Advice on applying to other nursing programs due to clinical failure.

[Lionami]

So I am transferring to a different Nursing school. I live in Portland Oregon and I applied to NYU in New York as a transfer (NYU College of Nursing) and GFU Newberg Oregon to regular admissions.

SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME GOOD ADVICE ON WHAT SCHOOLS I SHOULD APPLY TO ONTOP OF THESE.. ONES THAT WILL ACCEPT MY CREDITS AND WONT REQUIRE MORE PRE REQS..ANY SCHOOLS> I want to stay in portland but I don't want to start from the beginning.

I wont know till end of May if I got accepted but I applied to regular admissions for both. My current GPA is a 3.2, 3.3. Its confusing bc this is with my nursing classes which NYU allows transfer undergraduate nurses but GFU may just look at my pre reqs. Not Sure...

So b/c I left a nursing program both schools wanna know why. I wrote an 400 word essay to NYU what happened and if you are interested in reading it I can PM you. So GFU didn't ask for an essay but asked I sign a FERPA. The problem is also with their school they have more pre reqs I'd need to do such as communications and sociology bc apparently English and Humanities don't cover those. I feel they just want more money..Also, I spoke with the nursing director at GFU and she asked why I withdrew and I said that I wasn't allowed to retake a course and asked me to sign a FERPA so she can talk to my dean. Now they will go through my record and they will see everything and it scares me and now i'm ruined. GFU's nursing director said if they accept me they will put me in an upper division nursing course if there is room..

What Im worried about is what are my chances of getting in? If this happened to anyone can they tell me what they did and what schools accept nursing transfers like NYU and how to improve my chances of getting in. Im willing to relocate bc I have finished almost all my school with only one semester left and its very frustrating. Which school is better to attend? GFU or NYU.. and can someone tell me of other schools I can apply to? My 5 year mark of pre reqs ends this year and will expire so Im desperate.

I was forced to withdraw from my previous nursing program because I had an issue with being chronically late.. The program is 2 years and I was on my second to last semester when I was forced to withdraw. I was late to clinicals and my instructor sent me home and missing one clinical day leads to failure..(I have issues waking up in the morning and wasn't taking my adderal medication so I became very unmotivated) I still love nursing and know I made a big mistake. I know my actions may not have showed it but I will do anything to fix this because I really do wanna be a nurse.

I want to sue the school honestly because I was told this is how schools make money by not letting students graduate bc after they graduate the student isn't spending anymore money. However, if the student doesn't graduate the school wants them to continue "exploring their options" by changing their major. For example: they implied I should CHANGE MY MAJOR to one of the other caring/healthcare professions offered at Concordia University. I feel since this university is private all they care about is money..However, If I get accepted to another nursing program I may hold back from suing. What do you think a good idea is? Do you think I have a case? Honestly you can read up the stupidest cases online and people win them. What should I do? I most likely wont sue though I don't have the money for a lawyer and hardly a case..

If you want more background info on what I wrote to the Committee for my appeal PM me. I will include the process of my appeal and why I was denied. I appealed to the admissions progressions and honors committee when I attended Concordia University In Portland Oregon.

After I was denied I appealed to the dean and her findings were:

Background and Timeline:

On September 24, 2015 STUDENT was sent home by clinical instructor from NUR 406 clinical for arriving tardy for the third time. On September 29, 2015 STUDENT met with lead instructor NUR 406 regarding a clinical failure in NUR 406 resulting from the students repeated tardiness (15-35 minute tardy) during the clinical experience. STUDENT decided to withdraw from the course to avoid Failure of the course. The student appealed to re-take the course with the Nursing Admission, Progression and Honors Committee. The Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honors Committee ruled to not allow STUDENT to return to the nursing cohort.

January 12, 2016: STUDENT was notified by the Nursing Program Director that the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honors Committee denied her request to return to the nursing cohort.

January 14, 2016: STUDENT filed an appeal via e-mail with the Dean regarding the decision of the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honors Committee.

January 15, 2016: I followed up with STUDENT via e-mail to direct her to the student handbook, I outlined the academic grievance process and suggested that she consider having an advocate to help her navigate the process.

