Dismissed from Program (Venting)

[MusicEMT]

Hey all,

I am (well was) in a Private BSN program. I recently got my 2nd fail (I didn't pass OB by 1 point). My first fail was Pharm (I didn't pass that 0.8%). I realize my faults, I frankly was spread too thin between my work and school and did not set enough time apart to study. I do have severe ADD, which I am getting treated with medication with. I do need to go to CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to further fix my issues. I am horrible with time management (which is part of the ADD).

Anyways, I am absolutely devastated this happened, I mean to the point of going into a depression. I wish I could go back in time and change certain things but I cant. I am also extremely discouraged by reading the outcomes of Appeals on this forum. I absolutely plan to appeal, but I feel like the outcome is going to be not good.

One thing I am really worried about the Appeals board is the fact that they will look at my past and see I had one or two classes I barley squeeked by in and they will find me unfit to continue. Although my GPA is 3.05 currently.

I plan to give them an action plan of cutting back my hours at work (it takes a bit to do that). and also seek further treatment and school accommodations.

A question that I have: What are my chances that the appeal will be successful? what can I do to give me a greater chance to have a successful appeal?

I dont have any backup plans, I have my future riding on this. On top of that, if my appeal does not go through and I get dismissed I am going to be in a massive economic downfall, as I will have massive student debt with nothing to show for it.

I just feel extremely lost right now... I guess I just need some words of encouragement or advice or something..

[Suey816]

Some of the responses above are awful. I don't understand why people that want to be nurses would spend their free time kicking people when they are down. You have diagnosed disorders and you know that makes life more difficult, even others don't understand that. I encourage you to keep working toward your goals, you were very close. If you don't graduate from the for-profit school, start over at a cheaper school. It is incredibly disappointing to miss the next grade by that narrow of a margin, but I think a lot of people here have had to retake classes and have come out successful after a delay.

If you find that at no point you will be able to be successful in this field because of your diagnosed disorder (and I believe the school had to be aware of the issue beforehand, but you could call your state bar association for advice if you need an atty), you may actually be eligible for loan forgiveness -

[h=3]False Certification of Student Eligibility or Unauthorized Payment Discharge[/h] You may be eligible for a discharge of your Direct Loan or FFEL Program loan in these circumstances:

• Your school falsely certified your eligibility to receive the loan based on your ability to benefit from its training, and you did not meet the ability to benefit student eligibility requirements.
  
• The school signed your name on the application or promissory note without your authorization or the school endorsed your loan check or signed your authorization for electronic funds transfer without your knowledge, unless the proceeds of the loan were delivered to you or applied to charges owed by you to the school.
  
• Your loan was falsely certified because you were a victim of identity theft.
  
• The school certified your eligibility, but because of a physical or mental condition, age, criminal record, or other reason you are disqualified from employment in the occupation in which you were being trained.
  

[Red Kryptonite]

Last time I checked, choosing to work while in school and not allotting enough time for study was not a mental or physical disorder. I don't want OP's loans "fully discharged" because that means I and other taxpayers end up taking the hit for them.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

There are a couple of people here who seem to believe that the only way to offer constructive advice is to do so in a manner that doesn't put any spotlight back on the OP's original behaviors that created the problem in the first place.

It isn't "kicking someone when they're down" or "pessimistic" to suggest that some self-reflection and a new action plan is appropriate. It isn't "awful" to tell someone that they aren't likely to be successful without changing their course of action, or their attitude, or anything else that could possibly be standing in their way.

You know what IS "awful" to me? Telling someone to not worry about it at all, to not change a thing, to keep doing whatever they think is best even if it is NOT working well...IOW, cheerleading without any helpful information whatsoever. THAT is "awful". it's also very unfair to the OP.

If someone is looking for advice on what to do to succeed in a program that he/she is so very obviously currently FAILING, then the appropriate thing to do is NOT to say "hey, it's ok, just keep plucking away and you'll make it!" Where's the real help in that?

Additionally, continually referencing "mental illness" when there is no indication there IS a "mental illness" is inappropriate. PLENTY of people with bonafide mental illnesses seek medication and therapy to succeed. People with ADD don't blame failure on that...they do what's needed to get past the issue and DO succeed. Anything less is allowing someone to use an unnecessary crutch, and again...how is this going to help the OP? It isn't.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Ugh what a pessimistic response from above. Some people find academics hard and it does absolutely mean they will never make it as a nurse. I have mental health issues and that makes ability to pass harder, and if the above seriously thinks its just an excuse then they better become more open minded with mental illness or they wont make it either.

