I flunked out of clinical today..

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I`m devastated.. This was my last semester.. 3 weeks away from graduation. What happened is I didn`t have my watch for clinical and that was a break in dress code.. and when I went to take a vital sign i was confronted with the problem that there was no clock anywhere around and I had no watch.. I went and took out my cell phone and used the timer to get the exact 30 second count. I had my back to the door at that point because i wasnt really sure my instructor wanted to see my phone out .. I couldn't feel the radial pulse so well.. I was nervous and recorded the wrong number. I handed them my vitals and it was way off.. the HR.. I looked at it and thought to myself that`s not right .. my instructor said go do it over again .. I did with another student and had a number that was way different but I used the apical pulse which I could hear much better. Now I get sent to the office and told that I falsified medical records to try to cover up my mistake of not having a watch. I am kicked out of the program .. my instructor said that she did not see my cell phone and that she was watching me the whole time.. that i was facing her and looking at the door to see if there was clock hanging.. This did not happen. I don`t know how I can prove it. Its basically my word against hers and i`m like devastated.. She keeps saying that my story changed.. that the second time i got the HR i got 117 and then told someone else it was 170.. which was completely false I even wrote down 170, with another student watching me right there (its a child, that`s why so high), and I`m not entirely sure why she would be so insistent to say this.. I was like flabbergasted at all of this.. shell shocked and maybe I didn`t express myself properly but I didn`t change my story .. I might have misspoke .. i mean hell when she took me to the waiting room to talk to me about this and I told her I listened to the HR for 30 MINUTES.. when obviously I meant seconds.. I`m just very upset right now.. 3 years of my life and it ends like THIS!!? Now I don`t know if i will ever go back into the program .. I need to write a letter in my defense for when the teachers have their meeting about this where they decide whether to take me back for next semester.. or any semester. It`s devastating.. I`m taking 1 day off to clear my mind and then start writing this tomorrow.. anyone have any idea what I can write.. I don`t know if theres anything I can do to get them to change their minds. This is so awful

Yeah, make sure you get a final answer before anything else. Keep positive! Hope all works out.

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Specializes in Family practice.

Yes, this sucks. I had a similar experience with no recourse. So, I applied at Excelsior College (it's online, Excelsior.edu), and was accepted. A year later, I graduated with High Honors and took the NCLEX and passed a month after that. I've been an RN for six years and am currently working on my RN-MSN FNP at Graceland University (also online). A brick and mortar nursing school is not the only option if you've had more than 50% of nursing school done from an accredited nursing program (which you have). Good luck to you and please keep us posted. (if you have any questions regarding Excelsior College, PM me, I would be glad to help you :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Yes, this sucks. I had a similar experience with no recourse. So, I applied at Excelsior College (it's online, Excelsior.edu), and was accepted. A year later, I graduated with High Honors and took the NCLEX and passed a month after that. I've been an RN for six years and am currently working on my RN-MSN FNP at Graceland University (also online). A brick and mortar nursing school is not the only option if you've had more than 50% of nursing school done from an accredited nursing program (which you have). Good luck to you and please keep us posted. (if you have any questions regarding Excelsior College, PM me, I would be glad to help you :)

Since Jan 2012 Excelsior is no longer an option if you failed out of your program. You must be currently employed in a clinical capacity with a grade of C or better in ALL nursing courses:

"Effective January 1, 2012, applicants who have completed 50% of the clinical credit hours in an associate, bachelor's, or RN diploma nursing program are no longer eligible for direct admission to the School of Nursing. Individuals who have completed at least 50% of the clinical nursing credit hours with a minimum grade of C within 5 years of enrollment into Excelsior College will be reviewed on a case by case appeal basis. This appeal process requires submission of the undergraduate application, fee, official transcripts, and letter of appeal indicating where and how clinical skills are being practiced in a health care setting. Only applicants who are currently employed in a clinical capacity and maintained good academic standing (minimum grade of C in all nursing courses) throughout their nursing program will be considered in this appeal process." source: Admission Requirements for Associate Degree in Nursing Programs - excelsior.edu

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Specializes in Family practice.

I wasn't aware of this new policy. Thank you for setting me straight :) Just FYI, I didn't flunk out of nursing school, I dropped out after my 3rd semester because of one particular instructor. I was thankful that I was able to complete my ADN with Excelsior. Thanks again :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I wasn't aware of this new policy. Thank you for setting me straight :) Just FYI, I didn't flunk out of nursing school, I dropped out after my 3rd semester because of one particular instructor. I was thankful that I was able to complete my ADN with Excelsior. Thanks again :)

Those that drop are still eligible, so leaving after the 3rd semester completing 50% of coursework (while working in a clinical setting, some stated working as an EMT or CNA was sufficient) would make you eligible for the appeal for admissions.

By my statement, I was referring to the OP who has stated that it seems they have flunked a clinical course which would garner them ineligible (assuming the poster resides in a state that accepts Excelsior's nursing program for initial RN licensure as not all do (MD and CA are two examples).

