Little Rock RNs 2014-didn't pass Senior Semester, now what?

[sixx721]

Looking for some advice.

After 3 long years, more than 30 of my classmates have found themselves not graduating next week. Not becoming RNs. A week ago today, we took a Critical Care comprehensive final that dropped most of us below passing in the course-which at our school is a 77%. (A few needed to make a good enough grade to get TO that passing point). Over half of our entire class failed that final, but most still were able to pass the course. After much debate, discussion, pleading and enough tears to compete with a decent sized lake, here we are.

Dumbfounded. Raw. Numb.

Having to sit out for an entire semester, before we repeat everything that we just did in the last six months all over again. IF they allow us to reenter, that is, which they will tell us approximately one week before the semester starts. Just late enough to not to have a chance to try to enroll anywhere else. To their credit, some instructors in the course seem genuinely concerned and helpful. Others have made comments including,

~"The final isn't the only thing that got you here." (Um, wow, really? Compassionate much? Because before that nightmare of an exam, we were PASSING).

~"I'm on FMLA. I'm not going to answer any of your questions." (Uh, you're the instructor that WROTE the information/questions that gave contradictory information... we were just looking for some clarification)

~"This was the easiest test we could have given you."

~"I don't know what you expected; clearly as a class you thought you could skate by and had enough cushion to not study." (ohhhhh NOT studying was what we were doing when we didn't sleep for 4 solid days prior to the exam?!)

~"Two people made A's."

The best all around advice they have for us? After 3 long years of busting our butts and it all coming down to this very last exam? "Go sit for your LPN boards, you're a shoo-in for those; and try again next year." Now. Don't get us wrong, we get the reasoning behind not letting our skills-over 920 clinical and 875 classroom hour- get rusty, but really? What happened to maybe, just maybe, there might be some validity in what went on with the majority? What happened to looking at us as holistic nurses vs. strictly test takers? Why absolutely no slack?

We don't expect a real answer to that, but maybe to this-what would you recommend? What would you do if this happened to you, or if it did happen to you, how did it go? Did/Would you wait to maybe be able to repeat a semester 6 months from now, or explore other options like getting that LPN license and online bridge to RN, etc?

Thank you in advance-

some future awesome nurses.

[binzy]

I honestly cannot believe how they did that to you all. I just failed my last semester in lpn due to a subjective/lying clinical instructor. I just cant imagine three years of busting your a#& for this to happen. I wish I had some sort of advice for you. Nursing school is hell. They have no compassion and this is why we have a nursing shortage. Well whatever you choose to do I wish you luck.