January 27, 2016: I met with STUDENT and her mother to hear STUDENT's story and collect information related to her appeal. At the beginning of the meeting STUDENT affirmed that she had reviewed and understood the appeal process outlined in the student handbook (indicated by her check box and signature on the appeal form).

January 28, 2016: At my request STUDENT sent me a reflection of her performance across her entire time in the nursing cohort.

Week of Feb 1-5: I conducted an investigation of the student file and the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honor Committee Decision Process.

February 11, 2016: I had a second meeting with STUDENT to share with her my findings, to provide her with an opportunity to speak about those findings.

Concern: In this student appeal, STUDENT is appealing the decision of the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honor Committee for the reasons outlined below:

1. She was not provided a reason for the committee's decision to not allow her to return.

2. She feels that she has gone to counseling and that she now recognizes her errors and that she should be allowed to continue in the program.

Finding of Fact:

1. The Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honor Committee reached the decision to not allow STUDENT to return to the program based on the committee's observation that this was a repeated pattern of behavior of arriving late, not being prepared, and not being present in the moment of learning. This pattern was observed in multiple clinical and didactic courses. Repeated lateness in clinical is inherently a patient safety concern as a student often misses critical patient care information that is presented at the very beginning of a clinical experience.

2. Repeated tardiness and dismissal from NUR 406 is documented.

3. A review of STUDENTS student file reveals that at midterm evaluation in NUR 303 (Fall 2014), NUR 401 (Summer 2015), and NUR 402 (Fall 2015) the student was not meeting competency in professionalism due to repeated tardiness.

4. A review of STUDENTS student file reveals an issue with being tardy in NUR 403 (Fall 2015). The student wrote a remediation plan and was partially compliant to the remediation plan.

5. In addition to tardiness, a review of the student file has documentation of two episodes of falling asleep during clinical and a HIPAA violation (wrote patients PII on assignment).

Decision:

Based on the investigation and discussions with STUDENT the decisions regarding each concern is detailed below:

1. She was not provided a reason for the committee's decision to not allow her to return.

Decision: The Nursing Admissions, Progression, and Honors committee is not required to provide the student with a reason for their denial. However, the investigation revealed that the decision was based on the Committee's recognition that this was a repeated pattern of unprofessionalism (tardiness and lack of preparation prior to coming to clinical and engagement during class and clinical) on the part of the student. This pattern of behavior was well documented in the student file beginning fall of 2014 and growing in frequency in fall of 2015 when the student was failed in a clinical class.

2. She feels that she has gone to counseling and that she recognizes her errors and that she should be allowed to continue in the program.

Decision: Attending counseling is a very positive first step for this student but does not reverse the pattern of behavior on which the Nursing Admissions, Progression, and Honors committee made the decision to not allow the student to return.

Final Decision: Given the overwhelming evidence of a repeated pattern of unprofessional behavior, repeated attempts to help the student remediate this behavior, and the evidence of behaviors which place patient safety at risk it is my decision to uphold the decision of the Nursing Admissions, Professionalism, and Honors Committee.

Follow up:

The student may appeal this decision to the Provost if the student feels there was an error in the appeal procedure or if the student has additional new evidence that has arisen since speaking with the Dean of CHHS. The student's appeal must be in writing and include any pertinent information or materials, a description of the process used to attempt to resolve the grievance to that point, and new evidence or evidence of a procedural error.

Advice for Student:

STUDENT still remains a student in good standing at Concordia University. It is my recommendation that STUDENT spend some time to explore career fields and finding where her passion lies. If STUDENT remains passionate about helping people in the health care setting, perhaps she might consider changing her major to one of the other caring/healthcare professions offered at Concordia University.

Since STUDENT withdrew from the fall clinical course before receiving a failing grade she has the option of applying to other nursing programs. It would be helpful when applying to another nursing program if she has documented evidence of professional behavior in the workplace. Perhaps taking a full or part-time job and demonstrating on time arrivals and professionalism on the job may help this student.

Appeal Process Completed:

February 21, 2016

Dean College of Health and Human Services

Letter E-mailed to STUDENT: February 21, 2016

CC: (Chair Nursing Admissions, Progression, Honor Committee),(Nursing Director)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Welcome! Your thread has been moved to our Pre-Nursing Student forum.

