Alternatives for students that fail out of traditional nursing schools

[sampson44]

There is another alternative for students that fail at traditional nursing schools that still have the desire to become a registered nurse. I've noticed that once students are unsuccessful in a traditional setting, they give up hope and end their pursuit.

However, many students ignore the fact that there are other paths to obtaining their degree such as attending schools such as Excelsior. I myself, chose to take this route although I've never failed at a traditional nursing school and passed my NCLEX exam the first time.

Taking this route requires a lot of discipline, but the quote is still relevant "anything worth having never comes easy". So before you give up and throw in the towel please consider other options.

[Marsha238612]

You are absolutely right TC3200! Obsolete. Nursing education needs an overhaul, as the demographics have changed and the traditional "way we've always done it" approach no longer applies to today's students. The problem with students failing has much more to do with the system failing us than anything else. There is a severe lack of creativity, lack of critical thinking, and lack of pragmatism on the part of educators that is preventing qualified students from entering the field. Maybe it's intentional? Maybe the preference for foreign nurses, the majority of whom would never make it past first semester here in the states. Sad.[/quote']

And why would the lack of creativity, lack of critical thinking, and lack of pragmatism on the part of educators, as you put it, show a preference for international nurses?

The system failing the students? I don't buy that. Many individuals need excuses for their lack of skills, instead of working towards becoming better students.

There's a surplus of nurses, and yes, only the most qualified should be out in the field. There should be no easy "alternatives" for people who can't hack nursing school", the only real alternative should be to apply yourself and be proactive with your education.

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[dcsolpn]

When I was an LPN nursing student, I was working with a BSN who didn't know how to use posterior, anterior, medial or lateral properly while charting...I pointed out the skin breakdown was medial not posterior as it was on the inside of the knee...had an RN ask me to give an IM shot as a working LPN as she wasn't sure how to give correctly also had an RN ask me how much clonidine she should give a pt even though it was listed in our protocols...and I would like to point out that all of these RN's, BSN's went to traditional nursing schools, so in the long run it really doesn't matter as long as YOU know what YOU are doing. Working in the real world goes a long way in experience and taking classes online is just an extension of our current knowledge, it doesn't mean we don't know what we are doing, it just means we have taken a non traditional route to extend our education b/c believe me when I say I can do anything an RN can do and sometimes better....just the state won't allow me. Educate yourself before you speak. Just sayin!

[WorkingStudent2011]

You are right, dcsolpn. Experience is priceless. A big part of my gripe is the accelerated manner in which nursing schools churn RNs who, after landing their first job, don't know what the he** they're doing when they're on the floor, to say nothing of the errors they make. KeithRN talks about this on YouTube.

Much respect to the hardworking LVNs and CNAs, who often do have better nursing skills than RN new grads.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

When I was an LPN nursing student, I was working with a BSN who didn't know how to use posterior, anterior, medial or lateral properly while charting...I pointed out the skin breakdown was medial not posterior as it was on the inside of the knee...had an RN ask me to give an IM shot as a working LPN as she wasn't sure how to give correctly also had an RN ask me how much clonidine she should give a pt even though it was listed in our protocols...and I would like to point out that all of these RN's, BSN's went to traditional nursing schools, so in the long run it really doesn't matter as long as YOU know what YOU are doing. Working in the real world goes a long way in experience and taking classes online is just an extension of our current knowledge, it doesn't mean we don't know what we are doing, it just means we have taken a non traditional route to extend our education b/c believe me when I say I can do anything an RN can do and sometimes better....just the state won't allow me. Educate yourself before you speak. Just sayin!

Well, as I am fond of saying, anecdote is not the singular of data. I'll see your tales of mahvelous crusty old LPNs bailing the resident or the new RN out one dark and stormy night, and raise you a dozen truly horrifying anecdotes about situations that were mis-read and mishandled by LPNs whose ignorance of physiology, assessment, and intervention was truly breathtaking.

