Clinical Failure

Nursing Students Student Assist

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So, I am on the brink of getting kicked out of my program due to the clinical setting. I arrived late quite a few times and the instructors don't like me or teach me, just reprimand me. I get 80-90% on the exams but it doesn't matter since the instructor can decide to fail you for the smallest reason, such as wearing the wrong color nail polish or being ten minutes late. I already failed one course for that reason. A few days after my grievance over the grade was filed I got an email stating that I'm not allowed to go to clinical the next day because my TB test was overdue so I will probably fail the course, which will be talked about in person. After one F transferring is relatively impossible and the constant meetings make it difficult to accomplish anything other than talking. I was reminded that my test was overdue and asked the status two weeks prior but I was busy writing a few papers and stacking copies of documents for the grievance filing. Does anyone have any advice for me? It would be much appreciated.

Showing responsibility and maturity are imperative to being a nurse. Arriving to work on time. Having your proper certifications completed and on time. Follow through with appropriate actions in a timely manner are nursing requirements.

Late TB tests even when you are working are grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination. Attendance, failure to arrive on time, is also grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination.....and is disrespectful to your co-worker/instructor. Your school even warned you 2 weeks prior but, in their view, you were too self absorbed to be bothered to fulfill the programs requirement because you were busy stacking papers/copies for your fight with them.

Anytime you are trying to prove a point and confront someone on their behavior.......you need to be sure there are no cracks in your glass.....so your behavior and compliance needs to be without reproach. Let the one "without sin cast the first stone".....

You are always going to encounter that may not like you or may pick on you. You need to be mature enough to take responsibility and learn how to adapt and respond in a responsible and mature manner. Especially in nursing school when your exposure to this CI is temporary. Take responsibility for your own actions and control your own destiny.

The failure to follow set rules, wearing the wrong color nail polish and being ten min late, shows immaturity, disrespect, and that you are unreliable. All unacceptable behaviors in a nurse.

My advice?......I would apologize for my behavior. Set out a behavior plan about how you are going to improve so you can remain in the program....and I would be sure to let them know how much you want to be a nurse and why. I would look inside to see what about me I need to change to improve myself as well.

I wish you the best.

^ This x's 1000!

Listen to these nurses. All of them are essentially saying the same thing--and of that, not a few.

Seriously, no one is going to have any sympathy for you at all based on what you have said. Nursing and medicine are run a little like the military. Certain things are expected and will be completed, period, end of story. It's on you to do them--to find out how to do them--like the immunization issue. Really? You call and figure it out, period.

So do you really NOT want to be there? I have to question if in fact you do.

If you do, get it together and do what is expected, and then try to go the extra mile after that.

Favoritism occurs a lot EVERYWHERE, but sometimes students think instructors are playing favorites, when in fact, they simply see another student taking a stronger interest in things.

If you don't get it together, people are going to think you just to care enough, and then you will be out. It's as simple as that.

In my opinion, nursing school rules are NOT outrageous. There are legitimate reasons for all of them. Nail polish is unhygienic. You're lucky you get wear it at all. Is it really that difficult for you to comply with a simple rule like nail color? TB requirements are usually those of the clinical facility, enforced by the school. If you can't comply with the facility as a student, you wont last long as an employee if you get hired. You have plenty of notice as to what is required of you before clinicals. If your classmates can get it done, you can too. It is your responsibility, and it is not an outlandish request. You need to buck up and take accountability. They don't ask anything unreasonable of you. Put some big girl undies on and do what you need to do, and don't blame your instructors for your problems and whine about "unfair treatment" when you don't hold up your end of the stick. JMO.

It sounds like you are a very intelligent person. You made it into your program, and you make good grades. Most nursing programs are extremely competitive, so you should take pride in yourself. Not wearing nail polish, following rules, and being on time should be the easy part. Doing those simple things shows you are serious about your future as a nurse. Think of the applicants that didn't make it into your program; would they gladly trade places with you? Don't take your opportunity for granted. Perception is reality to the instructors, and first impressions are very important. Take this opportunity to turn the situation around, and make a better impression. Maybe then you will be the favorite. Good Luck!

So, I am on the brink of getting kicked out of my program due to the clinical setting. I arrived late quite a few times and the instructors don't like me or teach me, just reprimand me. I get 80-90% on the exams but it doesn't matter since the instructor can decide to fail you for the smallest reason, such as wearing the wrong color nail polish or being ten minutes late. I already failed one course for that reason. A few days after my grievance over the grade was filed I got an email stating that I'm not allowed to go to clinical the next day because my TB test was overdue so I will probably fail the course, which will be talked about in person. After one F transferring is relatively impossible and the constant meetings make it difficult to accomplish anything other than talking. I was reminded that my test was overdue and asked the status two weeks prior but I was busy writing a few papers and stacking copies of documents for the grievance filing. Does anyone have any advice for me? It would be much appreciated.

