I go to a small school and I recently failed a clinical class. I currently have two more semesters (6 more classes) left to take. I am also worried i will fail my preceptorship in the last semester because of school doesn't adequately prepare students and i have no additional health care experience. Does anyone know of a student who has failed on course but completed the nursing program? Are there any preceptors out there that can give me advice? Have any instructors ever failed a student in clinical, if so on what grounds?
I am hoping to gain a sense of hope by writing to all of you. Thank You!
It took OP 2 hours and 6 minutes from original post to the "I'm never coming back to this forum" bust in the chops. (with a troll accusation thrown in)
I love how she said she doesn't have enough money to go to another school - even though hers is not preparing her well enough to pass nclex - yet has enough money for a lawyer/lawsuit?! Lawyer fees alone can pay tuition at many community colleges.
Valuable life lesson. Treat your CNAs well and they will go to the mats for you. Speak to them like you did to Miranda and you may find that your job is alot harder than it needs to be.
This is some serious advice that OP should really pay attention to.
Just finished a MedSurg clinical. 1. The instructor and I just do not click. Nobody's fault, just happens sometimes. 2. She called me out on every little thing EVERY clinical (to the point where everyone else felt bad for me!) Know what? I developed an "It is what is" attitude. Worked my butt off to be ready so she wouldn't have anything to call me out on, and provided some great patient care trying to stay out of her way lol. It is what you make it, and I decided to make it a learning experience. And by the way, I passed the clinical!!!!
Great attitude! You will be working with difficult people your whole career and figuring out how to deal with them now is a great start!
I love how she said she doesn't have enough money to go to another school - even though hers is not preparing her well enough to pass nclex - yet has enough money for a lawyer/lawsuit?! Lawyer fees alone can pay tuition at many community colleges.
I am guessing she is filing a grade appeal with the school and listing discrimination as one of the reasons for it. Plus, any lawyer would tell you not to post about your current discrimination case on a public message board.
True success never comes without some degree of failure, is my motto in life. I am a lab instructor at the school I once failed out of. I failed a lab class so hard the ADN program I was attending would not readmit me. I graduated in the 97th percentile on a nationally recognized standardized exit exam 3/4 the way through a different program. I am also almost done with my RN-BSN program and I have a 4.0 GPA.
My advice is keep your head up! Learn from your mistakes and look at future potential mistakes. Ask other students what difficult concepts await you in future classes. Take that information and master that content before the class even begins. If you think electrolyte tests will be hard in your critical care class start studying now, if it is developmental stages in your pediatric class that might get you, memorize them now.
Do not let failing one class in nursing school be the end of your education, let it be the beginning.
Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, Cardiac/Renal, Ortho,FNP.
Geez, if failure is what it took to stop me I would have never left the womb. I've failed numerous classes and retook them until I passed, failed the NCLEX more times than I care to count, failed a clinical course in my FNP program by 1.87 points (yeah I argued that up to the Dean but alas I am but a student, not a lawyer). I have four college degrees and will finish my MSN-FNP at the end of the year for my fifth degree. I will have three professional licenses. I worked as a D.C. for 10 years and saw thousands of patients, tens of thousands of visits. Moved on to be an RN for the last 2 1/2 years in ICU stepdown while going to school full time with another 800+ clinical hours and 1000 patients (about twice as much as needed for an FNP grad). YES you can survive failing a course, just never give up. There is always a way over, around, through, and under a problem. As much as I hate failing at things, I know sometimes it just IS a crap shoot and is NOT because I was inferior or even unprepared. I have proven that true so many times in my life I just don't accept failure as anything more than just another step to getting something done. That's the goal; just get it done even if it ain't pretty.
I was a nursing student who failed the very last course of my nursing school. Although I passed my clinical rotation, I was a few points short to go through the program. It was heartbreaking. We may not have the same level of disappointment; however, I am sure we have the same degree of frustration.
I had to wait two semesters before I could go back in to finish my last semester with one last chance not to fail theory! It was nerve-wracking the whole time I was back because I was so afraid I would fail again. I was in tutoring session two-three times a week before and after each class, studied twice as long and harder than I usually do, seek guidance from my instructors, including the ones who were not. My family sacrificed as well, for I am no longer available for them even though I am just a room away. I hardly see them, but they have given me an unconditional love and support.
