Dismissal - can I go back?

uvlclark · Apr 7, 2009

What were the reasons the director gave for failing you? Have you confronted and overcome those things? If not, going back into nursing may not be the best thing to do right now. First take on those issues that caused you to fail in the first place, then if nursing is still your dream go for it. When you speak with nursing programs you wish to attend. Explain what happened previously and what you have done to overcome those weak spots. Good luck.

Rhone · Apr 7, 2009

You really need to talk to the school(s) you would be applying to and find out what their policy is.

What you're talking about is certainly not unheard of, though. Hell, in the LPN program I'm in right now, I'm one of a very, very few students who are in a nursing program for the first time--most of the rest of them failed out of my school's ADN program and were allowed to enter the PN program.

josinda421 · Apr 7, 2009

Sweetie you and I are in the same boat. I fail out of two nursing program. One an ADN program and one a BSN program. After failing out of these two programs, I felt like I have no future left, like I was the dumbest girl in the world, that college wasn't for me, like I had a fish brain and didn't have the brains to be anything more than a high school graduate. I was so much ashamed of myself that I didn't tell my family being that education was so important in my culture. I even went as far as not speaking to my family for over a year because I knew they would question me about school and I would have to lie to them about it. So instead I just distanced myself completely from the entire family. All because of SHAME. A friend of my told me about the LPN program and at first I looked down on it like "me an LPN?, NEVER." But eventually I thought about it and went for it anyway. Throughout the program I got nothing but A's and B's. I was one of the top students in the program. And I would say to myself "wow, I have a brain afterall." I felt good about myself again. Passed the NCLEX-PN on the first try and now I'm an LPN for 6 months now. At least now I know I'm a nurse. Although I'm not an RN, but I'm still a NURSE and going back this fall for my RN with God's help.So please sweetie don't let a dismissal set you back. If its LPN you want to go for.... go for it. Study hard. Even try different study techniques. Use tape recorders if allowed and listen to the lecture over and over again till it clicks. I'm not going to lie to you, even the LPN is hard. If your not on top of your game...it's easy to slip. But the advantage is, you already have a background, you have advantage over most people. Good luck

here2day4now2000 · Apr 7, 2009

Hi there,

Thanks for taking the time read and reply to my post.

I was failed in my independent practicum, 4 years ago, for accidentally mixing up my pills and administering them to the wrong patient. I immediately reported my error when I realized what I did -- and took responsibility.

Prior to this -- I had a clinical failure AFTER I was already passed for clinical. I did a voluntary day of learning after being told I passed by my clinical instructor. I thought by doing an extra day of learning, it would help make me better for my last semester of nursing. I didn't properly cap or disconnet the I.V. tubing and the instructor recommended my failure for the semester.

Am I past all of these things that happened? I feel I am. I know I would make an excellent nurse. I made mistakes which learned from - and never made again. I feel those mistakes made me stronger. And challenged me.

I also went on to become a med tech at an assisted living facility - where I was passing medication, giving insulin injections, performing accu-checks, giving breathing treatments, documenting care, etc..calling the pharmacy, etc. And I was not hired under false pretenses - I told the director of wellness my situation, and she valued my honesty and gave me a chance.

I also have been working for the past 4 years since this time, as a nursing assitant. I feel more confident than when I started that nursing program so long ago.

And I am also completing my B.S. in Biology.

I feel -- being a nurse is at the heart of who I am.

I am thinking the LPN program may be the better way to achieve my dream. Thanks for replying. :)

here2day4now2000 · Apr 7, 2009

Hi there!