[pixiestudent2]

I think the for profit schools would be more lenient and more likely to accept you...

I think you need to broaden your search... By a lot.

[Lionami]

Thanks for replying.. You must read fast. But I have searched EVERY school in America and almost none are like NYU that have transfer nursing programs and actually accept your credits rather than making you start over. However, University of Portland accepts transfers but their application is closed right now. Also, Toledo in Ohio accepts other nursing credits but they said I have to take medical terminology in order to apply to their program. So I don't have time to take pre reqs and "HOPE" to get in. See GFU says "we will accept you and after take the pre reqs." Thats fair. Like I said I don't have time to waste and keep applying. Its a waste of money and time and my 5 year for pre reqs expires soon and then I have to start re taking them again.. another waste of time.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

There is absolutely no basis for a lawsuit.

You'd best spend your waiting time applying to a whole bunch of schools. Likely, only for-profits will look at your app. Most schools will not take in a 2nd year student. They want their grads to have been educated primarily at their institution.

ETA: Oops, guess everything I said had already been said. I'm a slow typer.

[Lionami]

Ok so lets rule out the lawsuit..That was most likely not going to happen anyway.. I was just very upset at the time it happened.. I know most schools wont take me as a 2nd year student which is why I was lucky finding NYU and their special program. Do you or anyone know of any programs like NYU. I included their link so you can read up on how their program works.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I think the problem that you are going to face is that any school that you're going to apply to will investigate why you left your previous school. They may ask you to explain why you left the previous program, but they will call your school and find out if you left in good standing. You were late for three clinicals and were given a failure for that class. Even though you are in good standing with the school, you were not allowed to continue in the nursing program next semester (dismissed from program). It doesn't matter which school we think is better for you since neither is likely to look favorably on your past history. The schools have a long waiting list of applicants that didn't have issues with getting to classes on time.

Your previous school suggested that you obtain a job to show "documented evidence of professional behavior in the workplace. Perhaps taking a full or part-time job and demonstrating on time arrivals and professionalism on the job may help this student." I think that is your best course of action.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I think the problem that you are going to face is that any school that you're going to apply to will investigate why you left your previous school. They may ask you to explain why you left the previous program, but they will call your school and find out if you left in good standing. You were late for three clinicals and were given a failure for that class. Even though you are in good standing with the school, you were not allowed to continue in the nursing program next semester (dismissed from program). It doesn't matter which school we think is better for you since neither is likely to look favorably on your past history. The schools have a long waiting list of applicants that didn't have issues with getting to classes on time.

Your previous school suggested that you obtain a job to show "documented evidence of professional behavior in the workplace. Perhaps taking a full or part-time job and demonstrating on time arrivals and professionalism on the job may help this student." I think that is your best course of action.

Agree.

I am a little troubled that per your own evidence that you have presented shows some concerns for professionalism and preparedness:

I was forced to withdraw from my previous nursing program because I had an issue with being chronically late.. The program is 2 years and I was on my second to last semester when I was forced to withdraw. I was late to clinicals and my instructor sent me home and missing one clinical day leads to failure..(I have issues waking up in the morning and wasn't taking my adderal medication so I became very unmotivated) I still love nursing and know I made a big mistake. I know my actions may not have showed it but I will do anything to fix this because I really do wanna be a nurse.

I understand that you want to be a nurse; however, your own report gives some damning information that most schools will NOT touch you or even consider you until you have some time apart from the program and have instituted a larger time frame of documented improvement; even if a program may let you apply, it doesn't guarantee acceptance.

After I was denied I appealed to the dean and her findings were:

Background and Timeline:

On September 24, 2015 STUDENT was sent home by clinical instructor from NUR 406 clinical for arriving tardy for the third time. On September 29, 2015 STUDENT met with lead instructor NUR 406 regarding a clinical failure in NUR 406 resulting from the students repeated tardiness (15-35 minute tardy) during the clinical experience. STUDENT decided to withdraw from the course to avoid Failure of the course. The student appealed to re-take the course with the Nursing Admission, Progression and Honors Committee. The Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honors Committee ruled to not allow STUDENT to return to the nursing cohort.

