Failed BSN Program Junior Year

[BanannaFish]

Hello. I have previous threads that describe my situation. A brief summary is that I was in a Massachusetts BSN program, and failed at the end of my first semester Junior year. My second semester I have spent doing remediation work. My advisor and other professors told my family and I that they believed I had no reason to not be let back in. I just received the decision letter yesterday that denied my readmission back to the program. It was very brief, 3 sentences, and simply said "due to your inability to apply theory to practice over the sophomore and Junior years, your petition for readmission has been denied".

I've looked at accelerated programs, but I understand I need a BA for that...

and other programs which are 3 years are another option.

Id like to hear the opinions of others who have failed a BSN.

please review my past thread to answer any questions on why I failed and such. I will be starting a job in a Boston ER as a Tech (I've already been starting to act as one, they just need the official paperwork and training to start). I refuse to do any other career. I'll stay in school longer if I have to. I KNOW I can do nursing.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Have you considered trying to do a LPN program or go the associate degree route then RN to BSN?

[BanannaFish]

I have but I don't know anything about that option. I've contacted my advisor and am waiting for a response. How does that work exactly? Once you are a LPN, what do they teach you in the RN to BSN program that is different?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

LP/VN education is primarily task-oriented -- much less theory. This reflects the fact that LPNs do not work independently - their work must be directly supervised by RN or MD. Most LPN programs are clock-hour programs; vocational courses that do not transfer as college credit.

I am so sorry that you find yourself in this place after having invested so much time and effort in your nursing education. But the sad fact is that there is a "permanent record". After involuntary termination from a nursing program on the basis of academic performance, it is very unlikely that you will be admitted to a traditional ABSN or other program. You may have better luck with a commercial (investor-owned) school where the admission process is not nearly as competitive.

[BanannaFish]

What about LPN to ASN to BSN? or LPN to BSN? I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are on that course of action. Or completing a BS in another health field, and then applying to an accelerated 12 month BSN?

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

BanannaFish,

I wouldn't give up on your dreams. While I have seen nursing students fail out and even fail twice and are done with it. I have also seen those who failed out come back and do a spectacular job. Maybe it requires some personal growth and maybe it requires more time to understand the material and take it to heart. If you were able to get into a BSN program you could certainly get into an ADN program. Maybe sitting down with one of your ex-professors to get examples of behavior or practice would be helpful and while you are doing your Tech job, do your best to work on some of those things. I have just seen, in person, so many examples of failure that have been turned into success with time and work. Don't allow this one experience dictate your future.

Best of wishes!!

[BanannaFish]

Thank you so much for your inspiring words. I've been having a very difficult time the past week with this news, obsessively searching the internet for success stories on people who have failed. I will be in school for a very long time... But I will be a nurse :)

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I have but I don't know anything about that option. I've contacted my advisor and am waiting for a response. How does that work exactly? Once you are a LPN, what do they teach you in the RN to BSN program that is different?

Well, it would be LPN to RN or LPN to BSN. The ADN is usually an RN route.

An associate degree for an RN license is generally the same with some minor differences. Some people apparently didn't have a gerontology class, leadership, or community health but my ADN school did. I am working for my BSN at OU in their online RN to BSN program and honestly, it's quite fun so far. I'll graduate with my BSN this December.

The LPN route is more task oriented like what others have said. However, kids who did not pass in the RN tract dropped into the LPN program and will go for their LPN to RN after they pass their LPN test. That route was common in more school.

I know there are a handful of posters who did that route. They posted about their experiences.

I would not complete the degree in another field and then go for an accelerated BSN because that's an expensive route.

[BanannaFish]

Even if I have only 1 year left? With my credits, I could complete a public health major this year. The only real reason for completing the degree would be so that my last 3 years werent a waste and I came out with something. My family has thought about finishing my 4th year with a different major because many ADN programs for this upcoming fall are full. (Thats not to say I wont apply for Fall 2015 or anything like that). I am still looking for programs that start in the spring.

Again, thank you all for your input. I love to hear your opinions and they offer me a lot of insight.

[Lapzs]

Have you considered transferring to another BSN program? That's what I did after failing out of mine. In my case, I'll be in undergrad for 5 years total instead of 4, but in the end I'll have my BSN.

[LadyK90, RN]

What specifically do they mean when not being able to apply theory to practice? Could you name some examples?

[NuGuyNurse2b]

I think that's their way of saying you didn't pass the exams, hence you did not make it through & are being denied readmission. It's a numbers game and at the end of the day, if your numbers don't meet their requirements, you're out.