Thanks for your message! Wow -- were those students failed in clinical? Or, they failed for not passing the tests?

here2day4now2000 · Apr 7, 2009

"Re: Dismissal - can I go back? Sweetie you and I are in the same boat. I fail out of two nursing program. One an ADN program and one a BSN program. After failing out of these two programs, I felt like I have no future left, like I was the dumbest girl in the world, that college wasn't for me, like I had a fish brain and didn't have the brains to be anything more than a high school graduate. I was so much ashamed of myself that I didn't tell my family being that education was so important in my culture. I even went as far as not speaking to my family for over a year because I knew they would question me about school and I would have to lie to them about it. So instead I just distanced myself completely from the entire family. All because of SHAME. A friend of my told me about the LPN program and at first I looked down on it like "me an LPN?, NEVER." But eventually I thought about it and went for it anyway. Throughout the program I got nothing but A's and B's. I was one of the top students in the program. And I would say to myself "wow, I have a brain afterall." I felt good about myself again. Passed the NCLEX-PN on the first try and now I'm an LPN for 6 months now. At least now I know I'm a nurse. Although I'm not an RN, but I'm still a NURSE and going back this fall for my RN with God's help.So please sweetie don't let a dismissal set you back. If its LPN you want to go for.... go for it. Study hard. Even try different study techniques. Use tape recorders if allowed and listen to the lecture over and over again till it clicks. I'm not going to lie to you, even the LPN is hard. If your not on top of your game...it's easy to slip. But the advantage is, you already have a background, you have advantage over most people. Good luck "

Wow! Thank you for sharing that with me! :yeah: Good for you!

You give me some hope that I might be able to still achieve my dream of being a nurse. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I know nursing is not an easy profession, as I work now as a nursing assistant, but it can be very rewarding when you know you helped someone. :)

I just don't feel I should give up when I know I am capable.

Thank you for sharing -- and good luck with your future RN studies!!

josinda421 · Apr 8, 2009

Hi there,
Thanks for taking the time read and reply to my post.
I was failed in my independent practicum, 4 years ago, for accidentally mixing up my pills and administering them to the wrong patient. I immediately reported my error when I realized what I did -- and took responsibility.
Prior to this -- I had a clinical failure AFTER I was already passed for clinical. I did a voluntary day of learning after being told I passed by my clinical instructor. I thought by doing an extra day of learning, it would help make me better for my last semester of nursing. I didn't properly cap or disconnet the I.V. tubing and the instructor recommended my failure for the semester.
Am I past all of these things that happened? I feel I am. I know I would make an excellent nurse. I made mistakes which learned from - and never made again. I feel those mistakes made me stronger. And challenged me.
I also went on to become a med tech at an assisted living facility - where I was passing medication, giving insulin injections, performing accu-checks, giving breathing treatments, documenting care, etc..calling the pharmacy, etc. And I was not hired under false pretenses - I told the director of wellness my situation, and she valued my honesty and gave me a chance.
I also have been working for the past 4 years since this time, as a nursing assitant. I feel more confident than when I started that nursing program so long ago.
And I am also completing my B.S. in Biology.
I feel -- being a nurse is at the heart of who I am.
I am thinking the LPN program may be the better way to achieve my dream. Thanks for replying. :)

Your very welcome sweetie. I'm glade my story helped.

Rhone · Apr 8, 2009

Wow -- were those students failed in clinical? Or, they failed for not passing the tests?

It may have been clinicals for some of them, but for most I think it was tests. One of my favorite classmates did get dismissed from our PN program for an incident in clinical this semester, though. My school fails people left and right (in both the ADN and PN programs); I think less than half the nursing students who start the programs end up actually finishing. From reading these forums, that seems to be pretty typical for community college nursing programs; I suspect that's why they usually have the highest NCLEX pass rates. :)

I'm not trying to scare you or anything, but since I'm watching several of my classmates blowing their second chance as we speak, I just wanted to advise you to approach any PN program you enter with the same diligence and determination that you would apply toward an RN program.

here2day4now2000 · Apr 9, 2009

Hi there!

Yes, I totally agree with your advice. I am planning to apply to two LPN programs here where I live. :)

Thank you for the advice -- I really appreciate it! :)

Rhone · Apr 9, 2009

You're welcome, and good luck with everything! :)