Failed nursing first time, no CUNY would take me back. What to do next?

U.S.A. New York

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Hello Everybody,

I attended College of Staten Island CUNY and got accepted into nursing program. I was in there for one semester and failed with 61 when 75 was passing. The course included clinical and now that i try to apply to other CUNYS no one wants to accept me at all. They didn't even look at my grades, they say no without any acceptions. I reapplied to College of Staten Island but they only take 10 people out of everyone who failed. Since i got 61 i doubt they will take me in at all. What should I do? I know why i failed, i didnt think it would be that hard. Its completely different from other courses. Its very hard to think critical. And i really want to be a nurse. I live in brooklyn, willing to travel to SI or manhattan. What are my options now? Thank you.

Attn.: Lerochka

Apply to Kingsborough Community College. It is a good school and you can even save some money since full time students are eligible for free summer and winter sessions. KCC has a good nursing program and it is the only one within CUNY that accepts so-called reverse transfers that allow even those WHO WERE DISMISSED from senior colleges to start over. The campus is stunning. Good Luck.

Academic Advisement Center for Health Careers

Unless you know something different, it clearly states under "Getting Into The Program" that transfer students must be in "good standing" , and those who have been dismissed and so forth from other colleges are not eligible for the clinical nursing program at Kingsbrough.

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Case in point, medical dosage calculations. So many complain that the school classes are difficult, exams difficult and that hospitals they apply to as RNs want >95% to pass, if not only 100%. Well look at it from this angle; if you only average say 75% on all your nursing math tests, that translates into a potential error rate of 25% as a nurse. This means there is a good chance 1 in 4 of your patients will be subject to a med error. That is simply unacceptable to clincial settings and patients for that matter.

I'm in the first semester @ CSI's nursing program and have been putting off studying Medical Dosage (we only had one class); but I think after reading this, I'm going to spend a few hours studying it today.

My instructor tells us that CSI has had a 100% rate of students passing the NCLEX on the first try for two years straight and this is due to the fact of how rigid and tough CSI's program is - I'm proud that I got into the program. I feel very confident in my instructors to teach me the best way that they know how.

Although I've been slacking on Medical Dosage, I've studied almost 50+ hours in a week and a half for my 110 class because all I want to do is pass it. Any advice as a previous graduate?

As for the OP, I would suggest St. Paul's Nursing - it's different than CSI, but it's much more expensive.

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Specializes in PCU, LTAC, Corrections.

The best thing I can tell you is that you should take some classes (particularly in the sciences) and pull up your GPA and show growth as a student.

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dogoodthengo gave excellent advice! kingsboro is not an option because they do not accept applications from anyone who has withdrawn from, failed or received a c or lower in a pre-req. also, as you stated, no cuny will accept you.

your next option is to reflect on and deal with why you failed the course - lack of studying, not applying yourself fully to the coursework, submitting late assignments or not submitting assignments at all, etc. since cuny is out, as someone suggested, research suny and possibly private schools and consider staying on campus to reduce distractions. another option is to continue at cuny, complete your bs in something health-related then apply to a second degree bsn program. (if you were in the clinical portion at csi, then i am assuming you completed all your pre-reqs.) your pre-reqs will be good for at least 3-5 years (depending on the nursing program.) stay focused, if you are determined to become a nurse then pursue it!! once you are accepted into a nursing program, stay focused and utilize the resources (including staff) who are there to ensure your success. the time and attention you exert in completing your nursing program will determine the type of nurse you will be. good luck!!

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i am in my last year for ADN. i failed 3 subjects and the school won't accpet me now.. i just need 1 class so i can take the lpn exam.. i tried to call other schools but they won't accept me.. what will i do? i am really sad because i just need 1 class so i can take lpn and stop form there. i tried to ask the dean to pls let me take that class but she won't.. please advice.........................................................................

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i am in my last year for ADN. i failed 3 subjects and the school won't accpet me now.. i just need 1 class so i can take the lpn exam.. i tried to call other schools but they won't accept me.. what will i do? i am really sad because i just need 1 class so i can take lpn and stop form there. i tried to ask the dean to pls let me take that class but she won't.. please advice.........................................................................

Hate to sound like a hard driving bioch, but maybe we need to start a FAQ on this subject.:D

To those seeking advice, you know what the answer is as you've already heard it from your former nursing program and any others you have applied to since. In the situation outlined above, failing one class is bad enough, but three is a different matter. Outside of some serious family or personal event, cannot see any school even considering some sort of readmission under such conditions.

This may sound harsh, but am going to break this down like a fraction; has it ever occured to those whom hafve been flunked out of a nursing school, that the program was doing it's job? Huge amounts of research have gone into linking nursing program academic sucess with passage of the boards. Notice I said passing the NCLEX, not being a "great nurse". The later is neither use nor ornament to anyone if you cannot obain a license by passing the former.

There was a time when one could be admitted, and graduate from a CUNY nursing program by limping along with a 2.5 GPA, and even pass the boards (if not on the first attempt, then again,or again), but nursing practice has changed, and what hospitals expect of a GN or newly licensed RN has changed as well.

Using my favourite example, if a nursing student cannot do any better than 75% on medical dosage calc, that translates into a potential 25% error rate. While nobody is perfect, am not too sure I'd want you coming at me or mines with a narc dosage if you have problems with the math.

