Failure in Nursing School and Options

caliotter3 · Jan 19, 2003

You have stressed yourself in into a tizzy. You need stress relief. Go to the gym or run or do yoga or something. If you have to, go to your MD for a short term sedative. Meanwhile get your school support system. Get into a group. I don't remember the subject of the threads but there has been a lot in the student nrsg forum about nrsg school survival. Look for this stuff on this BB. One of the best things I noticed in nrsg school was that the students who banded together into study groups had the best survival rate. There are a million hints that you can find on this BB. Another one: ask permission to tape record your lectures and go home and immed, and I mean immed, go back over the day's lecture. If you have a degree in bio you should already have a good idea about good study skills. It seems to me that your biggest prob is your anxiety. You must make it work for you and not against you, otherwise it will win. Good luck.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2003

I can't answer any of your questions but a couple of words of advice (as always...hehehe).

Perhaps you could use only the transcript from the college you got the 3.7, or did you get it at the same college?

I went to college fresh out of high school and made 1.1 because I was young and coming out and discovering partying.

Then in my 30s I started over and graduated with honors. I never acknowledged the fact that I went to the first college when I was applying. I simply started over.

That said, remember nursing school is tough, demanding and stressful. You're setting yourself up to fail if your planning failure. If you have made a 3.7 up until now, is it possible to imagine and envision that you are going to NOT FAIL???

How committed to you to nursing anyway? I think you need to examine deep in your heart are you ready to deal with the stress and agony that is nursing school for the next two year years. To succeed you really have to want to be a nurse very badly. (I gather since your in clinicals you've got about 2 years left). It takes drive, determination and commitment to succeed.

Great advice from caloitter above. You definately need to work on stress/anxiety management and you will succeed.

emily_mom · Jan 19, 2003

I also flunked out of the first college I went to. OK, they asked me not to come back...:) I was young and wanted to party more than study.

Now, I'm entering my last semester, and I'm pulling a 3.78 right now. I work, have a family and do a heck of a lot more than I had to do at the other college. It's the motivation. Not only am I paying for this myself, but I'm doing this to improve my family's life.

A lot of schools weed out, but in all honesty, they do it for a good reason. Would you want someone who didn't know the proper technique, action of a drug they were giving you, etc....

Nursing school IS tough, and rightfully so. But, it's not impossible. If you can come in with a 3.7, I wouldn't worry at all. Just put your nose to the books and be prepared. Most people I have seen fail either a) just don't get it or b) are not at the maturity level to accept the responsibility.

Just look out for number one...you....and you'll be fine. Don't listen to the gossip...most of it is garbage anyway. Everyone wants to blame their failing or bad grade on an instructor. These people aren't good for you. They are the ones that set you up to fail.

Kristy

PS Good luck to you!

NurseRachy · Jan 19, 2003

Hello BioRN I too am a nursing student (in Australia) and i just thought that i would share with you that at the start of EVER SEMESTER and EVERY CLINICAL PLACEMENT and EVER SUBJECT vicious rumours circulate about how hard the subject and how virtually every second student failed or just passed the clinical placement or subject when infact it is all LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know some students do drop out and a couple fail BUT if you are prepared to learn the topics studied then i see no way you should fail!!!! I used to worry about these rumours (which is what most of them are!) until i thought bugger it - if the person next to me can do it, then so can I!!!!

Sorry this has nothing to your question about options but i thought it might help.

All the best in your studies, and remember, if you REALLY REALLY want something enough, and are willing to work for it, then you will get it!!

Rachel :)

memphispanda, RN · Jan 19, 2003

Please take into consideration that many schools will boot you out if you lie to them, and failing to have a transcript sent is considered lieing. They may or may not find out. If you have federal financial aid, more than likely they will find out.

Now, beyond that...

