Drop Out Rate Vent

greatan · Mar 4, 2007

Wow, a 3 semester lpn course. I didn't know there was such a thing. I thought the minimum was 12-18 months. That must be a really intense nursing program. Where do you go to school at? Do you have clinicals all 3 semesters? How much clinical time do you get? Is this because you have already done all your prereqs? I know my 12 month lpn program started with 32 students in my group alone, there are 3 groups, and we are down to 24 in the end of the second semester.

:rolleyes:

CHATSDALE · Mar 4, 2007

at a certain point it levels off because the ones whose grades are not up to par and those who decide it is not for them have already left but in my class there were dismissals as late as a month from graduation

really sad, but you are running so hard to keep up you just can't stop to help very much

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 4, 2007

really sad, but you are running so hard to keep up you just can't stop to help very much

Wow....that's pretty profound....seriously, it about wraps up in a nutshell how I feel sometimes....only you put it in perfect verbiage....

There are a few I don't mind helping out in my program as we started out in clinicals together and have always kind of had each others' backs...and then there are a few who have kind of tried to glom on...and I hate being mean, but I don't have time or energy to deal with too much of that....for exactly the reason you state above....

Thanks!

caliotter3 · Mar 4, 2007

A local college where I used to live had a reputation for dropping a minimum of 50% of each class. It also used to have the reputation of being the "best nrsg program in the state" with a passing rate of 100% (or near 100%) for yrs on end. I don't know what the reputation is now. Recently, I saw in a news release that the former director of the program had won her lawsuit re wrongful termination for being accused of fraudulent claims for overtime. Interesting that the head of a program would get reamed like that, particularly a program with such a reputation.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Mar 4, 2007

If the grades aren't up to par then people have to be dropped; it's unfortunate but that is just how it goes. We have about 4 weeks till the end of our first semester and the way things are looking we stand to lose quite a few people because of dosage calculations and A&P I.

I think that the high drop rate of NS can be contributed to nursing student denial syndrome. It sounds crazy but it seems that some see the ridiculous amount of work that is expected of them and go into shock and denial.

They think it's some sort of a twisted sick joke because surely no one can be required to do this much work? Right? :uhoh21:

They go into denial and do not believe that they will be dropped from their nursing program if they don't make the grade. I sit right next to the class wacko and she told me, no lie, that they had already made up "their" minds about who was going and who was staying and that it didn't matter if you had a 0 average; if they liked you, you aren't going anywhere.

Now I know better because I checked our directors credentials since this program is new. I found out that our director had previously ran another nursing program with a 100% pass rate for years. So I sincerely doubt she is going to allow anyone to stick around if they aren't making the grades.

Anyway, so I guess our class wacko (and others with her mind-set) feels no need to raise her below 65% (80% is passing) average in dosage calculations because she has the "inside track" on what's going to happen at our school next semester. :rolleyes:

Me? I know better so I am just going to continue to study my butt off.

Sheri257 · Mar 4, 2007

Ever since my RN program developed a wait list, it seems that the drop/failure rate has skyrocketed. I don't know if it's because more people applied who weren't really committed to it but ... people were even flunking the basic math tests which never happened before that I can recall.

:typing

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2007

I believe that the reasons for the high drop out rates varies from school to school, but some of the reasons might be:

poor student candidate selection by the admission committee of the nursing schools
open door admission policies of admission committees of the nursing schools allow for little screening of applicants
students who enter nursing with an unrealistic idea of what the career entails and a pair glasses with rose colored lenses
students who are only interested in nursing as a job and not as a career calling
students who have the unrealistic idea that nursing should be something you "naturally possess"
the rude awakening to students of the difference between the society established concept of what a nurse is vs. what a nurse really does on the job and they can't handle it
some people just aren't willing to put in the effort to accomplish a goal when the going gets tough
there are personal problems, illnesses and tragedies that happen in people's lives that result in having to drop out of school for one reason or another.
like runners and race horses, there are sprinters and long-distance runners. The sprinters just aren't able to stay in for the long haul and lose steam after a quick showy start.

Be sad for those who failed. Be glad you are succeeding. Be extra glad for all you remaining students because that means you guys will get more attention from the instructors.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 4, 2007

Be extra glad for all you remaining students because that means you guys will get more attention from the instructors.

:eek: Sometimes I like it better when they're distracted with the "problem children"....not so much time to focus on the rest of us!!!

:chair:

midcom · Mar 4, 2007

"poor student candidate selection by the admission committee of the nursing schools" ----My program is now, still in the process of getting accredited. For the first 6 or so terms, there was no waiting list. they took anyone who passed the Wonderlic IQ test and even gave them 3 chances to pass it. I suspect some of the students really weren't up to the amount of work involved.

"students who enter nursing with an unrealistic idea of what the career entails and a pair glasses with rose colored lenses" ----Oh ya! Many students have no idea what is involved. I've read posts here that floored me. I recall the one from some innocent who stated she wanted to be a "babynurse" & could she just take classes that will prepare her to do that kind of work.

"the rude awakening to students of the difference between the society established concept of what a nurse is vs. what a nurse really does on the job and they can't handle it"---- Hey this one kind of speaks to me. I've wanted to be a nurse for over 50 years & always thought I knew what nurses could & couldn't do but was very surprised by what all we are responsible for.

"some people just aren't willing to put in the effort to accomplish a goal when the going gets tough" ----Or have the skills to do them. Sometimes I wonder what they are teaching in high school now. My school has no pre-reqs. There are 4 general ed courses that have to be taken if they haven't been taken previously elsewhere. One is College Composition but it's not scheduled until 3rd term. We have to write papers already in 1st term & you can only imagine the quality of work. Fortunatley, for me I had that credit so I can write but I've seem some pretty bad stuff.

"there are personal problems, illnesses and tragedies that happen in people's lives that result in having to drop out of school for one reason or another." I don't know how some of my classmates do it. I have a somewhat quiet, stable life. Most of my classmates are single parents, trying to support their family as well as go to school full-time. We had one student with a pretty serious mental illness. She had to drop out, unfortunately, because of the stress. Too bad, I think, had she been able to handle the stress & work, she'd have made a very good nurse.

"Be extra glad for all you remaining students because that means you guys will get more attention from the instructors." I am in the midst if my second term of 4 in LPN school. We lost a few at the end of 1st term but when we came back to classes after break our class was huge. Several in the class before us had failed & were now joining our class. It took a week or so before we realized we were no longer sitting on top of each other during lectures. People were dropping like flies. Second term is almost done. I know we will lose some from our original class & we've already been warned that some from the class ahead of us will be joining us in April.

Dixie

caliotter3 · Mar 4, 2007

I agree with wdwpixie. When they're focused on somebody else, they can't be down your back. Works in school, in the workplace, just about anywhere. I don't want any extra attention. :chair:

nurse4theplanet, RN · Mar 5, 2007

Daytonite gave great reasons! I totally agree.

Our drop rates were similar to the OPs. We were a 'waiting list' class. In the semesters following, the school instituted a selection process that made admission competitive per each semster...no waiting list...and the drop rates significantly decreased. They have had to hire additional faculty to keep up with the growing number of students that continue on into the progressing semesters.

Because of that reason alone, I don't believe in the 'weeding out' theory. If the instructors were intentionally weeding out students, it would have continued after the waiting list was history.

I believe the students 'weed' themeselves out. Some because they are unrealistic, some because of a lack of dedication, and others due to unfortunate life circumstances. It's sad and I always tried to help those who were falling behind. But my ultimate goal was MY progress...not THEIRS.