What happens to nursing students who fail out of the program?

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Does anyone know what happens to the average nursing student who fails out of the nursing program? typically what is the second major that they often pursue? or do they go for lpn? go to work full time??

I have a guy in my class that failed the 1st semester at an RN program and now is doing Lpn. Ive heard of a lot of people doing that then went back for RN. In my program if a student fails out, they are supposed to wait 6 months to come back.[/quote']

We have to sit out a year and then do remmidiation then reapply.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

At my school if someone failed a class they were allowed to repeat it one time. If they failed the same class a second time, they were dismissed from the program. I don't believe they were allowed to reapply for acceptance a second time but I am not positive about that.

I know one woman failed a class and she decided to become a CNA to get experience before trying again. Other areas, such as respiratory therapy would still be an option of course. Good luck!

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I have a guy in my class that failed the 1st semester at an RN program and now is doing Lpn...

I wish him luck with that! I was so surprised at the level of science in the LPN program. I thought LPNs were glorified techs; boy was I wrong!

Keep us (me) posted on his progress, Juicy.

... And anyone that was kicked out lost their money, no refunds at all- so if you had to start over, you had to pay the whole thing again, also..

This is just asinine. I think some schools do this on purpose. It should be a crime. I understand a normal attrition, but when fully half the students don't make it through, that is deceptive.

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My VN school started with 52 people, 26 graduated.

My program started with 32 students and within three weeks we lost two students. One because NS wasn't what she thought it would be and the other over an EPIC battle with administration over a bad test score. In three semesters, we have lost no one else.

I am SHOCKED at the number of students who "fail out". 80% is passing in our program and even though some have dropped lower than that, remediation with faculty helped the students get to a passing grade.

I guess you can not help someone who is consistently late or misses class or clinicals, but should nursing schools do more to help the kids who aren't getting it? I mean, everyone who gets in is smart, but switching to nursing school thinking is difficult. Maybe that is a post for another day...

As for the two students in my class who dropped, they left the school altogether, and are not considering a health-care related field.

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I'm talking about the students who fail and cannot return to nursing school again...what field do they typically go into? do they just go back to their old 9-5?

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Unfortunately in my previous ADN program, you have to sit out an entire year. I did not progress to my third (final) semester. I'm already an LPN and I could have returned. I talked with the program director when I went to receive my final grade and she informed me all I had to do was send an email or contact her but I just chose not to. I failed the program in December '12 of last year and received another acceptance letter for another ADN program in feb '13!

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If they fail out of the program, some will opt to go into the LPN tract and then go on for their LPN to RN. If you fail out of the RN program, that is an option my school ofers.We give people 1 chance to repeat a class if they fail and 3 times if they decide to drop before the freeze date.

However, you only get to fail a class once. Meaning if someone fails a peds class and then passes peds but then goes on to fail OB, they fail out of the program as they have failed 2 classes.

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Emilyemily, that would be their individual decisions, because everyone's life is different. All people who flunk out of nursing school won't have the same interests, aptitudes, or economic pressures, because they all have different lives.

What do you have in mind for yours?

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In my ADN program if you fail out of 1 course you have to reapply to the program.

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I always thought there was like a land of no return, something like the island of misfit toys.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.
I'm talking about the students who fail and cannot return to nursing school again...what field do they typically go into? do they just go back to their old 9-5?

This is almost an impossible question to answer. Over the years I have lost touch with my fellow students that didn't make it, some I lost touch as soon as they failed. Others went back to doing what every they could find. Many did not return to school at all..

What others did or did not do was not a concern to me. If you are in this boat, do what makes you happy and pays the bills..

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I FLUNKED OUT of RN school 1st fudamentals in 09 & then med surge 1 by a .10 of a point in 2011 so that was my 2 failures. My advisor told me to change careers since nursing isnt for me, i thought about it 4 about a week & decided to 4get her & NOW IM IN MY LAST 3 DAYS OF LPN SCHOOL! Pinning is next week & boards coming soon!!! That same advisor i saw her last week @ the hospital where i work as a pct, i was taking a pt to icu & on the way back to my floor i saw her & almost ran the bed into her like didnt see her! But i didnt i just smiled to myself & thought yeah i'll be in the SAME color scrubs as you in a few! All the nurses where the same solid colors the only difference is the red tags that say RN or LPN on it. Its not the end of the world like I THOUGHT it would when i flunked. If you really want it dont let NO ONE tell you different! You may have to go another route but it'll all work out! Oh & i have been on honor roll the whole 15 months ive been in my program too. That last failure motivated me to MAKE A BIIIIIIGGGGGG change & it showed! My goal now is retake my a & p's & another science class & apply for fall 2014 lpn-bsn school. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

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