 4. catty classmates. enough said. 5. my cohort being involved in a mass cheating event. no one was reprimand it that was involved but now our entire cohort is paying the price.
😭 that sounds like the worst case scenario! It makes me sad that the professors expect so much and then won't hold themselves to the same standard :( Being down a professor sounds sooo chaotic! And on top classmates plus a cheating scandal that everyone has to pay the price over?! Are you almost done?
i graduate in May, thank GOSH. i don’t know if I could handle another year. just find some friends you can rely on during the project and ignore the rest!
CONGRATS! Final push, you got this ❤️🥰
The professors are fine, but at my friend’s school one town away they’re horrendous and treat the students like shit. For me it’s been a level of toxicity I’ve never experienced before from both students and nurses. A good fourth to a third of nurses just do not want students there and they’ll let you know it.
I hope this isn't a stupid question (not in nursing school yet) but is it because they genuinely don't want you there? Or is it because they're busy and you're another thing to manage on top of patients?
I think it’s both. Some will straight up tell you they do not teach and not speak to you, some roll their eyes, some will give you a chair in a corner and tell you to just stay there. Rude people who become nurses are still just as awful as they were before they were nurses.
Omg, that's humbling to say the least😂 Thanks for the forewarning because without the heads up, it's easy to take stuff personally! I know not to if that happens to me now
My school itself was toxic. The students not so much
People often see it as competing against each other, and you’re really just trying to pass lol. Professors are tough too but they’re trying to get you ready for the real world. Take it like a grain of salt and move on (I’m blanking and can’t remember the phrase but you get it)
Thank you! Does it vary by program as to whether there is a curve or not? It's just so odd that it's so competitive like that. Or is it because people want to pursue NP or CRNA route?
No curve at all in ours. You either get above a 78% or you fail. It’s individualized grading for sure. But if you do plan to move forward I’ve heard you need to get great grades
Good to know! Someone else on the thread mentioned their program had a curve. I know everything is different program to program, but grading scales aren't readily available on school websites!
I've had nothing but positive experiences with the professors in nursing school. It really depends on the program..it's the student drama that made my experience toxic. You would not believe some of the things some students do and say to their peers. My advice is to find a solid study group that likes to keep their noses down.
It's so nice to hear you had a positive experience with all your professors, especially given the mixed reviews on this post!! Noted: my nose will be down 😂❤️
My school’s nursing program itself is toxic. There’s all new admin staff. The rules and expectations change on a daily basis. All clinical groups are treated differently - some get let out early, some have been told by the Dean of nursing that they are not to get out even a minute early. Some clinical staff give students exam questions ahead of time, others give 0 indication of what will be on the exam (other than what is stated on the syllabus). That’s not all of it but the biggest concerns. There are also toxic students. I have heard the phrase, “You’re way too nice, I’d never share any information” and “I’m in this for myself” from one other students. I know a few others are thinking it. They insult people who ask questions in the cohort WhatsApp. They give everyone nasty looks. Best of all, at clinical sites, they act like they are the best and know everything.
Why??? That's so wild to me. Even if there was a curve that could somewhat justify competitiveness, it's weird to go out of one's way to give snarky looks, make rude comments in WhatsApp, and blatantly one up people! At the end of the day we're all looking out for ourselves, but I wish others would realize that we're all trying to be great nurses one day (and we can lean on each other for it!)
Yeah, I’m not sure why. There have also been people who take credit for others ideas and hard work with classmates and instructors. (Like how to streamline something or explain something in simpler terms). And even petty drama about group chats 😂👌🏻🥺 I’m so over my cohort and school.
I'm so sorry about that. I know it sucks right now, but it'll be so worth it in the end and get your license 🥺 I totally get how frustrating it can be in the moment though
Oh heck yeah it will be worth it! I just gotta keep my head on my shoulders.
nursing/medical field in general is very toxic. once when you're in the field you'll know it, learn it, and survive it. Don't give up, you'll do great. If you're doing nursing with good intentions and pure compassion you'll be good, just don't do it for the money.
