Did not pass my patho class and now idk what to do

[love.live.laugh]

(this will be pretty long but I really would love advice as to what I can do from this point)

So I am/was recently enrolled into a absn program (i have a previous degree in psych) and for this specific program we have to do a pre-term consisting of three courses before we can begin the actual nursing courses and start clinicals. Well one of those pre-term classes was pathophysiology and we needed a 77% to pass, I ended up not being able to achieve that 77% and I know that I am completely responsible for that with poor study habits and lack of focus. I have no huge responsibilities so that makes it even worse!

I've just been completely drained and unmotivated lately since graduating recently w/ my first degree and I did not do as well on the second exam (our grade consisted of our avg. of 4 exams and one optional EC) I did ok on the 3rd exam but my final exam grade was not high enough for me to pass the class. Now I am faced with having to re-take the course and move down to the traditional track (which is the rule for the program if you do not pass a course and the traditional track does not run during the summer so I would have to start during fall 2015)

and on top of that I was contacted b/c they found that I hadn't taken a microbio lab which I feel was not entirely my fault because during the entire application process with the evaluation and initial orientation, never once did the program director or advisor tell me that I had to take the lab. In fact, the advisor that was in charge specifically told me that the microbio course that I took covered the lab portion and I was not responsible for having to take it. So now on top of retaking patho I might have to retake microbio as well.

I'm feeling completely depressed because I feel like I've wasted so much time as well as money and i've already accumulated a decent amount of loans from my first degree and with having to retake courses and re-start the program at a later time I feel like I'm wasting even more time and money.

I really do want to be a nurse and right now my only options are to stay at this school move into the traditional track and move at a slower, more comfortable pace but it will take longer and probably cost more. I don't completely mind this at all but I just know my parents are going to hate that I have to spend more time in school and take out more loans. I plan on finding a job though and working during the program.

I can try to apply to a different absn program and start in the spring or summer but then I would feel like I wasted time and money on courses at my current school when I didn't have to, that's if any other program even accepts me. and it also makes me wonder if I could'nt handle patho at an accelerated pace would I even be able to survive an entire program???

I'm just in a tough spot right now and I've been feeling completely depressed and like a total failure. I want to become a nurse but all of this right now feels so overwhelming and makes me want to just drop out of school completely. I'm scared to even tell my parents because I moved out into an apartment to go to school and my dad has been helping me out financially and I know he will be extremely upset.

[caliotter3]

Whatever you decide to do, you need to buck up and get yourself in a mental state to meet the challenge. Your personal situation could be a lot worse with no support system. Retake the two courses as soon as possible, or make the decision to forgo school altogether and enter the job market. Pick a path and do it. Your dad is going to want to hear what you intend to do, not that you are depressed.

[chuleta]

You should be glad they didn't kick you out of the program for failing a class, but instead moved you into the traditional track. Most people are dying to get into nursing school & you're in it & already complaining before you officially even started. If you're feeling unmotivated/drained because you just graduated then I'm not sure how you're going to make it through nursing school. You have to decide if nursing is what you really want otherwise you're not going to succeed. However, if you honestly still want to become a nurse I think you should just stick to the school you're in. Maybe the traditional nursing route would be better suited for you since you just graduated & are probably not mentally prepared to take on a fast-paced program like the ABSN. Either way you have to suck it up, move on, & accept whatever mistakes you've made thus far. Nursing is a long tough road & crying about it isn't going to make it any easier.

[love.live.laugh]

thank you guys for your reply. It's harsh but I know that it is reality. I agree, I'm glad that I do have the option of at least staying in the school and doing the traditional track but I know that I cannot mess up again. I really want to get myself into a mental space of not feeling sorry for myself but I just feel like I came into this program with this big plan of how it was all going to pan out not completely taking into account how hard it would be and it just sucks to have already failed so early in the game. But maybe this is what I needed to wake me up and force me to focus. I now have some idea of what to look forward to but I just need to re strategize and reassess how I plan on handling everything in the future with studying and managing my time.

