Drop-out percnetage

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I started a health skills class last weekend at El Centro in Dallas. (Where I have applied for the Fall program).

The professor said that out of all the students who actually get in and start the program, only 25% finish! Isn't that wild. I wonder if it's because the program is so hard or people realize nursing is not for them.

I just thought it was interesting information.

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I wonder about that too. I think there are too many students that approach nursing school like it's any other class....memorize a few definitions, key people, and you are done...it's not like that.

I haven't started school yet, but I am going in with the mindset, that just because something seems like it's easy, doesn't mean it necessarily is...you have to read the fine print

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I didnt read your thread but I just posted a thread that 50 out of 100 students dropped out or failed out of the first semester in our schools nursing program!!!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

The problem is that they do a poor job of actually selecting people up front - GPA and pre-requisite completion alone do not a good nursing student make!

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I would agree with that. At my part-time job I work with a young lady who will be starting this Fall with me...she accepted a floor supervisor position at my company on a part-time basis, and she is a real witch. Everythign seems to be too much trouble or her to fool with...and I have the easiest part-time job on the planet...I keep thinking, "If you can't handle the stress of a stupid call center...how in the world are you going to make it in a hospital?"

There are several girls in one of my classes that I can't see making it either....one of them claims she just wants to get a BSN so she can work for a pharmaceutical company (she is a very "rednecked" individual..not the polished class-act pharm co's want). Another can't control her temper..not even in class, I have 2 with her and she is always getting into arguments with the professors....how is she going to react to a tempermental doctor or a clinical instructor?

I don't know if interviews can weed these personalities out, and faculty recommendations can be too biased and are subject to favoritism. It's just a tough call.

If the FIRST semester failure rate is so high....I don't understand why schools don't offset this with a higher starting class...or do they do that already and we just don't know it?

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

They can't take more students than they have instructors for - there are mandated ratios for clinical courses.

The students who ultimately drop unfortunately tie up a seat that someone who could have done well in the slot didn't get.

So frustrating.

1 Interview wouldn't do it - I think you are right about that. Perhaps there really should be a "weedout" of some kind that involves test taking skills, basic reasoning skills, logic, application etc, combined with a personal interview. I don't know what the best selection process would be.

Then again - there are many types of nurses - and not all of those who make it through nursing school need the exact same skills in the end - but they do have to be able to pass the NCLEX.

hmmmm

maybe if the STATE quit putting so much emphasis on the pass rate of NCLEX as the basis for allowing the school to remain in "bidness" then maybe there wouldn't be so many seats wasted on students who drop like flies at the first sight of blood/poop/pee/a hard test etc.

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I went to a information session at el centro and she said that is why they are making HPRS 1204 a prerequisite. That way people can see if they really like nursing or not and so that the first semester isn't as difficult.

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in your opinion, what makes a good nursing student?

student = grades and gpa

the problem is that they do a poor job of actually selecting people up front - gpa and pre-requisite completion alone do not a good nursing student make!
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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

*NURSING* student = grades + GPA + skill + ability to apply learned knowledge to real life + attitude + common sense + test taking skills + personality + aptitude + ...the list could on

Grades + GPA alone do not equal nursing student - if they did the programs that use that as the only criteria for candidate selection would not have atrocious attrition rates.

Granted - there are probably other methods of candidate selesction that result in high attrition - but I think it is a bit foolhardy to assume that any student who can make good grades and carry a decent GPA could get through nursing school.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.
I went to a information session at el centro and she said that is why they are making HPRS 1204 a prerequisite. That way people can see if they really like nursing or not and so that the first semester isn't as difficult.

Probably one of the best ways to select students - let the students decide (and a number will) for themselves BEFORE they take up a seat in a program, that nursing is "just not their thing" by giving them a real opportunity to do so.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Sort of off topic but...In case anyone wonders why the schools cant keep FT nursing faculty...

http://www.dcccd.edu/Business+Community/Jobs/DCCCD+Job+Openings/

And they want you to have a masters.

in a region where mid 60's base is not uncommon for a staff nurse with an associates degree, who wants to take that sort of pay cut?

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a student is developed. it seems that two things are being discussed; qualification for entry vs. student. therefore all of the things that you mentioned should happen during the course of the program, not upon entry.

if personality were a qualification then there would be a real nursing shortage. subjective qualities should not be a part of any selection criteria.:uhoh3:

*nursing* student = grades + gpa + skill + ability to apply learned knowledge to real life + attitude + common sense + test taking skills + personality + aptitude + ...the list could on

grades + gpa alone do not equal nursing student - if they did the programs that use that as the only criteria for candidate selection would not have atrocious attrition rates.

granted - there are probably other methods of candidate selesction that result in high attrition - but i think it is a bit foolhardy to assume that any student who can make good grades and carry a decent gpa could get through nursing school.

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