I was dismissed from my LPN program today for clinical absences...
One clinical I was sent home because I was 5 minutes late...we are afforded, by school policy, a 10-minute window to be late before we are sent home, but my CI sent me home anyways because she "wanted to set an example" to the other students (she actually told me this)
Then today, I was sent home for wearing the wrong kind of shoes. The sneakers I normally wear had a heel that was literally falling off and the only other pair I had was some white Crocs...I wore them, hoping it would go unnoticed (there are tons of flagrant dress code violations in my clinical group that never get addressed so I didn't think it would be an issue) but had the other shoes with me just in case it was an issue. My instructor saw the Crocs and confronted me about it, and I explained the situation to her and immediately changed shoes (this was within an hour of starting the clinical day, I hadn't even hit the floor yet) but she called the program director and sent me home, which resulting in me absencing out of the program.
My program director actually told me that she would have overridden the first absence if I had approached her about it...I had planned on doing so but she is NEVER in her office and with everything else going on I sort of forgot about it. She says that because I signed the paper acknowledging that absence (which I thought I had no choice in, since I WAS technically absenst since I got sent home) her hands were tied and there was nothing she could do.
My last final is Monday...I have a 4.0 GPA in classroom and have gotten A's on all of my clinical paperwork and good evaluations, but if this goes through I'll have to wait until December and take the entire Mod over...and get zero credit for this Mod, clinical OR classroom (even though I've already taken the A&P final and gotten my final grade!!)
Has anyone been in this situation before?? Is there anything I can do to appeal this?? I'm still in schock right now...I've worked SO incredibly hard and made so many sacrifices, I cannot believe this is happening
Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Orthopediacs.
Not sure guess I would show up if you do not hear anything. I hope it works out for you. At least you did something and appealed it. I will keep my fingers crossed that you will get a call.
Don't give up, make your appeal and when you argue your point focus on your own behavior (as your main argument), and if you bring up the other students try not to "blame" them. Don't say "well they got away with ....., why can't I?" A girl in my class tried this and she was asked to not only leave the class, but she was banned from returning to the program ever.
I am so sorry that you are going through this. I don't have anything to add to the above posters, just know that my thoughts are with you and I hope for a positive outcome. Keep us posted.
P.S. I would show up for clinicals and final until I heard otherwise, that way they can't chalk up another absence. If questioned, just tell them "its in appeal". Good Luck
Omgosh! :icon_hug: I would definitely file an appeal..who is your program director's superior? Is there a Dean? I would go up the chain of command everytime you get an answer you don't like. I think you should attend clinical tomorrow and take your finals, explain to the instructors that you are filing an appeal and you asked corporate if you should attend in the mean time and they have not given an answer yet, I doubt they will undermine corporate by making that decision themselves, they seem pretty spineless. Best of luck!! Be confident tomorrow!
Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Orthopediacs.
Don't give up, make your appeal and when you argue your point focus on your own behavior (as your main argument), and if you bring up the other students try not to "blame" them. Don't say "well they got away with ....., why can't I?" A girl in my class tried this and she was asked to not only leave the class, but she was banned from returning to the program ever.
Good luck
I agree with her because they will say I am not discussing her infractions but yours. I also agree with showing up and saying you are appealing it.
Not to be mean or anything...BUT...you sure do have a lot of excuse!
I was only five minutes late
I would have appealed, but she was never in her office
It was my first dress code violation
Everyone else violates the dress code
I IMMEDIATELY changed shoes after she told me they were not acceptable
There is no way you will win your appeal with these excuses! Take it like a big girl and repeat the course or go to another school. Whatever you decide, be accountable for your actions. Get to clinical at least 30 minutes early and follow the dress code.
wow! i am so sorry! file the appeal and go to class. i would explain to the teacher before class starts why you are there. that way she doesnt feel you are undermining the system.
you could also request the teacher (if she refuses to let you in class) to give you a note stating that you were there, but could not take the exam for x reason.
if you changed your shoes i dont understand why they would send you home. i could see some kind of verbal warning or write up but to send you home is just silly. it sounds like the teacher is picking on you for whatever reason.
be strong! best wishes - let us know what happens!
It sounds like a tough situation. I hope everything goes well for you. Usually at the start of nursing school, the professors give you a chain of command to "go to" if someone gives you an unsatisfactory answer. I would recommend trying that. Also, start documenting everything. Perhaps some classmates could vouch for your dedication and hard work during clincals. Talk to other teachers, ones you are on good terms with. Explain your situation to them and don't make excuses for your behavior and don't bring others into your situation. Don't point the finger and you will look better in their eyes.
What a hard lesson to learn if you are not able to get back in the program. However, if you are able to appeal fight for your life state only the facts that pertain to you and your situation.
Not to be mean or anything...BUT...you sure do have a lot of excuse!
I was only five minutes late
I would have appealed, but she was never in her office
It was my first dress code violation
Everyone else violates the dress code
I IMMEDIATELY changed shoes after she told me they were not acceptable
There is no way you will win your appeal with these excuses! Take it like a big girl and repeat the course or go to another school. Whatever you decide, be accountable for your actions. Get to clinical at least 30 minutes early and follow the dress code.
What's the point of having a ten minute window if no one is actually allowed to use it?
Now I understand if she had been late time and time again, who knows......only she does. But to say she, or anyone, needs to arrive THIRTY minutes early is ridiculous. People work full time jobs while going to CNA school, so that's impossible for most and I highly doubt any instructors expect you to go that far.
I'd say arrive five to ten minutes early with your uniform on and ready to go and a back up on hand just in case. Don't let it get you down, and let us know what happens!
Tere were some isssues with two of the girls in our class also. One, 1st semester she failed her Bio class and nutrition which were suppose to be finished before second semester and was dismissed but went to the Dean of health science at our school and was allowed back in, second semester we had a student fail one of her clinical rotations, she felt as if the instructor was "picking on her, she went to the dean was able to make up 3 clinical days to pass that rotation even though the nursing instructors had dismissed her. So if you appeal to the dean you may be able to get back in, but make sure you do not mess up again because the one that was allowed to retaker her classes ended up failing those courses again and was dismissed, so the one who felt like the instructor was picking on her that is exactly what she told the dean and was let back in so I really don't know how to tell you to handle the appeal but I would file one. By the way several of the girls the year beore had been dismissed for failing nutrition also and went to the Head nursing instructor and was not allowed back in but this girl went to the dean and was allowed to return. Hope this helps.
I think you should definitely appeal to someone above the clinical director. If you changed shoes when she pointed it out, you should be okay.
I could see them dismissing you if you had poor performance, or plagerizing a paper or something, but being 5 minutes late and wearing the wrong shoes one day, shouldn't be grounds for dismissal.
biblepoet
174 Posts
Not sure guess I would show up if you do not hear anything. I hope it works out for you. At least you did something and appealed it. I will keep my fingers crossed that you will get a call.