Was Let Go From A Program

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Mar 23, 2006

A girl in my program was unable to pass the school's oral boards, with 2 tries. The policy is that after that you're out - she was finished 3 months before graduation. I've heard various rumors about what happened, but someone did say she had a history of conflict with faculty. This happened right around when we juniors were starting and it made us all even more nervous.

Pete495 · Mar 23, 2006

Oral Boards? Never heard of such a thing. Sounds harsh though.

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Mar 24, 2006

Only a small number of programs have them. For us it is the master's synthesis requirement, instead of a thesis or project. It also helps guarantee that my program will continue to have a 100% 1st time pass rate on the boards because if you can't pass orals, you never get to take the boards. I'm not looking forward to it, but I have faith that we do it for a reason and it will help me in the long run.

air · Mar 26, 2006

air - i would have to wonder what was happening at clinical that you all weren't privy to... perhaps he just wasn't good at the "game"

Well, if by the game you mean "getting along" maybe you are right. Remember that once you are isolated and shunned, no matter how good you are progressing clinical, you will end up being marked to be let go.

air · Mar 26, 2006

"how common is it for someone to be let go from a crna program? from the outside looking in (i'm about a year away from applying to programs) i'm thinking this would be a pretty low ratio. i'm just curious as to how common it is for people to be let go."
i've been told that most people fail out in the clinical area, not the class room area, at least in my program. it helps to get on the good side of everyone, and just shut up and put up w/ faculty and clinical staff. i'm surprised this guy was let go if he's put forth an honest and sincere effort. it's very hard to not rock the boat at times, esp. when the surgeon or someone else is talking down to you for no particular reason. it takes tremendous patience. many people who fail out of school also have other problems that contribute to this as well though, relationship, alcohol, or mental health issues. so try to get all your issues settled before school begins, and try to ensure that your support boards do not break while you are getting your education. i'm not saying this person had issues. he probably got caught in a bad situation, but it also sounds like there is more to the story which might not be known. it would take a lot of hard documentation to let someone go, and usually the reasons are greater than your everyday pettiness.
i know you are right here. that is what happened, he rocked the boat with the wrong people. not with the surgeons or mda's.
getting into another program would be difficult, but if the person was trully wronged, i would challenge the dismissal first, through the appropriate avenues. after one year in the program, that is a lot of money to give up to start over, which is probably what this person would have to do. not only that, at least then the person could say he challenged the decision. good luck

yes, getting into another program has proven a challenge. some programs have indicated that his application would not stand out well. some would want to call his previous program for a reference or recommendation to admit. both of those options would not be favorable if i venture to guess.

air · Mar 26, 2006

How common is it for someone to be let go from a CRNA program? From the outside looking in (I'm about a year away from applying to programs) I'm thinking this would be a pretty low ratio. I'm just curious as to how common it is for people to be let go.

I am not sure about the exact number.

I have been in my program for about 20 months. This is the third person to be let go.

MmacFN · Mar 26, 2006

I imagine CRNA school will be similar to when i did my nursing degree.

X years of "yes mame/sir".

There is absolutely no point in challenging the people who will be grading you. Save that for your practice when the decision is yours.

In regards to the OP; I cannot understand how someone would be booted from a school if it wasent of their own making. If they were summairly dismissed without proper discourse and documentation the school would be at considerable liability. While im sure personality friction can effect grades, no school is going to dismiss someone without written proof as to why if for nothing else to protect themselves.

Brian_SRNA · Jun 30, 2006

From my limited experience( i start in january, but have many colleagues in programs), It is difficult to get kicked out or asked to leave. They wanted you in the program, they picked you over many other qualified canidates. It would have to be a big personality conflict, coupled with other problems. But that is just my opinion. I hoep he gets where he wants with his career. Best of luck.

Brian

LaurynRN · Jul 8, 2006

i am in a program that in the past few years has had to let a few people go... and trust me...there are things your friend is leaving out... it isn't easy to kick someone out of a program...it takes alot of documentation and substantiated reasons (just like when you worked the floor)... the first one our program let go after 2 semesters because the documentation wasn't there after one - yet they knew what was coming... and it often is clinical in nature...

