Dropping Out of the LVN Program

flwannaB · Feb 7, 2006

That really stinks that you have to give up your dream to be a nurse because of one horrible instructor. My clinical instructor was bad but not as bad as that. I would feel a deep sense of dread every Sunday night knowing that I had my clinicals. The only thing that kept me going was that it was only for a semester. My dream to be a nurse far outweighed my disgust with my instructor. I wasn't going to let her stand in the way of my dreams. Before you make your final decision, think about what you may be giving up. I know it takes a lot of patients to be a teacher so you have it in you. I hope you reconsider. I am almost 40 and this is my final career. I hope it works out for you. Hang in there.

Hi, this is my second semester in the LVN program. I have a new clinical instructor and hospital this semester. She is horrible and doesn't teach us any of the things we are supposed to do. She will tell you to shut up or stop asking questions.Everyone is petrified of her. She told us this week that we are supposed to take our patients and do everything for them except pushes. We haven't been trained for anything except by a book that we studied ourselves. I am the only new student as the other 8 were there last semester. I don't know how to work the pda or the in and outs like the others but she could care less about me. I don't sleep the night before clinicals because I dread it so much. I just wrote to the head of the department and told her I am out. Everyone says we are like lambs being lead to the slaughter. It is a very disorganized program. I can't believe it is such a mess. I am sad because I really loved being a nursing student . I am a retired teacher so I do not have to put up with it like the others though.

elizabeth-lvn · Feb 7, 2006

I am sorry to hear your dropping out! I know how you feel, i dreaded my clinicals for 8 weeks in the very beginning, our facility was horrible, my instructor was horrible, and the nursing staff was horrible!! It made me not want to be a nurse, but I stuck with it!! The next semester got better, just in time for me to get a really bad instructor and another bad facility my last two clinical rotations!!! I went home literally in tears everyday because of what they expected you to do!!!! It all comes down to standing up for yourself and letting them know, that that is not in my scope of practice at this time, I am willing to learn anything you want to show me but as far as you wanting me to do what alone, is out of the question, and once you do that, i think they earn a little more respect for you! It is hard my program was very unorganized, director resigned, was on vacation, dumped it all in the lap of another nistructor, was just rediculous, we never had any consistancy, all they ever told us was BE FLEXIBLE, nursing is all about flexibility, well we were about as bent as we could be! Do whats best for you, but never let anyone make you give up your dream!! Look at all of your options, demand something better, You are paying for it!!

Good luck, I hope it works out for u!@!|||

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2006

I had a horrible clinical instructor who taught us nothing.

However, no one was capable of pushing me away from my dream of completing nursing school. Don't ever allow anyone to have that much power over you.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Feb 8, 2006

Please don't let one instructor ruin your dreams. Some people thrive on seeing others failure. Please don't give her the satisfaction. We are always here for support!

NaomieRN · Feb 8, 2006

I am sorry you had to dropped out. It's too bad you could not sit with the instructor and explain your frustration before giving up.

Good luck to you.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 13, 2006

Did you actually drop out, yet? If not, try and see if you can hang in there. I think that most of these experiences go across the board, that these schools don't really teach you anything. Just play along with them, and don't lose your dream, if possible. It may be very well that you'll start another school and have even worse problems.

I have had some really horrible instructors as well, and had no real clinical experience. I finish in about two weeks, and I have no real clue about pharmacology and nutrition, after a whole year! But, I learned to play the game with them. In clinical, I must admit that I had nice, but lazy instructors, that really didn't want to show us much, therefore, didn't require much. I handled it by doing whatever the clinical instructor directed me to do, not the nurses on the floor, and did a great deal of pretending. I'd give the clinical instructor what I felt she wanted, did the lecture assignments, and then, I just tried to pass the exams.

I don't think I am leaving school with much, but I just plan to try and study really hard for the boards, and that is it.

I wish you the best, no matter what your decision is.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Feb 13, 2006

It is sad but you need to learn to play the game in nursing school. You do what the instructor wants. I learned to keep my mouth shut if I disagreed on something important after I saw what happened to other students who weren't quiet. Even if you know you are 100% correct with something, if the instructor disagrees- then you are wrong. Even if it is in your notes that the instructor herself dictated and 4 different required text books. You are still wrong and they are right. You learn to deal with it. I managed to get through the LPN and RN programs with straight A's by doing this. What did I learn? To give the instructors what they want. I was obviously really good at it. :rolleyes: Did I get much clinical experience in school? No. Did I get a good education? Yes. Theory wise. Most of my clinical learning occured on the job. Please don't let instructors ruin your goal. Nursing school is a short part of your life. If you can deal with it for a while you can have your dream.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 13, 2006

Yes, yes, yes, the GAME. It is horrible, and it can feel demeaning, but bottom line is just get out. You'll develop your own techniques in the real world, later. I have walked away angry and disillusioned many a day, believe me, but as long as I was in the running-meaning that I was not failing, I just trucked on. GooeyRN made a good point...nursing school is a trial period in life. Use it and then run for the hills.

Butterflybee · Feb 16, 2006

I wish you werent dropping out. Now i know what I can expect. It is only for some months...that is what I will tell myself.

DDWRN · Feb 17, 2006

Oh Please Hang In There!!!! I Had An Instructor Who Was A ***** But I Was Even More Determined To Get Through This And I Did!!!! Dont Let Her Ruin Your Dream, Please Be Patient!!!!!

GAA30 · Feb 17, 2006

Greetings To all The Wonderful Healthcare Professionals,

I am planning to enter the L.P.N. program at the College I currently attend. I just had a talk with someone in Financial Aid and it was not good. The program accepted 30 students and only six people graduated. They had only an 87% passing rate on the NCLEX in 2004. Additionally, it was said to me that the Instructor's are hard and will make it harder because, I am black. I need the wisdom of vets, and new Nurses(LPN,RN) alike. Any suggestions on what to put in a Bio that they are requiring, any pointers on the NET test? Help Me. I am so discouraged. What is an LPN program Like? If you fail two test you are out of the program.