Made it to the last minute then........

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in N/A.

Hi, here's how the classes go that is required in order to graduate.

Nursing 101, 102, 202(dimensions of nursing), 203 and 204. Passed all of them. Then 205 is 5 weeks which is part of the semester after 204 but is a separate class/grade and is the final class(extern). Well initially, I was supposed to graduate in Dec of 06 but failed 205 (which is the externship only, no tests or finals, I'm all done with that). At that point, I was in a financial mess and was very stressed, even depressed as a result...I was late for a round table (not out of spite, because I had to work)AND missed a round table(which is like a class but is part of the objectives in order to pass), and did one of my journal entries wrong. We had weekly journal assignments. So my instructor emailed me saying that I didn't meet the objectives for the course. Okay, I was a little upset, but it was understandable. So I had to wait until this past march to take 205 again, I didn't have to go through the classes and clinicals (204), I was SO happy about that! So I went back and was placed on the trauma burn unit. My preceptor really didn't expect me to do much and she just basically let me follow her around. I had to ask questions etc. My instructor asked me what kinds of things I was doing on the unit and I told her not much, because I thought it was the nurse's responsibility to tell me what to do or what she wants me to do. So my instructor said that she wanted me to be more assertive and ask her if I could do more. So I did, I passed meds, suctioned, but I wasn't doing the full patient assignment since I'm not very skilled in that area.So now came the time for the instructor to do her rounds since it's getting towards the end, like observing the students on how they take care of the patients etc. So she came up to my unit to observe me and this was when I JUST got report(didn't get a chance to REALLY integrate the information, mind you again, I'm not very skilled on this unit since I only was in the ICU for two days during my clinical rotation) and voluntarily chose to help another nurse transfer a patient to get a CT scan. I came back and my instructor said, "Okay, so tell me how you're going to assess this patient." And she also wanted to see me do the whole thing as if I were the nurse. So I did the head to toe assessment and hung my FIRST IV(mind you the nurse didn't ask me to hang any the whole 3 weeks) and I froze because there were so many lines and it took me forever to figure it out, and my assessment was poor. So the instructor took me into another room and said "For the level you are at, your not up to par with what is expected, what is going on?" She also said, "I know you had time off but what's wrong?" And I was crying and said, "I know it, I failed, go ahead and fail me." She said "I'm not going to fail you but if your performance isn't improved by tomorrow I'm going to have to let you go, and you know that if you fail a course twice, that you'll have to go through the whole two years again." So I was HIGHLY upset, I'm very upset right now by the way. But it was my fault because during the time off that I had, I didn't keep up with my skills, I work as a waitress so I did lose some of it, like I forgot some things. I didn't think I'd be this rusty. So I left, went home, and had a nervous breakdown. I went to the emergency room because I was SO scared that she was going to fail me, which means that I would have to repeat the WHOLE nursing program again.... I had an anxiety attack. So I got a medical excuse and was able to take a medical withdrawal, so I will get a W on my transcript. I think my main problem IS performing in front of people because I had some issues in clinical but I never failed any semester... so I'm addressing this problem...I'm going to follow up with a psychiatrist. But that's my story.

So my question is, do you think that it would be helpful, in terms of improving my nursing skills working as a nurses aid? There are no internships in my area...it's all filled. Sorry if my wording sucks(I'm highly medicated, if I wasn't I'd be a basket case) and I'm just so depressed. Yes it is partly my fault for not doing anything the time I had off, but now I'm doing everything I can possible. I mean I'm 4 days AWAY from graduation(well not anymore). I called every hospital and I'm doing inclex questions all day, I'm just so upset. What would you do, thanks.:o

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Ok take a deep breath step away from all of this and reassess what you really want to do. Nursing is not worth the break downs. Have some time out and refocus then if Nursing is for you, battle it head on and win over your fears once and for all. Where ever your career steers you I wish you every success. Hang in there it is all worth it.

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Specializes in N/A.

Thank you. I just feel SO stupid! I need more practice with the nursing skills, that's it. I'm fine with the book knowledge. Do you think working as a nurses aid would help? Anybody?:o

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Specializes in N/A.

