ADN Program Failure rate

grpman · Apr 2, 2012

Yep. It is by far worse where I am. I just keep my head above water and keep swimming.

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2012

It's a tough program! I think the thing that gets most people is the 75-80% to pass! That shocks a lot of people. That and the material is just hard.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 2, 2012

I have posted this response before, but national USA statistic show that about 30-40% is the average drop rate. People are surprised by the level of intensity needed in nursing school and that you actually have to WORK. That is why, when you finish, you feel proud of your big accomplishment.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 2, 2012

It's more likely to be the case in ADN programs. While there is a significant drop-out failure rate for BSN programs, it tends to be less -- as most BSN programs do a more rigorous screening of the applicants before they are admitted. In a lot of ADN programs, their strategy is to allow a lot of people to "give it a try" for a semester or two to see how they like it and see if they cqn handle the college-level work. Some schools will even accept everyone who meets a basic minimal standard (though they may have to wait several semesters for "their turn" in line.) A lot of people enroll who aren't prepared for the rigorous program and either drop out or flunk out.

Bonnie86 · Apr 2, 2012

Yes, welcome to hell. We lost about 1/2 our class in the first two semesters either entirely out of the program or they ended up falling behind a semester. The biggest advice I can give you is: DON'T TAKE ANY ASSIGNMENT FOR GRANTED. When the **** hits the fan at the end of the semester it will be those 2 points that save your neck!! Good luck to you!!

anonymousstudent · Apr 3, 2012

Many ADN programs are proprietary. Those schools will hemorrhage students, it seems like that's how they're set up. We've not lost nearly that many at my CC program.

kandamom · Apr 3, 2012

Do schools who admit on merit TEAS and GPA have better rates than programs with waitlists? Does anyone have any stats on that?

I wonder sometimes about waitlist programs...I went through A&P with people just happy to squeak by with a C, knowing that they were going to waste a nursing school spot someday! It is frustrating...

mangopeach · Apr 3, 2012

I'm in an ADN program and I think a 50% failure rate is pretty high. We've lost some folks along the way but not half the class.

Qtip · Apr 4, 2012

Rumor is 50% for our school. Almost half way through the program and we have lost 30% of our original class.

I have a lot of experience with college (previous degrees), I'm basically a professional student. I do not really consider the ADN program college, it's akin to boot camp. The material is not difficult, nor is most of the skills (to this point), but you are constantly bombarded with tests, projects, papers, skills, assignments, busy work, and places to be. You are constantly threatened with being kicked out of the program for x, y, z, p, q, r, and s. And much of the test questions are subjective. Every instructor has their own pet peeves, focus, and preferred methods of performing skills and careplans and many of them have the "My way, or the Highway" attitude, which really sucks when you don't have experience with their way yet.

So yeah it's very hard, but an unconventional hard, and in a much different way than I had expected.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Apr 4, 2012

I'm in a part-time ADN program, and only about half of my original class will be graduating on time. Many of these people will be graduating later on, though, after retaking the class they failed. Some have withdrawn from the program entirely, and a few have failed two classes and so they are no longer eligible for the program. We lost a lot after Fundamentals and then several more after Med-Surg I. I don't think we lost any after OB/Peds, but we'll probably lose a few more by the end of this semester's Med-Surg II.

pockunit, ADN, RN · Apr 4, 2012

My class started with 24, and we have 8 of the original class left. Our graduating class will be 16-18 (can't keep track). So an overall okay rate, but for our original? Not so much.