so i have been going to school for the last 6 years working towards my rn. yesterday i failed 4th semester by 3 questions which is 6 points. i did step out and got my lpn in march of this year but that was not my goal. i feel like i have completely wasted the last 6 years of my life and made sacrifices for nothing. i am embarrassed and humiliated and all i want is for people to leave me alone. i have had to keep my cell phone turned off and i had to delete my facebook as well so that i could be left alone and have time to deal with what has happened. being in the nursing program is the worst thing i have ever been through and i would never recommend it to anyone. i am not saying this because i failed. i have been saying it to everyone that would listen since i started going to school. i have watched people cheat through the entire program and they are the ones that get to go on while i sit here. it is not about how hard you work, how much you study or how honest you are. i feel that the questions that you are asked on the tests are designed to trick you and make you fail. the questions are based more on test taking strategies than they are on your knowledge of the material.
i guess i just don't know where to go from here. i can't go to school anymore....i just can't put myself through it.
Thank you so much for this! You hit the nail right on the head in every aspect that you covered. I am only 19, but I feel blessed to have gotten into a nursing progarm. My program was incredibly competitive, and many people did not get acceptance letters. My first semester is about to come to a close, and I am anxiously awaiting second semester. I have heard that second semester and beyond is much more in depth as far as pathophysiology, pharmacology, and science goes, and I can't wait for that. I want to be a surgical ICU nurse after I graduate, and I hope to work in an ICU as a new grad. Because of this, I am fascinated by the complex aspects of the human body, and I can't wait to begin learning. I know some things, but there is so much that I don't know. I want to be as prepared as possible when I do graduate because I want a job in ICU so badly. I agree with you that many students feel entitled, and many feel that nursing should be made easier so that they will understand the material and pass. I also agree with you that the notion of these practices is completely ridiculous. I feel that nursing education should be challenging, and should prepare students for the real world as much as possible. Students should be pushed, stressed, and stretched to the limit. My instructors don't make things easy, and they don't care if they hurt anyone's feelings either. They are great instructors, but they are tough and their expectations are high. Some other groups don't have instrcutors with such high expectations, and, because of this, their classroom and clinical performance isn't nearly as good as my group's. Some days I do get tired of being pushed so hard, but I remind myself that every day in a critical care unit will be a struggle, and that there will always be something to learn. I feel that when I graduate I will be ahead of many nursing students, and I feel that I will be able to better handle stress, adversity, and challenges because of the education I am receiving now. What you have written is the truth, and, as the saying goes, "the truth hurts." For those who feel entitled, for those who have failed out of a program, or for those who aren't in nursing school for the right reasons this statement is especially true.
I agree that nursing school is difficult and is teaching nurses to be prepared for what life will be like once they get into their practice. However I do not think it is fair to include people that fail the program with people that are not in it for the right reasons. People fail for a variety of reasons and that does not mean that they want things handed to them. Being that you are so early in the program can account for many of your feelings but believe me it does get much more difficult and rigorous and you haven't even begun to experience the "burn out" that is sure to come. I don't agree at all that nursing programs should be curved in any way to make things easier (I know you didn't say that....I'm just commenting on whoever did say it). That would just put patients at risk which is the opposite of what we are doing and is just plain ignorant. The fact that the nursing programs are difficult helps to weed out people that are not meant to be nurses. However that does not mean that people who fail do not have what it takes to be a nurse.
I just wanted to give an update on my situation. I found out that I only have to repeat the class that I failed in 4th semester and not the entire semester. Since finding that out I have decided to swallow my pride and register to take it again in the Spring and hopefully finish successfully!!! I want to say thanks to those of you that were supportive :) I really appreciate your advice and kind words :)
* I have gone to college 6 years as well* I ended up leaving an RN Pre Program and went full blast into an LPN program, I barely squeaked by first semester ( getting a .5 above what was needed) and then FAILED by 2 points MED SURGE. I was devastaed, I cried for days, slept away the days ( I also happended to lose my job at the same time- and I was just working in retail, and then to top all it off my Pappy passed away ( he raised me). So I took a semester off of school. managed to find 2 jobs, and just worked and reapplied to the program. Taking a breather is *definatly*
By the way there is an online LPN to RN school at indiana state university- you wouldn't have to attend classes , just attend them online =)
*God Bless and remember to CONTINUE your DREAM, regroup and tell yourself. I WILL become an RN. * Trust me, you can do it !*:w00t:
Leesha
84 Posts
I agree that nursing school is difficult and is teaching nurses to be prepared for what life will be like once they get into their practice. However I do not think it is fair to include people that fail the program with people that are not in it for the right reasons. People fail for a variety of reasons and that does not mean that they want things handed to them. Being that you are so early in the program can account for many of your feelings but believe me it does get much more difficult and rigorous and you haven't even begun to experience the "burn out" that is sure to come. I don't agree at all that nursing programs should be curved in any way to make things easier (I know you didn't say that....I'm just commenting on whoever did say it). That would just put patients at risk which is the opposite of what we are doing and is just plain ignorant. The fact that the nursing programs are difficult helps to weed out people that are not meant to be nurses. However that does not mean that people who fail do not have what it takes to be a nurse.
Good luck to you :)
Leesha