has anyone failed a semester

wannabemw · Jun 28, 2004

2ner,

ty so much for starting this thread! :) :) :) I failed 2yrs ago and thought I was the only one! I just wanted to cry everytime I thought about it for months. You & I and the rest of us on this thread need 2 keep each other going! It is the only way we can make it through this! We can do this. And we all know that this a path that was chosen for us...u just know that this is the path that you have been lead down. God would not have given us this passion w/out reason.

Background on me:

I am a 39yr old student w/3 kids. One brittle asthmactic daughter 13yr old. One bipolar 18yr old son that I am trying to get to graduation (he needs 3 classes), one 20yr son very immature and still lives @ home & takes 1 class a semester (& wks in a comic book store). Oh, and my hubby is active duty USAF & has several health probs: MI@ age 39 (43 now), Diabetes Type 2, sleep apnea, back and knee surgerys, carpal tunnel syn (had surg) and he is obese + 50lbs. Both my parents have died w/in the last 7yrs from cancer. I began college in 1999 fulltime.

We moved out here last AUG (USAF move). Was in Tucson AZ for 8+yrs.

I was accepted into UA CON Fall '02 and promptly flunked my only 2 classes that I was allowed 2 flunk (I really tried hard!). I switched MAJ to Public Health, then we moved out here. Oh yeah,

School: I tried to pass Pathophys twice & got a D both times, despite hrs of studying & a tutor (@ UA). I needed a B to get into the BSN program in Micro@ UNLV & only managed (3rd try) to get a B- (UA only required a C). I thought my life was over! UNTIL: I found through this Board about Nevada State College (a BSN program, new) & am presently taking the remainer of my preq's this summer (4 classes). Am still studying hard. I have a C average right now (good enough for NSC). I am praying that God will help me through this to complete my dream of becoming a CNM. I have applied for the fall '04 sem.

OH yeah-my MIL gave me hell last yr @ xmas when she found out I had diagnosed LD probs and basicly told me I couldn't do it. DH is breathing down my neck & wants 2 know when I will be done (he wants 2 get out of the USAF after 23yr service). He tries 2 b supportive, but I can c his pt. But I AM NOT LISTENING!!! I have 1 focus! To complete my goals! (& of course 2 take care of the family)

My MIL can kiss my a** if she thinks that I am going 2 invite her 2 my graduation! My sister has been my biggest supporter. So I will send her a plane ticket if I have 2! BTW- I have not told her that I have re-applied to another program (MIL). I asked DH not to say ANYTHING! I want to shove it in her face one day! HOW DARE SHE!!!! (She's in CA)

I can & will do this!!!!!! The ones who said I couldn't do this can look @ my behind as I walk across the stage. :balloons: :balloons:

~Venting over~ Sorry for the long thread!

Once again, Lets keep in touch. PM me @ my msn addy!

Marianne

AppyHorseFan · Jun 29, 2004

horsefan,
i admire your faith, courage and strength to continue on the journey that you had once began. you have truly inspired me to keep trying if i ever find myself in this predicament. you sound like a very successful person despite your past failures and i love your positive talk about future tests. thank you for sharing your experience. :)
jemommy

jemommy, thank you for your kind words. it hasn't been an easy road these past few years, but i shall overcome and succeed. if you'll notice my sig line...god lead me here, he'll lead me through it. without his love and strength i couldn't have made it this far. and as someone else posted...i will one day soon prove to those people (ex-family) who said i couldn't do it...that i can...i did...and i will!!

good luck and don't let them break you down!!

AppyHorseFan · Jun 29, 2004

i bet you will be a dam good nurse. congratulations on being so close to the finish line. keep your nose in the books!

gij1...thank you for your kind words. it's nice to hear someone say that they think you'll make a good nurse...i can hardly wait until we start preceptorship in just 4 short weeks... :eek: that means we have 4 weeks to get in 3 exams plus other class assignments!!! oh my, well, i gotta go...4 a.m. comes early down here in the south :uhoh3:

Djenkins5054 · Feb 18, 2005

Have anyone of you failed a semester? I know a ton of nurses that failed, but succeeded once going back. I feel down on myself for failing second semester, but I'm keeping my head up, because this gives me time to hone my study skills because I already have the content from this semester, so I plan on getting an A this semester coming up. At first I thought ir was devastating, and I was a failure, but even more EMBARRASSING because I've never failed at anything. I'm using this to my advantage though.
Please, if anybody has been in a similar situation, please feel free to reply (sometiimes it makes you feel a little better knowing your not the only one going through something like this)

