exclassmate sues our school

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This past summer was our second semester of nursing school. The way our program is run, is if you get 4 clinical unsatisfactories (CU's) in a semester you are kicked out. You can earn CU's for medication errors, paperwork that's not done, usually just pretty big deal stuff. Well a fellow classmate on two occasions did not come prepared the day of clinical (we were getting our patient assignment the day before clinicals) so that earned her 2 CU's...she made one medication eror (no gloves when giving an injection) = 3rd CU...and one another occasion she wore pigtails to clinical. Now the pigtails would not have earned her a CU but she had already worn them before and the instructors told her it was unprofessional and not to wear them again. So she blatantly ignored them, which is the main reason they let her go.

Anyway, she came in recently to get copies of her CU's for her attorney because she is suing. A couple of classmates have said they agree with her. I think it's ridiculous. She needed to go. After her first CU about the paperwork she told the instructor "you have no idea what I have had to give up to be here..."...whatever, we are all giving up our lives to be in nursing school. She just thought she was an exception.

Ok, well just venting and sharing, while it sucks to get this far and be kicked out...she did it to herself. I'm sure people have been kicked out of nursing school for much less.

thanks,

Ginyer

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what is she suing for? harrassment?

does she plan on coming back to the school after she's sued them?

this is quite interesting...keep us posted!

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If she gave up so much to be there, then maybe she should have listened when she was told POINT BLANK about her hair. That alone might have saved her. I am amazed when people feel so sorry for themselves when they don't even deserve the opportunity in the first place, let alone put in the work it takes to take advantage of the opportunity.

I doubt much will come of it.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

It's possible she may win if pigtails are not included in the offical list of "don'ts" for appropriate clinical attire, but she's clearly going to lose in the end regardless. Even if she won reinstatement, she would make another error, and she would be expelled for that one (assuming she's not contesting the 3 others earned which are much more clear-cut.) Sounds like she thinks the rules apply to everyone but her.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
This past summer was our second semester of nursing school. The way our program is run, is if you get 4 clinical unsatisfactories (CU's) in a semester you are kicked out. You can earn CU's for medication errors, paperwork that's not done, usually just pretty big deal stuff. Well a fellow classmate on two occasions did not come prepared the day of clinical (we were getting our patient assignment the day before clinicals) so that earned her 2 CU's...she made one medication eror (no gloves when giving an injection) = 3rd CU...and one another occasion she wore pigtails to clinical. Now the pigtails would not have earned her a CU but she had already worn them before and the instructors told her it was unprofessional and not to wear them again. So she blatantly ignored them, which is the main reason they let her go.

Anyway, she came in recently to get copies of her CU's for her attorney because she is sueing. A couple of classmates have said they agree with her. I think it's ridiculous. She needed to go. After her first CU about the paperwork she told the instructor "you have no idea what I have had to give up to be here..."...whatever, we are all giving up our lives to be in nursing school. She just thought she was an exception.

Ok, well just venting and sharing, while it sucks to get this far and be kicked out...she did it to herself. I'm sure people have been kicked out of nursing school for much less.

thanks,

Ginyer

I was basically in the same situation with a student in my program.

She was dismissed for similar reasons and returned to "sue". State policy: she could not sue an instructor/state school for dismissal when blatant refusal to comply to policy and procedures were cited.

She never returned.

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.

What is she screaming about??? The school I graduated from had the "Three Strikes and You're Out" Policy: three U's in Clinical and you were OUT, with NO recourse!

This gal needs to get a grip....and into another profession. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Whether she wins or not, she'll have a heck of a time getting into another school. Who would want to accept that kind of liability?

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
Whether she wins or not, she'll have a heck of a time getting into another school. Who would want to accept that kind of liability?

Was just thinking the same thing, Marie -- then I got to your post. Great minds think alike. :)

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Personally, I think it's ridiculous that pigtails are considered a violation. Not wearing gloves for an injection is an honest mistake for a new learner, too. Your school is a little over the top, in my opinion. However, it doesn't sound like she has a valid lawsuit.

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Personally, I think it's ridiculous that pigtails are considered a violation. Not wearing gloves for an injection is an honest mistake for a new learner, too. Your school is a little over the top, in my opinion. However, it doesn't sound like she has a valid lawsuit.

I never wear gloves to give an injection. I don't think I was ever taught to either.

Sounds like this student has an entitlement thing going. She is no loss to your program. She would screw up someday and the profession would not be kind to her at that time, either.

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