[student1000]

So I am no longer a student. I have resisted posting out of fear of not remaining annonymous but I need fellow students/nurses support. I was dismissed from my nursing program for crying episodes that were unprofessional. I was on probabtion already and that added to my stress. I am trying to figure out now what to do. Do I want to continue on with nursing? I do (until I read all the horror storries posted here) and even have this desire to keep doing the class work but I can't stay motivated when there is no point. I looked into another nursing program but it won't accept applications from students who were dismissed from another program. I live in a major city and figured it shouldn't be that hard to find another program. I thought about an associates RN but I already have the majority of the classes done so I would have to repeat almost 90% and several of the associate RN programs look like they only have 3 clinicals which is surprising to me.

Now that I am no longer a student I am hearing about all the support I had truly from the othe rstudents in my program-why I didn't realize it before I don't know-I think everyone is wrapped up in themselves until something happens and then they say we really were there for you.

I am debating about getting a job as a CNA or med assistant but have been trying to figure out how to go about doing that since I don't have the certification. I have heard and seen on only a few jobs that if you have completed x clinicals you can apply.


I want to go back to school but all of the local programs I already missed their deadlines for September so I will have to wait another year. I feel so lost and don't seem to know what to do. I moved to a new city to go to school and the only people I knew are in the program.

What are some other jobs people have done who ended up leaving nursing before they got their degree? I know there are a whole bunch of health care jobs out there-its just none seem to appeal to me the way nursing did (does?). I liked the flexibility and different type sof specialities/settings that nurses can work in.

Sorry so long.

[Italia13 RN]

They dismissed you fro crying?!?! I think thats alittle crazy, I have never heard of someone getting kicked out of school for crying? Maybe you can appeal and get back into your school. Transferring to another school sucks with nursing because even though we learn the same material it can be taught at different times during the program or named a different course, so all of the credits that you worked hard for mean nothing! I am so sorry to hear this happened to you, but seriously if you want to be a nurse I wouldnt let this stop you, try applying to different schools and dont give up. some of my friends who quit went back to school for teaching. I hope you do well in your future plans! Dont give up if this is really what you want to do!

[nurse educate]

Originally Posted by Italia13

They dismissed you fro crying?!?! I think thats alittle crazy, I have never heard of someone getting kicked out of school for crying?

I'm guessing this was more than just an isolated incident. I think you need to explore exactly what was happening, why you were so emotional in school. What exactly was going on? Also, is this the right time in your life to be doing this? Have you been to a counselor, either privately or through your school? Until you tackle this, I would hold off on nursing for a while, maybe a year off wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Perhaps a job as a CNA may work for you, with the experience you have as a student.

[beth66335]

What do you mean you have the majority of the classes done? How many years/semesters of NS do you have completed? You may be able to sit for the LPN exam if you have enough NS done, some of the folks I went to school with said they were going to get their LPN first and then try RN again. Just to get some good experience, you know? If you don't have at least a year in you might be able to work as a NA uncertified, they hired those at the hospital I used to work in, you can't work cardiac or CCU/ICU, but some places will hire you and then send you through the program to get certified. The counseling idea doesn't sound to bad either, but don't think you can't talk to us too, anytime! If you really want this you can find a way!

[suanna]

I don't want to be discouraging but your instructors may have had your best intrest at heart. If the stress of school pushed you to crying on multiple occasions( I don't know if there were other reasons you were on probation) then nursing may not be for you at this time. Ours can be a very frustrating, emotionaly draining, stressfull job and if your instructors were that concerned about your emotional stability it may be a blessing for you that you are out of the program. As your life changes you may find you are able to better handle the stress of the job, but for now cutting you from the program may have been a kindness- I just wish they had done it before you spent so much time and money in the program. Drug dependency, alcoholism, depression , divorce, suicide are all pretty common in our field. I wouldn't want to see another casualty of the stress if it could be avoided.

[kukukajoo]

It can be done. I think firstly I would see if counseling were available to help you learn why you can't keep calm and your emotions in check during class/clincial. It can only help if you ask me.

In my school, we have pretty supportive staff for the most part, who really try to help you through. I was nearly canned first two weeks of the first year after a serious illness put me in the hospital nearly a week and I had so many abscences. Somehow I stuck it out despite not making friends after challenging the absence policy possibly a little to aggressively. But here I am about to graduate in May.

There are many schools everywhere and you may not have to repeat ALL of them. I would contact the schools directly. I was prepared to transfer if I had to but it never came about. The other college would have taken ALL classes passed with B+ or better.

Best wishes- if this is what you really want, you WILL find a way!

[not2L84me]

I have a similar problem that I posted, but not sure how to find it! Don't give up! This just happned to me this Monday 3/3/08. At first I cried and slept away some days, got depressed. Last night I got mad and am going to make an appointment with the Dean. (Wish me luck). This school is not very supportive and doesn't even warn you. It's just bam! You're out. Even though they knew I had 2 set-backs and one home emergency. I missed 2 clinical days, no lectures and had already made up one clinical day. On Sunday, I got a message from my clinical instructor stating that they had scheduled a "conference" for me. Ha! The idiots let me start working my second clinical day. I had already done my assessment and was getting ready to chart. That's when I got pulled aside! In the middle of clinical. How humiliating! I'm so angry now that I am going to contine to find ways to get this done. All my life since I was 15 I have been in nursing. I will not allow anyone to take that dream away. I like you am in California. Maybe we can join forces and help one another out with info. Like you said, I have already come across colleges that will not accept anyone who has failed at another college. Don't give up. "If there's a will, there's a way." I'm in the same boat you are so let's help each other paddle that boat. i believe you can do it!
Oops, I thought you lived in California, don't know why. Sorry!

[angelchick]

DONT GIVE UP!!!! I too was kicked out last year half way through practicum because my "mental illness", came to the forefront of our head nursing educator. I fought through human rights act and politicians etc, and although I wont be gratuating with my year 1 buddies I WILL be gratuating! just a year later then planned, don't let others step in front of your dreams!!!

All the best!!!!

[angelchick]

P.S They tried everything to put barriers up for me returning and I fought like I have never fought before. Although I still have resentment I feel stronger as an individual for standing up for my rights and dreams.

[jjjoy]

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. As you try to regroup, some things to consider might be: do you think the dismissal was at all warranted? Are there some issues that need to be dealt with before continuing (either emotional or academic or whatever)? Were you given fair warning with clear goals and consequences for not meeting those goals? Is there any chance at readmission next year to the same school?

Every school and instructor is different so those of us listening can't tell you whether or not the school was hasty and/or unsupportive. They may well have been. For now, it's your call on whether or not the feedback that you weren't ready for nursing school at this point is valid or not. Can you identify how you feel about it? If you're not sure (and that's okay), there are things you can do to build your confidence and prove to yourself if this is really what you want or not.

You can try to get a job as a nursing assistant or unit secretary or any other kind of job that will give you exposure to nursing. Some places might have strict hiring guidelines where you end up over or under qualified. But other places are more flexible so don't give up at the first "no" you might receive. If you explain that you have completed some nursing school already but had to leave "for personal reasons" I can imagine some places would be more than willing to hire you.

Or you could try to get a totally unrelated job to allow time to reflect on this experience and take some time away from nursing pursuits. Or if you feel all you need is a second chance then you could dig right in and find those schools that would accept students from other programs and try to get back into school ASAP. Or many other options.

When a door is closed it can feel pretty bleak and like a dead-end. Give it a little time and take the chance to look around a bit, and you can see that there are other options and paths to take.