I am the personality type that consistently roots for the underdog! I can't stand to see a student fall behind, especially when they are great in clinical yet are poor test takers. It's even worse when you see someone who struggles with a ligitimate (sp?) learning disability, and you know how frustrating it is for them to study, study, study and come up short. I have gone out of my way for two students who struggled, to spend one on one tutor time to help them pull up their grades.
With that being said, I have to get THIS off my chest. We have a person who has failed out of a previous nursing school attend our program. She started out in my class one and a half years ago, failed the first semester, repeated (barely passing), nearly failed the second semester so she withdrew so she could come back, then failed second semester. They would not let her attempt the RN program again, but they let her into the LPN program! This woman has had several close calls in clinicals. The only one I am personally aware of is that she drew up 3cc of R Insulin instead of 3 units. I have heard rumors of others (but a rumor is just a rumor.) She does have some learning disabilities and she is accomodated for those through a student services organization.
To be honest, I really don't think she is cut out for nursing. I certainly would not want her as my nurse. I understand that sometimes people have to repeat, and that is not a true reflection upon their nursing ability...however, this situation is quite excessive IMO. The worst part is that I feel like this woman is being taken advantage of by the school who keeps taking her money semester after semester when it is obvious she can't make the cut. And another thing...I have seen other students dismissed from the program with more potential than this woman is displaying.
