Failed last semester and it hurts

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Just found out I Failed my last semester by a point and a half. I ran out of time and was unable to do the last 4 math questions on the final, if I had gotten those done I would have passed.. I've failed a course before (also by a point), which you can only do once in this program..so I'd have to start all over now. I really can't see myself repeating the entire program as it has been horrible for my anxiety/panic disorder and it's taken time from my child. I have a meeting to review the test. I am so upset and can't stop crying, this has been my dream and I was so close to graduation. I feel like a failure, my son was rooting for me, my family has poured money into this for me and I feel like I've let them down. I LOVE Nursing and would hate to have put in 2 years of hard work for nothing. I want to do everything I can before giving up on this.

What are my options to fight for this grade?

If I don't have any, where do I go from here?

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What do you mean by "fight this grade"? The limit was set. You failed. Try again. Take some time off if you need, do some independant study or something; sounds like you may need a medical math review or similar. Come back stronger and hungrier...

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Thank you for the reply. However I should probably clarify. I was very capable of doing the math, I ran out of time on the test so the last few math questions were blank. This is the part that is bothering me so much.. If i'd had a few more minutes or just gone through questions a little quicker I would have passed.

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I'm so sorry . Don't give up, many people have had to start over but then succeeded.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Thank you for the reply. However I should probably clarify. I was very capable of doing the math, I ran out of time on the test so the last few math questions were blank. This is the part that is bothering me so much.. If i'd had a few more minutes or just gone through questions a little quicker I would have passed.

The thing is, and I apologize if this sounds harsh, but this didn't happen in a vacuum. You would not have had to depend on those last few questions to pass the COURSE if you hadn't been teetering on the edge in the first place. It sounds like the issues have been throughout the course, not just this last test. And yes, you may be capable of doing the math with unlimited time, but the test did not allow for unlimited time. It required that you be able to answer all the questions in the time allotted, or do well enough on the test and the course as a whole that running out of time would not have been the difference between passing or failing the entire class.

As far as where you go from here...you could look into getting your LPN, and then maybe after some experience under your belt, you could go back into a bridge program for your RN.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
The thing is, and I apologize if this sounds harsh, but this didn't happen in a vacuum. You would not have had to depend on those last few questions to pass the COURSE if you hadn't been teetering on the edge in the first place. It sounds like the issues have been throughout the course, not just this last test. And yes, you may be capable of doing the math with unlimited time, but the test did not allow for unlimited time. It required that you be able to answer all the questions in the time allotted, or do well enough on the test and the course as a whole that running out of time would not have been the difference between passing or failing the entire class.

Not to pile on, but I see this all the time. Students want to 'blame' and argue that one question, when in reality, the failure is the sum of the parts.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

I am sorry you are experiencing such difficulties. As others have stated you need to do some self study of math and nursing courses and then try it again. The patient's cannot wait for you to take your time doing math when their lives depend on it in an emergency situation, or if you do the math wrong of course that could also have terrible consequences.

In other words being able to do math in a reasonable time frame is an important part of nursing, and if you cannot, then you need to self study and try again, not "fight your grade".

Annie

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.

I definitely agree with the previous posters.

I would not waste anymore time contesting or dwelling on what you could have done better at. It's time to pick yourself up and move on. Accept the loss. Grieve. Breathe. Relax.

Now....

Whether you go to another program for RN or if you decide to do LPN, make sure you are prepared to give 110% and study, study, study... so that whether or not you pass isnt dependent on a few questions. You've said this has happened before, you need to analyze why it keeps happening?... Perhaps, you are taking too many classes? Can you do the program part-time ?...maybe you need a tutor or study partner?...

Use this time to reflect, accept, and improve on your mistakes.

I say....if you love nursing and this is your dream, don't give up and let NOTHING stand in your way!

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I came here for support and advice from compassionate nurses and/or students. Any of you who gave that, thank you.

For those of you jumping to conclussions..there are no words. How closed minded and judgmental. I know what you are talking about, I have seen fellow students do it.. but you don't know how many questions there were, how much time there was, what has occured in life during this program, or what kind of person or student i am. I accepted full responsibility the 1st time and didnt dispute it to anyone. I would not try to fight for it if i didnt love it and believe there was an injustice somewhere. I hope to God, If I or a loved one is ever sick I hope they never get a Nurse like some of you. Do you assume all patients with lung cancer smoked too? Tell them they did something wrong and to deal with it?

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Oh stop your sniveling and wipe your nose. I can hear you crying from here...

You're right, there are no words......You asked, and you received. Sometimes things just don't work out. Not the end of the world, just gonna require some extra work on your part, if you've got it inside you, and right now, you're just another one of those whiners who wants to be catered to. You're blaming the same rules you agreed to follow in order to take the test in the first place.

Now because some here are not petting you on the head and are not all "there, there little one, what terrible test people they are to not just , ohhh, give you an extra what? Hour or two, maybe just give you the test answers to begin with so you won't be inconvenienced in the first place. After all apparently you're the only one who has had child care issues, has had things happen in life, didn't have enough time to finish, struggled with math, yada yada, yadayadayada.

As far as you jumping to conclusions just because you didn't like what you heard, how closed-minded and judgemental....if you get this upset just from experienced professionals feedback, you (and eventually your patients, colleagues,etc.) are really gonna suffer in the real nursing world. School is the easy part, lots of chances for do-overs that you won't get out in the real nursing world. You're a mess, adjust the attitude.

I hope to God if I or a loved one is sick that they never get a nurse like you (and that doesn't seem too likely to happen). Do you always assume those who don't agree and cater to you are mean and uncaring? Disquise getting your way with seeking "support and advise from compassionate nurses and students"? And anyone who sees through that, you tell them they are wrong so you don't have to deal with that?

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

I was in an ADN course. I had to leave the course due to not passing the last class twice. Thought much later, I found out that I was being asked to do something the second time that should never have been assigned a student. I looked around and was accepted into another ADN program as an advance placement. Things happened and I was not able to complete the class so I decided to go for the LPN and passed that very successfully. I am at the age where I am not going to get the ADN anymore and am happy with what I am doing. I went from a school that seemed to want to eliminate students to one who would go out of their way to see you succeed. They still had the grade requirements, but were willing to help you make it.

So, if you are not successful in reviewing the test and getting points back to pass, there are some options there. You will have to really look around to find a school who will help you in the way you need.

I will also say that my second school was better for me. Wish you all the best in going through this, but you can still become a nurse as you see that I did.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

I agree with OP. to be that close to graduating and have it all taken away Is really hard. Have a little compassion. She is still trying cope with this, calling her a whiner isn't going to help anything. She need more time, have you heard of the grief cycle ponymom?

I don't think she blaming anyone else. She knows she failed, she isn't saying it was some else's fault.

I had an awful time in my last semester, partly me and partly the health problems I had going on. I failed things. But I didn't give up, I wrote the head of school demanding a second chance to make my grade up. I listed all the reasons why, everything that had been going on, that before this I was a top student and so on. I didn't stop to I got what I wanted, and was able to graduate on time.

So I say fight for this grade. You have to have more than just I ran out of time though. You need solid reasons, not emotional reasons. Prove to them you deserve a second chance. Give it everything you have, you have nothing to lose at this point. And At least this way you know you did everything possible to get threw.

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