Just failed out of the nursing program..advice on next step?

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Just failed out of my nursing program.

It seems im so incapable of applying my skills in real life. I have no idea what I want to do now. I feel like I have some ADHD disorder because most of my comments consist of me being single focused where its hard for me to tell what is going on in my environment, to not being able to focus..I couldnt even do basic calculations with the medication administration my head or I just get really forgetful.

I may have a learning disability I am really not aware of. I have not had much work experience except working in Burger King-and I almost got fired there.

I was thinking of going to LPN school, or health information management. I dont know how much harder they are.

I dont even know if I should even take off of school right now. This is all too much to take. 2 years of my hard work down the drain. I'm just really lost right now.

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It sounds like you are having a really hard time right now. I don't know what specific problems you had besides medication calculation, but I do know that myself and my classmates cannot do medication calculation in our heads. We do it on paper and while its slow at first you get faster over time.

As far as feeling lost and incapable after failing something; I think that's normal. You experienced a loss, a big one. I cannot say whether or not you are cut out for nursing because I have not seen what you can or cannot do. The question of whether to get back on the horse again or move on to something else is up to you. I suggest talking with a therapist at your school or otherwise to work through the recent loss and help you come out of it feeling better about yourself.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

kringkring5144, I'm sorry to hear that you have failed out of school. I know it's been a tough time for you since last week. You now have been given an opportunity to go back and really look at what learning issues you have. I don't know if you have any, but now's your chance to really look into the matter. If you haven't failed a class before, there's a good chance that your program has a re-admission policy. Look into that and see what you need to do to get re-admitted into the program. It may very well mean that you need to figure out your learning style and develop tools to keep you from becoming hyperfocused on a single task. I use (and should use it more) a brain sheet to plan out my day and make sure that I get all the requisite tasks completed. It also primes my brain for remembering that there are certain other tasks that are coming due soon so that I can prioritize them as well.

I did fail out of my program once, rolled back a full year instead of a single semester because of a program content change, and really applied myself to learning the material. I also took to peer-teaching the material and I became a whole lot better for it. I'm due to graduate in a few weeks and I'm very much living proof that it's possible. A classmate of mine, however, wasn't as "lucky" in that she failed out twice. I'm not entirely sure what her issue was but I do know that she wasn't ultimately able to fix it and she is now looking for a transfer to another program to finish her RN. She's capable, but I hope that she becomes aware of it too.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Before you decide on moving forward, IF you have a learning disability, it's best to seek out professional help, as another poster suggested.

I have failed a ADN program due to test anxiety; I dusted myself off, went into a PN program and was a LPN successfully before entering and succeeding in a BSN program; I have been an RN for almost 2 years.

There are many that have had setbacks that go on to have successes; you have the choice and power to find out what you need to be successful.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Hugs! I totally agree with the above posters. Some extra ideas: respiratory therapy, radiology, lab tech, pharmacy...

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Before you decide on moving forward, IF you have a learning disability, it's best to seek out professional help, as another poster suggested.

I have failed a ADN program due to test anxiety; I dusted myself off, went into a PN program and was a LPN successfully before entering and succeeding in a BSN program; I have been an RN for almost 2 years.

There are many that have had setbacks that go on to have successes; you have the choice and power to find out what you need to be successful.

Best wishes.

Kudos to you!! That's a great example of following your dreams! Thanks for your post!!

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Specializes in ER.

If you're able to be tested or talk to your pcp, I would.

I had a few friends who failed out of our school and were able to seamlessly transition into the LPN program. They passed that and are awaiting test results. The classes that they passed will count towards the LPN to RN bridge should they decide to take it at a later date. We have had a few who went the other way too where they did not pass the LPN to RN and instead went to the traditional RN program.

Both routes are very hard. LPN to RN may be even harder since they expect you to build on your knowledge.

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Sorry to hear that you failed out. Akulahawk has given some very good advice. Hopefully you can figure out what you're issue is and fix it. Good luck.

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Hello

Im glad to know it is possible. How did you pick yourself up again? How long did you wait until you decided to come back to your program? Was it the same program?

I want to see if I can get readmitted, but I feel like I need time to think because this is all just too emotional at the moment.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I think the PPs have provided really great advice. Bottom line? Take some time for a professional assessment by a qualified professional before making any decisions. You may discover that nursing - or any other job - that requires continuous multi-tasking is just not going to work for you.

It doesn't make you any less of a person. It's not a reflection on your worth.

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Thanks everyone! that's really supportive

I'm gonna take this summer to figure out if nursing is still even a right fit for me or not, or I have to learn to fix my issues of why I did a bad job in clinical.

I have applied to other nursing schools..some are in the spring...I'm not sure if they will accept me from seeing an "F" on my transcript.

I just know people get accepted to other schools. My GPA will be decent for about 3.2(it dropped from a 3.48 sadly after this semester ends).

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Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.

I have a friend who was in 1st semester nursing with me. She failed out due to study habits. It wasn't that she couldn't grasp the concepts but she was "studying wrong" for her learning personality. She applied to another University and is 2 semesters away from graduating with her Nurse Practitioners degree.

I also had to repeat one semester due to dosage calculations test. I have high test anxiety. I repeated the next semester, re-applied myself, and graduated (ASN). I have to work hard at every grade I get. It does not come easily for me. I am working and back in college to finish out my BSN.

I wish you the very best! You are not the first or the last to fail out of a nursing program but it's up to you as to how you want the story to end. You are worthy and deserving of all good things. Best of luck!

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