[chuleta]

It tough, but try to stay positive! Plans don't always work out the way you want them to, but with hard work & dedication you can definitely achieve your goals. Make some friends in your current nursing program & you guys can provide support for each other. Good luck & I wish the best for you! :)

[love.live.laugh]

It tough, but try to stay positive! Plans don't always work out the way you want them to, but with hard work & dedication you can definitely achieve your goals. Make some friends in your current nursing program & you guys can provide support for each other. Good luck & I wish the best for you! :)

thank you!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

The only person that can choose excellence for yourself is you. I'm not saying that you must be excellent in everything, but you must have the mindset to push for excellence. That may require a significant shift in thinking, if not feeling, about how you approach problems. Would I have continued going to school had I known that it would take me 4 years to get in and another 3 to graduate after completing all my prerequisite courses? Yes. I made the choice to pursue excellence within myself years ago and that meant that I had to ditch any negative thoughts about my ability. That meant that I had to figure out my learning style and maximize how I learn best. I also have a Bachelors from a previous go-round in college. I did OK back then. Once I decided to become a nurse, all my post-grad coursework resulted in a 4.0 GPA going into nursing school.

I updated A&P, did Micro, took a public speaking course, Gen Nutrition, Lifespan Development. Straight A's. During NS, I graduated with honors while working full-time even after failing a course that pushed my grad date back a year when I was re-admitted. Never once did I succumb to negative thoughts or feelings. I knew how I study best, how I manage time best, and that I could persevere through anything.

Sure, I'm fairly intelligent, but if you start thinking and believing that you can't do something, you won't be able to.

It's also true that not everyone can become a nurse. The programs are designed to be extremely tough for the purpose of weeding out people that aren't able to successfully combine the academics with the clinical component.

But only you can make the decisions necessary to succeed or fail. It's up to you. You've been given a gift to be allowed to enroll in the traditional program. If you choose to accept that gift, you much choose to take control of your own learning and ensure you have actually met all the entry requirements or this gift will go away. You must choose excellence for yourself. I don't mean going for straight A's during school. I mean you must choose the mental state of pursuing excellence.

It's up to you.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Well you sort of took responsibility. You do blame the school for lab issues. IF you were told you were fine then you need to argue the point with them. However I am assuming all the other students in the program knew what they were expected to do. It is not on them to tell you everything you have to do. You are an adult and you need to make FOR SURE you are taking the correct classes. Not them.

You are depressed because you did not study enough and are unmotivated? Then why are you in school and taking out loans? What do you want someone on this site to tell you? That everything will be ok? Well it won't unless you act like and adult and go get your degree. I did an ABSN and I lived the crappiest apartment ever and ate once a day. I was literally broke. I had zero family support. So hard to feel sorry for you if your parents are paying your bills. You are an adult. You screwed up so it is on you. Be honest with yourself and your family. When you have that much on the line you study 20 hours a day if you have to. Failure shouldn't even be in your vocabulary. However you now have a situation YOU created. No one else. Stand up and get moving.

[love.live.laugh]

The only person that can choose excellence for yourself is you. I'm not saying that you must be excellent in everything, but you must have the mindset to push for excellence. That may require a significant shift in thinking, if not feeling, about how you approach problems. Would I have continued going to school had I known that it would take me 4 years to get in and another 3 to graduate after completing all my prerequisite courses? Yes. I made the choice to pursue excellence within myself years ago and that meant that I had to ditch any negative thoughts about my ability. That meant that I had to figure out my learning style and maximize how I learn best. I also have a Bachelors from a previous go-round in college. I did OK back then. Once I decided to become a nurse, all my post-grad coursework resulted in a 4.0 GPA going into nursing school.