I suppose it makes sense to only accept those who successfully completed 50% of the nursing program with a grade of C or better as it can be very rigorous to complete a self-directed, credit by examination program that requires self-discipline. Excelsior is a wonderful program for many but it isn't appropriate for everyone.

To the OP, hopefully your situation works out to your satisfaction as your situation is definitely not a typical one posted in the forums.

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Oh what a shame.. I was actually thinking that

Excelsior sounds like a nice option until I saw that. I was passing pretty well with a B average if it hadn`t have been for this incident with clinical. So they won`t except someone who failed clinical and was taken off of the program that I only had a month left to complete... wonder if any school does.. I don`t want to do an entire YEAR though.. I was hoping more for a month. I do well with online classes.. so that would be a bonus .. any option would be good if it only allowed me to finish in 1-2 semesters because honestly I can`t afford this anymore.. I already paid for my NCLEX.. $200.. and that deadline is due in a year.. since I thought that I was going to pass this semester and i`m unemployed. I hate that this rearranges my life even more

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You can try contacting other schools in your area. Excelsior is one of the few schools that have a pre-licensure program. I think Western Governor's University is another, but both are only acceptable in specific states. Several county/community colleges have on site/online entry to practice programs that you can look into. Since cost is an issue for you, I'm going to venture a guess that transferring to a for-profit private school is not a real option.

Since there isn't a standardized cirriculum even with individual states (one school may do med-surg in the first semester and pedi/maternity the next while another school does fundamentals the first semester and psych the next), it's very difficult to transfer mid program to another nursing school. Note I said difficult but not impossible. You'll need to determine the final outcome of your situation because if the school states you were dismissed for falsification of patient data you may have a much more difficult time finding another program to accept you (whether in person or an online program)

If you find a school to accept you mid program and give you credit for work completed, you'll likely have to repeat the semester not just a month worth of classwork. Even if your current school decided to drop you from this semester and permit you to re-enroll in the spring you'd have to repeat the entire semester worth of work. So it would be at least 12-16 weeks depending on the school calendar not a month.

I'm surprised you were encouraged to apply for the NCLEX so early before graduation since the fees are non-refundable and time limited. We were told to wait until our last major exams (about 2 weeks before graduation) before applying to the board of nursing and not apply for NCLEX until graduation as successful graduation is a requirment for the BoN to issue an authorization to take the NCLEX.

It's frustrating. It's heartbreaking. Try and work with your current program first as that will most likely be the fastest route to graduation. You can inquire in other programs in your area while you wait for the final decision.

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I thoroughly expect to repeat a semester, not a month.. thats not a problem for me. What i am not comfortable with is repeating a year.. or more.. that would be awful. The school gave up our paperwork to apply for NCLEX at the beginning of the semester.. i waited under 3 days BEFORE I was dismissed from the program..thinking yay.. it`s less than a month away I need to be proactive and apply before the good spots are taken.. a lot of other people in the class were doing the same thing. I have a year to take it now and i`m very anxious because we don`t have a lot of schools near me and from what I do see in PA.. the schools are very expensive.. like 4X what I paid for this program. This is not going to be an easy time for me financially

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Specializes in IV/Infusion.

This is just a thought, if all else fails.I know in some state's you can take the nclex for your LPN at either a certain semester or when when you have enough credits accumulated from your current schooling for your RN (I know that's a step backwards in a sense) does anyone know if then she can then apply for an LPN/RN bridge program and apply those credits she already has, you would almost have completed the program right from the start.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Unfortunately in PA, that is not an option: "15. I am entering my senior year of a RN (baccalaureate, associate, diploma) nursing program, am I eligible to sit for the practical nurse exam now?

Answer: The answer is NO. In Pennsylvania, to be eligible to sit for the practical nursing licensure exam you must have completed an approved practical nursing program."

(Source: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_159698_1053349_0_0_18/FAQ-tpp_exam.pdf )

You can try contacting other schools in the area to see if there is the option to repeat your final semester. See if your present school will permit you to re-enroll the next semester to finish up one semester late.

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You can try contacting other schools in the area to see if there is the option to repeat your final semester. See if your present school will permit you to re-enroll the next semester to finish up one semester late.

yeah that`s what i`m waiting for.. the school is meeting over whether I can come back into the program next semester.. i will know by late december.. i really am praying for this because otherwise it`s going to be a lot more costly AND take a lot longer if I have to start with another school. i`m just depressed over the whole matter. hopefully everything works out

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Hopefully you will be given the option to return in the next semester as that seems it would not only be the most economical but best option of all.

Take a breath and maybe come up with a "plan of action" how to move forward. Another student in a similar situation (only in that problem in clinical...took a photo during an OR case with her cell phone) created a plan of action, including speaking to the next semesters of students about where she went wrong and how to prevent errors in judgement in the future. Apparently the board felt it showed remorse and initiative as well as a productive way to prevent future issues. If nothing else, it might be something to do other than hurry up and wait while the school determines your fate.

Good luck.

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