January 12, 2016: STUDENT was notified by the Nursing Program Director that the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honors Committee denied her request to return to the nursing cohort.

January 14, 2016: STUDENT filed an appeal via e-mail with the Dean regarding the decision of the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honors Committee.

January 15, 2016: I followed up with STUDENT via e-mail to direct her to the student handbook, I outlined the academic grievance process and suggested that she consider having an advocate to help her navigate the process.

January 27, 2016: I met with STUDENT and her mother to hear STUDENT's story and collect information related to her appeal. At the beginning of the meeting STUDENT affirmed that she had reviewed and understood the appeal process outlined in the student handbook (indicated by her check box and signature on the appeal form).

January 28, 2016: At my request STUDENT sent me a reflection of her performance across her entire time in the nursing cohort.

Week of Feb 1-5: I conducted an investigation of the student file and the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honor Committee Decision Process.

February 11, 2016: I had a second meeting with STUDENT to share with her my findings, to provide her with an opportunity to speak about those findings.

Concern: In this student appeal, STUDENT is appealing the decision of the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honor Committee for the reasons outlined below:

1. She was not provided a reason for the committee's decision to not allow her to return.

2. She feels that she has gone to counseling and that she now recognizes her errors and that she should be allowed to continue in the program.

Finding of Fact:

1. The Nursing Admission, Progression, and Honor Committee reached the decision to not allow STUDENT to return to the program based on the committee's observation that this was a repeated pattern of behavior of arriving late, not being prepared, and not being present in the moment of learning. This pattern was observed in multiple clinical and didactic courses. Repeated lateness in clinical is inherently a patient safety concern as a student often misses critical patient care information that is presented at the very beginning of a clinical experience.

2. Repeated tardiness and dismissal from NUR 406 is documented.

3. A review of STUDENTS student file reveals that at midterm evaluation in NUR 303 (Fall 2014), NUR 401 (Summer 2015), and NUR 402 (Fall 2015) the student was not meeting competency in professionalism due to repeated tardiness.

4. A review of STUDENTS student file reveals an issue with being tardy in NUR 403 (Fall 2015). The student wrote a remediation plan and was partially compliant to the remediation plan.

***5. In addition to tardiness, a review of the student file has documentation of two episodes of falling asleep during clinical and a HIPAA violation (wrote patients PII on assignment).***

Decision:

Based on the investigation and discussions with STUDENT the decisions regarding each concern is detailed below:

1. She was not provided a reason for the committee's decision to not allow her to return.

Decision: The Nursing Admissions, Progression, and Honors committee is not required to provide the student with a reason for their denial. However, the investigation revealed that the decision was based on the Committee's recognition that this was a repeated pattern of unprofessionalism (tardiness and lack of preparation prior to coming to clinical and engagement during class and clinical) on the part of the student. This pattern of behavior was well documented in the student file beginning fall of 2014 and growing in frequency in fall of 2015 when the student was failed in a clinical class.

2. She feels that she has gone to counseling and that she recognizes her errors and that she should be allowed to continue in the program.

****Decision: Attending counseling is a very positive ***first** step for this student but does not reverse the pattern of behavior on which the Nursing Admissions, Progression, and Honors committee made the decision to not allow the student to return. ****

So, to breakdown:

1. They deemed you a safety concern due to your excessive tardiness-this will not go over in any nursing program;

2. They gave you an initial chance to remediate; you only PARTIALLY complied;

3. You had repeated documentation that you weren't meeting competency;

4. You were failing asleep during clinical (SAFETY ALERT);

5. You did not comply with HIPAA guidelines; and huge red flag.

You haven't demonstrated improving evidence that you cannot comply with basic professionalism, unfortunately.

It may be an uphill battle to prove to another program that you will not repeat these mistakes; they may need more documentation-are you working in healthcare and have good performance evaluations?

