failed clinicals dismissed from RN program

[beverlydianne]

my teacher failed me in clinicals in cardiac. i had a needlestick the last day of clinicals, but she said that wasn't why she failed me. i called her after going to get my needlestick checked out, and she said i was going to fail clinicals. she said that she had other things on me. i took the last test plus the final after that. i knew i had to take the course again, and i wanted to learn as much as i could. my written and computer test grades were all passing (above 80%). i applied for reinstatement and i got a letter stating:

"the nursing resinstatement committee has reviewed your petition for reinstatement into nursing 222. the committee has determined that you are ineligible to reinstate and have been dismissed from the nursing program."

it goes on to say that i can contact career planning and placement for assistance in selecting other occupations. there wasn't even a signature on the letter. it just said "nursing reinstatement committee".

i could tell from the first day of class that the teacher definitely did not like me. one day in clinicals she said i made her nervous.

if i can take cardiac over, i only have four (5.5 week) classes and one 11 week class after that to finish. there are 2 other teachers that teach this class. people who fail theory are given 2 tries and sometimes 3 tries to pass the same class. there are some nursing students that have failed 2 or 3 different nursing classes and are still in the rn program. i have never come close to failing a class before. i have excellent grades. i have worked as a pct in a hospital on weekends since september so i am getting more hands on experience all the time . i am waiting for the appeals process form to be e-mailed to me so i can fill it out. if i don't get reinstated, the nursing department will have a long battle to fight. i have received much verbal support from other students and rn graduates. if i have to go outside of the school, i have already checked into some organizations that are willing to help me.

i plan on taking a phlebotomy course, in the meantime, until i can get reinstated. this requires 25 hours of clinical experience. i think this will help strengthen my clinical skills.

please give me your input.

bev

[DermNP2Be]

I am so sorry this happened to you. I think you're doing the right thing in enlisting for the fight! I, too, almost could not return this semester (due to financial aid cancelling my funding because I dropped classes in undergrad), yet it looks like it MAY pan out. I visited a school that offers Phlebotomy as well as I felt that this would keep me on my toes as I waited out the entire year until I could return to the program- so I think that is good. However, do not go down without a fight!

[Jolie, BSN]

I'm sorry that you were not considered for re-instatement for the program.

Did your instructor discuss her reservations regarding your clinical performance prior to the final clinical day? If she had concerns other than your needlestick, she should have addressed them at the time they were noted, and not waited until the conclusion of the clinical experience. That gave you no opportunity to put together an improvement plan to address your weaknesses. I am impressed that you completed the testing for the remainder of the course even though you were notified that you would not pass. That indicates to me a desire to take every possible learning opportunity and the persistence to work thru a problem.

Please consider a further appeal of your dismissal thru the chain of command of your school of nursing and the university. If you are able to present evidence that the instructor failed to provide you with timely feedback during your clinical, you may have a case.

Best of luck.

[Jules A, MSN]

I'm also really sorry to read this. Can you give more info as to why the instructor said you "made her nervous"? Thats never a good spot to be in, imo. I wish you all the best but have to say that in my 4 years around the nursing school world I have yet to see anyone reinstated that was refused re-entry so I'd try to have a planB in mind also. Wishing you the best.

[GingerSue]

hoping things work out for you

in my opinion, you deserve timely feedback and any needed opportunities to make improvements, with reasons for their comments.

[beverlydianne]

After 3 calls in 1 week, the chairman of the nursing dept. called me back. I tried to find out why I wasn't reinstated after being given an F in Clinicals (NSG 222-Cardiac). She said that she couldn't tell me, but I had a right to look at my records. She said that she was not on the reinstatement committee. She was surprised when I told her that I never got an evaluation from my teacher at the end of the course. My teach just told me over the phone that I failed clinicals after I had my needle stick. (see original posting at top). I still passed test #4 (a test on the computer) and the final (a written test) after the needle stick. I am going to school on Monday to do look at my records and I have a meeting scheduled with the chairman of the nursing dept. at 9:00. Even with the F, I still have more than a 3.5 GPA. After I talk to the chairman of the nursing dept., I am going to the school library to type up my appeal process form. Then I am going to turn it in. She told me to turn it into the nursing dept, but the head of the reinstatement committee for the Allied Division told me to turn it in to her. I'm going to check with the allied health division head before I turn it in. A lot of the procedures in writing by the nursing dept. have not been followed by the nursing dept. Also, feedback that the teacher was supposed to be provided throughout the class was not given to me.

Any suggestions?

