Am I capable enough ? Smart enough ? Is this for me ?

Jules A, MSN · Feb 21, 2015

This sounds really stressful but what I think is a good sign is that your preceptor still seems to be encouraging you. I especially appreciate that you aren't making up any excuses and have taken your preceptors advice to get a job in health care to augment your clinical experiences. Your job in cardiac ICU should really help you get accustomed to the general background noise that can be distracting to students. It was amazing to me how easy it was to remember the names of medications for example simply as I got more comfortable and things like how to convert my watch to military time were no longer a major point of anxiety. :)

If you think you want to be a nurse I would definitely keep moving forward and hopefully you will get back in next year. If not what other options do you have? Can you transfer to a community college or another university's nursing program? Every year there are students who don't make it through and therefore seats available. It might be worth applying to everything rather than keeping all your eggs in one basket. Good luck!

roser13, ASN, RN · Feb 21, 2015

I think some nursing students might be thrilled to have more experience before taking on NCLEX and the real world. Don't get me wrong - I'm sorry that you're in the position that you're in. But it sounds as if your instructors are nurturing rather than punitive and really want to help you succeed. Not every nursing instructor (sad to say) is that way.

So my advice is: you are where you are. Take advantage of the wonderful SN position you've landed (they must see a lot of good things in you, right?), retake whatever needs to be retaken, and assume the best about your chances of getting accepted back in.

rb18 · Feb 22, 2015

Don't be discouraged! You may not understand it now but everything happens for a reason! You should definitely retake the class because it will ONLY make you stronger and more knowledgeable! I had to repeat my first semester in NS and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm now studying for NCLEX and if I can get through NS, you will too! Don't give up because of how you are feeling! You are close to finishing and you will finish, despite having to finish in another 6 months! YOU CAN DO IT! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! YOU WILL BE A NURSE! YOU GOT THIS! [=

dream'n, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2015

Review the basics of things (not making beds :) If a patient gets a certain drug, what should you watch for? Such as a medication that dilates blood vessels; what s/s should you see. Would would the risk be? If giving Heparin, what are the risks, what does it do for the patient? During Septic Shock with lots of edema, why is the patient dehydrated? Why do patients that have massive bleeding (sometimes internal) have a high pulse, but low blood pressure? Why give increase Levothyroxine in a patient with a high TSH?

Look at what is keeping you so slowed down, that they think you can't handle another patient? Is it because you're unfamiliar with the medications? Are unsure of your assessment? In nursing you will always have multiple things to due. Prioritize and delegate.

SierraBravo · Feb 22, 2015

Here's the thing, you must be able to think critically because when you start practicing on your own you will be responsible for people's lives. This career is not like an assembly line job where you just go to work and go through the motions without having to think about it. You have to think about each and every thing you do. Just because an order is written does not necessarily mean it is correct. I have caught incorrect orders which were written by a physician and subsequently verified by the Pharmacist. Thankfully I caught the error before giving the patient the medication. I'm not saying that this is you, but think about it this way... If you were a patient would you want your nurse to blindly give you your 20 pills (of which 3 are blood pressure meds and 1 diuretic) while your BP is 82/40? And would you be a bit concerned if your nurse didn't bother to check your BP before giving you those meds just because they are scheduled and don't have hold parameters in the order? These are examples of critical thinking that you must develop before and during your practice. It sounds as if your instructors want you to succeed, but they cannot with good conscience pass someone whom they feel is not ready to practice independently.

You need to have an honest discussion with your instructor and determine what it is exactly that is holding you back. Is it a lack of knowledge? Is it the inability to think critically with respect to the whole picture of the patient and their reason for admission? I don't know...

I'm sorry that you're in this position, but I am glad that your instructors have the integrity to point this out to you and not just turn a blind eye to the issue. As someone else said, you may just need a little bit more time to develop those skills.

Cruz.Cookie, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2015

Here's the thing, you must be able to think critically because when you start practicing on your own you will be responsible for people's lives. This career is not like an assembly line job where you just go to work and go through the motions without having to think about it. You have to think about each and every thing you do. Just because an order is written does not necessarily mean it is correct. I have caught incorrect orders which were written by a physician and subsequently verified by the Pharmacist. Thankfully I caught the error before giving the patient the medication. I'm not saying that this is you, but think about it this way... If you were a patient would you want your nurse to blindly give you your 20 pills (of which 3 are blood pressure meds and 1 diuretic) while your BP is 82/40? And would you be a bit concerned if your nurse didn't bother to check your BP before giving you those meds just because they are scheduled and don't have hold parameters in the order? These are examples of critical thinking that you must develop before and during your practice. It sounds as if your instructors want you to succeed, but they cannot with good conscience pass someone whom they feel is not ready to practice independently.
You need to have an honest discussion with your instructor and determine what it is exactly that is holding you back. Is it a lack of knowledge? Is it the inability to think critically with respect to the whole picture of the patient and their reason for admission? I don't know...
I'm sorry that you're in this position, but I am glad that your instructors have the integrity to point this out to you and not just turn a blind eye to the issue. As someone else said, you may just need a little bit more time to develop those skills.

I know, I understand. I believe that I'm a little more slower when it comes to looking at the bigger picture. I have the knowledge I just need to learn how to put the critical thinking aspect in clinical. I purchased a book that is filled with case studies asking critical thinking questions --I feel like that may help me get the bigger picture. I also have a student nurse position at the cardiac ICU do hopefully that'll help me hone in my clinical skills and get the gears in my head rolling. Subconsciously, I didn't feel ready as well...hopefully this break will help me develop these skills. Thank you.

pixiestudent2 · Feb 22, 2015

This is my exact situation.. I was failed right before my preceptorship. And I'm going back next week.

Really follow the advice your school has given...

Cruz.Cookie, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2015

This is my exact situation.. I was failed right before my preceptorship. And I'm going back next week.
Really follow the advice your school has given...

Do you feel ready coming back? What did you do to prepare yourself? I have to write an appeal getting into the program ....this is my first time ever failing out of something in nursing school. In my school you get one-two chances. I know a girl who came back after breaking the schools policy in the hospital and was given a chance to come back.

Cruz.Cookie, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

Sometimes I wish I went the LPN route before tackling the BDN degree. I feel like it would have definitely benefited me but shoulda woulda coulda...