Curious About Drop-out Rate In Nursing School

[CeilingCat]

Our class started out with 72 students. Like most schools, it's a competitive program which takes 1-2 years of pre-Nursing school pre-req's to get into.... so the assumption is only the most dedicated will get in.

Between 1st and 2nd semester we lost THIRTEEN students! Some didn't pass. At least two I know of were pregnancies/births.

One classmate commented to me that he heard our school's drop-out rate by the time graduation came around was 60%.

Is it normal to have so many students not make it?

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

We started with 100 and graduated 43.

[studentinnursing]

I know my NCLEX pass rate, 97%, and we have selective admission. But, as sad as it is, just cause we all want to be nurses doesn't mean we are all cut out to be or that we'll make it through, one reason or another. I am in my last semester of prereq's, already applied for Fall, and just waiting myself. But just cause we can do well in gen ed and A&P, etc., does not necessarily mean we all have the smarts nor the drive nor the want to really do it. So a good amount of students really may just not be able to do it bookwise and as a mom as well as nontraditional student I can tell you anything can happen in life that may keep us from finishing, and from what I've heard, your numbers sound about right. I like to think I'm not one of them and will do just fine, but who knows til I'm sitting in theory for 8 hours! I think that's a big part of it anyway, some don't know what they're getting into until they are there (me included :)). Good luck to all of us hoping we really are nurses at heart!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

We have a 90% retention rate and a 95% NCLEX pass rate within 90 days of graduation. Been recognized for this by the state of Texas and very proud of it :)

[1234student]

My class started out with 50 and after first semester we are down to 28 of the original students. We did get 15 LPN's into our program after first semester and returning students that had already passed first semester and dropped out and now decided to come back.... so we are back up to 43

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

Wow those numbers are ridiculous. My school admits 60 students per semester and so far we've only had 2-3 people drop out and that was within the first two weeks of classes. We have a really high graduation and NCLEX passing rate.

[TisTastyTea]

I just started this week, which was the most academically intense week of my life. So far, we have lost 2 students. I think our retention is ~80%. Our school is exceptionally organized; we have a detailed semester schedule with major events in bold, ~65 pages of objectives, all clinical paperwork is stored in plastic paper holders on a large board. However, one of our instructors took an anonymous tally of student who felt behind and their stress level. She said most students felt behind and had an average stress level of 7 out of 10. I study everyday for 5-8 hours on weekdays. This weekend I have spent 12 hours in my family office. I also exercise at least 30 minutes a day as well as maintain a healthy diet.

We're using Potter and Parry as our main book; that book sucks a whole lot. Thankfully, we have ATI books, detailed power-points from the teachers, and completed objectives. We have a unified class, and have assigned each person 1-2 objectives. P&P is filled with irrelevant information relative to our class, contains unnecessary sections of A&P, and is generally wordy. I think having a class that is comfortable with each other and actively shares study strategies is incredibly helpful in maintaining morale. Another nice aspect is the mentor program. A second semester volunteer student is assigned 2 students to mentor. They're a great source of info.

I feel optimistic and comfortable in my ability to complete this program. Unlike Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the nursing material is not conceptually complex; it's simply tons of information.

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

start = 24

now (last month) = 12

[CrazierThanYou]

My school takes 26 students a year. Every year, they graduate from 7-10 students so more than half end up dropping or flunking out. They are supposed to be implementing a program to remedy this but I don't know...

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

My cohort started with 43 students and we're exactly one year into our two-year master's entry program; we just picked up one from the cohort ahead of us whose 'baby rabies' recently cleared up and we're likely to lose another next quarter to the same scourge. We are allowed one grade of C or C+ and fail at anything less than that. Our retention rate is typical for the program, and we routinely have 100% pass the NCLEX-RN on the first try.

My guess is that programs that have higher admissions standards will see a higher retention rate. YMMV, though. Ceiling Cat may simply smile upon our program as long as we regularly change its litterbox.

[acjordan]

We had 144 in our first semester. by the last semester we had less than 40 of the original 144.

[CeilingCat, ASN, RN]

I honestly only looked at my colleges NCLEX pass rate when deciding on my school. Knowing what I know now, I really feel that schools retention rate is much more important or at least equally important. I am greatful that I have scored very well througout the program, it has not been easy though.

Is there a way to find out retention rate, other than to ask each school and hope they give an accurate reply?

[CeilingCat, ASN, RN]

2 students got severe cases of baby rabies and dropped out to continue next year after their infestation clears up.

Best quote ever!