This reminds me of the Dear Abby column where the teenager wrote in that her mother was all over her to pick up her room, do the dishes, help cook dinner, do her homework, and put away her clothes. What should she do to get her mother to stop this unreasonable picking on her? The answer: Pick up your room, do the dishes, help in the kitchen, do your homework, and put away your clothes.

So with this.

Be on time; by now you ought to have gotten the message that it's important. This is because if you are in the habit of being late for things you will get fired from your paying jobs. Connection, there.

You can't wear nail polish or acrylics in clinical, it's an absolute no-no for infection control purposes. Same in any patient care area. No.

Your school is not allowed to bring a student into a hospital who does not have a current TB test. If you ever get a real nursing job, you will not be able to work without one, either. See the connection?

Your test was late because you were too busy putting together a grievance filing? If it was even partly about the three issues above, you're toast anyway.

Sorry, I am sure you came here for sympathy and to hear what nasty people your faculty are. I have had students like you. If they didn't undergo a rapid attitude adjustment it was clear they didn't have what it took to be nurses. So with you.

YOU are responsible for meeting the requirements of the program, which is why they reprimand you and "don't teach you." And it's probably got a lot to do with why they don't like you either.

Get with the program, or get into a major that doesn't care if you're late for class, wear nail polish, have a TB skin test, or can't file your written work on time. Off the top of my head I can't think of one, but since you have a bundle of energy to waste on filing grievances instead of doing the work for the program, maybe you can research and find one.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Sorry about all you difficulties. But I agree with everyone else. Nursing is not just about being smart in Anatomy class and getting good grades. You have to show that you are responsible for your learning (not just letting others teach you, but actually figuring things out), and that you are responsible to your workplace and clients. Not getting tested and showing up late are not signs of a good future nurse for your instructor. You should be able to figure out where to get tested, calll around maybe or ask others in your group. I am in school myself and have to admit that there are times it feels like military school, lol. However, none of what you are writting about sounds unfair. Remember that peoples lives will someday be in your hands. If you didn't follow an order properly because you couldn't figure it out or didn't do something important on time because you were late, or were too tired etc..that although these may be all true, legit excuses they will not matter to your boss or your patient's family if they cause harm or put extra stress on your coworkers.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, Neurology, Rehab.

No n

So, I am on the brink of getting kicked out of my program due to the clinical setting. I arrived late quite a few times and the instructors don't like me or teach me, just reprimand me. I get 80-90% on the exams but it doesn't matter since the instructor can decide to fail you for the smallest reason, such as wearing the wrong color nail polish or being ten minutes late. I already failed one course for that reason. A few days after my grievance over the grade was filed I got an email stating that I'm not allowed to go to clinical the next day because my TB test was overdue so I will probably fail the course, which will be talked about in person. After one F transferring is relatively impossible and the constant meetings make it difficult to accomplish anything other than talking. I was reminded that my test was overdue and asked the status two weeks prior but I was busy writing a few papers and stacking copies of documents for the grievance filing. Does anyone have any advice for me? It would be much appreciated.

Are you subconsciously hoping to be failed? Do you feel you really don't want to be there? You know if you have been "late often" for any job you will be terminated. Maybe seek counseling to see why you do not want to succeed. You are in a position that many many nurses which they can take your spot. By filing grievances you have somehow "set yourself up" to fail. The instructors hold the "ball" so to speak. THEY can "find" reasons to fail you. Another thing, why are you even wearing nail polish to clinicals, is that even allowed? No nail polish or "fake nails"in that case and they said in advance no polish then you have already "crossed" the line. It sounds to me that you really need to meet with someone who can help you sort through these issues with you, because it is only going to get worse. Blessing to you!!:unsure:

Wow, and I'm just worried about my clinicals because they are asking me to do things I've never done before (like giving meds, taking care of patients) and working 2 jobs when my instructors are telling me not to work. I think you need to put on your big girl panties, show up on time, take off the nail polish, and get the TB skin test done already! Maybe you should consider another career if you can't do the little stuff because I wouldn't want you to treat me or my family in the future.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Wow.... No self-respecting nursing student I know would admit all of these mistakes, and would have had their a-- hauled in a long time ago for unprofessional behavior. You are disrespecting yourself, your clinical instructor, the program, the primary nurses, and pretty much every other health care professional in the field by not taking responsibility for your actions.

I wish you luck in correcting your actions, but you REALLY need to get it together if you want to succeed.

Specializes in Corrections.

OP, I can see how going through nursing in school in itself is a stressful situation. However, you need to respect this as a job and no other. You are being groomed and trained to be a professional, and nail polish or failing to provide documentation are legalities of this type of career.

To play the devil's advocate here: During school I hated it so much how students were always consistently late for classroom time, like they had nothing better to do. (I loved my clinical group though, they were a great group of people). I hated how they weren't tougher on certain students for horrible immature actions. There was specific dress code that would not be followed and some teachers just felt the need to hold their hands.