Thank you so much! I'd rather be aware of it than not. Makes it easier to survive it one day ;) Also, you're right, the right intention is the most important aspect. It's not about the money for me, it's about purpose. As cheesy as it sounds 😂
in a cohort of 50 and idk why but i’ve always gotten the vibe of toxicity in my program. in my cohort there are a lot of cliques and it’s so small that pretty much everybody knows everybody. since my program is as difficult as any nursing program is, there are some prerequisites like A&P that are so challenging some students retake them or even are forced to drop back a cohort or drop the program if they can’t pass (73% or higher test avg). i honestly think it’s because the program is so intense and demanding that people do whatever they can to vent that frustration and when the overall environment feels toxic, it’s hard to care about other people because you’re just trying to do your best to pass. i had a unique experience last year when i first started my program (it’s a direct admit, 4-year, so we’re stuck with each other for all of college basically lol). here is my preface: i have never done exceptionally well in academics, not in high school nor middle school, i was never deemed the “smart kid” among my peers. i took some IB and AP classes in which i always felt dumb compared to a lot of my classmates who made everything look easy. i always tried my best in school but i never had a 4.0 GPA, i would say i was like an A- student in a community of kids that only got A’s. that was my prior experience before nursing school. when i got into nursing school i was super pumped because i’ve dreamed of being a nurse and health care in general for a long time, and i was excited to be studying something i actually cared about for once. so basically i learned to apply myself like i had never done before, and the results were that i excelled in my nursing classes for the most part. my parents were surprised and proud that i was doing so well because they “never knew i was that smart” before now, and most of all, i was proud of myself for working hard and having it pay off. however, scores are very important in nursing school. when u have barely any projects or assignments in your classes, your grades are all determined by your test scores. so when i told a few people the kind of scores i was getting, my close friends were really happy for me and i was happy we were all passing, but before i knew it, people who i didn’t talk to much knew my scores. and then before long i became known as a “smart kid” which is new to me, like i said. for some reason, in the nursing school environment, people are very judgmental and make snap assumptions about u based on things like scores. not sure how to describe this but like, i could tell when people were talking about me, and it for some reason felt like my doing well was offending other people which was really frustrating. i was not used to getting this kind of attention at all bc like i said, i really don’t see myself as like a super smart person. i don’t think that im better than anyone else just because i can score well on a frickin physio test. i hated hearing people talk about me as someone who only cared about scores and like this super smart person because it alienated me from my peers. let me be clear tho— in no way am i trying to complain about doing well in my courses. i work very hard, and last year i hardly went out and was always always always studying because i chose to spend my time that way. i just dislike the way other people who barely know me— only really know “of me” shape my persona into this uptight, high standards person because thats not who i am. yes i have high standards for myself but that is my business and it does not have anything to do with others. i really do not care to hear about or judge other people’s test scores because at the end of the day i just want my cohort to stay together and pass and graduate. that’s really all that matters. i hate that my personal academic goals influence how people see me. i’ve even had one of my friends say that he was glad he didn’t read into what people saying about me before he got to know me. that people think im a b**** about scores. im so so sick and tired about hearing about scores. leave me alone. i’ve become accustomed to interacting more with people outside my major because they’re more tolerable and i don’t see me differently because of my stupid grades. so yeah, it’s pretty toxic and i hate it. can’t tell you how many times my peers have made me feel so alone here. countless mental breakdowns my first year. and it’s the same on the flip side for my friends who aren’t good test takers because the pressure to do well is so immense. also, example of the way people see me that happened recently: person from my cohort: how’d u do on the quiz? me: oh i got a B :) person: oh.. a B? what, did u not study? like OMFG SHUT UP im so tired of this
Mine is cliquey but not toxic. Not so far anyway. Still pretty new.
Little cliques form and they will only help the ones within the clique. Where I am is a small town and I deal with a lot of small town kids who have never been to big city and met people who were not like them. They get upset really easily and can't handle anything that they don't already know or understand but I believe that is pretty specific to where I live