I updated A&P, did Micro, took a public speaking course, Gen Nutrition, Lifespan Development. Straight A's. During NS, I graduated with honors while working full-time even after failing a course that pushed my grad date back a year when I was re-admitted. Never once did I succumb to negative thoughts or feelings. I knew how I study best, how I manage time best, and that I could persevere through anything.

Sure, I'm fairly intelligent, but if you start thinking and believing that you can't do something, you won't be able to.

It's also true that not everyone can become a nurse. The programs are designed to be extremely tough for the purpose of weeding out people that aren't able to successfully combine the academics with the clinical component.

But only you can make the decisions necessary to succeed or fail. It's up to you. You've been given a gift to be allowed to enroll in the traditional program. If you choose to accept that gift, you much choose to take control of your own learning and ensure you have actually met all the entry requirements or this gift will go away. You must choose excellence for yourself. I don't mean going for straight A's during school. I mean you must choose the mental state of pursuing excellence.

It's up to you.

thank you. this was pretty encouraging and I do agree that I am not doing myself any favors by thinking negatively.

[love.live.laugh]

Well you sort of took responsibility. You do blame the school for lab issues. IF you were told you were fine then you need to argue the point with them. However I am assuming all the other students in the program knew what they were expected to do. It is not on them to tell you everything you have to do. You are an adult and you need to make FOR SURE you are taking the correct classes. Not them.

You are depressed because you did not study enough and are unmotivated? Then why are you in school and taking out loans? What do you want someone on this site to tell you? That everything will be ok? Well it won't unless you act like and adult and go get your degree. I did an ABSN and I lived the crappiest apartment ever and ate once a day. I was literally broke. I had zero family support. So hard to feel sorry for you if your parents are paying your bills. You are an adult. You screwed up so it is on you. Be honest with yourself and your family. When you have that much on the line you study 20 hours a day if you have to. Failure shouldn't even be in your vocabulary. However you now have a situation YOU created. No one else. Stand up and get moving.

I understand the issue with the microbio class but I will say that I emailed the advisor asking her specifically about the lab portion b/c I knew it was listed and I knew that my previous school provided the lab and lecture separately and I feel that I was given false information about my credits counting for both for this specific program otherwise I would've taken it over again at the CC i finished my other pre-reqs for the program this past summer. Regardless of this, I, unfortunately, will probably still be made to retake the course and I have to accept that responsibility but I won't know for sure until I meet up with the program coordinator.

I know that there are several ppl in worse off situations than me, there were many in my patho class, which is why I feel so bad. I don't blame anyone but myself because I should've made better decisions, become more focused and less lazy. I came into the program with hopes that my attitude would immediately shift I would work hard from the gate but it took me not doing well on the second exam and not passing the class to truly wake me up and of course by now it's too late. I will never know for sure if I could have succeeded throughout the duration of the accelerated course and if this was just a one-time slip up or if I'm just not cut out for accelerated courses but at least I have the opportunity to continue in the program. I want to do better the second time around so I need to re-evaluate myself, and re-think how I study, take notes etc. because I have yet to find a study pattern that truly works for me.

[Nicolanz]

Maybe the traditional track is just what you need to succeed and keep your sanity! For me, nothing ever works out the way I plan, lol. But it seems to always work out the way it should. This is just a minor setback and it's probably what you needed to get motivated. Good luck to you! See it as an opportunity not a failure.

[love.live.laugh]

Maybe the traditional track is just what you need to succeed and keep your sanity! For me, nothing ever works out the way I plan, lol. But it seems to always work out the way it should. This is just a minor setback and it's probably what you needed to get motivated. Good luck to you! See it as an opportunity not a failure.

It very well could be lol I'm trying to see the positives in the situation. I know that I will be able to have a summer break which I haven't had a summer without classes since the summer before my senior year in HS and the extended time allows me more time to study, rest if time permits and maybe even work so I will have a little less financial stress and be less of a burden on my dad but thank you for your encouraging words.