kicked out nrsing school-would u fight?

[hotcoffee1]

Help

I was 5 days from finishing my first year nursing and got bounced. i must go on record as not being the most beloved person in the class. the staff in a manner of speaking, hates my guts. i have clinical with a woman hell-bent on getting me kicked out. she has earned the name of dracula's daugher (AKA DD) from the clinical group. she is less than supportive, and when i asked for guidance regarding a straight cath (i anticipated a pt requiring one, no experience) she told me to read the book. (you get the picture, right?)

The last 5 weeks of class are med-surg in ortho. we got our first two patients the third clinical day. (i was not given a patient the first day of clinical--he never materialized from the OR) I happen to have an essental tremor. i found this out in lab first semester, when trying to draw up a meds my first semester. i sought care from my physician who placed me on lopressor. it has helped tremendously. I advised the staff.

Clinical was torture. we were required to fill out the paperwork described in the syllabus as well as additional forms introduced by DD. we recorded VS in 4 different places. If you did meds for the rotation, it was virtually impossible to finish on time (all my meds were administered late), and many of my classmates failed to accomplish this.

My first patient had alzheimers, total hip, and was combative. i fell behind schedule in performing his care. a future clinical instructor was shadowing DD and helped me with this patient. we fell behind DD's written schedule. I made the assumption that the shadow had a some authority and i took directions from her. I was later told that i was late emptying drains, and did not adhere to the schedule of care. i was told this was MY patient and I screwed up the timeframe for emptying foley and a hemovac. (i had never done either skill up to this day). The most EMBARASSING error I made (yes dear reader, i will tell you) was not telling the nurse in charge of the patient, that the wrong IV fluid was hanging (we had IV and foley training post these incidents). We had the postoperative lecture describing the tasks necessary for post op care after four patient care days. i didnt hang the fluid, which was not ordered and also incorrectly documented on the patient's flowsheet). DD found the error and told me to tell the nurse................and god, i forgot (i told the nurse 1.5 hrs later). I admitted my error in postop conference (there was never a preop conf) and got reamed (understandably). Had I kept my mouth shut, i would have escaped probation. THEN my other grievous error is reaching out of an isolation room to grab my clipboard. Ok i have dumped all the big ones. Remember the tremor? Well yesterday when they dumped me, they told me that I didnt have the motor skills to do the job. I never made an error in med admin. no problem there. i just couldnt draw up the med. without air bubbles (sigh).

it's hard to write this stuff up. i'll let this stand and wait for your comments. remember the agenda is to get rid of me......................there is no support whatsoever. i worked hard to get to this point and these creepy, unprincipled women have pushed me out.

your input most appreciated.

hotcoffee1:uhoh3:

PS there is a guy who has been put on probation last semester for a med. error, who made a med error this session. nothing happened

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I would want clarification from the director of your nursing program. Perhaps setting up a meeting, going there dressed very professionally and succinctly stating your case. Good luck...

[Liddle Noodnik]

Help

I was 5 days from finishing my first year nursing and got bounced

Hey HC, I can't imagine working so hard like you did and ending it up that way! I think the poster above has an idea, talking to the director, also asking for options as to coming back after a period of time.

I swear sometimes instructors have in their head this stereotypical idea of what a nurse is, and if you are individualistic, it scares them! From what you've told me elsewhere you study, you ask questions, you communicate your needs, yet you don't get the support you're asking for. You're a first year student for God's sake! You're not SUPPOSED to have all the answers!

I would definitely seek the director's ear, at least. And maybe ask a lawyer if you have a leg to stand on.

Good luck and God bless!

[ayndim]

Help

I was 5 days from finishing my first year nursing and got bounced. i must go on record as not being the most beloved person in the class. the staff in a manner of speaking, hates my guts. i have clinical with a woman hell-bent on getting me kicked out. she has earned the name of dracula's daugher (AKA DD) from the clinical group. she is less than supportive, and when i asked for guidance regarding a straight cath (i anticipated a pt requiring one, no experience) she told me to read the book. (you get the picture, right?)