I beg to differ with you. I was told to leave my ADN program with just three weeks left til graduation and they based it on hearsay...someone said I said something threatening (like, I will kick her a@@).. I was 37 weeks pregnant.

While everyone continued to do clinicals and exams I was fighting with the dean of the college and calling lawyers. I know I couldve sued them but didnt have the energy. They did "let" me back in but I was forced to work my butt off to finish clinical time and exams (I think they were hoping I wouldnt be abe to keep up after being out for 2 weeks). They also refused to let me go to pinning even though it was my fundraiser that earned all the money to buy pins! I was allowed to go to graduation and went, despite giving birth to my third child just 30 hours earlier!!!

I had excellent grades and had been at the school for three years and never had any problems with anything. I strongly beleive that they (the staff) over-reacted and acted inappropriately. I also think much of it had to do with personal issues. I was an inner city girl from Philly in a small town college in Wyoming. I acted different, talked different and dressed different.

It was one of the most stressful times in my life and I wish I could go back in time to sue them. They treated me horribly, they asked me to come into a room after class. When I got in there every instructor was in there from the entire department. Many of them had never even met me or instructed me but were asked about what my fate should be. It was horrible. Because of what I went through I always view these circumstances differently when I hear about them. Even my own story is hard to beleive..that something like this could happen in today's world.:angryfire

Zinobile · Jul 9, 2006

There is a student in my program that was "let go" from another program. I guess it all depends on the program and the people. There are a lot of factors that go into "fitting in" in school. Everything I heard prior to applying was that I would have to do whatever, whenever, however, as often, and with a smile on my face "thank you, sir, may I have another?" Going in with this expectation makes it a lot easier to "get along" with the powers that be. Clinical faculty vary from place to place as well so each site will be a new and challenging experience in humility and education. I personally struggled with this concept since I felt as though I was an experienced and competent ICU nurse. I had even achieved CCRN status. None of it means anything in anesthesia school though. You sit in class with 10-15 other experienced critical care nurses, over-achievers that are also the "cream of the crop" who all want a piece of the action and want to prove themselves worthy. There are many who can't navigate all the different personalities and dynamics involved.

Z

athomas91 · Jul 10, 2006

I beg to differ with you. I was told to leave my ADN program with just three weeks left til graduation and they based it on hearsay...someone said I said something threatening (like, I will kick her a@@).. I was 37 weeks pregnant.
While everyone continued to do clinicals and exams I was fighting with the dean of the college and calling lawyers. I know I couldve sued them but didnt have the energy. They did "let" me back in but I was forced to work my butt off to finish clinical time and exams (I think they were hoping I wouldnt be abe to keep up after being out for 2 weeks). They also refused to let me go to pinning even though it was my fundraiser that earned all the money to buy pins! I was allowed to go to graduation and went, despite giving birth to my third child just 30 hours earlier!!!
I had excellent grades and had been at the school for three years and never had any problems with anything. I strongly beleive that they (the staff) over-reacted and acted inappropriately. I also think much of it had to do with personal issues. I was an inner city girl from Philly in a small town college in Wyoming. I acted different, talked different and dressed different.
It was one of the most stressful times in my life and I wish I could go back in time to sue them. They treated me horribly, they asked me to come into a room after class. When I got in there every instructor was in there from the entire department. Many of them had never even met me or instructed me but were asked about what my fate should be. It was horrible. Because of what I went through I always view these circumstances differently when I hear about them. Even my own story is hard to beleive..that something like this could happen in today's world.

first of all we are talking about an Anesthesia program... as far as i am concerned apples and oranges as far as professional demeanor and hearsay being plausible to exit someone from a program.

i do agree w/ zinobile - there are multiple factors in letting someone go - but generally in anesthesia school it is one of two reasons - they aren't making the grade either didactically or clinically and as a fellow student you may not be privy to that information...ie - they tell you they are doing great... when really they are not ... and some are not good at playing the game... if you can't hack it ...you can't hack it... it is as simple as that ...and it is why CRNA's ARE the cream of the crop.