Failed nursing class need help

mrsboots87 · Feb 16, 2015

This will likely have little, if any, affect. Only some new grad programs want your GPA. If your school replaces the failed grade with the new grade, then the facilities who ask for GPA would never know anyway. They also do not ask when you started your program. They just care that you completed it. So unless you divulge that info, facilities will also not know. As far as grad school, it will depend on the program. You will of course have to submit your transcript, and the failed class will show there, even if the grade has been replaced for your GPA calculation. Whether that will affect admittance will depend on if the program you apply to allows class retakes or not. I believe most do, but im sure some dock points for failed and replaced classes. They will also be able to see that your education lasted 6 instead of 4 year. I'm not sure if that would matter or not so you would need to speak with an admissions representative about that part. You can or email anonymously if you would like. GL and basically, dont worry so much. This will likely not matter, and if it does, there are other places you can apply for jobs and grad programs that it wont matter.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2015

Honest answers to questions about things like this go a long way. No hospital will give a damn. Graduated from a real school? Passed NCLEX? All they need to know.

As to grad school down the road, some of you know I had a not-too-stellar undergraduate average, 2.85, because I was supporting myself, running a household, working 3 8's per week and needed time off with my buds too much to kill myself studying, and believing that old line about "C = RN." I swore up and down I would never be one of those silly nurses with a master's degree anyway, and lacked confidence in myself to do it anyway, so I didn't take statistics (it wasn't required until the next year!).

Fast forward seven years, I've been working in an awesome CVsurg unit, doing all sorts of amazing things and learning a lot, and being asked to be a teacher. Need an MN for that. Coworker just finished hers, says if you can get admitted you'll automatically get B's. Sounds good to me. Go to night school to take educational stats, aced it.

So then I go to the local excellent nursing grad school, speak to the admissions counselor, and I swear she almost snickered when I answered her question about undergrad GPA. I said, "You can't tell me I can never go to graduate school because I screwed around in college when I was 18, 19, 20." She agreed, actually, and recommended that I do well on the GREs (I did, 99th %ile across the board) and take a couple of graduate level courses as an unenrolled student and do well on them (I did, aced 'em). By then I had moved to a city where there was an even better grad school and they took me immediately. And the rest is history.

So when they ask to explain, they really want to know if you're a screwup or if you have a good reason. You have a good reason. Tell them.

mecha-sorah · Feb 16, 2015

what about hospitals like UCLA Ronald Reagan, or UCSF, or CHLA? Would they care?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2015

What part of "hospitals won't care" was hard to understand?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2015

what about hospitals like UCLA Ronald Reagan, or UCSF, or CHLA? Would they care?

There are any number of reasons why school may take you longer than 4 years. I also had to take a one year long medical LOA. I've been a nurse for almost 8 years and I can tell you not one single person has ever noticed or asked why it took me 5 years to finish undergrad. The only job that ever saw my transcript was my first one and that was after I graduated/already had a job offer. I have an entire semester of Ws (withdrawn courses) from when I left and it's been of no consequence whatsoever.

There's no reason why it should even be apparent on your resume:

Education

My college, BSN 2017.

That's it. You don't need to point out that you started six years before you finished. And I assure you, as GrnTea did, that no one will care IF they even notice.

mecha-sorah · Feb 16, 2015

I heard that it is getting harder and harder to get into a new grad rn program. With that in mind, if they do not look at GPA and all they need is that you got your degree and passed the NCLEX, is there anything else they look at when selecting individuals for a new grad job in nursing?

mecha-sorah · Feb 16, 2015

Thank you so much! I have had 3Ws in the fall quarter or 2013 ( I go to a quarter system school in CA). I left nursing and took courses in other departments. I cam back the fall of 2014 and I did well until this winter quarter. I learned that I am failing a class because of a reason, that is related to my problems.

I hope to send this year solving it and figuring things out, mean-while getting a job or do some international health volunteer work to prepare me for the field of nursing.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2015

I heard that it is getting harder and harder to get into a new grad rn program. With that in mind, if they do not look at GPA and all they need is that you got your degree and passed the NCLEX, is there anything else they look at when selecting individuals for a new grad job in nursing?

Interview and references.

jessicamillan12 · Feb 18, 2015

If I were you , I would concentrate on passing your nursing course. I failed my first semester, and jobs prospects and future school prospects were the least of my concern. If I don't passing nursing school, then worrying about job prospects would be pointless. I'm actually in the adn program so I also have to worry about getting the bsn. Good nursing schools are very hard to get into, whether it be adn or bsn. It will be very hard to find a decent school that would allow you to transfer. If i were you, I would stay put and pass your classes, your lucky they even allowed to retake the course.

danielle2000, MSN, RN · Feb 18, 2015

Don't stress over this. I failed my second semester in the LVN program. I was only 6 points away. I was devastated. I was cool with it until I found out there were students who were in the same boat went to third semester. Of course this caused a major problem that me and several classmates. We did not get the same opportunity the other students who failed, proceeded to third semester. We took our complaint to the chair of the program. The instructor was very adamant about not changing our grade and she stated we were not prepared and would not pass our boards. So in all fairness we had to take a 6 week refresher course and do 40 hours in our audio visual lab. Not only did I pass my third semester. I passed my boards on the first try. I would be lying if I said that D was not an eye sore. But I took it all in good stride and went to another college to pursue my RN 4 years later. I was able to get in despite my D. I also finished my RN program with a 2.85 GPA. Years later I pursued my BSN and graduated with a 3.85 and now I am currently in the FNP program with a 3.94 GPA. My point to all this is do not let your past path with potholes keep you from getting on a smooth pass of success. If you stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize there is nothing you cannot accomplish.

caliotter3 · Feb 18, 2015

These two questions can only be answered by the programs that you are applying to. Of course, failures will not help you to be competitive. Since this is already a matter of fact, best to focus on the positive and continue to put forth your best effort. You can not change the past, but you can do better in the future. Good luck.