After all the hard work I have put in during my time at my nursing school, my nursing instructors hate me. (I believe) I had the grades but because of three small incidents during clinical, they fail me clinically, saying that I am "unprofessional." I believe the punishment is way too harsh and that 2 of my instructors and I had personality conflicts. I don't know why b/c I did nothing more than try my best to be a good nurse while in clinical despite their incessant put-downs. All of my patients and their families loved me. They always wished me the best and showed their obvious disappointment when I said that my shift was ending or that I would not be back the next day b/c our clinical was only one 12 hr shift a week. Yes I have tried to appeal my grade.
I have decided to try to go somewhere else to finish. I was a second semester junior working toward my BSN when I failed my clinical.
I can't return to my current school until next spring b/c they only offer that class once a yr in the spring. However, I hate the idea of knowing that I'll probably be treated even worse next year if I go there.
I want to try to find a different BSN school in Ohio or western Pennsylvania somewhere. Any Ideas??? Is it possible to transfer nursing classes? I had a 3.6 gpa my 1st semester junior year. What impact will my past failure have on admission to a new school? This scares me to death. I want to be a nurse more than anything b/c I feel that helping people is what I was put here for. Is it possible to recover from such a horrific event?
Anyone Please Help (any advice at all would be greatly appreciated)...
Oh my gosh. I am so sorry you had to learn that way. HIPPA violation is taken very seriously. Take it as a learned lesson. Can you repeat the class over? If you want to transfer I suggest you start a new thread and include only the question how to transfer or start over to another nursing program. With me, I had originally applied in minnesota three years ago where I had lived. I did alot of my pre-reqs there. Never got a response from them as far as their nursing program. In the meantime I also applied in illinois. I got accepted there first. I moved to Illinois with my aunt to start the nursing program. That was a mistake.
I suggest to start a new thread maybe others will help you that way.
By blaming your failing on instructors who, you say, hate you.....And calling your clinical errors "three small incidents"(when the HIPPA alone was HUGE), you are proving you have not claimed responsibility for your lack of judgment. Everyone makes mistakes, and I cannot say I have checked patient ID EVERYTIME, but I am not going to blame someone else when I have to face the consequences. I would try to re-take the class at the same school. If you transfer, most likely the new school will not accept all the same credits, and I think it would be difficult to enter a new school half way through the program. But no matter where you go, you need to take responsibility for your actions! Nobody (school or employer) will tolerate a student/nurse who blames everyone else for their own actions/mistakes.
I was assigned to take care of the 13 yr old daughter of a fellow student. The patient assignment was changed the morning of clinical. We as a group later found out that there was a med admin error done earlier by the staff before our shift. The clinical instructor told us about it and told us not to talk to anyone outside the clinical group about it. Well I thought it was okay to discuss it with the mother a few days later, since she was there that morning.
I'm a bit confused...the mother of your pt. happens to be in your group and you discussed the error with her a few days later and that's a HIPAA violation? And that mother was present when the instructor said not to discuss the incident with "anyone outside the clinical group"? Either I'm not comprehending something or there's a detail or 2 missing from that one.
As for the 1st one...not a horrible thing IMHO, and I can see where you were coming from, but yeah, better to be professional and not trivialize what you assume the patient might assume are unimportant questions.
The charting thing...or lack of...the nurse, if she values her license, is going to chart on her patients regardless of whether students are taking care of her patients or not. If something goes wrong and she hasn't charted on anything because the student did all of the charting, she might as well surrender license voluntarily, because she has no defense. The exact same could be said for you, except not only do you jeopardize your future as a nurse but you also jeopardize your instructors license because ultimately he/she is kinda responsible for your actions.
I'm sure reading these responses aren't what you wanted to hear, but everyone has been pretty honest with you, and IMHO they are exactly right. Accept responsibility, learn from your mistakes, and give it another go at a later time.
