Failed first semester

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Oct 24, 2016

This is not an uncommon situation. Many (many, many, many . . .) AN'ers have experienced the same thing, recovered and moved on to become RNs. If you do a search, I'm sure you'll uncover quite a few threads.

A bit of advice? Don't bring up the "fairness" issue - ever. All students have personal issues. Some have very serious issues. But that doesn't mean that educational criteria will be lowered to accommodate their special situations. Every nurse has to meet the same standards in order to safeguard quality and patient safety.

So, get up, dust yourself off and give it another go. You've learned a valuable lesson and will be much more prepared in the future. You can do this.

Nurhope · Oct 24, 2016

You are right, I'm just a little bit frustrated but I know I want to do this so bad. I did excellent on clinicals and now I need to start applying again and wait that's what upsets me. I'm wasting time and I'm already 27 with no degree. Thanks for the comments I can do this.

Buyer beware, BSN · Oct 30, 2016

You are right, I'm just a little bit frustrated but I know I want to do this so bad. I did excellent on clinicals and now I need to start applying again and wait that's what upsets me. I'm wasting time and I'm already 27 with no degree. Thanks for the comments I can do this.

@Nurhope. What school are you attending?The answer to this question will figure into what your next step may be.

Perhaps you need remediation in some areas and the school threw you to the sharks without assessing your present abilities.

Since you are 27 years old, can I assume you've been out of school for a while? I don't know of too many on the level schools that don't pre-assess a prospective student's ability to succeed before admission or at least shortly after admission.

I agree with HouTx that it's not cool to blame your present difficulties on unfairness, but if they take your tuition money I believe they have somewhat of an ethical and moral responsibility to do right by you one way or the other.

JJL618, RN · Oct 31, 2016

I was in nursing school at age twenty. Failed one class, but ended up switching my major. I'm now thirty and wanting to go back. Don't give up like I did. You can do it!

Nurhope · Oct 31, 2016

I was attending a community college (ADN program) in the bay area. The college doesn't do any pre-assesment prior entrance to the program. I've been working full time as a CNA and MA ever since I finished HS. It took me a while to finish my pre-reqs because I needed to work.

I know I shouldn't blame the school, nor my professors - on the contrary they were very knowledgeable. I feel like I was caught off guard with the type of exams in nursing school since I didn't do well on the very first one which affected me through out the class and when I tried to bounce back I failed.

JJL618, RN · Oct 31, 2016

The exams were the thing that got me as well. It's a new way of thinking/studying for sure. Something I wasn't used to.

Nurhope · Nov 1, 2016

What did you major in? I'm going to give it a try again if I don't get into any nursing school next year I'll switch majors.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 1, 2016

I failed nursing school (3rd Semester) and was ultimately offered a seat in 2nd Semester as they moved content from 3rd to 2nd and I had to follow that content. A good friend of mine from school failed 1st Semester by (literally) 2 points and was also offered a repeat seat. He and I both graduated and are actively working as nurses.

It IS possible to fail nursing school, get readmitted, and graduate.

What YOU must do is figure out WHY you failed, develop a plan to correct that failure, be able to outline that plan to admin, and if you're readmitted, implement that plan. Also be VERY familiar with your school's failure/readmit policy. They'll generally be required to follow it lest they get sued.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2016

Many people do. In fact, my program had it set up so if people failed the traditional RN program, they could go into the LPN program and then reapply for LPN to RN and receive some credit for their RN classes.