[nurz2be]

I would be very cautious in regards to slinging any type of negative accusations that could potentially make this instructor look "stupid." Especially if you are trying to get reinstated, as you might find yourself under her finger once again.

I am a student who sits in on grievances at our campus and I think that you have a very valid reason to not only see your student folder, but also to ask for any documentation that was given to this committee that made the final decision. There is normally someone who is taking notes at these types of meeting so they can be typed up and placed into the student file. I would ask for a copy of that as well. You should make sure that the information presented to the committee was complete, meaning that they were allowed to view your entire record, not just an incident report for whatever this instructor says she has on you.

Be diligent, this isn't something I would personally let slide by. If you try to transfer to another institution, I would hate to think that this type of disciplinary action could follow you to your new school or detour a school away from accepting you.

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted.

[GingerSue]

the head of the reinstatement committee for the Allied Division told me to turn it in to her. I'm going to check with the allied health division head before I turn it in. A lot of the procedures in writing by the nursing dept. have not been followed by the nursing dept. Also, feedback that the teacher was supposed to be provided throughout the class was not given to me.

Any suggestions?

Who is most likely to be concerned about your interests? That's who I would go through. And be complete in your account of what has occurred.

All the best to you.

[giftedRN]

It is so sad when on ehas to go through these things because of an Instructor who likes attention. I have met many of them and I am telling you they can make your life a real hell. However, there are instructors who are willing to work with you to do well. These Instructors are usually put through hell because they advocate for students. I do not want the nursing colleges to lower their standards but it is imperative of them to treat all students the same.

I wish you all the best. Do not let your dream be a distant memory, or else you will be satisfying this Instructor's ego. I really do not want to be bias but I have seen many cases like yours. God always have a witness and he does not like injustice. What one does to people today will speak to him tomorrow.

Hold your head up high and reach for the stars.

Ann.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Are you in a university setting (sorry, my question mark key doesn't work!!). At any rate, there should be a policy from the school or the department of nursing that clearly delineates what constitutes a failure, and the reinstatement process, (such as GPA after the failure).

As an instructor, I am well aware that it is difficult to fail a student clinically. I could never just fail someone and let them know on the last clinical day. I would need to build a case against them, basically from day one (or the first time the student exhibits unsafe or unsatisfactory behaviors). It is extremely time consuming to do this, just so you know. And for most instructors, it is not something we like to do (I said, most of us).

In the past, when you received your clinical evaluations, what type of paper did you receive (or see)! Did you have to sign something during previous clinical semesters! I would think that every school has basically the same type of process (I have worked in three different schools). We have to check off whether the student is S or U in every outcome, and need to explain any U's. There is also a midpoint eval, which gives the student time to redeem themselves. If a student is severely deficient in a certain area, we need to formulate a contract, basically a 'plan of care', stating what the student needs to do to pass clinical.

Something sounds fishy here, if you are telling it exactly how it is. When in doubt, refer back to policy.

Also, as far as reinstating, there must be a policy. How can they let some students take classes 2 and 3 times, but not let you retake it! Is this your first nursing failure! Whatever you do, do NOT bring up what other students do, or have done. You can't, it just will not fly. Unless you know for a fact that there were no other circumstances surrounding these other students (and you probably don't), don't even bring it up. Be objective, stick to the facts, the policy, and your situation.

Good luck!!

[Thedreamer]

I am so sorry to hear this! If you put your mind to this and go about it in a positive way, I am sure things will work out in your favor. All my best and god bless!

- The dreamer

[ORRocksRN]

I was dismissed last week from my program during the 5th of 6 terms. I had a 4.0 GPA last term. The instructors have been building a false case against me for months based on a lie told by some nasty nurses I worked with one day, they were ****** off about something else and said horrible things about me, which resulted in me being placed on a "contract." I made a small mistake last week, not related to patient care at all, and that was enough for them to boot me. I'm tired of trying to reason with them, They just have it out for me. I have considered an appeal, but I'm burned out and just want to go elsewhere to finish my program.

I have 2 terms left, can I do these online and test out?

If I've done 4 terms already, do I have to take all 7 of the Excelsior tests or can I skip some?

Anyone know if Excelsior grads can sit for NCLEX in Oregon?

Do I have to start all over again in another program, assuming I can even get into another local program? Do I tell them I went to this other school?

What have other people done that have been dismissed?

HELP!?

I feel like I've just wasted 4 years of my life and thousands of dollars. I've lost all my scholarships and aid ( I assume) and dont know if and when they'll want me to pay them back. I cashed in my retirement fund to pay for school, so now I am broke. Things are not good here. what should I do??