[isadoragag]

I was 6 weeks from finishing my RN program, when my clinical instructor called me in to tell me she was giving me an unsatisfactory. The problem was that two times in the same day it took me two tries to draw up an injectible. In order to make up for this I have to do summer clinicals and, if I finish those, then I can graduate. Academically I'm fine. But is anyone ever going to hire me with this unsatisfactory and extra clinical requirement out there in my academic record?

[Reno1978]

Employers care that you get licensed. I really doubt they care about what grades you received in school. I never had to submit any of that when I got my first job after graduation.

[TazziRN]

The only thing they look at is A) graduation from an accredited school, and B) passing the NCLEX. THey do not ask you how long it took you to get through school or how many times you take the NCLEX before passing.

[HM2Viking]

Can you appeal? Failing you for taking 2 tries to draw up an injectable seems petty. If you did not place your patient in imminent risk of harm that does not seem to warrant a U. I would schedule a meeting with the Director of your nursing department. Look her in the eye, take responsibility for your error. Ask her if you can remediate the errors through a skills assignment in the lab. It never hurts to ask!

[RN1989]

Learning to juggle a syringe and a bottle trying to hit a small target while not stabbing yourself or contaminating the needle is a learned skill of coordination. And then there is the skill of learning to keep the needle under the fluid while not completely withdrawing it from the stopper. It is similar to learning how to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time. It takes practice.

There is probably nothing you can do about their imposed regulations. Fighting it may draw more negative attention to yourself. I recommend doing what they ask with a smile while making sure you practice your butt off on skills that you still need to work on. It will take a while for you to be able to withdraw meds in one easy motion but it will happen.

If you have a learning lab with bottles and syringes, ask the instructor to let you practice this. Ask for tips and tricks. Look interested and sincere about mastering these skills. Instructors love to think that you are taking to heart what they have told you. It also gives you the ability to document that you have made an honest effort and if you still keep getting negative feedback, you may have more options to fight at a later point.

If you actually get asked in your first job interviews about the extra classes, tell them that you were doing extra work to ensure that you had mastered the physical skills to perform the technical tasks of a nurse. Thus you are fully prepared to undertake your job as a competent RN.

Quit beating yourself up. Nursing is hard enough and you will have plenty of time to be depressed and angry when you make a med error or find out you have no control over a lot of things at work that are driving you nuts.

[rita359]

Have known people who failed boards a couple of times and get jobs and do very well as nurses. As long as you graduate, I don't think employers are going to worry. It is just a small setback. Maybe you will learn some helpful things in this extra clinical which will help in the long run.

[somedayrn2008]

GIRL!! things happen, thats why we are given the chance to better ourselves or remedy the situation. if they really didnt think you were going to be able to do it at all, they would not let you do it again. do it, rock it and you will be better for it!
i had faced having to retake a class, and i know its not your situ, but i understand how you feel. i knew that if i would have had to, i would have done it. prolly not felt the best, same way you are feeling now, but you CAN do it, YOU CAN! its a bump in the road to say the least, but YOU CAN do it

ROCK IT!
GL! Not that you will need it!
Heather

[trace_element]

I agree with viking......that seems awfully petty!

[elkpark]

Many people have encountered similar snags and "bumps in the road" on their path to licensure, and it hasn't affected their careers or employability. Best wishes with getting the situation resolved, one way or another!

[MAISY, RN-ER]

I agree with the others, all employers care about is your license.

My concern would be your instructor. Unless you had other problems, I'd wonder if that instructor had a clue. Even experienced RN's drop pills, mess up syringe drawers, and forget how to mix things. What's her problem?

Anyway, good luck....it will all work out.

Maisy