Do classmates flunk?...or drop out on their own?

Ella26, BSN, RN · May 16, 2009

In my school of those that didnt make it, the people were not studying as much as they should and ended up failing and having to repeat courses or just gave up. There have on been a few that were "kicked out" so to speak. And those that were, just didnt take skills practice lab/clinicals seriously. They didnt do the pre-clnical write ups, such as meds and pt history. or at lab they were studying and not practicing skills and were asked to leave. But if you apply your self and are determined to accomplish your dream to be a nurse, then you will one of those left. We started with about like 80 and about 60 graduated. I worked fulltime, and still maintianed a B average, it took me 4 semesters to finish a 3 semester program. I just graduated yesterday.

tamlp · May 16, 2009

Congratulations and thanks for answering my question. I am nervous but I know I am a hard worker- thats one thing I do have going for me. Your words have given me encouragement and reassured me that as long as I work hard I can do it. I was afraid that maybe people WERE working hard but just couldn't "grasp" it. You have given me the impression that they just weren't applying themselves and giving 100%. That makes me feel a little better.

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · May 16, 2009

Some people just aren't academically able to handle nursing school. You know how there's average students and "A" students and kids who fail? Same thing in nursing school. The curriculum and subject matter is difficult. I think a lot of people who dropped out had no idea it was so hard. It's not high school, it's more like college. You have to be ready to pretty much drop your social life and immerse yourself in NS. Not everyone is willing to do that. Some people don't have the right attitude, you have to listen to the instrusctors and change to their way in clinicals even when you don't agree. Respect their authority or leave. Some people can't manage that. There's lots of reason for leaving. But a lot do flunk out for failing. About 50% per class in fact.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 16, 2009

in most cases the student has to drop out on their own because they paid money for those classes. i think there are very few legitimate reasons why an instructor can drop a student from a class. if the instructor forcibly removes a student from a class when the student has paid their tuition for it and has been following the academic rules of the college then the student could file a lawsuit against the school. however, the instructors would be counseling the student. if the student is not doing well the instructors are going to speak with the student privately and tell them that if they stay in the classes they will probably receive a failing grade. if the student ever wants to get back into the program or another nursing program they can't have a failing grade on their record so dropping out is potentially their best action. this is most likely why you hear about dropping out more than you hear about flunking out--they are trying to do the student a favor and keep a failing grade off their academic record.

please enter nursing school determined to succeed and not focused on failing.

WhoNeedsaShot? · May 23, 2009

In my school it is class by class, some classes are 2 weeks, some are 4-6 weeks, others are 10-16 weeks.... Anything below a 78% is failing, and if you fail one class, you are out of the program....

If you fail out after week 16 you don't get any of your tutition back.

We have lost 11, and 8 are now on the borderline... 2 of which are also on probation for time missed... (we are only allowed to miss 70 hours for the year)

However, to answer your question all have failed, and of those 11 I truely beleive that only 1 failed because she just couldn't grasp it, she really really tried, and I felt so bad for her..... But the others, they just didn't care, government paid for it, and they thought the grades would be as easy to get as the money the government gave them...

So if you want to be a nurse, I am sure you will be!

Good luck to you

ZanatuBelmont · May 23, 2009

I hope to be starting lpn school in the fall, and I can't help but feel a little nervous. I have noticed others on this site posting how many classmates are "left" vs. how many they started with. Do you lose the majority of classmates due to their failure to understand/pass the class, or do people leave on their own (drop out) b/c they change their mind? It would make me feel alot better to think people are leaving on their own and not being kicked out!

First semester we lost 12 people due to flunking. Second semester two flunked, six were booted due to handbook violations; at least 10 were borderline in Med-Surg and only passed thanks to rounding rules.

Our final semester - which begins Monday and lasts seven weeks - should prove the least amount, if any, dropouts. Most of the weak have been weeded out.

bear19kilosgirl2 · May 23, 2009

My class started March 19, 2009 with 36 and we still have 36. Our grading scale is 33% for skills 33% for work habits and 33% for theory. However in Theory, you have to maintain at least a 77% in each course or your out. Math is the only exception an 85% is required for it. We are almost finished with Anatomy and there are some that are below the 77% mark now so if they do not have more than 77% after our final in 2 weeks they can not finish the course. We are only allowed to miss 30 hours of theory and 36 hours of clinical for the whole year. I have only been 1 minute late once since March and received a note on my mid-term saying that I needed to improve my time management skills. It is tough but you can do it if you want to. I find that theory is very easy and that clinical is more challenging for me. Trying to remember everything by the book and demonstrate those skills infront of the instructor can be nerve racking but you can do it. Take clinicals seriously, be helpful to the staff that your assigned to and available to help others in your clinical group teamwork is huge and it will reflect on your grade. And remeber, the only time you truly fail is when you don't or won't try something new!

tamlp · May 23, 2009

Thanks for all of your experiences. It really makes me more determined....

ladynurse1 · May 23, 2009

In my class out of the six that we have lost so far, 5 were do to academics and 1 decided that nursing wasn't for her. You can do it though. Don't worry about the statistics for other schools. If you want to be a nurse, you will be. Worrying about drop out rates will drive you mad and make you super nervous (believe me I did the same thing and ended up on anxiety meds my first trimester). Just know the work itself is not hard. It's the time management that will kill you. You can do it!!!