Another one, or two, bite the dust!!!

[clandestine-approach]

As the another nursing school semester comes to an end, some of us are bearing witness to those peers of ours who may not be moving on in the program, or will have to repeat the semester.

As this saddens me to witness... I want to take a minute to communicate to those who are not moving on due to performance issues. As harsh as this may sound... those of you are not going forward are doing so justifiably. These programs are easy to fail, yet hard to succeed in beyond mediocrity. If you have failed, and yes below 75% is failing, then you SHOULD NOT be moving forward and the hospital floor and those potential patients you would be exposed to are much safer due to these standards.

Your peers "know" that you struggle with concepts and they too are concerned with patient safety when it comes to your caring for patients. It takes dedication and time to "comprehend" vs. "staring at" the literature to GET this material. After soliciting information from "my peers", as well considering how much time I study to achieve comprehension as well as reflective high scores, a 40hr/wk study schedule is a reasonable expectation for understanding the material.

[Despareux]

Yes, I agree with you; especially when, 75% is required to pass the course.

[Cuddleswithpuddles]

Judging from the tone of your post, I really doubt it saddens you to witness these people's failures.

"I want to take a minute to communicate to those who are not moving on due to performance issues"

You're not really communicating to them... unless you sent them an email to this very post.

Overall, this post has left me shaking my head in wonder.

[clandestine-approach]

Cuddleswithpuddles... you could not be more wrong, I know two individuals that I have known for over two years who will now be repeating DUE TO THIER PERFORMANCE issues. It does sadden me, but. I very much believe in the process. And from your response it seems you are shaking your head... at what? Your attempt to judge my post was in haste and very... very presumptive. This communication was given, in person to one individual in much the same manner, and the individual appreciated the assertive nature. Your post does not offend me... I am sure that your vantage relates to some aspect of the "LVN to RN Bridge" I’m guessing you took, which you struggled with, instead of a real concern for helping others recognize and manage through identified weaknesses. I offer suggestions on how to address performance issues when I know of methods that work, and your reply does not offer any constructive criticism, merely JUDGMENT! Shake you head... all you want... :)

[Hygiene Queen]

I agree that:

concepts must be understood

class/clinical/lab must be attended

hands-on must be satisfactory

communication must be satisfactory

test-taking strategies must be understood

team work is key

independence is key

ability to take direction is key

critical thinking is key

and...

if you failed it, you own it and you need to correct it before you can move on.

But...

What constructive criticism was offered in the original post?

I do agree with the reality check, but the rest is lost on me.

And what does this comment, "LVN to RN Bridge" I’m guessing you took, which you struggled with, instead of a real concern for helping others recognize and manage through identified weaknesses", have to do with anything?

I'm not sure what you are trying to say there.

[Despareux]

What constructive criticism was offered in the original post?

I do agree with the reality check, but the rest is lost on me.

And what does this comment, "LVN to RN Bridge" I'm guessing you took, which you struggled with, instead of a real concern for helping others recognize and manage through identified weaknesses", have to do with anything?

I'm not sure what you are trying to say there.

I was sort of taken aback by that statement as well. I sensed some snarkiness and not sure why.

[clandestine-approach]

Hygiene Queen...

Tone and intent seem to be easily lost in e-communication. Cuddleswithpuddles, is an new RN previous to being an LVN for 5 years, who is 25 years of age. Doing the math, one can "reasonably" derive that this member took part in an LVN-to-RN Bridge program, and the response to my original post is a "personal" response, probably relating to some "insecurity". I appreciate your agreeing with the reality check, eventually we all have to be accountable for our performance and actions.

As far as the constructive criticism is concerned, and I only added one aspect of the one-on-one conversation I had with a classmate, please reread the "time requirements" and suggestion. This criticism is brief, and you are correct I could add more to this post, however the intent of the post is to aid those who are struggling, and I know this can be difficult for them, to reassess and focus on what "they" need to change. I just hope that those reading this post are assuming positive intent vs. snide and insensitive ridicule. I offer the suggestions because (1) I understand the frustration, (2) am in the BSN program (3) and have benefitted from being honest with myself throughout the experience thus far and it has succeeded for me. All to often I have seen those that "fail" end up blaming the system, someone else, and are standing isolated, angry and refuse to intervene in their own behaviors, in order to achieve a different result. This rock is a hard one to swallow... I understand.

[clandestine-approach]

Please consider this sharkiness

"Overall, this post has left me shaking my head in wonder."

[Hygiene Queen]

I do find it frustrating when students, who fail, do not take responsibility.

I do believe it it normal to have a period of grief and denial. I mean it is a loss and we all know about Kubler-Ross and blah blah blah.

But some people really stall in denial.

And some people have already made it a life-time habit to blame others.

I wouldn't worry about it.

You can give good solid criticism and you can send out a reality check, but you can't waste too much energy on others (if they don't want the help).

If asked, I'll give my opinion and offer my own personal experience as an example (BTDT with the failure thing) but that's all I can do.

Sometimes, a student's willingness to correct their mistakes says far far more than school performance, in and of itself.

[Ayala]

As someone who may be "bitingthe dust" in the next coupleof weeks, I would like to give my own perspective. If I flunk out of the program I'm in,it will because I flunk clinical lab. (We don't deal with real patients yet.) I have a 90 - 95 GPA and understand the concepts. I just got totally freaked out by my clinical instructor and got stage fright during validations.

I'm going to be re-validated on the assessments I failed. (Open gloving=sweaty hands and a big tangled octopus of rubber!) If I flunk out, yep. I did it. I own it. It's on me. I don't blame anyone else.

Do I understand why they will have to flunk me? Yes. Do I agree? Yes. Do I like it? No.

But that's the way it is. I'm trying to stay focussed on everything else I have to get done in the next two weeks. I have spent hours and hours practicing, and I've done what I can do. However, the anxiety is hard to bear. I will give it my best effort until the end.

I just pray that I will accept whatever happens.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

ayala, with that attitude i am sure you'll do well. as a former instructor i'd rather hear that than a 13-yr-oldish "it's not fair!" when, in fact, it is fair. most people do pass. some don't.

[Ayala]

Green Tea - Aw! You're making me cry. What a nice thing to read, especially coming from you. I have always enjoyed your posts.