In the end however, those students that skated by with okay grades and poor child like attitudes, barely graduated in the end. If who we are in school is a any reflection of how we will be in the field such as being a student who couldn't follow the rules, cheaters, liars and bullies I'm sure you will not go very far in this field. :no:

Step up your game!! You can always bounce back and become a phenomenal nurse. :yes: If you can't figure out what nail polish color is right, don't wear any! If you don't know how to get the TB test, ask! If you know you live far, leave extra early and sit in the library and study! You can do it...focus girl ...you will succeed.

I don't really have anything else to say except to echo the others. You cannot work as a professional of ANY type without being able to be accountable for things like your health (and the health/safety of others) and arriving on time. It just will not work. I have worked since before I was 16. I have worked in a formal job since I was 16. I worked in credit card customer service for 4+ years. Even though this job was as far from clinical as they come, I could not be habitually late. I could not habitually call off either.

At one point, in nursing school, I had three jobs. I worked in credit card customer service, I worked as an assistant at a major hospital locally and I worked with a high school extracurricular group. AND, I was the primary caregiver for my terminally ill grandmother. My capstone/practicum/preceptorship - the clinical hours were either 0600-1430 or 0530-1400. The hospital I had clinicals at was 45 minutes driving time from my house, I left about 90 minutes before I needed to be there for some 'cushion' time. So I left between 0400 and 0430 depending on the day. I would be at clinical working all day, and have an hours' drive home with traffic. I had to do it 2-3 days per week for 10 weeks. I survived. It was worth it.

I've been a nurse for a little over a year. I worked neuro/med/surg telemetry. My first job, we had people habitually late but that was the least of the problems with that job. My second job also neuro med surg, I lived over an hour away from work. It was a more rural area, and 30-50 minutes was a common drive for my coworkers. I was late once, due to cleanup from a fatal wreck on the freeway and I was between exits. I called work as SOON as I realized I MIGHT be late. It amounted to me being 5 minutes late which actually wasn't late - I clocked in at 0705 (we had 0654 - 0706 to clock in for day shift arrival).

I've called off once as a nurse. I had to have emergency surgery. I submitted the paperwork from the ER physician and the surgeon who treated me both for the extended absence and for my return to work clearance. I could not have avoided it. I called work about the situation from the ED at the hospital near where I lived, when I knew I needed to have surgery. We were already short staffed, and I didn't want to be drugged up on pain meds post op and forget to call. I just told the nights charge I was having emergency surgery and I'd be off for the foreseeable future...so they weren't finding out at 1500 the day I was next scheduled to work (I had two days off work as I'd just worked my weekend and had to have surgery Monday night after sleeping following work Sunday night) - out of courtesy to my coworkers. Working short sucks, but being as proactive as possible never hurts

I don't think many nursing students, especially those closer to the beginning of their programs realize the enormous responsibility we have as nurses. Arriving at work on time is one of the easiest things as a nurse. It is NOT fun to be asked to stay late when your relief does not arrive on time. It's one thing, once in a blue moon, where you coworker has a car accident, car breaks down, family emergency etc. But I've worked with people (not just in nursing) who think rules about time and punctuality do not apply to them. I mean really? You're going to make it THAT easy to get rid of you? It's easy to prove what time you clock in and out. Why make it that easy?

And the nail polish? We weren't allowed to wear it as students (school policy). My job as an assistant, and two of three nursing jobs have allowed it. If I were working on a unit and not a procedure area, I could wear nail polish now. I never did. I don't really like my nails painted, and when I do paint them, I never can seem to keep my nails clean to my standard under the nails - I hate not being able to look at my nails and see if there's a speck of something under there.

I'm about to start nursing school (next week) and the school has laid out the rules and I will follow them to a "T." No nail polish? That's okay I've cut my nails. No perfume? No problem I gave mine away. No scented lotion? Again no problem don't use it. Show up on time...I'll be in class a half an hour early.

I don't feel entitled and I'm not sure why feel this way..if you feel you have been targeted maybe you should look at your attitude..late for clinicals? Clinicals is a job interview and if you are late, it's showing those around you that you do not have respect for them. What do I know? Well I had another career and trust me whiners and blamers don't get anywhere...they didn't get anywhere in finance and I'm pretty sure it won't get you anywhere in Nursing.

You have a decision to make-to flunk out of nursing...which is probably a given or to put on your big girl pants, change your attitude and hope you have time to change people's opinion of you. I wish you luck but if Nursing is not what you want then please do yourself and those around you a favor and leave because there are plenty of people who really want to be a nurse.

Good luck.

Specializes in Orthopaedic Nursing; Geriatrics.

Wow. As an instructor, you would already be out of my class. Our students are not even allowed in clinical without having a TB test done. And it is THEIR responsibility to get it and since they know it, they have no reason not to get it. I think it's time to accept responsibility for your own actions.

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