After all the hard work I have put in during my time at my nursing school, my nursing instructors hate me. (I believe) I had the grades but because of three small incidents during clinical, they fail me clinically, saying that I am "unprofessional." I believe the punishment is way too harsh and that 2 of my instructors and I had personality conflicts. I don't know why b/c I did nothing more than try my best to be a good nurse while in clinical despite their incessant put-downs. All of my patients and their families loved me. They always wished me the best and showed their obvious disappointment when I said that my shift was ending or that I would not be back the next day b/c our clinical was only one 12 hr shift a week. Yes I have tried to appeal my grade.
I have decided to try to go somewhere else to finish. I was a second semester junior working toward my BSN when I failed my clinical.
I can't return to my current school until next spring b/c they only offer that class once a yr in the spring. However, I hate the idea of knowing that I'll probably be treated even worse next year if I go there.
I want to try to find a different BSN school in Ohio or western Pennsylvania somewhere. Any Ideas??? Is it possible to transfer nursing classes? I had a 3.6 gpa my 1st semester junior year. What impact will my past failure have on admission to a new school? This scares me to death. I want to be a nurse more than anything b/c I feel that helping people is what I was put here for. Is it possible to recover from such a horrific event?
Anyone Please Help (any advice at all would be greatly appreciated)...
:urgycld:
Hello there! First and foremost I have to say YOU WILL NOT GIVE UP. If you believe in GOD you should know that the bible states "that you can do all things threw Christ whoms strengthens you" In life you WILL find hateful people and unfortunately you will find them alot in the medical field. If you came this far, I encourage you to continue. Reach your dreams, remember when God closes a door another one opens. Trust in and rely on God. Trusting in yourself or man will only bring failure but when you put your whole trust in God and acknowledge that without Him you can't and will be able to do nothing. Remember Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Water yourself in His presence, trust in Him and you will see how God Himself will bring people you need in your path and yes even good teachers that are willing to really help! Best of blessings to you and your future endeavors. Angie
Im a nursing student myself, so I can imagine how horrible it must be to fail.... That said - I HATE HATE HATE when my fellow classmates make such comments as "That professor hates me" or "He/She is picking on me because......"
Like someone said previously - you really think Professors have time to hate you for no reason at all?? I have a student in my clinical group who has butted heads with our Clinical Instructor all semester long, and I don't think it's anyone's fault except hers... She gave the instructor reason to doubt her in the beginning and now she watches her extra closely. The mistakes you made were mistakes that anyone could make and many people probably have made. But - if your professors felt that they were reason enough to keep you behind then so be it...
Don't give up - because if you're in it because you love it, which I hope you are - then a minor setback won't matter. I've had several along the way and I'm still struggling. I do suggest trying to stick with your school though, Transferring now would most likely screw you up as far as transferring credits, and then getting accustomed to a whole new school again.
Hey there, just a quick thought. I know nursing school is so hard but thats what it's supposed to be. To push you to see what your made of. Sometimes the teachers want to see you say IM GONNA DO THIS NO MATTER WHAT and sometimes they thing you just can't or arent ready. Take a little break and think about it. Cool off. It's hard. I can't tell you how many people I know who had to go back the next semester and regroup. If you've already been going there you know what to expect and kick but next semester. Or run and hide and save face. Show them you are not afraid and show yourself you won't quit.
Also, I am one of those nurses everybody loves but, you still have to follow rules, ethics, and do the right thing. When you make a decision it affects everyone and to your patient its critical and to the hospital setting it can mean lawsuit and your dismissal or even----Prision with wrongful death and negligents. This is still serious stuff. Your instructors want you to get serious and responsible and be respectful and realize your still have got alot to learn. Now go kick but, use all your knowhow and we will all be here to route you on. Hope you understand I want you to succeed not fail. This is a setback and a learning experience a lession in expendability! You can always be replaced, unfortunately we all know that to well, but not a failure. GO SUCCEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget to breath from your support smiles o4 ******
I would like to take a moment to tell everyone thank you for their advice. I have become more accepting of what this situation has to offer me. I have appealed my grade in this class. I haven't heard a response yet. However, if it is a "no." I'll be okay. I am going to take a couple classes this fall at a community college to keep from having to pay my loans back and to keep my mind fresh. Then back to nursing school in the spring (I'll probably stay at the same school).
The only thing is, when I go back and I don't repeat these incidents. Will they try to find some other reason to fail me? Since this is where they say I am lacking, then I want to improve professionally.
