Failed nursing class 6 months away from graduation, need Advice

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So here I am 6 months away from graduation being told I have to drop the class and retake it because I failed my foley critical element 3x. I kept breaking sterility by touching the draping. I practiced it so many times, I don't know what happened. I truly believe my nerves got the best of me. I feel as if my world just crashed down around me. Never in a million years did I think this could have happened. I have been working towards my Associates nursing degree for 6 years because I work full time. I am so mad at myself, I should have gotten more help from the practice lab. My average in the class was good too! ugh and the worst part is my school only offers this class in evenings again next fall so I can't even take it for the upcoming spring semester. I have to wait almost a year to take it again. So here I am going on year 7 for a 2 year degree. The only option I have is to take a pharmacology class this spring needed for my bachelors so I don't waste a semester. I have met with the chairperson of my nursing department at school after this happened for a meeting. I pleaded with them that I would take any help and do whatever it takes to stay in the course since my grades are good. They said they have heard nothing but wonderful things about me from my clinical professors but they are sorry and feel terrible but there is nothing they can do since it is their policy to dismiss a student if a critical element is failed 3x. I am contemplating going into another field because I feel so bitter and discouraged. Maybe I don't have what it takes to be a nurse. I just don't know anymore. I am tired and burnt out. Nursing school has been my life for the past 6 years of my life. I feel totally lost right now. I would really appreciate and helpful advice. No discouraging comments please this is a very hard time for me.

Specializes in retired LTC.

As a student, I had to do a bladder instillation of something. My instructor (a great nurse and later a friend) went with me to do the cath.

There I am - doing so cool. All of a sudden a sneaky onset sneeze caught me. Eyeglasses just plopped off right into the middle of my sterile field.

All my aspirations of finishing nsg school went kaput. Never be a nurse. Or so I thought.

My instructor was hysterical laughing! Even the pt laughed. Got another setup and completed the cath.

I've done a million since. I always try to get somebody, anybody to go with me - even if it's just to protect me from being be-bopped by some unhappy LOL.

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I've been a nurse for decades as have most my nurse friends and in our cases, now that our kids are out of the house, we're going back for NP's and DNP's and MSN's etc. In my friends' experience and in the class I'm taking... people fail a class and then and take it again when it's offered. I'm in an Advanced Health Assessment class, and I met one woman who failed the physical exam practicum portion of the class mid semester (she passed this semester) and one woman who just could not test over the 80% needed on the academic portion of the course and was retaking it. I think she's left the class again for that reason. And one of my friends is going through the same in a course she's taking. I think what I would do is take the Pharm and then take this course again next semester. I don't really understand your school's attitude towards that one skill. In my education they certainly assumed we would continue to learn the skills once we started our job but.. nothing you can do about that. You can always change your mind and do something later. But you have so much invested in this, why not finish up.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thank you all for your support and advice. I truly do appreciate all the comments. Some days I want to keep going and wait to finish and others I am just so confused if this is the right career for me. This whole situation is still new and I have some adjusting to do. I know in my heart that I am suppose to be a nurse. I guess I am just hurting right now. Time heals all so I can use this time to get back on track.

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There were many, many days in nursing school that I felt like quitting.. I wasn't all that sure I wanted to be a nurse in the first place! But you'll find that it is true.. there are lots of ways you can use your degree, you can go on in your education if you like and have more options. But being a nurse (I think this is true in all fields) is not like nursing school. And you're exactly right.. lick your wounds as they say :-) for a little while and then get back up and move foreward. I'm sure it is hard because it's a change in plans and people most likely knew when you were due to finish up etc. I know it feels like a big deal right now to have failed, but in the long run.. it's not. Good luck!

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Specializes in Neuro.

Don't quit, keep at it, you know you're more than capable to get this done. I literally spent 7 years in college to get my bachelors degree, no shame, some of us it takes a little longer to get there, you because you have to work and take that into account in your schooling schedule, me, because I was just lost in college--changing my majors. In the end we get there and the success of it is that much sweeter because we know what it took for us to get here.

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Geez that sucks so bad. I failed my foley test out the first time (I "batted away" the sterile sheet when it flew back up, I didn't even notice I did it until my instructor told me!). I think the only reason I passed the second time was a very kind instructor who told me to go really slow and talked me through it. I got to do my first patient catheter in clinical and I actually think it was less stressful (had a very experienced RN talking me through it).

I'm so sorry. I hope you don't give up because of this! Anything involving sterile field makes me nervous. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

Don't let a stupid policy stop you from moving forward. Here's what a friend and I do when practicing. We set up our phones on a live feed, Skype, Zoom, whatever, and do a practice with the other person being extremely critical. We do it over and over and over. Works great. Lots of hugs, you're living my nightmare, I'm so sorry, but this too shall pass.

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I'm so sorry for what happened! It's a horrible feeling that I have felt as well. I failed a return demo and I've had to withdraw from classes before. I've set myself back in nursing school. Heck! Getting into nursing school was half of my battle. It's taken me 5 years to be where I am now. I was suppose to graduate this upcoming Tuesday and now it looks like I will be doing that this May. So I get the frustration, the questioning and complete and utter numbing sensation that comes with failing. You just feel like screaming or flipping a table! But take a few days and really contemplate your future.

IMO- you have invested 6 years...What's 1 more year? You're so close. Don't give up! Get back up and show yourself and the world that you can do it! Build that confidence. Fake it til you make it! You will accomplish this goal and you will graduate! Just like me. It sucks...but this is temporary. Just imagine yourself being a nurse everyday and that will be motivation..it is at least to me.

A big hug to you my friend!!!

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Nursing school is brutal.. I can only encourage you to continue on, continue to practice.. Don't give up.. The same thing happened to me last year, my Med Surg instructor got word of cheating and changed the entire final. My final grade was 74.6 (75 was needed to pass) and I was to graduate in 6weeks.. I cried and thought my life was over, I too questioned was this really what I was to do.. I put my big girl panties on and retook the class,because it was offered again and I passed with an A and graduated last December... You can do it, be encoraged, hugs...

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. It is a horrible feeling but we will both get through this. I am sorry for your set back as well. I know how you feel. We just need to keep pushing forward.

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Hi, I just want to tell you to please don't give up. If this is something you are truly passionate about I feel that it's worth trying again and again. I do understand your frustration because I've been there. I must say the best thing to do in this situation is to hop back on that horse you have fallen off of and ride it like never before. I've have had some setbacks with my nursing career in the past myself but that never stopped me from my goal. So, I don't want this to stop you either but I can tell your really trying and you want this bad. Our setbacks always set us up for major comebacks. Also, God has a plan for our lives when we think it's our season God will have something else for us to learn or to experience in that season. I wish you the best with everything.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thank you Yelhsa. I know you are probably right. God timing is always best even though it may not be the timing we want. I am hoping to use this time to review the material over and over again and kick some butt next semester!

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