Oh, and now I have to wait till NOVEMBER to go back, I'm behind a YEAR because of this stupid 5 weeks...I mean what the heck. I DO feel like I need more practice...I'm just all confused.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Yep it will help working as a CNA for sure. My hubby has been doing this until he starts his Nursing Program in the Fall. He loves it.. Go for it nothing ventured nothing gained hon. *hugs*

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I haven't even started school yet so I may be out of line, but is this stuff you can practice in the skills lab? If so, would your instructor let you go in for extra practice?

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
thank you. i just feel so stupid! i need more practice with the nursing skills, that's it. i'm fine with the book knowledge. do you think working as a nurses aid would help? anybody?:o

it will help you get comfortable around patients. to a degree, it may help with your organizational skills. it will also help you with understanding hospital routine. are any of these things a problem?

however, i don't think the job, in itself, will help you with nursing skills. (unless you are allowed to some nursing tasks like catheters, sterile dressing changes, etc. some hospitals train uaps to do these things.)

that isn't to say thay you can't get "more" out of being an na......but you will have to make more of an effort for that to happen. ask the nurses if you can help with tasks, ask them to let you listen to lung sounds, bowel sounds; ask if you can observe dressing changes and help to assess wound beds... that kind of thing.

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Okay, you have to start to trust yourself here. Trust that you know it and find the confidence within yourself!! Also try not to look at the instructors as having that much power over you!

I remember one of my first office jobs- the boss was a HUGE german guy and everyone was telling me how much A*$ he was and how strict and he looked it!!!! I was soooo scared the first few weeks just being in his presence. I thought one wrong move and I would get the axe. Well then his wife came in- a much younger, sexy, flirty thing- ended up being my friend's mom who I knew very well and was a great lady and 16 years younger than him. Bonnie was the type of woman with bleached blond hair, nails and makeup always perfect and back in the 80's always wore the big ole rabbit fur coats!!! I finally realized he must be a huge teddy bear and scamp to land her!!! Things were way easier after that.

He did not change, I changed my perspective of him and that was all it took.

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Specializes in N/A.

Thank you everyone for the replies!

Critterlover, that's exactly what I'm hoping for. I spoke to a nursing recruiter today from a hospital that is close by and she said that I would be doing patient care but would still be able to observe and possibly do nursing things. She said it would be like a nurses tech or something. I should have wrote it down, lol but I'm waiting for her to call me back. I guess that would help. I just wish I could find an intern for the summer, I want MORE hands on. Man I wish there was a separate class available at the college that would just provide students with the opportunity to perform nursing skills only,that would be awesome. I'm REALLY bad with charting, that was the big thing that my instructor was concerned about. When my preceptor was charting, I was just sitting there, she was doing it so fast and it's all computerized. And I haven't done a written assessment in like a year. In my last semester, it was all computerized charting so I really suck at that. I BETTER graduate this December...I did NOT expect this. Although I always felt that I needed improvement. I don't know.:o

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Specializes in N/A.
Okay, you have to start to trust yourself here. Trust that you know it and find the confidence within yourself!! Also try not to look at the instructors as having that much power over you!

I know...your right... and I don't have confidence. I hope this follow up care with the psychiatrist will help,lol.:uhoh3: I just feel so stupid. My family had invitations to the pinning this week and everything. But what was I to do? Chance having to REPEAT the WHOLE 2 years, or address the issue which is anxiety and low self esteem issues( I think)..:o Like in a way I feel like it was too good to be true and I'm not good enough. I guess I need major help.:o

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Med/Surg.

I know exactly where your coming from....because I've been there myself. The only difference is that I'm probably a little more confident and assertive than you seem to be, but I still have confidence problems and absolutely go to pieces when an instructor is standing over me impatiently waiting for me to complete what most consider a "simple nursing task". For the most part I'm a good student and excellent test taker. I have an analytical mind, a high level of compassion and learn things fairly fast when I'm comfortable in the situation.