There is no reason to believe that you can't succeed. Many people who fail are immature, unmotivated, etc. A lot of people don't understand the time and commitment nursing school requires. Academically most people who pass admissions requirements could probably make it through school, but poor study habits and putting other things first (like a social life) knock them out. There is no reason to believe you can't do it though. And if for some reason you found yourself floundering, you could withdraw.

If you happened to fail, it probably wouldn't be that big of a deal. Really. Plenty of people fail at one nursing school and go right on to another one to try again. I personally was in sort of the opposite situation...my grades from the first time around were BAD. I had to take the college courses required for my program before they would consider me because my GPA was low. The first time around through school I spent a lot of time playing and didn't really care. I am in the Honor Society in nursing school. You can do it too--and you probably have a better background to start with than many people do.

BioRN · Jan 19, 2003

First, thanks to all of you that responded. I need you to please respond again with the understanding that I believe very strongly that I can handle the theory class. Studying for me is not what I need to do to avoid failure. I truly believe that I will be failed for things like:

She was too stressed out to be a good nurse.

Her personality is not suited to nursing.

She did not make enough friends in nursing school.

My clincial instructor has already made friendship in school a requirement for passing clinical and she expects to read a log book about how we feel about our lives on a weekly bases and it must be personal and at least 3 pages long. Is this what nursing school is about? Why should she have the right to my inner thoughts about how I am doing?

If she failed me for this psycho-social crap with a "B" classroom average, would I win on appeal?

Flo1216 · Jan 19, 2003

I basically flunked out of Rutgers(too much partying, not enough studying) and 5 years later I applied to a tough nursing school and got in. Colleges look at the overall picture. And by the way, Bio Rn...why are you committing yourself to failure? You are obviously smart enough to have gotten a degree in bio. Just because your classmates may be failing doesn't mean you will. Maybe they aren't applying themselves or maybe they have other things going on or maybe they are just not academically inclined. Worry about YOU and don't compare yourself to them. You will be fine.:) My nursing class started out at 30 and we are now down to 11. It never occured to me that I might not make it. Have confidence in yourself!

Flo1216 · Jan 19, 2003

Also, there are two people in my class who failed the first year of school and came back and tried again and now they are A students. BTW... I can't believe you get graded in school for having friends. I thought we were there to learn, not socialize. You can't make everyone like you. Shoot, if that were the case I would have failed out the first week!!!!

Flo1216 · Jan 19, 2003

3rd shift guy...a 1.1? I think I had a 0.9 by the time I left!!!( I was obviously not mature enough to handle a large university at 18. )

memphispanda, RN · Jan 19, 2003

Originally posted by BioRN
My clincial instructor has already made friendship in school a requirement for passing clinical and she expects to read a log book about how we feel about our lives on a weekly bases and it must be personal and at least 3 pages long. Is this what nursing school is about? Why should she have the right to my inner thoughts about how I am doing?

If she failed me for this psycho-social crap with a "B" classroom average, would I win on appeal?

I don't know about the appeal business. If her method has been approved by the higher ups, I doubt you could win. However, I have decided that a lot of nursing school is just jumping through hoops. Write her dumb journal thing. It doesn't have to be "real", it just has to be done. I wouldn't go into a bunch of detail about my relationships and stuff. Heck--make it up. "Monday--I am feeling very good about today. Class made sense to me and was very interesting. Talked to 2 classmates on the phone and we discussed getting together this weekend to study and socialize...etc." We had to write a paper about our own "egocentric thinking." I was extremely uncomfortable with what we were asked to include in the paper, so I made it up. Still got the A, but didn't feel so emotionally naked. I am a VERY private person, and I don't make friends quickly or easily, but the friendships I do foster are strong. Jump through the hoops. It's the only way to make it.

moonrose2u · Jan 19, 2003

relax!! the fact that you are older and have been successful in college (your baccalaurate degree) works for you...

just let your maturity take over and guide you...don't get so stressed...we have a need for nurses out here.....we need you! take your time, and breathe easy...you can do it..

remember the self defeatist attitude....if you think your gonna fail, you will undoubtedly will..so think positive!!