The last 5 weeks of class are med-surg in ortho. we got our first two patients the third clinical day. (i was not given a patient the first day of clinical--he never materialized from the OR) I happen to have an essental tremor. i found this out in lab first semester, when trying to draw up a meds my first semester. i sought care from my physician who placed me on lopressor. it has helped tremendously. I advised the staff.

Clinical was torture. we were required to fill out the paperwork described in the syllabus as well as additional forms introduced by DD. we recorded VS in 4 different places. If you did meds for the rotation, it was virtually impossible to finish on time (all my meds were administered late), and many of my classmates failed to accomplish this.

My first patient had alzheimers, total hip, and was combative. i fell behind schedule in performing his care. a future clinical instructor was shadowing DD and helped me with this patient. we fell behind DD's written schedule. I made the assumption that the shadow had a some authority and i took directions from her. I was later told that i was late emptying drains, and did not adhere to the schedule of care. i was told this was MY patient and I screwed up the timeframe for emptying foley and a hemovac. (i had never done either skill up to this day). The most EMBARASSING error I made (yes dear reader, i will tell you) was not telling the nurse in charge of the patient, that the wrong IV fluid was hanging (we had IV and foley training post these incidents). We had the postoperative lecture describing the tasks necessary for post op care after four patient care days. i didnt hang the fluid, which was not ordered and also incorrectly documented on the patient's flowsheet). DD found the error and told me to tell the nurse................and god, i forgot (i told the nurse 1.5 hrs later). I admitted my error in postop conference (there was never a preop conf) and got reamed (understandably). Had I kept my mouth shut, i would have escaped probation. THEN my other grievous error is reaching out of an isolation room to grab my clipboard. Ok i have dumped all the big ones. Remember the tremor? Well yesterday when they dumped me, they told me that I didnt have the motor skills to do the job. I never made an error in med admin. no problem there. i just couldnt draw up the med. without air bubbles (sigh).

it's hard to write this stuff up. i'll let this stand and wait for your comments. remember the agenda is to get rid of me......................there is no support whatsoever. i worked hard to get to this point and these creepy, unprincipled women have pushed me out.

your input most appreciated.

hotcoffee1:uhoh3:

PS there is a guy who has been put on probation last semester for a med. error, who made a med error this session. nothing happened

I am sorry you are having trouble. Do you know what started the troubles between you and your professors? I have to say that if you are being rude to your professors then you set yourself up for the fall. Not that it is right but they are only human. If they just didn't like you because you were different, then by all means fight it. That isn't fair.

I guess the thing to ask is if you become a nurse, will your tremor stop you from drawing up meds. I am not sure if you will be able to find someone to do this for you all the time while on the floor. Or can it be controlled with treatment. If it will stop you from doing the job of a nurse, then they have some valid concerns. I think you need to be honest with yourself and examine how this tremor will affect your abilities to be a nurse.

I wish I could offer more support or advice but I am only a student myself. Good luck.

[hock1]

My girlfriend got bounced because her instructor didn't like her. My firend caught the instructor 'helping' the instructer's friend on a math exam. She tried to fight the decision, but the school agreed with the instructor's version of what happened. My friend when to a different school and will graduate with her BSN instead of ADN next semester. Sooooooo, this terrible situation may turn into a new opening door for you. Don't give up. There are jerks everywhere. Don't let them ruin your dream.

[hotcoffee1]

Thanks for the kind words. much appreciated. i have not had the life where doors open. more like doors closed. i was hoping this was an 'open' door. im weathering it well. will fight it. im sure at this point the school is hip to what is coming. but they (the department) have done some dumb things here that may work to my advantage. thank you again for your support. it means allot to me.

QUOTE=vhope]My girlfriend got bounced because her instructor didn't like her. My firend caught the instructor 'helping' the instructer's friend on a math exam. She tried to fight the decision, but the school agreed with the instructor's version of what happened. My friend when to a different school and will graduate with her BSN instead of ADN next semester. Sooooooo, this terrible situation may turn into a new opening door for you. Don't give up. There are jerks everywhere. Don't let them ruin your dream.

[hotcoffee1]

How did you guess? yes i am different. very different. and had trouble since day one. i have 2 masters and unfortunately intimidated them. im going to fight. i have nothing to lose. in the meantime, im redirecting life in a positive manner. no moss on this rolling stone.

thank you for your kind words. they are most comforting in this crisis.