After completing my first year of the ADN program, I got my LPN license and started working as a visiting hospice nurse over the summer break....hoping that I would get an opportunity to practice some of my skills. Well, about the only skill that hospice nursing helped me with, was doing assessments and writing care plans. I was in my fourth semester of the nursing program with only advanced clinical and clinical transitions left to complete (the theory component has never been an issue with me and I had that well under control). I am extremely proud to say that my nursing care plan for that rotation recieved an "A"....and that came from an instructor who wrote a book on nursing care plans and provided instruction to the rest of the ADN nursing faculty! However, this instructor did not feel confident in my comfort/skill level in an acute care setting and failed me two days before the end of the advanced clinical course (only eight weeks from the end of the program).

During what I call my "exit interview", I came prepared with a plan of action to address my deficiencies over the summer with plans of petitioning the school for re-entry into the fall semester at the other school which would allow me to complete advanced clinical and clinical transitions by the end of 2007. While waiting for the faculties formal answer on my petition, I secured employment as a Nurse Tech on the medical floor of the local hospital AND employment as an LPN on the hospice inpatient unit in order to gain exposure to the daily care and routines in a hospital setting (situations that a visiting hospice nurse would rarely encounter). The clinical instructor who failed me agreed that my action plan was more than adequate and that she felt confident I would be ready to return and successfully complete the program this fall. I must reveal that during my "exit interview" meeting with the school's other nursing faculty, they had indicated that they also supported my action plan and agreed that the weeks over summer break would be adequate to address and correct my deficiencies. But, to my surprise, my petition to re-enter the program was denied and I was informed that I would have to wait an entire year AND provide proof that I had worked in a hospital setting for at least six months before being allowed to re-enter the program.

Interestingly enough, I was one of six people who were "bounced" from the program in the third semsester....five of which either failed the final theory courses as well and three who completely dropped all the classes in the fourth semester. Four of the six have since been informed that they would be allowed to re-enter this fall to complete the program. I am perplexed that these students, who performed marginally throughout the entire program and produced coursework and test scores below that of mine....are allowed to re-enter the program with fewer restrictions than I. Despite having the support of the clinical instructor who failed me (unfortunately she is only a "part time" instructor that they call on to fill the gaps) the full time faculty have chose not to acknowledge her recomendations stating that "she was not included in the decision making process because she is only a part time instructor. Workplace politics are definately at play here and I have to be extremely careful not to put the part time instructor in an awkwark position nor under the fire of the "powers that be" when pursuing my appeal for re-admission this fall! I might add, that this particular instructor (who is feared by many students) is extremely intelligent and one of the most competent instructors I have ever had. She has a busy and important life outside of teaching ADN students, but apparently loves to teach nonetheless and returns to help the program out anytime they are short on instructors (which is practically EVERY semester)!. Last year during spring break when she went on her annual skiing vacation and severely broke her leg, she considered inviting her nursing students to visit and administer her daily IM injections!

I absolutely love the look on everyone's face who attempts to offer their sympathy to me for being "bounced out of the program" by verbally degrading the instructor who failed me....only to hear me defend her actions and convey nothing but respect for her!

Anyway, I apologize for the length of this post. I just wanted to paint as clear of a picture as possible hoping to let you know that this DOES happen to even the best of nursing students! My family, friends, employers and fellow students were all shocked that I had failed out of the program...especially so close to finishing. In retrospect, I can think of several things that I could have done differently to avoid this. For one, being more assertive in seeking out employment in a hospital setting much earlier than I did would have definatley prevented my failure! It's sad that we must seek employment to gain what the ADN program fails to deliver. While extra time in the nursing lab may be adequate for some....they're many students out there such as me who require a hands on, actual situation to gain the proper knowledge and skills needed to survive in an acute care setting.

I know that I'm going to be an exceptional nurse and I view this disappointing setback as an opportunity to excel even further.

Hooterhorse

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Med/Surg.

Addendum:

Correction....I was one of six people bounced out the program in the FOURTH semsester!

hooterhorse

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