Does anyone know of any resources (books, websites, etc.) dedicated to professionalism in nursing?
I would like to take a moment to tell everyone thank you for their advice. I have become more accepting of what this situation has to offer me. I have appealed my grade in this class. I haven't heard a response yet. However, if it is a "no." I'll be okay. I am going to take a couple classes this fall at a community college to keep from having to pay my loans back and to keep my mind fresh. Then back to nursing school in the spring (I'll probably stay at the same school).
The only thing is, when I go back and I don't repeat these incidents. Will they try to find some other reason to fail me? Since this is where they say I am lacking, then I want to improve professionally.
Does anyone know of any resources (books, websites, etc.) dedicated to professionalism in nursing?
Good for you! This sounds like a very proactive plan. I'd consider making an appointment with the Director and telling them what you have said here and ask if they can offer any reading materials, seminars etc. that might help you.
Hopefully others will write in with their opinion on this but I would probaby write a short note to my clinical instructor something along the lines of you realize the mistakes you made, you are taking some time to work on things and appreciate the guidance she gave you last semester etc.
I don't know how your school readmits but in my school it seemed pretty subjective about who they let come back so getting some face time in with the powers that be might be helpful. I know someone else wrote in that it isn't about age but I do think much of what happened to you could be the result of being young and inexperieced in professional dealings. I hope this works out the way you want and please keep us posted.
P.S. just an FYI as per your OP it has been my experience that anytime "an incident" happens at the hospital talking about it to anyone not involved is the kiss of death HIPAA or not.
I would like to take a moment to tell everyone thank you for their advice. I have become more accepting of what this situation has to offer me. I have appealed my grade in this class. I haven't heard a response yet. However, if it is a "no." I'll be okay. I am going to take a couple classes this fall at a community college to keep from having to pay my loans back and to keep my mind fresh. Then back to nursing school in the spring (I'll probably stay at the same school).
The only thing is, when I go back and I don't repeat these incidents. Will they try to find some other reason to fail me? Since this is where they say I am lacking, then I want to improve professionally.
Does anyone know of any resources (books, websites, etc.) dedicated to professionalism in nursing?
Congratulations on making your decision! As Jules said, you're being proactive, and your attitude and behavior will go a long way towards your continued development as a professional nurse!
I'm a little concerned, though, about your statement asking if your instructors will try to find some other reason to fail you. This sounds like you may be setting yourself up for a very adversarial relationship with these people. Don't do that! Instructors want to see people who have the ability and determination to succeed as a professional nurse. Going in to school thinking they "might be trying to find a way" to fail you automatically puts you on uneven footing. If I can be blunt here (and PLEASE do not be offended, because offense is not intended)... so much of your education is going to be strictly UP TO YOU. It really isn't up to your instructors to give you information... it's up to you to get it. You need to be somebody with whom the instructors will feel confident in their knowledge, skills, professionalism, maturity, determination and humility. And you can't tell them, you have to show them. THIS is the time to shut up and pay attention and do what you're told. THIS is the time to ask "How high?" when they tell you to jump.
Jules also had some excellent advice when she suggested that you might want to put in some face time with the instructor. Don't tell the instructor how you've grown and matured...show her. Let her know that the school did not make a mistake in admitting you to the program. Show her that she does not need to worry about you and your dealings with clients. Let her see that you can be the "go to" person in your clinical area.
And one last thing... school is only temporary. It won't last forever, and I suspect that it will zoom right on by without you even noticing. Study hard, read your lessons, know more than you need to know and you'll be way ahead of the game when you become an RN. I promise!
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
Does anyone know of any resources (books, websites, etc.) dedicated to professionalism in nursing?
Experience is the best teacher not books. Try getting a job at the hospital or a facility that works with patients. I have experience working for two facilities before entering nursing school and so HIPPA regulations are no brainers for me. As for exposure to professional behavior and using professional jargon, that comes with practice too.
One thing I like about working in a hospital is that many times I have witnessed situations that are complex involving a patient and family, where an experienced nurse steped in and resolved the problem calmly and professionally. For example, I have learned ways to say "No", avoid answering questions that are outside my scope of practice, and provide patient teaching (explain complicated information) to patients without upsetting the patient or family members.