I am sorry you are having trouble. Do you know what started the troubles between you and your professors? I have to say that if you are being rude to your professors then you set yourself up for the fall. Not that it is right but they are only human. If they just didn't like you because you were different, then by all means fight it. That isn't fair.

I guess the thing to ask is if you become a nurse, will your tremor stop you from drawing up meds. I am not sure if you will be able to find someone to do this for you all the time while on the floor. Or can it be controlled with treatment. If it will stop you from doing the job of a nurse, then they have some valid concerns. I think you need to be honest with yourself and examine how this tremor will affect your abilities to be a nurse.

I wish I could offer more support or advice but I am only a student myself. Good luck.

[hotcoffee1]

thanks for your input. need all of that. no use waiting for clarification, as the director is behind this (just my luck). there is some ada issues here that i will exploit. should be interesting reading in a month or so. in the meantime, putting life back together again. one of my skills.

thanks again for your kind words.

I would want clarification from the director of your nursing program. Perhaps setting up a meeting, going there dressed very professionally and succinctly stating your case. Good luck...

[HyperRNRachel]

I have a hard time believing in the "instructors are out to get me" type of mentality. If you are serious about avoiding this problem in the future, then you need to put your ego on the back burner and deal with reality of why you are being kicked out with only 5 days to go. My friend who is in nursing classes with me is also an instructor at our colleges surgical tech.dept. and my brother in law is an instructor with the EMS dept, they have both said for every student who claims the instructor was out to get them, they can tell you the real reasons for their failure; it is a direct result of their own actions or inability to perform in the nursing field and not because of a personality conflict with the instructor. As far as your tremors, for every nurse without a disability or disorder, there is one with some type of disability or disorder and they are both able to perform the skills needed in nursing. I am one of those who happens to have a disability. I feel bad that this has happened to you. The sad part is, if you continue to believe in the story that makes you appear to be the victim, then you remove yourself from the responsibility of correcting the problem.

[Liddle Noodnik]

Remember the tremor? Well yesterday when they dumped me, they told me that I didnt have the motor skills to do the job. I never made an error in med admin. no problem there. i just couldnt draw up the med. without air bubbles (sigh).

Hey HC I forgot to mention, I've had an essential tremor for years? Guess what makes it worse? performance anxiety! also my blood sugar being off, or any stress. I take atenolol for it and it sorta helps. I've also learned how to lean my hand against something, or how to hold something, so I don't shake as bad.

Sure makes me look like a basket case, it also affects my head, so I look more nervous than I really am! Very embarrassing ...

[Liddle Noodnik]

Sooooooo, this terrible situation may turn into a new opening door for you. Don't give up. There are jerks everywhere. Don't let them ruin your dream.

This is so true. Many times what appears to be a crisis at the time, turns out to be a gift. (I'm still waiting for this year's present re my depression, LOL! But really, at the end of those tough times I know myself better, I get stronger, and I usually get turned in a better direction than the one in which I was going!)

[Dayray, RN]

I have to agree that "the instructor is out to get me" mentality can really adversely affect students. I have had instructors that didn't like me and guess what I did? I made them like me. I went out of my way to be nice and to show them that I appreciated them (even when I didn't). I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, no presents or special favors, I was just nice and would pretend they were nice even when they weren't.

When someone treats you unfairly pretend that they are actually being nice to you. Most of the time they will feel guilty for having been unfair to you and then go out of their way to be fair or nice to you. If you wanted, you could call them out on being unfair but then they would only become defensive and most likely be more unfair in the future. Although it requires swallowing ones pride being nice to those who are unkind usually ends up being more beneficial to both.

Some may see that as kissing up or selling out but I'm willing to lay aside my pride so that I end up with what I want in the end.

As it stands now I agree with you, you have nothing to lose from pursuing this. I'm not sure anything will come of it though. Nursing schools tend to have the attitude of "my way or the highway" and they are seldom sympathetic to student's that feel they were mistreated.

Good luck ! I hope you find a way to reach your goal.