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?

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

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

Check out the various state board of nursing websites. I know that mine posts both the NCLEX pass rates and the Admission/Graduation figures for every school in the state.

[cuteinpinkNS, ASN, RN]

My class in Fall 2008 started at 72 and this is our final semester we have a total count of 57. With each class that is usually a drop of about 12 to 15 throughout the 2 year program due to failing out, personal issues, or just decides nursing isnt for them. We grow as a family though, and will miss them all after graduation. Of course, we'll stay in touch.

[acjordan]

you can also google your schools retention rates. mine is 54% for the whole college for full time students.

[meluhn]

Anyone have any idea how this drop-out rate compares with other majors, especially selective-admission competitive ones?

That is an interesting question. Anyone know the answer?

[Bre14]

Lets see we started with 88 students and 48 of us ended up graduating in May of 09.

[clenoir]

i think that does seem to be about right. we lost a lot of student to micro and med surg and stat. started around 70, graduated around 32.

[kirham]

Its so sad to hear about the drop out rates in some of these schools. I'm having such a hard time getting into a program because of the competitiveness. It makes me wonder how qualified some of these admitted people are. I'm sure there are some instances where students have to leave the program but it does make me wonder about the others

[PatricParamedic]

I suspect there are several different kinds of "drop out" scenarios. Those who drop out early on, quite often can't assimilate the reading & comprehension. Those who drop out late are often seriously stressed by the program or life or both.

In this new era, I'm guessing a lot of applicants to programs might never have considered nursing, if the economy hadn't pointed them in that direction. In some cases, I'd bet many of these folks were/are looking at "a steady paycheck" - in which case their head may not be into nursing at all.

I can report that as a 32-year medic, those who get into paramedic programs with a fire career in mind, are oftentimes some of the worst health care people you'll ever see. A lot of them drop out, although not nearly enough.

[Spartacvs, BSN]

Hi,

Started first semester with 32 in the night program at a CC and finished with 19.

Picked up 5 students this semester.

[johnnybravo8802]

I guess we did pretty good-we started with 60 and graduated 53.:yeah:I was the youngest in my class at age 22 while most were in their 30's and 40's. A lot in my class were in their second career and so they were serious about school and knew what they wanted. We had a couple of women in their 40's who were raising 2-3 kids, working full time, and having dinner ready for their husbands when he got home-They had more chops than I did!!!!! It was a tough program taking 3 yrs. after the pre-req's. I have 6 yrs. total wrapped up in my BSN.

[harleyridingirl]

We started with 30. Lost one the very first week (too hard). Only 7 of us made it to graduation of the original 30 (we had not failed any class along the way)and we picked 19 others that had to repeat a class somewhere in the nursing program.

[saharamichael]

At a local community college, I have seen classes of 30 start, and by the end only 7 actually graduate. They say the first semester is when you lose the most students ( some fail, some realize they don't like nursing, some have medical problems).