Did not pass my patho class and now idk what to do

[love.live.laugh]

(this will be pretty long but I really would love advice as to what I can do from this point)

So I am/was recently enrolled into a absn program (i have a previous degree in psych) and for this specific program we have to do a pre-term consisting of three courses before we can begin the actual nursing courses and start clinicals. Well one of those pre-term classes was pathophysiology and we needed a 77% to pass, I ended up not being able to achieve that 77% and I know that I am completely responsible for that with poor study habits and lack of focus. I have no huge responsibilities so that makes it even worse!

I've just been completely drained and unmotivated lately since graduating recently w/ my first degree and I did not do as well on the second exam (our grade consisted of our avg. of 4 exams and one optional EC) I did ok on the 3rd exam but my final exam grade was not high enough for me to pass the class. Now I am faced with having to re-take the course and move down to the traditional track (which is the rule for the program if you do not pass a course and the traditional track does not run during the summer so I would have to start during fall 2015)

and on top of that I was contacted b/c they found that I hadn't taken a microbio lab which I feel was not entirely my fault because during the entire application process with the evaluation and initial orientation, never once did the program director or advisor tell me that I had to take the lab. In fact, the advisor that was in charge specifically told me that the microbio course that I took covered the lab portion and I was not responsible for having to take it. So now on top of retaking patho I might have to retake microbio as well.

I'm feeling completely depressed because I feel like I've wasted so much time as well as money and i've already accumulated a decent amount of loans from my first degree and with having to retake courses and re-start the program at a later time I feel like I'm wasting even more time and money.

I really do want to be a nurse and right now my only options are to stay at this school move into the traditional track and move at a slower, more comfortable pace but it will take longer and probably cost more. I don't completely mind this at all but I just know my parents are going to hate that I have to spend more time in school and take out more loans. I plan on finding a job though and working during the program.

I can try to apply to a different absn program and start in the spring or summer but then I would feel like I wasted time and money on courses at my current school when I didn't have to, that's if any other program even accepts me. and it also makes me wonder if I could'nt handle patho at an accelerated pace would I even be able to survive an entire program???

I'm just in a tough spot right now and I've been feeling completely depressed and like a total failure. I want to become a nurse but all of this right now feels so overwhelming and makes me want to just drop out of school completely. I'm scared to even tell my parents because I moved out into an apartment to go to school and my dad has been helping me out financially and I know he will be extremely upset.

[love.live.laugh]

Just to update:

After speaking to the nursing director, I found out that I would have to retake the patho course and move down into the traditional track but after breaking down the time difference and HUGE cost difference, i've realized that continuing in the program wouldn't be the best thing for me to do. I would also have to take the microbio lab to continue in the program but even if I do not continue at my current program I think I should still take the lab b/c other programs may require it. I still feel a bit discouraged at times because I feel like I've wasted an entire year and so much of my parent's money has gone down the drain but I'm really looking into other options.

The director essentially told me in other ways that I should probably look to doing something else because of the fact that I'm already struggling so early on. The thing is that I really do want to continue in nursing and when thinking of something else that I can do, nothing comes to mind. This is what I have my heart set on. I'm trying to do some soul searching and get down to the root of my problem and figure out why I allowed myself to fail so easily and I just can't figure it out!

Right now I am trying to see if I can get into another program including one accelerated program that I got into before but turned down in favor of my current one but I feel that other absn programs will see that I did not pass my patho class and immediately decide that I am not ready to take on an accelerated program. Which may be true but if I do get into another program I plan on learning from my mistakes and trying harder the second time. I know that my biggest issues were lack of focus and poor studying skills but after getting a taste of nursing school I know that I have to come much harder and more prepared than I was before because it is nothing compared to my first degree and I cannot just coast by.