Glad you are getting help, good luck with the appeal :)

I'm not sure I know what it is you're saying, as it is difficult to read. You seem to be telling windsurfer that if he doesn't become more open-minded with mental illness he "won't make it". He IS a nurse...nothing left to "make".....and while YOU may certainly have a mental illness as you state, there's no reason to believe the OP is suffering from one. What a huge leap to a conclusion without any support of same. Is this how you plan to "make it"?

[caliotter3]

There are a couple of people here who seem to believe that the only way to offer constructive advice is to do so in a manner that doesn't put any spotlight back on the OP's original behaviors that created the problem in the first place.

It isn't "kicking someone when they're down" or "pessimistic" to suggest that some self-reflection and a new action plan is appropriate. It isn't "awful" to tell someone that they aren't likely to be successful without changing their course of action, or their attitude, or anything else that could possibly be standing in their way.

You know what IS "awful" to me? Telling someone to not worry about it at all, to not change a thing, to keep doing whatever they think is best even if it is NOT working well...IOW, cheerleading without any helpful information whatsoever. THAT is "awful". it's also very unfair to the OP.

If someone is looking for advice on what to do to succeed in a program that he/she is so very obviously currently FAILING, then the appropriate thing to do is NOT to say "hey, it's ok, just keep plucking away and you'll make it!" Where's the real help in that?

Additionally, continually referencing "mental illness" when there is no indication there IS a "mental illness" is inappropriate. PLENTY of people with bonafide mental illnesses seek medication and therapy to succeed. People with ADD don't blame failure on that...they do what's needed to get past the issue and DO succeed. Anything less is allowing someone to use an unnecessary crutch, and again...how is this going to help the OP? It isn't.

This is one of the better posts I have read in many years of visiting this site. It should be made into a "sticky" and placed at the top of the students section.

[Courtney in CA]

A little off topic, but I've always been curious about fellow students who needed accommodation during testing/lectures for ADD. I understand that in the world of education it is necessary and should be considered if needed. But when put in a real life situation (on the floor, working in an ED, etc.) don't we need to be able to focus and think quickly? Does providing extra time, etc. set up pre-nursing students for failure when they reach either nursing school or real life?

[Suey816]

A little off topic, but I've always been curious about fellow students who needed accommodation during testing/lectures for ADD. I understand that in the world of education it is necessary and should be considered if needed. But when put in a real life situation (on the floor, working in an ED, etc.) don't we need to be able to focus and think quickly? Does providing extra time, etc. set up pre-nursing students for failure when they reach either nursing school or real life?

That's why the original poster may be eligible for loan forgiveness, if the disorder was severe enough and the school was aware, they shouldn't have let them rack up loans and fail, because they would have failed in the career as well. And no, the taxpayer does not take the hit, the school does. No idea what the severity of the disorder is, but some people do not know they have that route for help if they truly have a mental or physical disorder and the school just wanted the tuition money, and should have known they would fail in the program or career. It sounds like there was a history of failed or barely passed classes, and other schools would have not admitted a student with such a history.

[Red Kryptonite]

It sounds like there was a history of failed or barely passed classes, and other schools would have not admitted a student with such a history.

And the OP has stated that working and not studying enough, or "being spread too thin," was the cause.

Do you think OP is responsible in any way for their choices, and the consequences that come from them?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

That's why the original poster may be eligible for loan forgiveness, if the disorder was severe enough and the school was aware, they shouldn't have let them rack up loans and fail, because they would have failed in the career as well. And no, the taxpayer does not take the hit, the school does. No idea what the severity of the disorder is, but some people do not know they have that route for help if they truly have a mental or physical disorder and the school just wanted the tuition money, and should have known they would fail in the program or career. It sounds like there was a history of failed or barely passed classes, and other schools would have not admitted a student with such a history.

Her reports of working too much and not studying enough are personal CHOICES and not indicative of a physical, learning or mental disorder. Just like choosing to attend all night parties or cut class are personal choices that may result in failure. Personal choices are not a means to loan forgiveness, the student who made bad choices and chose to not seek/accept help needs to accept the consequences.