I was a math failure 101, and I am going through the same old stuff again only this time I am better able to grasp the concepts I was too busy to see before. You don't need an A, but you do need to understand more deeply the information and focus on what it means to you and to your clients. Hang in there! :rolleyes:

wannabemw · Feb 19, 2005

Update: I just missed getting into NSC (they lost my file) by two slots...UGH! I am still at UNLV & grad in May w/my BS in Public Health. I still dream of becoming a nurse and am applying for the accelerated program at NSC this fall. BTW: my GPA is now a 3.75 (found out I am ADD and doing well on meds). I too had to repeat Math, but got it in the end. Fun thing: my IQ test said that I have a Master's understanding of Math! LOL! Go figure. Oh yeah, my DH is now made a great turn-around and couldn't be prouder of me. My MIL too (still not telling her about NSC though...YET!).

I like what you said "...God lead me here, He'll lead me through it. Without His love and strength I couldn't have made it this far." This is what has kept me going too! (It also answers my question every time I ever wonder if I am doing the right thing).

Good Luck!

~MJ

PDCNurse · Feb 19, 2005

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. This is a set back, not failure. You have a great attitude and you will succeed if you work hard and study like crazy. Nursing takes perserverance, patience, brains, and a strong mental attitude. It's not for everyone. I think you really want this and you will pass the next time.

Morning-glory · Feb 19, 2005

God, What a trip. Just reading these posts put me back about 10 years when I was a student. And I thank God everyday that I made it through. It took me 6 years to do a 3 year course. I could and did blame the school and anyone else I could attribute the blame to, but it still didn't fix my problem. I failed first year and repeated it. I passed 2nd year, but then I hit third year. I failed clinical in the fall semester (October),played computer games till the next September, then went back (5th year in by now) and failed clinical in December. Farted around with work and stuff, but by July, I realized that I did want to be a nurse so I went to the center for Students with Disabilities just to see if there was something going on that I needed to know about. I had been prone to anxiety attacks in clinicals which, in retrospect probably freaked out the instructors.

So I did 20 hours of tests in 2 days. Oh Man!! that was hard. All of my symptoms came out in those 2 days. After all the results came in I was sent to a psychiatrist to help go through all the results.

So I was diagnosed with a profound learning disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder (without the hyperactivity). The Doc was amazed that I had even made it past grade 4. My IQ was high, so I was able to push through high school, but in Nursing I had met my match. I was started on meds for the ADD and was given one last chance by the school. In 2 months I went from the bottom 10% of the class, to the top 5%. Clinicals were still hard, but with an understanding of myself, I was able to calm down on my own, without having a complete meltdown first.

I am now teaching clinicals for the same school that I went to. And I am loving it. No commited student could ever be as bad as I was. All the older teachers remember me and groan, but they keep pushing me to go and get my degree, so that I could teach full-time. I know that I cannot work and go to school at the same time, so I will have to figure that one out in due course.

Failing a course is a side step, not a down step. If you want it, keep fighting. If you feel that you are always losing, get tested for learning and mental health issues. It is so worth it. BTW, I was diagnosed at the age of 31. (what would my life had been if I had be diagnosed at the age of 7?)

Hang in there,

Jacquie (Proud to be an RN)

SarasotaRN2b · Feb 19, 2005

wow, jacquie rn, you definitely are an example of preserverance. i think that with everything that you went through, you will be an excellent instructor. having the struggles that you had will make you more sensitive (i hope) to students struggling.

i also want to teach at the community college that i am now attending. the difference will be that i'm going to the university to get my bsn so i can reach my goal a couple of years sooner.

thanks for sharing your story!

kris

god, what a trip. just reading these posts put me back about 10 years when i was a student. and i thank god everyday that i made it through. it took me 6 years to do a 3 year course. i could and did blame the school and anyone else i could attribute the blame to, but it still didn't fix my problem. i failed first year and repeated it. i passed 2nd year, but then i hit third year. i failed clinical in the fall semester (october),played computer games till the next september, then went back (5th year in by now) and failed clinical in december. farted around with work and stuff, but by july, i realized that i did want to be a nurse so i went to the center for students with disabilities just to see if there was something going on that i needed to know about. i had been prone to anxiety attacks in clinicals which, in retrospect probably freaked out the instructors.
so i did 20 hours of tests in 2 days. oh man!! that was hard. all of my symptoms came out in those 2 days. after all the results came in i was sent to a psychiatrist to help go through all the results.
so i was diagnosed with a profound learning disorder and attention deficit disorder (without the hyperactivity). the doc was amazed that i had even made it past grade 4. my iq was high, so i was able to push through high school, but in nursing i had met my match. i was started on meds for the add and was given one last chance by the school. in 2 months i went from the bottom 10% of the class, to the top 5%. clinicals were still hard, but with an understanding of myself, i was able to calm down on my own, without having a complete meltdown first.
i am now teaching clinicals for the same school that i went to. and i am loving it. no commited student could ever be as bad as i was. all the older teachers remember me and groan, but they keep pushing me to go and get my degree, so that i could teach full-time. i know that i cannot work and go to school at the same time, so i will have to figure that one out in due course.
failing a course is a side step, not a down step. if you want it, keep fighting. if you feel that you are always losing, get tested for learning and mental health issues. it is so worth it. btw, i was diagnosed at the age of 31. (what would my life had been if i had be diagnosed at the age of 7?)
hang in there,
jacquie (proud to be an rn)

