Dismissed from the Nursing Program. What are my chances?

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Hello everyone. First off I just want to thank everyone in advance for reading this. I'll try to make it short... :D

A year and a half ago, I was dismissed from the nursing program (my first semester) because of 2 failing grades (79.4, 78%) 80% is passing. I failed partly because I was having personal problems and financial problems that semester. So bad that I wasn't even sure if I could attend nursing school next semester even if I did pass. Also, 2 of my family members became very sick and it just added more stress :cry:. And to be honest I didn't exactly know how to study for a nursing exam and how to handle the stress.

I was doing pretty well until the midterm semester. In fact I was getting 92% and 84% on both subjects, I passed the mandatory ATI exam with flying colors, as well as the mandatory laboratory head to to exam and procedures exam... then everything happened at midterm. My exam grades sank faster than the titanic and I panicked, so bad that I started to get an average of 2 to 3 hours of sleep a day. I managed to get a 94% and 86% on my final exams and the 94% was enough to get me over the 80% mark for one of my subjects but I forgot to do my clinical paper (don't even ask me how) :o and that dropped me below the passing grade. I asked the teacher if I could turn it in 1 day late but she said "absolutely not", I guess I can't blame her but she was a bit heartless... :sniff:

Anyways, I went on appeals process. That was a complete complete complete disaster, I have no idea what I even said and all I remember is what I said didn't make sense at all probably because I couldn't sleep the night before and I was so nervous. Not surprisingly I was denied re-entrance... :eek:

So I figured I have to prove myself again to the dean. In response:

(1) I switched to another major... Criminal Justice Major at the same school and so far I have a 4.0 GPA for my current major. I chose criminal justice because I plan to become a paralegal nurse someday.

(2) I spoke to one of the four vice presidents (a former dean herself) of the school and she said that she would let me back in the program but her powers are restricted only to letting people back into the University and not to specific programs. So what she did was write me a recommendation letter telling current dean that I have worked hard and asking her to reconsider the appeal boards advice.

(3) I've also received the support of one of my former nursing teacher who said that she will write me a recommendation letter to get back into the program.. My academic adviser will also write me a letter.

(4) I've also worked on all the topics that I had a problem with and I have documented it as proof which will be able to show to the dean.

(5) I will be writing my own personal letter. Telling the dean why I feel I should get back into the program, How I've changed and what are the guarantees that the same thing will not happen again. Is there anything else I should include?

So to make it short. What do you think my chances are of getting back into the program, would you accept me back? Does the 4.0 GPA for Criminal Justice even matter because it's not nursing? Also, is there anything else I should do? Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it. :loveya:

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To me, with all of your letters of recommendations, sounds like you have a pretty good chance! Some people, ok, a lot of people, go through life struggles through school and those have to become priority over school. I had to leave nursing school, because other things in my life took top priority over anything, but I am back at it. Doesn't mean you suck. And let me tell you, good thing it was end of the term because I was like you.. losing sleep, to many things going on, and my grades started to drop. I think that you have a great chance of getting back in. I will definitely pray for you!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

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To me, with all of your letters of recommendations, sounds like you have a pretty good chance! Some people, ok, a lot of people, go through life struggles through school and those have to become priority over school. I had to leave nursing school, because other things in my life took top priority over anything, but I am back at it. Doesn't mean you suck. And let me tell you, good thing it was end of the term because I was like you.. losing sleep, to many things going on, and my grades started to drop. I think that you have a great chance of getting back in. I will definitely pray for you!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much Julz. Hopefully the dean has a heart like yours too, my teachers were cold they couldn't understand what you just said :cry:. You know when I told my teacher that I was having personal problems all she said was "well then you should have dropped out". I almost walked out on her, oh well the past is the past :D. If anything my experience that year made me that much more stronger and determined.

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Good Luck. If you really want to be a nurse, think about applying to a couple other schools. If your school doesn't take you back another school might take you in a flash with your grades and good attitude.

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I agree with trying to apply to other schools. Try and transfer your credits and apply. You could be started soon without having to go through all those appeal processes. GL.

:twocents:

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I am not trying to throw salt on the your fire, but you may really want to consider applying to other nursing programs. I have a friend that went over her teachers head to appeal her grade, which was the right thing to do, but once she got back in those teachers made her nursing education a living nightmare. She eventually transferred out of the school the next semester, and went on to graduate from there. I am just telling you this to be prepared for any attitudes or any other pettiness that may take place when you get accepted back in!

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I agree with the posters who said try other programs. You've already been denied entrance once, chances are it will happen again and you would have wasted all of that time and energy with the appeal. And based on what you said about your instructors attitudes, they WILL make it miserable for you if you do get back in. Definately move on. You are only one term in, just apply as a new student, and start over in another program. Don't even tell the new school about the last program unless you have to. I was dismissed in the 5th term and had to start all over at the beginning. It sucked but it is do-able. I am close to graduating from my second, and MUCH BETTER program, and it was all worth it. Good luck.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I agree. You other programs, you might be a target next time...these nursing instructors can be very crazy...I would try other schools too.

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Thank you everyone, I will take everyone's advice and apply to other schools also. I'm not too worried about them making me a target, I say BRING IT ON lol.

The reason why I wanted to stay in this school is because I have family members in this school too and I want to help guide them throughout their school year because right now I'm tutoring them too. Also, I'm planning on applying to become a term leader so that I can help incoming students who might have the same problems that I did, a year and half ago.

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I also agree that you should try with other programs. But no matter where you end up, you need to make sure you deal with the sleep deprivation problem. When you start to get wound up and wound up it just keeps going and there you are. I've had that problem before and sometimes you can't see what is going on when you are right in the middle of it. You may need to seriously consider seeing your doctor for assistance with this so that it does not trip you up again. Good luck with getting at it again.

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I think u shld stay in that school and complete your degree in criminal justice the use the degree to apply to aecond degree accelerated nursing programs.

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"The reason why I wanted to stay in this school is because I have family members in this school too and I want to help guide them throughout their school year because right now I'm tutoring them too. Also, I'm planning on applying to become a term leader so that I can help incoming students who might have the same problems that I did, a year and half ago."

Dear creative,

This attitude sounds like a big part of your problem. You need to focus on YOU right now and not worry about these other students/family members. Nursing school is hard enough without taking on all the problems of the world at the same time. This is about YOU graduating, and thats all. Those other folks need to and should take care of themselves. When you are finished you can go back and tutor to your hearts content, if you have the time, but right now you need to study and learn for yourself.

I also wholeheartedly agree with the poster who said some of these instructors are CRAZY. There are a few from my last program who I think should either be placed in an institution or rot in hell :angryfire for what they put me and other students through. There is simply no excuse for the kind of harassment and abuse that is tolerated in some nursing programs. Most people would be arrested for that kind of behavior but, somehow, its all acceptable in nursing school.

If you got even an inkling of this kind of attitude there, forget this school and move on. Don't waste your time. There are other schools that are much more fair and teach you without intimidation and fear being a part of it. Don't even risk ending up like me and getting kicked out in the 5th term. :cry: It was a huge waste of time and money, not to mention devastating to my family, and my self esteem. And I can tell you that if you got kicked out once, they'll do everything in thier power to make SURE it happens again, trust me. Your file is probably a mile thick full of all kinds of things they can use against you. Start over and find people who enjoy teaching...they are out there. :specs:

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