Sometimes you are walking a fine line when conversing with or about patients... but it is not impossible to say the right thing or remain silent as a Student Nurse. Take the EMOTIONS out of your dialogue and learn professional scripts. This does not mean that you cannot care about patients, it means that you watch what you say and remain professional at all times. Good luck.
"I know these are stupid questions but what is your name and what is your birthday?"
The instructor took me aside and told me she would have fired me on the spot if it was up to her. That statement was very unprofessional.
I understand why we ask those questions I was just trying to see things from the patient's prospective.
The second was for not charting during my shift. I didn't think I had to at the time because the floor nurse had done it.
The third was for a HIPPA violation.
I was assigned to take care of the 13 yr old daughter of a fellow student. The patient assignment was changed the morning of clinical. We as a group later found out that there was a med admin error done earlier by the staff before our shift. The clinical instructor told us about it and told us not to talk to anyone outside the clinical group about it. Well I thought it was okay to discuss it with the mother a few days later, since she was there that morning.
I'm sorry about your situation. Hopefully you'll be able to appeal your grade. In the future, remember this hard lesson. When your clinical instructor told you that the med error was not to be discussed outside of the group and you did it, you made a big mistake. It was not your responsibility to tell the mother about the med error it was the nurse's. Like one of the previous posters said, HIPPA is the kiss of death. You can be fined, jailed and lose your license.
I don't agree with your instructor wanting to fire you about questioning a patient but you could have asked the patient for their name and birthdate in a more professional manner. Like "Sir, I have your medication but before I give it to you can you please state your name and birthdate so I can verify it to your medication record" or something like that. Good luck.
I know it has been a long while since I posted but I wanted to give you an update.
I did end up going back to the same school. I do believe that there was a personality conflict of sorts with a couple of the instructors. Did they "hate" me? I don't know. I don't really care. I found that a lot of my dilemma in thinking that they did was my fellow classmates. They were really reserved and would let others "fall" around them while lookng down on them. That was the 2009 class. When I went back, I found that there were 11 of us that had to repeat for various reasons. We joined the 2010 class. This class made me feel like I was in another world. There was so much more cohesiveness and if someone was having a problem we would all help them. We all helped each other rather than turning on each other. With this being said, if the instructors were"targeting" someone else or were"focused" on someone else, we all knew about it and if there was something we could do (even if it was just moral support) we tried to help. Thus, it really appeared as though they "hated" me. I later found out that it wasn't just me. They treated others rather poorly. The instructor that made the decision to fail me was just a really condescending individual. (She treated the whole class like that and we all agreed with each other that "condescending" should have a picture of her next to it in websters) So during her clinical we all "stayed under the radar" and learned as much as we could from the nurses on the floor. We survived. There were a lot of head games played but we all held each other together. (I was talking to the Dean of the Department one afternoon about joining the military and all the head games they play in there. She said: "If you can handle [insert my school name here] nursing, then you can handle anything." There is so much more to my "head games" notion but I'll save you the dumb drama.)
So anyway to more important matters. I told myself after that whole "end of the world" feeling resolved that I was going to go back ad finish what I started. I was not going to quit. and guess what???? I MADE IT!!!
I graduated last weekend with a B.S.N!!! :grad::clpty:
So THANK YOU to all who posted on this thread! One of my classmates asked me to read this at the pinning ceremony (she had a terrible fear of speaking in front of large groups of people):
4rom2bRN
90 Posts
Oh my gosh. I am so sorry you had to learn that way. HIPPA violation is taken very seriously. Take it as a learned lesson. Can you repeat the class over? If you want to transfer I suggest you start a new thread and include only the question how to transfer or start over to another nursing program. With me, I had originally applied in minnesota three years ago where I had lived. I did alot of my pre-reqs there. Never got a response from them as far as their nursing program. In the meantime I also applied in illinois. I got accepted there first. I moved to Illinois with my aunt to start the nursing program. That was a mistake.
I suggest to start a new thread maybe others will help you that way.
Good Luck
God Bless