"Failed" Med/Surg. Need Advice

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I am in a difficult situation and I need some advice. I am in a BSN program, 3rd year. I am 3 weeks into the Fall semester and I failed a math quiz on med calc. I scored 8 out of 10 on the third try and according to the school policy, failing a component of clinical , the math test being one of such components means you have failed a clinical component. Failing clinical means you've failed the course. I did not know this but it is the nursing handbook and there is nothing I can do about it. My knowledge was that not passing the math quiz meant you had to drop the class.

I cannot withdraw from the class because it is 6 credits and it will put me below full time status. I will lose my scholarship if that happens and owe the school $10,000 according to the registrar. Its a private school. I went to the Dean and she said there is little she can do because it is the policy of the nursing dept. An F in a 6 credit course, MedSurg no less will do me in I am afraid. Even If I retake the class, it will be on my transcript permanently. Never mind that I never got a chance to actually take the class and fail. That is what hurts the most. Any grad school looking at your transcript in future is not going to know it was a math test that caused an F. They will think you did not try and had all semester to get a W. I was told I would get an F for the course 2 weeks into the semester! I will have to sit in the class and take the F and retake it next semester for a better grade I am being told. I cannot withdraw.

My only options now is to retake the class and probably be on academic probation until I pass it, or withdraw from school entirely and take take my course load all over again next semester. I am currently taking 4 courses: 3 nursing courses and one other one. My question is, do I get 4 W's if that is my only option? I am so worried that I will not make it to grad school because the F will look so bad on my transcript. Getting up and going to class is a struggle. My advisor told me to take a graduate nursing course so the F dosen't look so bad. I don't think that will help matters. Most hospitals are now requiring a BSN for new nurses and I am afraid they will soon be asking to see your transcript. I am being told it is not the end of the world, but times are changing and I see doom ahead. Should I just withdraw for the semester and take it all over next semester? or hang in there and pay the price. By the way, my school offers all nursing courses by the semester.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you should stop stressing out.....take the 4W's and start fresh next semester. W's are better than F's, you can always explain a W but when you fail people think you are a bad student. Nursing school is tough and it's not the end of the world if you have to repeat. I was in an accelerated nursing program that went by quaters, my school switched to semesters so when I failed pretty much I had to start from the beginning...I lost about 1.5 years of my life in school and I have 1.5 more to go. Dont worry about what hospitals will require in the future, just worry about the NOW, and finish school. There will always be jobs in the nursing field.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU.

It seems unlikely that a future employer will want to take the time to look at your transcripts. F vs. withdrawal? Well withdrawal shows on transcripts too and clearly impacts you financially. So why not complete it as you have paid for it and learn as much as possible so that when you repeat it you do really well?

Why worry about academic probation unless you generally struggle with grades already? To some people the ability to rebound after a "failure" shows more about you than continual success.

Just my 2 cents.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I do not struggle with grades. I just think an F will put me into probabtion academically. My GPA is currently 3.5 Maybe I am wrong. But thanks for your advice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would sit for every class and soak up as much information as possible - study like it's for real....then when you actually re-take the class, you will be so glad you have seen all of the information before and it will "sink in" so much better!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My understanding is that (universally) when you take a class and get a low grade, but then repeat the same class and get a higher grade, the lower grade is replaced by the higher grade. It won't impact your GPA or your chances of getting into grad school or whatever because the only grade on your transcript will be the highest one. Hope that helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

withdraw from your class and sit throughout the semester to learn more and next time around it will be a refresher.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you're concerned about maintaining full time status, is there a way you could withdraw from med/surg and take some non-nursing electives instead? Or could you audit med/surg & take it pass/fail this semester, then "re-take" it next semester for credit? Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would sit through the semester and take an F. The F will still show up on your transcript, but if it's combined with good grades in your other classes, and then you retake it and get an awesome grade because you've done it before, I don't think it will be the end of the world. IME, 4Ws will either look like you were doing poorly in all of your classes or that you had personal issues of some sort and couldn't manage the classes. Neither is the case in your situation. For grad school, you will have an opportunity to explain the F, especially if you broach the subject instead of letting them see it.

At every school I've gone to, the F will remain on your transcript, but if you retake the course the new grade is the only one that effects your GPA. Stay, get math tutoring, make the most of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, Derm, OB.

Recheck with financial aid. Past a certain date in each semester they CANNOT require repayment. There is a deadline find out what it is and then withdraw to avoid the "F". Can you not complete the theory and then repeat next semester for clinical only?

Also, for future the Dimensional Analysis book by Curren will walk you through step by step to learn nursing math.

Hope you find a solution that works.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

at my school for undergrad, I know that if you failed a class and retook it, the original failure would be replaced by the passing grade. However, the F would still reflect in your overall GPA, so its still there, but not, if that makes sense.

IMO, 4Ws would look more suspicious than 1F. People are not perfect and with a tough of a class as med/surg, I don't think people would judge you that harshly. Especially if you kicked butt the second time around and passed your NCLEX with flying colors.

Try not to get too discouraged. A current 3.5 GPA shows that you are a good student...the F and all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 19 yrs CNA.
:twocents: i just failed my med-surg class in my second year :cry:. i did feel like my world was over, i didn't want to talk to anyone about my failure. i have to wait to take the course over and the will delay graduation a year, but i know i know what to expect when i take the class over and i will be more prepared :specs:. this made me a better student and i say the second time around will make me a better nurse :specs:
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment