Failed Nursing class

FlyingScot, RN · Aug 15, 2015

That's a real blow kiddo but get ready for some tough love from just about everyone here. You failed the class, the class did not fail you. Do some introspection, quit playing the blame game, stop making excuses and re-take the class. You will get nowhere with your school's administration if you continue complaining about how unfair you think it was. Going to the dean and requesting that they progress you despite your failing is only going to get you completely dismissed from the program. Sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear but you've entered adult-land and it's time for you to take responsibility for yourself.

Also, you need to change your username. The TOS here do not allow you to use the credentials "RN" when you aren't one. You can try RNtobe2016. That should be acceptable.

fightingtobeanurse · Aug 15, 2015

This is a longish post so the cliff notes are this: Suck it up! Don't complain! work with the system especially if by the numbers you had a chance and missed it. They don't have to give you another shot. Take as many NCLEX questions as you can get your hands on. Don't answer any less than 3000 NCLEX questions. That includes reading the rationales for why you got questions both wrong AND right. Its time consuming but well worth it.

On to the long form answer:

Everyone fails something sometimes. In a way its good because you will take the course even more serious and try harder. The above poster is correct. If you go complain to the dean that the course was unfair, you'd basically be saying that their was something wrong with the way the course is setup. That's probably not going to go over well with the Dean who has a direct hand in the design process. You'll just piss them off because they probably helped design the course anyway. Suck it up, wait if you have to, try again. Whatever you do, don't give up.

Now as far as the questions are concerned, I think the absolute best thing for you to do now is to get your eyeballs on as many NCLEX style questions as you can find. Buy test prep books with the questions. It doesn't matter if you get them wrong or right. Just do the questions. Answer them the way you have been answering them and when you get them right. READ THE RATIONALES FOR WHY YOU GOT IT RIGHT. Pay special attention to the questions where you were right for the wrong reasons. When you get them wrong, even better. READ THE RATIONALES FOR WHY IT WAS WRONG.

You are probably having your first run in with critical thinking questions. This type of question assumes you know the correct answer and is more concerned with what you do with the knowledge you allegedly have gained. This is why you see so many questions like "blah blah blah ...what is the MOST correct course of action?" Immediately your should recognize that more than one answer is correct and NCLEX wants to know what you think is the first thing you should do.

Probably in your Pre-Req classes, you never had this type of question. Most of the pre nursing questions are how much of the textbook can you inhale and then spit out for the exam. Once you hit upper nursing level exams, no one is interested in what you can memorize, they want to know what you can do with it.

I hope it helps. If you do decide to go to the Dean, it would be reasonable to ask if you could be placed into a spot in the next class ASAP, especially if somebody drops out for some reason before getting to that class (kind of like on standby).

mzrainydayz, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2015

Take responsibility for the class that you failed. Just fill out a readmission form to repeat the class. Nursing school is hard for a reason. Think back to what you did wrong, change your study habits. Your nursing classes are your foundation to passing the NCLEX.

2bRN2016 · Aug 15, 2015

Thanks for the responses. I do take responsibility but I have worked really hard so much so that I fell sick due to exhaustion. I have an impeccable long career with 3.8 gpa and 3 degrees. Not to brag but l value education and nursing for me came as a calling from higher power.My school offers only 3 tests, with no quizzes or any study guides. Do you think that I should opt out of accelerated second degree and enroll in a regular program? Will that be a little less hectic and easiwr to handle. I want to succeed and be a good nurse. Thanks in advance to those taking the time to read and respond!

ajmclean · Aug 26, 2015

Hello everyone,
I'm so depressed as I couldn't pass one nursing class and missed it by 3%. My school doesn't allows to move further until one retakes this class all over again and there is no guarantee that after completion they will accept. I got a 4.0 in another nursing class.
I had a horrible clinical instructor who would be extremely unhelpful and rude to me. She tried her best to fail me in the clinical but I worked hard and got good marks.
This course is set in such a way that you have to pass lecture and clinical so half of your grades are coming from each of these class. you have to pass both in order to move ahead. And if you fail lecture then it doesn't matter even if you got 99% in clinical.
This is so unfair. I spend a huge amount of money on this class. Some of the question that they tested us were never taught to us. It's like in the exam they throw questions tricky questions that's not in their lecture.
Please suggest what should I do. Should I meet the Dean and request him to allow me to go to the next level. I did fairly well in the finals but unfortunately it wasn't enough to pass me.
This school has many inconsistencies, a few of the students got very easy instructors who passed their students even when some of them didn't know how to properly take blood pressure and pulse but they would fail you for not doing well in the lecture. This is horrible.
Any advice would be more than welcome. I am in dire need of a good advice as what to do next. Thank you for reading this.

Your post sounds like one big WHINE. Horrible instructor for clinicals, yet you passed.

Tested on what the instructor didn't teach. Test questions come from lectures, yes, but more importantly, the textbook. My instructors leave a lot out and we even get Powerpoints for the lectures. So you have to study everything. The instructor is not going to teach you the test.

What is unfair? YOU FAILED to pass by 3%, not the instructor. What was minimum passing? Inconsistencies? Horrible? Did you bring up these alleged circumstances when they happened? How do you know this? Were you evaluating their skills?

Go to the Dean and asked for a free pass into the next level? No way. How would that be fair to those who passed lecture and clinicals legitimately?

My comments sound harsh, and they are. You want a shoulder to cry on and special treatment. You knew the standards going in and you failed to meet them. Show some responsibility and accountability and retake the class when it's available. It's all on you.

Purple_roses · Aug 26, 2015

Do not go to the dean. If anything, that would hurt you. There is a chain of command and if you have a problem, you should go to the instructor first. Ask him/her what went wrong, how you could improve this for next time, what your weaknesses are. But jumping past the chain of command just makes everyone involved in that chain upset.

Some people are going to have harder instructors than others. That's that. You can't change that or fight it.

The teacher actually should not test solely off of what he/she lectured over because that would hinder your ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills. Instructors want to see that you've read the material, payed attention in class, and can use all that information to answer questions you've never seen before.

Again, just figure out where you went wrong. Nursing school is hard and lots of people have failed a class before. You are not alone in this. Good luck to you as you retake this class!