Don't trust certain people that want to pursue

Jolie, BSN · Jan 15, 2009

Have you considered that this person may be trying to "shape up" her life. I know a number of people who were not stellar students or citizens in high school who have made huge strides in adulthood, pursuing challenging careers, doing admirable volunteer work and becoming great family people.

If this person is willing to shell out 20K for an education, I'd bet that she is serious about her studies. If she's not, she won't successfully complete the program, regardless of whether it is private or public. It is a mistaken notion that expensive private nursing schools simply sell diplomas to unworthy candidates.

I wish her well.

LulaNurse · Jan 15, 2009

Wow. Thank you for shedding a different light for me. You just helped me looked at her situation from a different perspective. I really have to thank you because I realized I judged her actions/character based on her past... which is something I don't want people doing to me. I'm still young, I have to tell myself I don't know everything.

coolpeach · Jan 15, 2009

I was a horrible high school student. I failed classes, skipped classes, and I even skipped whole days. I drank, did drugs, and even ran away from home. You might have thought I was a horrible kid, and maybe I was, but I had a lot going on at home that you wouldn't be aware of. I got pregnant, got married, go divorced, and begged my parents to help me go to college to become a nurse. My dad said, "Your a pretty girl just find a nice man pretty girls don't go to college". I ran into this my whole life. I remember in school having trouble with math, and asking for help. My teacher told me I didn't need help because girls didn't REALLY need to be good at math.

Now I am an adult, and I am in an RN program. I went back got my GED, kept a 4.0 throughout my pre reqs, and I think I am going to make a great nurse.

My point is maybe she is a horrible person, but maybe she has just had a tough life. These nursing programs are hard, and if she is playing games they will more than likely weed her out before she graduates.

Cilantrophobe · Jan 15, 2009

She barely passed high school because she made other people do her homework and her essays. She has several D's and W's in high school and on her college transcripts. Right now, I guess she's struggling to finish up her prerequisites and is willing to take an easier route by paying the big bucks to enter a nursing program. I'm not judging her blindly, but I know this girl she lies on her resumes too. Do you think she will fall through the cracks and pass the program?

UM, excuse me but I was a total punk in high school, I skipped school, did drugs, etc. etc. But I NEVER made or asked other people to do my homework or essays. I did not graduate high school with my class. I didn't graduate until two years later when I wanted to go into the Air Force and my recruiter said they wouldn't accept a GED and that I would have to go back to high school. I went back and graduated.

Graduating high school was one of the biggest accomplishments (at that time). Since then I have completely changed my life and gotten nothing but good grades, and taken school very seriously.

If she is trying to change her life then why is she getting Ds and Ws in college, and lying on her resumes? And she is struggling to complete her prerequisites? Sounds to me like she won't graduate any nursing program--unless she really DOES change her life. And I hope she does, because it sounds like she has major problems.

And that doesn't mean I am judging her blindly either, to anybody who feels like I am wrong. Cheating, lying, and stealing won't get you anywhere in your life. This student needs to change her life. I wouldn't want her as my nurse either.

patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 15, 2009

Even private schools have academic standards.

The great thing about a private school is that the classes are smaller and

students get more focus.

I dont know

If she fails, then she fails, but if she passes, then she passes.

I hope she passes, maybe she is trying to do good.

I was horrible in high school and look at me now

graceomalleyRN, RN · Jan 15, 2009

I was glad to see the openminded response from the OP. It's nice to come here and get different perspectives, isn't it? :)

The bottom line is this: although none of us knows whether she's really changed, nursing school and NCLEX will settle that question. As my grandmother used to say, the proof is in the pudding!

mochabean · Jan 15, 2009

I agree that you shouldn't judge people based on their past, people change. It's important to see what they do in the present.

Cilantrophobe · Jan 15, 2009

Struggling through your pre-reqs could mean many things, many people "struggle" throughout college.

Depending on how long she has been in college, getting a D or W when starting out also isn't uncommon.

If she is still making people do her homework or essays she will never pass school.

I don't know what she is lying about on her resumes but it doesn't sound good.

Many people have an ugly past. If this is all in her past and she is trying to move forward, good for her. Many people (like me) use my past as further motivation to be a totally different person. I hope she can do the same.

This is not the case of a fundamental attribution error people. Having a rough life doesn't force you to lie, cheat, and steal. Being a dishonest person forces you to do these things.