has anyone failed a semester

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2004

I am sorry you feel so bad, but you seem to have a positive attitude and that may overcome some stress. I believe nursing school is an endurance test, so now you are being challenged to endure this setback. Do you have a serious study partner? Does your school offer tutors? Do you need to notify your family/friends that you really must focus on school right now and ask them to support your decision. Just do it one day at a time.

2ner · Jun 24, 2004

I am sorry you feel so bad, but you seem to have a positive attitude and that may overcome some stress. I believe nursing school is an endurance test, so now you are being challenged to endure this setback. Do you have a serious study partner? Does your school offer tutors? Do you need to notify your family/friends that you really must focus on school right now and ask them to support your decision. Just do it one day at a time.

Luckily I have a very supportive husband, whose behind me 110% and KNOWS i can do it. The thing is, i guess it goes back to Murphy's Law . If it can happen it will happen in nursing school. The thing is, nursing school tends to bring back all the horrible stuff that you had buried deep inside you. So needless to say last semester I went crazy b/c all the bad stuff came flooding back - but I've since gotten everything under control and have my head in the right direction. I am not going to let ANYTHING defete me. Not going to be a quitter!

I have tried two different study groups, that definely did not help AT ALL. Everyone seemed to be more interested in chit chatting rather than studying. I guess I'm just a lone studier.

Purple Princess · Jun 24, 2004

Yes, I'm currently in the same boat. I had been working on a ADN at the local college. I started fundamentals, failed started the program again and passed fundamentals the second time but failed medical surgical nursing. So my only option left is to get a general studies degree and go to another school LPN program next year. I think it was because I'm young 21, and had no related work experience. Most of the students were either LPN's, aides, EMT's, or medical assistants. I've mostly worked in food service. So now I'm an aide at a nursing home, will become an LPN and would like to get my bachelor's eventually. The college I currently attend will no longer admit me to their program cause that was my second time and I failed. But I know in my heart this is what I'm destined to do.

2ner · Jun 24, 2004

Yes, I'm currently in the same boat. I had been working on a ADN at the local college. I started fundamentals, failed started the program again and passed fundamentals the second time but failed medical surgical nursing. So my only option left is to get a general studies degree and go to another school LPN program next year. I think it was because I'm young 21, and had no related work experience. Most of the students were either LPN's, aides, EMT's, or medical assistants. I've mostly worked in food service. So now I'm an aide at a nursing home, will become an LPN and would like to get my bachelor's eventually. The college I currently attend will no longer admit me to their program cause that was my second time and I failed. But I know in my heart this is what I'm destined to do.

Some of my classmates failed first semester and attempted it again and passed. Well, this semester our teachers aren't much for giving us guidance or advice, so these people are out of the program b/c they failed Med-Surg/OB. They are all applying to different programs. The other schools around us have a better pass rate on the NCLEX and the program I'm in is notorious across the nation as being one of the toughest programs. I refuse to let that school defeat me! I'm just going to perserver.

Why don't you check into other schools? You'll probably have to start out at ground zero, but you can't give up on your dream. I almost had....Started selling back all the reference books I had acquired over the last year (now I regret it, but that's another story).

I tell you what, nursing school may be interesting, but i believe it's the worst kind of pain anyone can intentionally inflict upon themselves (not to mention their families and friends).

We've just gotta keep our head up and keep perserving. We wouldn't have gotten this far if it weren't meant to me, right?

AppyHorseFan · Jun 26, 2004

i can certainly feel your pain!! i was in an adn program a couple of years ago. passed first semester, failed out second semester by 1 point. had to retake first semester, passed with an "a", failed second semester again by less than 1/4 point...just goes to show you, when they say they won't bump your grade to passing...trust me they won't!!! but now, i am 7 weeks from completing an lvn program...and learned a whole lot more too. first semester, i finished on the dean's list...second semester, i had 1 "c", but third semester is well under way and i am going to receive my certificate on august 12!!!

don't let this get you down. if you want this bad enough, you can succeed!!! don't give up...if all else fails...find another school. life happens and sometimes we have absolutely no control over...but sometimes you just have to tell your family and friends "no". my mother told me at the beginning of this semester that if she, my dad, or my kids asked me to do something and i didn't have time (needed to study) that i had "permission" to tell them "no", it's hard, but i have completed one course this semester already with an "a" and we are about to have our first med-surg exam and i'll pass it with flying colors.

