Has anyone been kicked out of nursing school after the FIRST semester?

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 17, 2017

Typically those are the people who violate school wide policies that result in expulsion, such as criminal activity, drug use/underage drinking, academic dishonesty and things like that.

allnurses Guide · Apr 17, 2017

I have seen it happen. HIPAA violations and really REALLY stupid social media faux pas for one student. Another just could not take the level of stress. Another didn't cut it academically. Another got a DUI.

RainMom · Apr 17, 2017

Yep, for interfering with a pt's plan of care, essentially giving medical advice.

Extra Pickles · Apr 17, 2017

Yes, both academically and clinically. Academics needs no explanation, for those who were dismissed during the first semester it was because of complete inability to master the simple stuff. In the first semester for my program that meant taking a reasonably accurate blood pressure and accurately drawing up from a vial into a syringe. Yes, that basic, but everyone got three heavily-coached attempts and if they couldn't do it, they were done. For my first semester we had lost exactly half of the group, most were on academics and some were related to clinicals. They could apply to get in the following year and many did with most of them succeeding the second time through. Those who couldn't get past the first semester on Round Two were done entirely, no more readmissions.

cn4207 · Apr 17, 2017

Academics needs no explanation,

I thought most schools give you a second shot when you fail a class for the first time. So doesn't that mean that the earliest a student can get dismissed from a program for academic reasons is after the SECOND semester?

caliotter3 · Apr 17, 2017

A girl decided she did not want anything to do with the program (it was unique) or becoming a nurse. The students lived in a dorm. She spent each night watching tv or going out clubbing. She did no school work. At the end of the term they sent her home. Another one did something similar after the second term, and a third student threw clothes in her car and disappeared. She returned about a month later. All three of these people could have called it quits by giving a letter to the Director without any drama.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Apr 17, 2017

I thought most schools give you a second shot when you fail a class for the first time. So doesn't that mean that the earliest a student can get dismissed from a program for academic reasons is after the SECOND semester?

Assuming that the student didn't fail out for something seriously egregious, the schools that I'm aware of have (and use) a 2 strikes=out policy and this usually applies to 1st Semester students too. In order for the student to be able to return to the program, an exit interview is required at the first "fail" so they can gauge the willingness of the student do whatever is necessary to correct whatever deficiencies and succeed in the program. I've seen students fail out and not be allowed back in because the student didn't do the exit interview. The kicker in this is the student may not progress to the next Semester until the "failed" Semester is successfully repeated. So a First Semester student that fails out (academically or clinically) has to repeat First Semester and pass, therefore being allowed to progress to Second Semester. Unfortunately that student may not incur an other course failure as this results in the "second" failure which means the student is released from the program. The student should then do an exit interview as this preserves a chance to return in several years hence.

The local programs also all "talk" to each other and if you fail out of one nursing program, the other programs (3-4 others) will not allow the student admission for 10 years. Those programs have a standing policy that applicants that have previously failed out of nursing school may not apply to "their" program for 10 years. Not all programs are this strict nor do all programs "talk" to each other like this. While some may DQ an applicant for some period of time, they may only have that policy for reapplicants to "their" program that previously failed out of that same program.

Oh, and yes, I have had classmates fail out of 1st Semester. Some were allowed back in, some were not. I happened to fail out of 3rd and was allowed back in, and now I'm an ED RN with 2+ years experience, as I write this. A classmate failed out of 4th twice, with a "hard" program failure and she found another program willing to take her, give credit for prior learning, and now she's an RN.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2017

I thought most schools give you a second shot when you fail a class for the first time. So doesn't that mean that the earliest a student can get dismissed from a program for academic reasons is after the SECOND semester?

That's under the assumption that the school gives two chances. If a school is extremely competitive and in a high-demand area, they might not feel the need to give 2nd chances. -- there's a whole line of qualified applicants gunning for a spot.

blackribbon · Apr 18, 2017

I thought most schools give you a second shot when you fail a class for the first time. So doesn't that mean that the earliest a student can get dismissed from a program for academic reasons is after the SECOND semester?

Well, if you are taking two classes the first semester (pharm & fundamentals of nursing) and get C++ or less in both, you have effectively failed twice and are out of our program. We got one failure (which means a 79.9999%, no rounding) in your whole nursing career and were out after the second. It wasn't two chances per class.

UnicornMagic · Apr 19, 2017

A girl was kicked out for pushing IV meds, then bragging about it. Pushing IV meds is a HUGE no-no. She was a disgusting person, and everyone was glad to see her go.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Apr 24, 2017

Each school has their own policies regarding academic and clinical failure. And I would wager that no two schools are the same. Best to know the policy before you begin, and do your damnedest not to violate it.