Though it has been years since one was in college, always find these sudden surprise failing out of a program rather a mystery.

When I was in school the first exams told the tale. If the grade wasn't where it needed to be some serious calcuations were done to see what damage was done, and what future grades would be needed to reach the desired final grade. Was always aware of the last date to withdraw without penalty, and if that option was the only way out with saving grace, then so be it.

Ok, know with nursing programs, withdrawing from classes is a difficult thing, and often limited. However if going into mid-terms and one's grades are *that* bad, that is low enough that even scoring A's the rest of the semester (if one can that is), won't help, then you really have to wake up and smell the coffee.

To the OP quoted above, am sorry you were let go from a NP. Please see my advice listed above as they are the same for your situation as well. Will stress again as one has to the previous poster on this matter, you really need to sit down and think things over. Simply changing nursing programs (provided you can find another), isn't going to change the underlying problems.

Again it is one thing for a 4.0 student to have "problems" that caused her to fail out of a program. But if one's grades have consistently come in

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
Hate to sound like a hard driving bioch, but maybe we need to start a FAQ on this subject.:D

To those seeking advice, you know what the answer is as you've already heard it from your former nursing program and any others you have applied to since. In the situation outlined above, failing one class is bad enough, but three is a different matter. Outside of some serious family or personal event, cannot see any school even considering some sort of readmission under such conditions.

This may sound harsh, but am going to break this down like a fraction; has it ever occured to those whom hafve been flunked out of a nursing school, that the program was doing it's job? Huge amounts of research have gone into linking nursing program academic sucess with passage of the boards. Notice I said passing the NCLEX, not being a "great nurse". The later is neither use nor ornament to anyone if you cannot obain a license by passing the former.

There was a time when one could be admitted, and graduate from a CUNY nursing program by limping along with a 2.5 GPA, and even pass the boards (if not on the first attempt, then again,or again), but nursing practice has changed, and what hospitals expect of a GN or newly licensed RN has changed as well.

Using my favourite example, if a nursing student cannot do any better than 75% on medical dosage calc, that translates into a potential 25% error rate. While nobody is perfect, am not too sure I'd want you coming at me or mines with a narc dosage if you have problems with the math.

Though it has been years since one was in college, always find these sudden surprise failing out of a program rather a mystery.

When I was in school the first exams told the tale. If the grade wasn't where it needed to be some serious calcuations were done to see what damage was done, and what future grades would be needed to reach the desired final grade. Was always aware of the last date to withdraw without penalty, and if that option was the only way out with saving grace, then so be it.

Ok, know with nursing programs, withdrawing from classes is a difficult thing, and often limited. However if going into mid-terms and one's grades are *that* bad, that is low enough that even scoring A's the rest of the semester (if one can that is), won't help, then you really have to wake up and smell the coffee.

To the OP quoted above, am sorry you were let go from a NP. Please see my advice listed above as they are the same for your situation as well. Will stress again as one has to the previous poster on this matter, you really need to sit down and think things over. Simply changing nursing programs (provided you can find another), isn't going to change the underlying problems.

Again it is one thing for a 4.0 student to have "problems" that caused her to fail out of a program. But if one's grades have consistently come in

Most excellent post. Thank you for writing it so eloquently.

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Most excellent post. Thank you for writing it so eloquently.

Well you are welcome so much as the writing of the thing goes.:D

Again not wishing to sound harsh or mean, just point out that despite one's own deepest wishes, sometimes (insert your own "higher authority" here), knows best.

Yes, there are those whom were dismissed and or flunked out of one nursing progam, yet managed to become nurses down the road, and personal achievement has much to recommend. However we must not loose sight of the ultimate goal, to provide safe and competent nursing care to patients.

Last year the passing standard for NCLEX was slightly increased (effective this past April), which is going to put more pressure on nursing programs.

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Girl i hear your cry...i am in the same bout as you only thing i flunked out from a pretigious 4 year degree program my first semester in the nyc area. switched my major n grad with a BA in psych. And yes it did bring down my GPA to a 3.0...got A's n B's my entire college career b4 starting the nursing program but nursing is a whole nother ball game... applied to over 12 schools AS, BS and Accelerated...all told me NO! Spent over $300 on application fees, entrance tests and transcripts. Very disheartening and discouraging but im not gonna give up. Thus, my advise to you is to continue on your serach if that's really your passion. Micheal Jordan was told he would never make a good basketball player in college and look at him now. Someone...somewhere will accept you. Good Luck!

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Rndropout22,

would you mind saying which schools you applied to? I am unfortunately in the same boat as you once were and am planning on applying to numerous schools to get back on track towards my nursing degree. I was considering bayonne medical center, LICH, Christ Hospital...were these any of the schools you tried to get into? any advice?

thanks

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nope...i applied to Downstate, NJCU, Farmingdale, Stonybrook, Adelphi, Cochran SON, NYU, Binghamton, College of New Rochelle, Touro and a few other schools in florida...got rejected i from all with no explanation as to why. good luck what school did you get dismissed from??

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i failed my first semester at College of staten island..i hope to find another schools by fall 2011..and if not then attend LPN school first

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