****Final Decision: Given the overwhelming evidence of a repeated pattern of unprofessional behavior, repeated attempts to help the student remediate this behavior, and the evidence of behaviors which place patient safety at risk it is my decision to uphold the decision of the Nursing Admissions, Professionalism, and Honors Committee. ***

They gave you chances to remediate, and have documented evidence that they tried to help you, and you unfortunately didn't comply; you have no legal leg to stand on if you ever wanted to pursue legal channels. I know you said your aren't going to, but in the future, you have to show JUST cause to pursue a lawsuit; and if the other side has documented evidence of good faith and you don't comply, you have no case; granted, I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV, however...when you don't have stellar evidence, it won't be a good look.

***Since STUDENT withdrew from the fall clinical course before receiving a failing grade she has the option of applying to other nursing programs. It would be helpful when applying to another nursing program if she has documented evidence of professional behavior in the workplace. Perhaps taking a full or part-time job and demonstrating on time arrivals and professionalism on the job may help this student.***

This is your best bet; if you don't get into a program, try again; use your knowledge and become a tech in a hospital or facility and get some form of experiments under your belt, get at least two years of excellent evaluations; then apply again, showing documentation that you have grown from your initial experience.

I will tell you my story; I failed an ADN program, mainly due to test anxiety and undocumented anxiety, along with mood disorder trait-NO nursing program would touch me until five years later, or when I rectified a failure. I ended up going into a practical nursing program and demonstrated evidence that I could pass a nursing program; I did, and was able to apply and got into a BSN program and passed.

I didn't give up; I accepted my failure despite it upsetting me deeply and shaking my confidence; however, I stepped back, worked a few years on my pre-reqs, worked, and then went from there; my initial failure and my response to it showed me that I have resiliency and also provided me exceptional nursing knowledge and relationships that have opened doors for me.

Keep having that passion, make a plan, keep improving, be successful, and one day you will be in the position to help someone else on this site that may find themselves in the same position.

Best wishes.

[BBboy]

Don't show up late to clinicals, ever. This shows professionalism. What do you think is going to happen when you show up late to work to work repeatedly if you were to become a nurse? Not so sure you'd have a job exactly any more.

i too have issues rising in the morning, how did I negate them? I literally set over 20 alarms on both my phone and additional tablet ranging anywhere from 1-2 hours in advance depending on when my clinical or work time is (if it's at 7 I'll wake up at 5, if at 6 I'll be up at 4). Some nights Id rather stay up than run the risk of not waking up for clinical (though others may not view that suitable but sometimes you do what you gotta do)

[summerly]

Along with all of the other advice given - take your ADHD medication when you wake up and go to bed early!

[RXtobeRn27]

don't even file any lawsuit... thats too much stress and time consuming..... they will be like..." oh you have time to sue us but you can't get into your clinical rotation on time".... just move on and look for new school/program..... start over or something... you made a lot of mistakes.... i mean huge mistakes.... as long as you know what you did wrong... and you acknowledge that... just move on.. move forward... and its time to make some changes... close that chapter.....look likes u had some personal issues/behavior that affecting your education... I suggest to take some time off... do some mind/body/soul exercise to reset your system... you can try to apply to any nursing programs.. east coast/west coast... private/nonprofit/public.... doesn't matter where you apply...if you want your education/diploma, you better earn it... not because you bought it....you are just going to keep repeating your story about your past nursing drama .. you can't really run away from it... maybe they are right... maybe its time for you to think another route or path... you may wanna consider another career in healthcare industry...

well anyways...good luck..... be strong.. and remember...nursing school is not a child's play.. be responsible/serious/organize

[MMRN215]

Did you give them documentation from your doctor that you have adhd and we're having trouble with your medications ? I had a hard time turning assignments in on time during school -- I have adhd and was going to fail a class because of the points being taken off from lateness. I gave the school a letter from my psychiatrist and was able to work it out with my teacher afterwards. She had no idea I was struggling and probably

just assumed I was lazy/irresponsible.

School is different than a job & maybe it will be similar for you- I recognize if I'm late for work I will get fired/ let my coworkers down/ not get paid.

You need to take nursing school seriously but I understand that you make mistakes and school is just something you have to survive to be a nurse. I know my teachers perceptions of me in school were def not a reflection of how I am in my career.

Keep on trying and prove everyone wrong.

Good luck