[Butterflybee]

The course is not easy by any stretch. Dedication to studying is what will get anyone to pass. I dont agree with what was said by the professor " She then said, its better if we had no experience " because in clinicals they have a definite leg up. They may need to adjust but w/o experience we need to learn it. Therefore the ones w/experience did alot better than those w/o it. They were confident too. With this personal knowledge, I am going to get experience working first as an LPN before doing my RN. Although it is definitely a personal choice. I just didnt like how I felt doing things cold, i prefer to KNOW what Im doing. Books dont adequately prepare you for clinicals. I was the 2nd in my class grade wise and didnt feel like I knew anything during clinicals although I could ace any sit down test. It's like anything practice, practice, practice, practice. I guess that's why they give us CPR dummies to work on and not just the book.

[KIMMY03]

Originally Posted by Butterflybee

The course is not easy by any stretch. Dedication to studying is what will get anyone to pass. I dont agree with what was said by the professor " She then said, its better if we had no experience " because in clinicals they have a definite leg up. They may need to adjust but w/o experience we need to learn it. Therefore the ones w/experience did alot better than those w/o it. They were confident too. With this personal knowledge, I am going to get experience working first as an LPN before doing my RN. Although it is definitely a personal choice. I just didnt like how I felt doing things cold, i prefer to KNOW what Im doing. Books dont adequately prepare you for clinicals. I was the 2nd in my class grade wise and didnt feel like I knew anything during clinicals although I could ace any sit down test. It's like anything practice, practice, practice, practice. I guess that's why they give us CPR dummies to work on and not just the book.

Did you know anything going into the LPN program? I have yet to start and have absolutely no experience in healthcare and when I have reviewed some of those Nclex style questions, my heart stops! The material looks sooo hard, I feel like I will never know that stuff!!! Then again, it may be because this is my first time being exposed to it. Has anyone else had this experience before starting school?

[HeartsOpenWide]

I am about to start my Sr. year of my BSN in August and we have not had a single person fail yet, one decided that nursing is not for him and got into an occupational therapy program, another had to move when her husband got transfered, and another go pregnant, other than one person that joined our group from the year ahead of us,after a suggestion to take a year off and get more CNA experience first...but was not failing, we still have our original class. We have people from 20 to mid 40s and although I am not among the group that does the occasional partying (I went to my first gathering at the end of the second year and everyone was giving me a hard time for finally coming to something) no one is how you described....immature?

I am not sure if this has anything to do with it, but my program selects by merit; Pre-req GPA, overall GPA, TEAS score, past medical experience, residency, and a second language. The JC which uses a lotto system and only requires a 2.5 GPA had people failing the first few weeks.

I think if you loose your drive and dedication or focus this could mess you up too. My friend was in a class ahead of me at the very JC I was talking about. He had been accepted into UC Davis medical school, so he was no dummy. He ended up failing second semester by like 2% because he lost focus, was spending way too much time working extra shifts as an LVN, helping other people study (and not for himself), now he will graduate at the same time as me but I will have a BSN and he will have an ASN. He was really upset about it for a long time; he was not immature and he was not partying or anything, he was just working overtime and helping other people with their study groups when he should have been saving some of the time for himself.

[baldee]

Originally Posted by HeartsOpenWide

I am about to start my Sr. year of my BSN in August and we have not had a single person fail yet, one decided that nursing is not for him and got into an occupational therapy program, another had to move when her husband got transfered, and another go pregnant, other than one person that joined our group from the year ahead of us,after a suggestion to take a year off and get more CNA experience first...but was not failing, we still have our original class. We have people from 20 to mid 40s and although I am not among the group that does the occasional partying (I went to my first gathering at the end of the second year and everyone was giving me a hard time for finally coming to something) no one is how you described....immature?

I am not sure if this has anything to do with it, but my program selects by merit; Pre-req GPA, overall GPA, TEAS score, past medical experience, residency, and a second language. The JC which uses a lotto system and only requires a 2.5 GPA had people failing the first few weeks.

I think if you loose your drive and dedication or focus this could mess you up too. My friend was in a class ahead of me at the very JC I was talking about. He had been accepted into UC Davis medical school, so he was no dummy. He ended up failing second semester by like 2% because he lost focus, was spending way too much time working extra shifts as an LVN, helping other people study (and not for himself), now he will graduate at the same time as me but I will have a BSN and he will have an ASN. He was really upset about it for a long time; he was not immature and he was not partying or anything, he was just working overtime and helping other people with their study groups when he should have been saving some of the time for himself.

Sounds like your friend is a compasionate caring individual who will make an excellent nurse. Its not the first one over the finish line that matters. ASN or ADN nursing programs are often "much" harder than any other nursing degree since they are the most competitive. It sounds like your friend is mature and learning Nursing priorities the way they should be viewed. Sometimes the best courses from the best teachers are not available all the time, so skipping a beat is routinely required for the best education.

Those who think that 'the first one to graduate' is the goal has no idea of the liabilities ahead of them.


Good luck.

[FavreFan, LPN]

The reasons students failed out of the LPN program I am in are as varied as the individuals themselves. However, I do have to say that of the remaining students, there are more than a few that I would be afraid to meet up with again as the nurse of a family member of mine. The immaturity is a big thing, but the lack of honesty and integrity is scariest of all........if you study hard, commit yourself entirely to the program, and never forget the reason(s) you chose nursing as a career, you will do just fine!! Good luck to you, and to all upcoming students...and be glad you discovered this site before you started....wish i had!!

[kcochrane]

We lost very few students due to grades, in my LPN school. Most that failed had excessive absences or behavior problem (i.e. arguing with the instructors). We also lost a few in clinical for unsafe practices. Funny thing is that most of them were middle aged like me. The youngest ones in my class were amazing. There were serious about their studies, polite and quiet during lecture. I think you will do fine!!!

I start my LPN to RN NS courses in the Fall. I really hope there are more students that care than my LPN class.

[m3gan1yn]

As far as my school goes...the only students to fail out have been older...like 30's 40's..all the younger students (like me..I'm 21) have made it so far..and graduate in less than a month..I really don't think it has anything to do with age.

[FavreFan, LPN]

We lost half of our class (down to 35) within the first 3 or 4 months - mostly due to failing 2 correlated exams...that is the school's way of weeding out those who would never make it....what I meant by varied is both ages (about half were younger, half were older), and students not putting into the program the necessary time and effort (studying 3-4 hours per night after 7 hours in school) due to realization that nursing is not for them, etc. It is a grueling 11-month program that is meant to turn out very good nurses, and as far as nursing skills are concerned, our school has. Good grades and the best of skills cannot, however, change a person's ethics, and that is where it becomes scary to think about the very few who will pass boards and be out there "caring" for people when they really don't CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

[rnmomtobe2010]

This thread has made me think...Now, I have a decision to make....

[4x4country]

Originally Posted by rnmomtobe2010

This thread has made me think...Now, I have a decision to make....

what kind of decision??