This is really just me venting but I'm getting annoyed with all the second, third, fourth, etc.. chances. Nursing school is preparing us to fill a role where could literally kill someone if we make a mistake. Why are we allowed so many chances to retake classes, retake dosage tests, retake nclex, and other things.
In my five semester program, I have a classmate who has been there for 5 semesters but is only in 2nd semester because he keeps withdrawing and is allowed to try again. If it takes that many tries, I don't think you have what it takes. I see posts on here all the time about people retaking classes and retaking nclex and I know sometimes people make mistakes and need a second chance but it's seems excessive.
We have to take a dosage exam before we go to clinicals and we have to score a 95. If you dont get it the first time, you can take it two more times. If it was real, you could've killed a patient by then! It's very basic math. There's no reason to fail.
I'm so frustrated because I work hard to get things done right the first time and people who have to redo something two more times end up in the same position. I don't know why I bother sometimes.
Personally, I feel that this is something that's not worth getting upset over.
Just be thankful you are not the person having to take the exam or class over and over again. Even for the student that keeps withdrawing each semester - why does that matter to you? In the long run you very well may never see this student again after graduation.
If it takes someone one time or ten times to pass NCLEX why does it matter? All that should matter is that they passed - they've proved that they are competent enough.
I do agree with the poster(s) that said that after your 2nd or 3rd failed attempt you should be required to do remediation.
As for multiple NCLEX attempts, I think that if you fail 3 times, you need to take a refresher course or something. I think barring students who have taken the NCLEX a certain number of times or sending them back to do an entire nursing program over again is a little harsh. And let's be real, that will never happen. Pearson makes too much money off repeat test takers. (in my state you have unlimited attempts.)
think of the girl who just failed her 5th attempt on here. Pearson made $1,143 dollars off her so far.
Pearson isn't in charge of saying how many times testers can repeat. Nor are they the watchdogs for patient safety related to nursing competence. It's the state board if nursing who does that.
I am quite happy to give people a 2nd chance -- and I am even OK with giving some people a 3rd chance. But there comes a point where it needs to be recognized that the reason the person is failing repeatedly is because they don't have the talent to do the job.
Everyone can make a mistake and fail at something -- but those failures should serve as "wake-up calls" for the person to make some changes so that they can succeed in the future. That happens to all of us. But these people who fail repeatedly are not learning from their mistakes: they are not making the adjustments necessary to succeed in the future. At some point, it needs to be acknowledged that either they CAN'T do it, or that at least they are not WILLING to do what is necessary to succeed.
Most of my career has been spent in Staff Development. I've worked with lots of nurses who have had to repeat a class or take NCLEX a 2nd time -- many of whom have been good nurses. But the same has not been true of the chronic failures. An overwhelming number of the new employees we hire who "just can't cut it" in the real world are the same people who needed additional chances to get their RN licenses. They have that RN license, but they can't hold down a job for long. It's a sad waste of resources. Everyone (including the RN) would have been better off had it been recognized early on that nursing was not a good career fit -- and the person would have moved on to a career that suited them better.
I think 3 tries should be the max for NCLEX -- and probably for most nursing schools, too.
My school does not operate like that. You have 1 fail and 2 withdrawals. Your 2nd fail (below a 73), and you're out. You must got to LPN school and secure an LPN license before attempting to come back into the RN program. We also have a math exam on the 1st day of every new clinical. You are only allowed to miss 1 question. They do offer 1 chance, 1 week later, to re-take, and if you fail again, then you don't attend clinical that rotation and must take a remedial math course and skills class, setting you back a semester. If you do choose to withdrawal for whatever reason, you must also take a college skills class and clinical skills class in order to resume classes, setting you back a semester, maybe 2. It is interesting to see the way other colleges operate.
I just tried going through a transition LVN to RN and made a 77 you have to make a 78 to pass so I'm out of that program for 3 years. I wish I could have gotten a second chance. But I guess it wasn't meant to be for me at this time.
I don't think this issue of second chances is a black or white one.
My twin sister did not thrive in the nursing school environment but she is now one of the most impressive nurses I have ever known. She had a lot of anxiety issues stemming from our very verbally abusive father who put her down and made her feel like she wasn't capable if doing well at anything. She nearly failed one clinical with an instructor who would yell and throw things at students while they performed tasks. My sister would get so unnerved by this instructor that her hands would tremble and she couldn't even think clearly. She did pass this clinical by the skin of her teeth. Had she failed, I think she would have deserved a second chance. She needed time to work through her very understandable anxiety issues. She got some counseling and did pass everything and graduated on time.