To answer your last question, my instructors had knowledge of how much time I spent in school whether I told them or not. Additionally, since I had to sign-in every single time I was in tutoring, they could see my hours, including the time I spend practicing NCLEX questions. I followed my instructor's rules during school and clinical rotation to a T, no questions ask. I also made sure that all my paperwork and care plans are exactly how my instructor expected it, including APA citations. It is also worth mentioning that although I was so stressed out, I made sure I go in with a smile on my face and uniform pressed - professionally presentable every time. I did not complain nor utter it unless I have a solution. I gave them no reason to fail me, or at least I tried really hard. Was it way too much? Yes. Was it worth it? Of course. I cannot afford to change school financially nor change my major academically. ---
I finally have graduated and currently working now as a Registered Nurse. However, I have yet to totally celebrate because I am still soaking it in! I've waited so long, it is not sinking in just yet.
There were so many of us that walked through these hardships. If nursing is in your heart, you will make it through successfully regardless of the circumstances you are facing right now. Quoting my instructor: "It would not make sense right now, but do not lose faith in yourself." You are not alone, and I hope this answers a couple of your questions.
I am bothered by the "the school doesn't adequately prepare students" comment. It may be true, but don't you think that maybe you can work around that by doing everything you can to prepare? I for one would never go into a new situation without first doing everything I could to prepare myself. You may have to just take in on yourself to prepare.
And, if they are not meeting your needs, why don't you transfer to another program?
Lots of students have graduated after failing clinical. However, that will only happen IF you do a thorough, honest, full appraisal of why you failed. Start by non-defensively asking for specifics about why you failed. Then address every single thing. do not expect to be taught or spoon fed. Watch videos and then go to the lab and practice assessments and skills until you have then down, then ask the the lab staff to watch you and give you feedback. Practice doing a health history on a family member. Videotape it, then watch yourself and figure out how to communicate better.
Yes, I have failed people. Some were for not doing things I directed them to do. If I tell you once that you need to walk your postop patient or reassess pain, I know you learned about it and should know why it matters, don't even think of skipping it again.
I will warn you and then fail you if you give a med without knowing what it is or what you need to assess for before and monitor after giving it; this is a two strikes and you're out issue.
I will warn you if you fail to follow the five rights; for this one, it is a 3 strikes and your out issue.
I will consider failing you if you lie to me even once.
I will definitely fail you if you make up vital signs or other data.
I will fail you for being a no call, no show, or for being late 3 times in one quarter.
I will warn you and then fail you if you repeatedly are rude to anyone (including peers) or endanger patients.
The hospital will kick you out if you violate HIPAA or if you use a cell phone in clinical areas.
I will fail you if you obtain inaccurate vital signs or have poor assessment skills or other skills and ignore me when I tell you to go and remediate in the lab.
If you have poor communications skills or ignore patient needs, I will roleplay with you, but if you don't improve over the next two clinicals, you may fail.
I will ask questions to assure you prepped. If you cannot answer common questions about your patient's meds, patho, labs, plan of care, I will warn you and then fail you if it happens a third time.
I would consider failing you if you hide from me or leave the unit without anyone knowing where you are.
I will look poorly on anyone who is highly defensive, makes excuses for everything, and has little to no insight into their own contribution to not doing well. If I see no effort to improve, you will fail.
I have failed someone for repeatedly not turning multiple things in on time, especailly after we renegotiated deadlines and she still did not keep them. Made faculty who had grading deadlines to meet crazy.
This one is hardest to spell out: I will fail you if you don't seem to "get it" as evidenced by showing higher levels of being able to function and think over the course of the clinical. The bottom line is that if you cannot handle these patients, can you handle the next ones, who are often sicker and require higher level skills? If I see that you are struggling early on, I will take you aside and share my thoughts, we will develop an improvement plan jointly. If you don't carry it out, you get to live with the consequences.
Reading this, I sound like a real meanie. I am not--my students see me as deeply caring and as very much interested in their success. However, I simply will not unleash dishonest, uncaring, unreliable corner cutters who lack a conscious or any insight onto the public.
You do have another chance. Instead of thinking ahead to the preceptorship, focus on being awesome in the next clinical. Ask the instructor every single week for feedback. Ask specifically "What are my weaknesses? What can I do to get better?" That will go a long way toward ensuring your success.
Geez, if failure is what it took to stop me I would have never left the womb. I have proven that true so many times in my life I just don't accept failure as anything more than just another step to getting something done. That's the goal; just get it done even if it ain't pretty.
I love your attitude. And just think--you never once blamed anyone else, or said "The instructor is picking on me."
Thank you so much for your post, I just started my nursing program in May, and we will be starting clinical this month. I didn't know what to expect because of horrible stories I have read. So far, my professors are all great, and they really want their students to succeed. I'm very happy to have come across your post, and will definitely remember it.
Mavrick, BSN, RN
1,578 Posts
It took OP 2 hours and 6 minutes from original post to the "I'm never coming back to this forum" bust in the chops. (with a troll accusation thrown in)
Seems like AN can sniff out BS pretty quickly.