Back up plan

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I don't really know what I'm trying to ask on this site, but if you happen to be bored and are willing to brainstorm with me....welcome.

I've spent the last few years in school. I started my pre-reqs for nursing school in 2015. I graduated and transferred to one of the top university nursing schools in my state. With that being said, it is also the hardest I'm sure, or we would actually have a nursing shortage I'm sure :roflmao: See what I did there? LOL

Anyway, I'm a non-traditional student. I'm young (younger than 25), I got divorced last year, and I have 3 kids (5, 3, & 18months.) I knew nursing school would not be a walk in the park, but I didn't think it would be near impossible. I commute 45min-1 hour to school one way. I ended up failing one course (by less than .25 of a point) last semester. I retook the class and I'm doing so much better. I'm very happy with my grade.

My issue: I'm jumping back into the program with a different cohort than which I started with into THE hardest semester of the program. I hear after this upcoming semester it's supposed to be smooth sailing for the remainder of the program. This is a 16 month BSN program and it's top of the line. 100% of the last graduating class had jobs set up before they took their NCLEX (coming from the SON director.) I'm feeling intimidated and rusty to say the least. I haven't been to a darn clinical or written a care plan in 4 months, and I'm supposed to head into this upcoming clinical which I'm sure will be more difficult working as if I mastered and am able to preform all the skills from my last clinical months ago. I'm terrified and praying I get a patient CI.

2nd issue: The course load/work is supposed to be the most challenging of the program. If I end up failing again I'd have to take various steps and take it to a board to be able to continue in the program. I'm not trying to be negative Nancy over here, I'm trying to be realistic and rational. I need to have a back up plan incase the worst happens and I fail again. I am in a tremendous amount of debt (for me personally) from being a part time student this semester, not receiving financial aid, or my VA benefits. I absolutely cannot repeat another class at this school even if they would allow me to.

I am doing everything different for this upcoming semester. I've had about 4 months to have a come to Jesus meeting with myself to figure out what I need to do/change in order to be successful. If I fail, I obviously wasn't intended to go this route into nursing. What will my back up plan be? (rhetorical)

My first idea would be to apply at the CC I graduated from and apply to their ADN program. The only thing I see strange here is that about 1/4 of their classes in their program I have already taken in pre-reqs, or in the nursing program I'm in now. How does that work? Would I have to retake them? Would my god-awful GPA follow me back to my CC? Taking a failing grade really destroyed my GPA since we started the program with a 0.0.

My 2nd idea would be to work work work as much as I could waiting tables or something to help pay off some of this debt and to get my sh*t together to see if they'd allow me back into the program.

My 3rd idea would be to take a different route for a career. I'd pick something in the medical field still, but my heart is in nursing. I love it, I love my program, I love my clinicals, etc. I could do this for the rest of my life, and I'd really like to if I can make it through.

I guess this turned more into a rant than a question. Any tips or comments are welcomed and appreciated. *Positive thoughts, positive thoughts, positive thoughts, I can do this. Right?*

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Community college nursing programs are very competitive. Most wont admit you if you've left another program in bad standing, either. Focus on passing your classes in the program you're in. It doesn't seem like you have any good alternatives, so just get the job done.

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Community college nursing programs are very competitive. Most wont admit you if you've left another program in bad standing, either. Focus on passing your classes in the program you're in. It doesn't seem like you have any good alternatives, so just get the job done.

YES what she/he said

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I don't have any advice, but good luck.

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You're spending a lot of mental energy on failing. I'd instead plan to succeed. Like maybe brushing up on your skills, getting into touch with professors to get some lab time, etc. Planning childcare so you have some extra time to study, etc. Getting in touch with your old cohort for any tips.

I get your nursing school is hard, but spending much mental energy on what ifs really isn't constructive at this point.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Given your home life, it is understandable that your school life is suffering. Given your experience in marriage, I will draw from that for clarity for you. You are going into this situation as if you are going into your marriage with a divorce plan. You know how that will end? I do, because my first wife always said "if we divorce". Stop thinking anything less than success. Retake the classes that brought down your grade, or challenge them, and bring that GPA up. Find a job as a CNA that will pay for your schooling and focus on you until you pass. Your children will be the biggest winners if you do this.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I'd echo what someone else has already said...don't continually focus on failing. You have to say to yourself that you will succeed and then follow that through because failing is not an option. I'm in a similar position, except that I'm an older student...I'm 51 actually....and in an NP program in a very rigorous school where the passing grade is 83%. Any less and you're out. I don't have the luxury of time nor money for a back up plan. I must succeed because if I don't I will have financially crippled myself without the ability to rectify it with a good future prospective NP position. Luckily, this attitude is paying off as I'm getting A's for pretty much everything, but it's not because I'm smarter than anyone else, it's because I have truly applied myself to succeeding. If I don't feel like I know something I study it until I do. I watch lecture after lecture and read everything I can to make sure I have grasped the concept so that when I'm tested on it I know how to answer. Don't set yourself up to fail under the premise that you'll make it right in the future with a back up plan. It's tough to have to pull yourself up from nothing and ruin your reputation by failing out. You're already halfway there....keep pushing. Why would you expect another school to give you another chance when you screwed up the one you had? You're still in a great position to finish. Use it!

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Wow, everyone, thank you for the advice. I was not expecting this many responses. Thank you for taking the time to read and reply. I'm going to do my best to stop making a back up plan since I'm not failing at the moment. I don't want to put the cart before the horse and end up failing again due to fear and the fact that I am dwelling on the chance of failure.

Given your home life, it is understandable that your school life is suffering. Given your experience in marriage, I will draw from that for clarity for you. You are going into this situation as if you are going into your marriage with a divorce plan. You know how that will end? I do, because my first wife always said "if we divorce". Stop thinking anything less than success. Retake the classes that brought down your grade, or challenge them, and bring that GPA up. Find a job as a CNA that will pay for your schooling and focus on you until you pass. Your children will be the biggest winners if you do this.

As for the marriage part.. LOL I wish I had used the word divorce and what-if in my marriage :roflmao: perhaps then I would have been prepared for my husband of 5 years to leave me out of the blue, unable to pay our bills (due to school), with two children at home, and in my 1st trimester of pregnancy with our 3rd child together. That was fun, haha. Glad all that is over with. I do believe since I hadn't been using my "back up plan" method during my marriage I am feeling more inclined to do so with my schooling so I don't get (you know what'd) again. Feeling out of control of things in my life make me want to plan plan plan ahead to prepare for the worst unlike I did before. I think I'm getting ahead of myself here planning ahead for a failure that hasn't even happened yet. Thank you for the advice.

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I think your anxiety is reasonable given your situation. But right now it's not helpful to dwell on it. You're not going to be applying to different programs or look at entry level positions in different fields. There really isn't any good back up plan that you can set into motion now. You're in it to win it at this point... focus on doing well. Cross the failing bridge when and if you get there.

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