My sister was a very average student but she passed the NCLEX on the first try and as I said is now a very impressive nurse who is very well respected by her peers and by the physicians she works with and she has never come close to killing a pt. She is extremely conscientious and is constantly reading and learning on her own time so she can best take care of her very complicated renal transplant patients.
We don't know every person's background in life. Some people do legitimately need a second chance. If they can learn and grow from that chance, more power to them.
Have any of you considered that there are laws or regulations that limit the time a student has to complete a nursing program? This is why nursing schools limit the number of times a student may repeat a core class. Many states require completion of a nursing program within 1.5 times the length of the standard program. Your state controls these regulations and not the school. I would recommend a thorough review of accreditation and licencing standards before you jump to critisizing your schools. A little homework may help you to understand why your school has certain policies in place. Dedicated nursing instructors work hard to help students succeed and not to weed out students.
First off, it is basic math. Im terrible at taking tests AND I'm not so hot in math. But I do the calculations just fine when I'm on the floor. It's about the pressure. Some people are just bad test takers.
Secondly, LIFE happens. You really dont know what could have been going on in that persons life. Or maybe what they told you is not even half of it. Everybody's struggle is different in life. (financial, health, family, language etc.) Things don't come easily for everyone just because it's 'simple math' or simple anything to you.
Though...I do believe that if you know you're not ready for nursing school 100%, then don't continue. It's a waste of your time and others time.
I'm glad that nursing school sounds like a breeze to you.
I am quite happy to give people a 2nd chance -- and I am even OK with giving some people a 3rd chance. But there comes a point where it needs to be recognized that the reason the person is failing repeatedly is because they don't have the talent to do the job.
.....
Most of my career has been spent in Staff Development. I've worked with lots of nurses who have had to repeat a class or take NCLEX a 2nd time -- many of whom have been good nurses. But the same has not been true of the chronic failures. An overwhelming number of the new employees we hire who "just can't cut it" in the real world are the same people who needed additional chances to get their RN licenses. They have that RN license, but they can't hold down a job for long. It's a sad waste of resources. Everyone (including the RN) would have been better off had it been recognized early on that nursing was not a good career fit -- and the person would have moved on to a career that suited them better.
I think 3 tries should be the max for NCLEX -- and probably for most nursing schools, too.
^^^^^ YES YES - A HUNDRED TIMES YES!!! ^^^^^^^
In the US, we dance around the issue of 'intelligence' or any other immutable characteristic that may actually determine one's success because we espouse the myth of absolute equality . . . despite the ever-increasing amount of clear evidence that no amount of hard work can make up for inherent ability.
Academia contributes to this mess - traditional schools don't want to deal with the bad publicity of getting sued (like the nursing student currently suing Misericordia for not providing sufficient accommodation for her specialness) & commercial/investor owned schools are more than happy to just keep on selling tuition to increase their revenues.
My state allows numerous NCLEX attempts as long as they all done within 4 years of graduation. So, that is sort of a limitation.
I've been a practicing RN for over 40 years & am good at it. When Iwas in school I took some tests 3 times toget the required results. Some folks just need a little more time
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
She had a lot of anxiety issues stemming from our very verbally abusive father who put her down and made her feel like she wasn't capable if doing well at anything.
I also had a verbally abusive father who would curse at me, call me stupid and denigrate my abilities at every turn. It's taken a lifetime to address because, in the back of my mind, the seeds of doubt and lack of self-confidence were firmly planted at a young age.
I applaud your sister for overcoming her past to secure her future. Sometimes I think a parent's cruel words can have a farther reaching impact than we'll ever know.
brit.pz
42 Posts
Personally, I feel that this is something that's not worth getting upset over.
Just be thankful you are not the person having to take the exam or class over and over again. Even for the student that keeps withdrawing each semester - why does that matter to you? In the long run you very well may never see this student again after graduation.
If it takes someone one time or ten times to pass NCLEX why does it matter? All that should matter is that they passed - they've proved that they are competent enough.
I do agree with the poster(s) that said that after your 2nd or 3rd failed attempt you should be required to do remediation.