Failed Pharmacology Twice

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I failed pharmacology 2 times , I did an appeal with the school still waiting for an approval I am 3 semesters behind my original graduating class should I stay in the school , or try the program some where else please help , I am so confused I am doing a career change at the age 32 I left my job for this I want this so bad I know I could do it.

Dear Confused,

I'm sorry for your experience. It can be devastating to go through this not once, but twice.

More important than deciding whether to stay with your current school or apply to a different school is to step back and reflect on the not-passing Pharmacology. The problem is not your school, it's the course. Pharmacology is an important class to master because as nurses we perform drug dosing calculations in a chaotic environment, and a single decimal point can mean the difference between harming a patient or not.

In your case, do you believe this is test anxiety, meaning do you grasp the concepts but choke when asked to test? If so, it's possible to learn test anxiety reduction techniques. Or is it that you need extra study? I would definitely try a tutor if you have not already done so. Perhaps the class went at too fast a pace and you just need more in-depth coaching for a difficult subject.

If neither of the above, it could be aptitude. We all have different native skills and none of us have all the skills. I tutored a bright nursing assistant once who wanted to become a monitor technician. She had already taken the 4 week course with me, and failed to pass. After spending 1:1 time with her, it became apparent that this goal was not realistic for her. It was causing her a lot of frustration and disappointment, and she was not moving forward. Our goals and passions do not always match our natural abilities.

The good thing in life is that when one door closes, another one opens. This is really true, and we do well when we pay attention to the signs.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next