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Feb 19, 2005

God, What a trip. Just reading these posts put me back about 10 years when I was a student. And I thank God everyday that I made it through. It took me 6 years to do a 3 year course. I could and did blame the school and anyone else I could attribute the blame to, but it still didn't fix my problem. I failed first year and repeated it. I passed 2nd year, but then I hit third year. I failed clinical in the fall semester (October),played computer games till the next September, then went back (5th year in by now) and failed clinical in December. Farted around with work and stuff, but by July, I realized that I did want to be a nurse so I went to the center for Students with Disabilities just to see if there was something going on that I needed to know about. I had been prone to anxiety attacks in clinicals which, in retrospect probably freaked out the instructors.
So I did 20 hours of tests in 2 days. Oh Man!! that was hard. All of my symptoms came out in those 2 days. After all the results came in I was sent to a psychiatrist to help go through all the results.
So I was diagnosed with a profound learning disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder (without the hyperactivity). The Doc was amazed that I had even made it past grade 4. My IQ was high, so I was able to push through high school, but in Nursing I had met my match. I was started on meds for the ADD and was given one last chance by the school. In 2 months I went from the bottom 10% of the class, to the top 5%. Clinicals were still hard, but with an understanding of myself, I was able to calm down on my own, without having a complete meltdown first.
I am now teaching clinicals for the same school that I went to. And I am loving it. No commited student could ever be as bad as I was. All the older teachers remember me and groan, but they keep pushing me to go and get my degree, so that I could teach full-time. I know that I cannot work and go to school at the same time, so I will have to figure that one out in due course.
Failing a course is a side step, not a down step. If you want it, keep fighting. If you feel that you are always losing, get tested for learning and mental health issues. It is so worth it. BTW, I was diagnosed at the age of 31. (what would my life had been if I had be diagnosed at the age of 7?)
Hang in there,
Jacquie (Proud to be an RN)

Thank you so much for sharing your story, you're an insparation!

wannabemw · Feb 19, 2005

Failing a course is a side step, not a down step. If you want it, keep fighting. If you feel that you are always losing, get tested for learning and mental health issues. It is so worth it. BTW, I was diagnosed at the age of 31. (what would my life had been if I had be diagnosed at the age of 7?)

Hang in there,

Jacquie (Proud to be an RN)

Jacquie,

you make me want to cry tears of joy of happiness! There is someone out there that has gone through what i have gone through! YEAH! :yeah: .... I have felt so alone! I was diagnosed @ 39y w/Adult ADD & @ 38y w/LD's. This was AFTER I flunked out of my BSN and various courses (and a lot of re-takes!). It's amazing I have come this far. My IQ is average. But all the testing explained a lot! My MIL wonders how I can make it through to be a Nurse w/all of this. It kinda shakes my confidence at times... BUT: I am doing SO much better on meds and my grades shot up too! I am scared though...I grad in May, then want to do this Accelerated BSN program in the Fall. Advise? Testing accomidations and having a note taker helps a lot. Plus I saw a woman who designed a program for individuals like myself w/LD's. Her tips really brought up my testing scores and recall ability.She's writing a book as we speak.

Write me back! PLEASE! And anyone w/advise, suggestions...

~MJ

Determined to one day call myself a Certified Nurse Midwife!

NurseKat274 · Jan 24, 2011

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I failed my OB course of my Bachelor's program, after passing (what was supposed to be the toughest course) med-surg with flying colors! I was so depressed and embarassed about OB because that course was supposed to be easy and I had a B in the class until the final test. But now, I am in peds and eager to kick nursing school's butt. I am not letting this stop me, even though it is scary to think about the potential consequences of failing another course. Just have to buckle down, study hard, and pray harder! Good luck to us both! We can do this!