Failed first semester by very small amount...

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

wow GrnTea...way to kick someone when they are already down. Thanks for the optimism

I don't think she was doing that at all. I understand you are raw right now but her words are the truth. Each semester gets harder and figuring out where you went wrong will ONLY help you next time around.. This does not mean you can't or wont be a nurse, its a setback.

allnurses Guide · Dec 13, 2013

wow GrnTea...way to kick someone when they are already down. Thanks for the optimism

Why are you down?

Pick yourself back up!!!!

Does the swift smack of failure sting?

Oh, yes ma'am!

And since you don't want to feel that way anymore, you'll want to succeed next time...

But you need to do one more excruciatingly painful thing...

You need to really look and yourself and try to figure out where you went wrong.

You have to be brutally honest with yourself.

Then you can make your plan about what you are going to do to fix your problem.

It's hard work, it isn't fun, but if you want it, you'll exert the effort and manage it.

... and Grn Tea is being realistic.

You have got to be prepared to step it up if you choose to continue.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

wow GrnTea...way to kick someone when they are already down. Thanks for the optimism

Optimism will come when you get it together to do what you have to do to pass. No kicking intended, unless perhaps the proverbial "kick in the pants." Never in the teeth, though. Go forth and do good work, if nursing school is really what you want.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

HI everyone... I just failed by first semester of nursing school and I'm devastated. A few people in my class have failed by such a small amount I don't even see how they can do this... our program requires 80% so 79.5% is the lowest you can get to pass. There are people in my class that have 79.48 and they have failed. Has this happened to anyone else? Can they even do this?

I'm confused as to why you would think they couldn't do this? Passing standard is 79.5% and 79.48% is below that.

Guests · Dec 13, 2013

HI everyone... I just failed by first semester of nursing school and I'm devastated.

I'm sorry. I've failed a few classes in my life and it hurts

A few people in my class have failed by such a small amount I don't even see how they can do this... our program requires 80% so 79.5% is the lowest you can get to pass. There are people in my class that have 79.48 and they have failed. Has this happened to anyone else? Can they even do this?

If they have specified the required level for passing then of course they can - and should - fail anybody who doesn't attain the required scores.

Anywhere that the line is set, there may be someone just shy of making the cut... just as there may be someone who just barely squeezed by.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

they said I can try again, but I'm not sure I want to. I want to do this more than anything, but I'm really confused right now. I'm thinking of maybe doing an LPN program at another school because I can't get back into the program I was in for another year now

Why not just take all your non-nursing gen ed classes during that time you have to wait, that way, you can start your nursing classes with no other classes to worry about and can devote all your time and attention to just the nursing classes.

I'm sorry you failed the class by so little. But to answer your question, yes they can do it and yes they do, do it.

My school's passing final average was an 80....not a 79.5 or a 79.9. There was no rounding...at all..for anyone.

Guests · Dec 13, 2013

The reality is, that not everybody is cut out to be a nurse simply because they "want it more than anything."

The same can be said for medicine, law, engineering, aeronautics, fire service, etc.

Some people try and fail. Some people try, fail, try again, and then succeed. But some people simply don't have the tools to do it.

What's so wrong with that?

And what's so wrong about failing people who don't make the cut, which itself is just the bare minimum?

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 13, 2013

Unfortunately, that's the standard that was set and the expectation that you were required to meet. Yes, it certainly stings to be so/close and not move on, but there are reasons why its prudent to have a no-exceptions cut-off.

Our program doesn't round at all, no exceptions. So there are students with a 75.99 (need 76 or higher) that don't move on. I think GrnTea's post has a lot of wisdom in it. You can use this as an opportunity to try again and succeed. Or you can use this as an opportunity to pursue a different field. The choice is yours to make.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do!

goemom · Dec 13, 2013

I'm so sorry that this happened to you, but you shouldn't question your ability to become a nurse. NONE of us can judge you for your performance this semester. I'm in a two-year program. Last semester, only 60% of the 1st semester students made it through. Many have repeated this semester and are passing with flying colors. I'm actually quite shocked that some of them didn't make it through because of how well they are doing now. Maybe it just wasn't their time or things were happening in their personal life that they weren't expecting or they were just overwhelmed and not prepared with the life change that occurs when you start nursing school. You need to ask yourself why you didn't make it: Was the material too hard? did you not manage your time well? were their extenuating circumstances going on in your personal life? Were you not able to juggle other things outside of school? (Assessment). When you determine what hasn't gone right (Dx), you can determine if it's worth and decide to go for it again (outcome) and come up with a new plan (intervention). Good thing the skills you have learned so far, can so easily be incorporated into your daily living.

Just because you didn't pass, doesn't mean you aren't cut out to do this. Don't let anyone criticize your ability. What part of the program did you do well and how did you fall short? I have seen people that are getting A's and understanding the material, yet are so judgmental and condescending that I would NEVER want them as my nurse. And I've seen some people that understand the material yet struggle with the exam structure, but they are such loving and and caring people. I would pick them for my nurse in a heartbeat, which is why it breaks my heart when they question whether or not this is for them. See what camp you fall in and make the determination from there.

Whatever you decide, life will take you where you are intended to be. It just may not be on the route that you expected. It may seem bleak right now, but it everything happens for a reason. Cliche, I know, but it is true.

Good luck!!!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

What do you mean "can they do this"? If a student didn't get the required 80%, then YES the school can fail them! I'm not sure how 79.5% is passing because that's not 80% either.

I'm sorry that the semester didn't turn out the way you hoped =(

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

Better to hear the truth than to have someone blowing smoke into orifices and REALLY misleading someone!

wow GrnTea...way to kick someone when they are already down. Thanks for the optimism

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

wow GrnTea...way to kick someone when they are already down. Thanks for the optimism

I agree with GrnTea...I'm a student rep on a committee that decides the fate of students who have failed a course and would like to re-take it and continue on in the program. 9 times out of 10, if they failed 1 course --even if they JUST missed the mark--they rarely do much better the second time around. If they do manage to pass the course that was retaken, they usually end up failing another course at some point.