I am also looking into nearby adn programs, which this may not be the best option considering the current job field and ppl seeking bsn applicants but I think starting off slower and building up is the route that I personally need to go although I'm sure a adn program will still not be a walk in the park it will still be a good way to ease my way into nursing. I could also start working soon if I find a job hiring adns start paying back loans and pay for an rn-bsn program if the place that I get hired at does not do reimbursements. I recently graduated from a 4 year university w/ a degree in a non-nursing field and absolutely no nursing experience and no job/career experience outside of an on-campus work-study job that I held throughout my first undergrad career. I also want to possibly take a CNA class and if time permits work as a cna either while I am in school or waiting to get into another program or volunteer at a nearby hospital. Just get more experience basically.

I also need to speak with my parents about this which I have been putting off. They are basically clueless as to my current situation and I have yet to clue them in on the fact that I've failed the course. I have no idea how to bring this to them and I know holding off isn't the best thing to do but I am scared about their reaction but I know that I will be less stressed out once I talk to them and come to a conclusion about where to go from here. Moving into an apartment close to my current school in hindsight seemed convenient but probably was not the best thing to do as I feel like it would be pointless of me to move back home now after having been here for just a few months but I have to see what my parents feel about me either staying here for the remainder of my lease or moving back home.

[GonnaBNurseLana]

Maybe youre a visual learner? Try rewriting your notes with different colored pens, watching youtube videos, doing visual nmemonics (amazon.com); sign up for simple nursing for nursing students which cuts down study time and is for visual learners..a lot of the videos are free on youtube. Try visual mapping too.

[dcpaskie]

I had to retake some classes before applying to a program-- not because I failed but because of labs. It is definitely painful to be on track and then have to take the same courses again. It does feel like time and money spent. Try to focus on the positive-- you are still in a program- stay the course. There is no easy way no matter what you do... You have to push through. If you apply to a different program they are going to see the failed pathophys. You are by no means trapped, although it can feel that way. Keep your eyes on your goal, and try to find some time for yourself so you can do some reflection before next semester. Find out what distractions kept you from being successful that semester. See if you can remove them. See if you can get some time for yourself before you start the next semester to unwind. Start fresh. You can do this!!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Wait a minute. In your post on the Nursing Student forum, you said you withdrew from a class (bio chem) and that the program "changed their policies". Nothing about not taking Micro lab. So, which one is it???

[love.live.laugh]

Wait a minute. In your post on the Nursing Student forum, you said you withdrew from a class (bio chem) and that the program "changed their policies". Nothing about not taking Micro lab. So, which one is it???

My other post was clear. The bio-chem course was a pre-req that I took a few years ago during my first undergrad degree. I was in bio-chem during the spring semester of I believe 2012 but withdrew only to retake it at a nearby CC that summer. My microbio class is a different story, it has nothing to do with not being able to continue in the program as they were going to allow me to take the lab portion in the spring along with the patho re-do. The program director even admitted that the counselor that was in charge of doing my initial evaluations during admissions made a huge mistake and failed to mark that I didn't have the lab and yes they reviewed my file after I did not pass the patho class which is how they saw that I didn't have the lab. For whatever reason, they recently reviewed it AGAIN yesterday and that is when they brought up the issue with the new policy and my previous W in bio-chem. This post, which is a week old, was obviously before everything that happened today, hence my new post.

[love.live.laugh]

I had to retake some classes before applying to a program-- not because I failed but because of labs. It is definitely painful to be on track and then have to take the same courses again. It does feel like time and money spent. Try to focus on the positive-- you are still in a program- stay the course. There is no easy way no matter what you do... You have to push through. If you apply to a different program they are going to see the failed pathophys. You are by no means trapped, although it can feel that way. Keep your eyes on your goal, and try to find some time for yourself so you can do some reflection before next semester. Find out what distractions kept you from being successful that semester. See if you can remove them. See if you can get some time for yourself before you start the next semester to unwind. Start fresh. You can do this!!

Thank you for your motivating words =) I am no longer in the program but I am definitely trying to move on from this and push forward and yes it is such a pain but things happen unexpectedly and for a reason I guess. It is nice to read encouraging posts on here every once in a while.

[love.live.laugh]

Maybe youre a visual learner? Try rewriting your notes with different colored pens, watching youtube videos, doing visual nmemonics (amazon.com); sign up for simple nursing for nursing students which cuts down study time and is for visual learners..a lot of the videos are free on youtube. Try visual mapping too.