The ones who say, "I can do anything an RN can do" are task-focused, and tasks can be learned by anyone. Hell, we teach moms to suction their kids' trachs and lots of people to do home dialysis. That doesn't make them nurses.

[Peacelove889]

Nursing can be very challenging. It's not for everybody. We have to know what we're doing. My friend failed out of the Nursing program at our school and she plans to pursue her BSN later because she's not giving up. She's a CNA for now and that's ok, she's as passionate as me and will get the BSN later.

I've seen people fail some Nursing courses once while I've passed majority of them the first time. I study hard and make sure I keep on track with my work. My plan is to make sure I'm in class everyday and don't miss class. Nursing, once again is not for everyone and I don't mean to sound mean but it's true. NCLEX is at the end and that's what every Nurse looking to be an RN has to go through to get their certification. I'm in Nursing not to make money but to help my patients and put them first. I'm passionate and determined to get through whatever challenges that are coming my way.

I think because I was handed so many challenges for this profession, I'm going to appreciate it even more. :) If you truly want to be a Nurse, you won't give up. If you fail out of the program, there are other ways. :) Sometimes the traditional route is not for everyone.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

One downside of doing a program like Excelsior is that some states do not recognize Excelsior for initial RN training such as California.

I think the way my school does it is nice for those who fail out of the traditional associate route. They can drop into the LPN route and then apply for the LPN to RN route and receive credit for the classes that apply to the LPN to RN route that they passed in the traditional RN route like community or any of the 2nd year classes (our three programs converge at the 2nd year with each class taking a 10 week class specific to them like paramedic to RN take a paramedic to RN class and the LPN to RN route takes a class for them. Then psych, peds, ob, leadership, community, and geri are all the same except I think there is one or two more non-clinical classes that are the same.

[DWD_2889]

Your comment struck me as more of the problem for many who are going to nursing school. If your out of high school still living with mom and dad and having very limited bills and probably don't need to work...it's less stressful. For some it's not so easy and maybe you had kids, or your family situation was/is horrible, or maybe your car keeps breaking every other week and you can't get to class. I read this thread in hopes of some sort of spark of encouragement from actual nurses but, that wasn't the case. I have been in school since 2010 to be a nurse. I was abused by my daughters dad and had to leave him. Sadly, I had just gotten into Gwynedd Mercy College with a partial scholarship. I can't even explain to you how accomplished I felt after coming from parents of addiction/alcoholism. I had no support structure and did it! Had a 3.8 GPA. After I left him I had to have 3 jobs, car kept breaking and had to pay the bills, never saw my daughter due to work and school and crashed and burned. Again, I had nothing. I am now going part time to finish what classes I have left to get into a nursing program and it's honestly way tougher than I thought it would be in my situation. I don't even have reliability for a sitter. Not everyone who wants to be something was dealt the card to accommodate them doing it. I have had everything against me my whole life and I am still doing it...slowly and surely but, still going. Sometimes I get down on myself thinking "well maybe I can't do it". I don't think that's the case. For many I think once in a better situation it makes it less stressful. You cannot worry about studying when you can't pay rent or peco. This thread just to me seems a bit of a put down for the person who is working their ass off to become a nurse and has situational difficulties. I think many are talking about mental capacity and that's true some don't have what it takes but, many do who have had issues getting to the end goal. I for one don't think that means they should give up forever and never look back. Not everyone makes it the first time around. And for those of you who know that it's not because of your capacity ...continue and if enough hard work is put in you will get what you want. But, it isn't given to you and it's not easy...it's just harder for some.

[TC3200]

I think that too many nursing schools have realized that this type of student is their future. If mom & dad or spouse can't pay, and there are no grants, and the reality is that MOST of the students are non-traditional older students and career-changers with other obligations, schools must change with the times. The keep-away game, where nursing instructors try to weed out students they deem "unsuitable," has to end. And schools will have to start teaching in a way that makes for a more efficient learning experience for students, instead of purposely trying to weed out students.