good luck and don't give up...you are not alone in not passing a nursing class.

shellntx · Jun 26, 2004

Have anyone of you failed a semester? I know a ton of nurses that failed, but succeeded once going back. I feel down on myself for failing second semester, but I'm keeping my head up, because this gives me time to hone my study skills because I already have the content from this semester, so I plan on getting an A this semester coming up. At first I thought ir was devastating, and I was a failure, but even more EMBARRASSING because I've never failed at anything. I'm using this to my advantage though.
Please, if anybody has been in a similar situation, please feel free to reply (sometiimes it makes you feel a little better knowing your not the only one going through something like this)

I failed Pathophysiology my first semester (by.2 point), and I could not continue in the program until I passed. I passed, and am now working on being readmitted into the program where I left off. I had to take a test from the NLN and I have to perform some skills and then I will be able to start back next Spring. I passed the test, now I just have to get through the skills. It is devastating to work so hard and then fail, especially when you've never failed before, but you just get through it and move on. Everything happens for a reason.

Good luck! I know we can do this!

jemommyRN · Jun 28, 2004

i can certainly feel your pain!! i was in an adn program a couple of years ago. passed first semester, failed out second semester by 1 point. had to retake first semester, passed with an "a", failed second semester again by less than 1/4 point...just goes to show you, when they say they won't bump your grade to passing...trust me they won't!!! but now, i am 7 weeks from completing an lvn program...and learned a whole lot more too. first semester, i finished on the dean's list...second semester, i had 1 "c", but third semester is well under way and i am going to receive my certificate on august 12!!!

don't let this get you down. if you want this bad enough, you can succeed!!! don't give up...if all else fails...find another school. life happens and sometimes we have absolutely no control over...but sometimes you just have to tell your family and friends "no". my mother told me at the beginning of this semester that if she, my dad, or my kids asked me to do something and i didn't have time (needed to study) that i had "permission" to tell them "no", it's hard, but i have completed one course this semester already with an "a" and we are about to have our first med-surg exam and i'll pass it with flying colors.

good luck and don't give up...you are not alone in not passing a nursing class.

horsefan,

i admire your faith, courage and strength to continue on the journey that you had once began. you have truly inspired me to keep trying if i ever find myself in this predicament. you sound like a very successful person despite your past failures and i love your positive talk about future tests. thank you for sharing your experience. :)

jemommy

gij1 · Jun 28, 2004

I bet you will be a dam good nurse. Congratulations on being so close to the finish line. Keep your nose in the books!

Ari RN, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2004

You are not alone. I recently graduated from an ADN program. Thanks to the BIG MAN UPSTAIRS! I remember my first nursing class. I thought I was in this whole new world. I just didn't catch up with the material during the semester. I don't know if other college's have the same policy as mine did. We could only fail 2 nursing courses. If you failed a 3rd one you were kicked out of the program. That policy pressured me even more. When I checked my grade and knew that I failed I felt horrible. I thought to myself if I'm failing the fundamentals class, I surely won't make it to the end. I had to give myself a reality check. Is this really for me? The first few weeks were depressing but I insisted on becoming an R.N. Once the following semester began I took it as a challenge. The final outcome was an A on the class. From that point on I never failed another class. Took NCLEX once and finally I am an R.N.

I wish you the very best on your studies. Don't doubt your potentials.

DCCCRN2Bn05 · Jun 28, 2004

I was there too. I failed the second semester of the ADN program. Thankfully they allowed me to start back in and I am currently successfully half-way through summer. It just takes dedication and knowing this is what you want to do with your life. I know if you set your mind to it you can be GREAT!

2ner · Jun 28, 2004

The thing that baffels me most is, I coasted thru first semester w/o cracking a book (it all seemed like common sense to me and wound up half a point away from an A) Second semester, I busted my rear and read and read and read and well you get the idea. And failed big time.

I'm so glad to know that I"m not the only one this has happened to. I keep telling myself, "what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger" and the Good Lord must have a plan for me that includes being a nurse.

ps....forgive all the spelling errors