I definitely think I am. After reading about the different learning styles I think that I fit best under visual learner and thank you for the suggestions, I will definitely be putting them to use!

[SoniaReb]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't understand this huge cost and time difference that you speak of. If your intention is to continue a Nursing Program elsewhere, why not retake the course(s) (Patho and Micro Lab) at your current school via their traditional track/ You are already accepted into that program and the existing program is willing to have you as part of the traditional track, so why go through the "hassle" of applying to other programs, including another accelerated programs and/or ADN programs? Could you explain home staying at your current school will be less expensive and time consuming than going to another program? Wouldn't it be more difficult to get into another program with a failure on your record? Is it possible to commute from parent's home to your EXISTING program, reducing your living expense considerably?

I would say, don't give up and stay in your existing program. You now a certain amount of familiarity with this program, so why change to another program? I think your parents will understand this minor setback if you clearly identify the steps to circumvent the problems you have experienced to date. Good luck.

After speaking to the nursing director, I found out that I would have to retake the patho course and move down into the traditional track but after breaking down the time difference and HUGE cost difference, i've realized that continuing in the program wouldn't be the best thing for me to do. I would also have to take the microbio lab to continue in the program but even if I do not continue at my current program I think I should still take the lab b/c other programs may require it. I still feel a bit discouraged at times because I feel like I've wasted an entire year and so much of my parent's money has gone down the drain but I'm really looking into other options.

The director essentially told me in other ways that I should probably look to doing something else because of the fact that I'm already struggling so early on.

[love.live.laugh]

The program, financially, would have went from about $510/CR to $820/cr and according to the director, the tuition could potentially, if not definitely, go up by 2% a year, so there is a huge cost difference. The upside is that I would possibly have been able to work but that doesn't change the fact that the acc. program was better financially esp. since I already have a degree and I am not eligible for a lot of loans b/c I've already accumulated a decent-sized amount.

Time wise, the acc. program would have been 18 months, including summers. The traditional track does not include summers and if I had to re-take the patho course in the spring, I would be looking at a fall 2015 start date and according to the time plan laid out by the director, I wouldn't finish until Winter 2017 versus summer 2016, which I believe is where I would be if I were still in accelerated.

I do wish that I would've just commuted from home this first semester as I would've saved money instead of prematurely moving into an apartment but the purpose was to be closer to the school so I could go to class and clinicals, which are pretty spread out b/c the school is out in the suburbs with no major nearby hospitals. Unlike going to a school in the city, there is no public trasnportation and for me, driving is something that I'm still kind of new to so I wanted to get more comfortable with driving as I know that I would've been doing a lot of it for clinicals and in the Chicago winter.

I no longer have the option of staying in this program (I made a different post stating why) so right now I have no choice but to apply to different programs if I want to continue in nursing. I am looking to apply to ADN programs but also I realize that the failing grade drops my chances of being accepted into another BSN program but I am still going to try and apply. The ADN option is of course cheaper but I really would like to find a job once I graduate and with already having a bachelor's it would be a step back but at this point, I'll be willing to take any path that I can. I want to take the microbio at a CC and look into getting a job as a CNA for now. Thank you for the well wishes.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't understand this huge cost and time difference that you speak of. If your intention is to continue a Nursing Program elsewhere, why not retake the course(s) (Patho and Micro Lab) at your current school via their traditional track/ You are already accepted into that program and the existing program is willing to have you as part of the traditional track, so why go through the "hassle" of applying to other programs, including another accelerated programs and/or ADN programs? Could you explain home staying at your current school will be less expensive and time consuming than going to another program? Wouldn't it be more difficult to get into another program with a failure on your record? Is it possible to commute from parent's home to your EXISTING program, reducing your living expense considerably?

I would say, don't give up and stay in your existing program. You now a certain amount of familiarity with this program, so why change to another program? I think your parents will understand this minor setback if you clearly identify the steps to circumvent the problems you have experienced to date. Good luck.