Feel I was wrongfully dismissed

Nurses Disabilities

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Hi all,

last year I was accepted to a nursing school across the country. I am 35 and wanted to finish. The program is an accelerated program. 12 months to be exact. I filed for disability services one month before school began in January. The first semester I had a number of incidences occur just like other students. First semester was 19 units. My mom had a stroke and my roomate situation was a hostile relationship to say the least. I did not end up receiving the accommodations until a month and a half of school and had already taken numerous tests. I passed everything but pharmacology. The next semester I took just pharm and passed the Hesi with a 96 percentile and a 98 in the class. When I started the next semester we were taking 21 units. I passed everything and did pretty well, however, I did not pass med surg 2 by 5 questions. The rule at my school is if you get anything under 75 it is a fail. 2 fails and your out is the policy. Now here is the kicker they said on my disability papers I am to get a note taker, a reader for tests, a reduced distraction zone for tests. I never got the note taker, didn't get a reader, and for my med surg 2 Hesi I was put in a hallway with three distracting rooms next to it with students and facilty going in and out. They did give me the time and a half. I spoke to the dean she stated that it is my responsibility to wear a noise canceling head set. I did wear a noise cancelling headset. She also stated how she is now going to speak to the committee about having any student with disabilities sign a waiver of discretion that it is up to them to take this very rigorous academic journey. My question is why did they not do this for me. Anyhow, I had 5 classes left. I owe $70,000 and lost a year of my life. I don't think anything transfers and I have a dismissal on my record. I feel I have been wronged and set up to fail. Any suggestions? By the way my disability is ADD and kerataconus.

Thank you for your reply. Keep in touch to tell me what happens.

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Here is the latest: I filed an appeal to the university of Miami a-bsn and was let go 7 months ago for not passing 2 courses. They gave me disability serves but did not accommodate me with them. I spoke with the Dean in person and was dismissed. I came back to California and have been looking for work. It has been tough to find anything. During this time I spoke with an ombudsman. I also wrote a letter to the Committee that they either let me finish up at a slower pace or pay me money back. I did not think they would let me back in. The decision was made and sent to my school email on June 29th, 2017. However, they did not regard the fact that my school email was closed and I could not see it. As of yesterday, I sent out an email to the ombudsman and she notified me of the email. I then contacted the main office and they resent it to my normal email. The letter said they are giving me one more chance to complete everything. They are going to make it slower for me. The breakdown is 7 unit class med surg 2 fall. Then 7 units the next semester. Summer off and then 12 units the last semester with a final hesi to leave the school and graduate. If I was in the normal A-bsn program like before the breakdown is 15 units the first semester, 21 units the second, and 19 units the third with a final hesi. I have many concerns 1 being that I have to pick up and move back to Miami. That it is going to take a year and a half that I am not working and school all said and done is going to be $150 grand between living expenses and tuition and that is including $20,000 from my undergrad. I already owe 80,000 and feel like crying all the time. Even if I try for a loan at Sallie Mae they will want a consigner which no one will sign for me. I think it is possible to earn it back because in Los Angeles nurses seem to be paid pretty well. The avg is about $85000 a year. I have been out of school for 7 months and am a bit rusty on everything. I have a serious relationship now and it is going to put a ridiculous amount of stress on the relationship. This is important to me because I am 37 and would like to have a family. School starts in 1 week and I just found this out so everything is super rushed. I would like to hear what others would do in this situation. Would you walk at this point or keep trying? I don't know what my other options are. Is it absurd to get myself into this type of debt for a second degree as a bsn. My first degree is a psych degree.

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Here is the latest: I filed an appeal to the university of Miami a-bsn and was let go 7 months ago for not passing 2 courses. They gave me disability serves but did not accommodate me with them. I spoke with the Dean in person and was dismissed. I came back to California and have been looking for work. It has been tough to find anything. During this time I spoke with an ombudsman. I also wrote a letter to the Committee that they either let me finish up at a slower pace or pay me money back. I did not think they would let me back in. The decision was made and sent to my school email on June 29th, 2017. However, they did not regard the fact that my school email was closed and I could not see it. As of yesterday, I sent out an email to the ombudsman and she notified me of the email. I then contacted the main office and they resent it to my normal email. The letter said they are giving me one more chance to complete everything. They are going to make it slower for me. The breakdown is 7 unit class med surg 2 fall. Then 7 units the next semester. Summer off and then 12 units the last semester with a final hesi to leave the school and graduate. If I was in the normal A-bsn program like before the breakdown is 15 units the first semester, 21 units the second, and 19 units the third with a final hesi. I have many concerns 1 being that I have to pick up and move back to Miami. That it is going to take a year and a half that I am not working and school all said and done is going to be $150 grand between living expenses and tuition and that is including $20,000 from my undergrad. I already owe 80,000 and feel like crying all the time. Even if I try for a loan at Sallie Mae they will want a consigner which no one will sign for me. I think it is possible to earn it back because in Los Angeles nurses seem to be paid pretty well. The avg is about $85000 a year. I have been out of school for 7 months and am a bit rusty on everything. I have a serious relationship now and it is going to put a ridiculous amount of stress on the relationship. This is important to me because I am 37 and would like to have a family. School starts in 1 week and I just found this out so everything is super rushed. I would like to hear what others would do in this situation. Would you walk at this point or keep trying? I don't know what my other options are. Is it absurd to get myself into this type of debt for a second degree as a bsn. My first degree is a psych degree.

That's very unorganized and difficult to read. Breaking it up into paragraphs might help you get more responses.

Anyway, the two main issues (from what I can tell) are capability and cost. I don't know what you're capable of, so I would suggest you look to people who know you better for advice on that. As far as the cost of the program, it is very steep. It's true that nurses in LA can easily make $85K, but it's a difficult market for new grads to find work in. What will happen if you have to move to a lower cost of living area to gain experience and have those back-breaking loans to pay back? What will happen if you don't make it through the program and find yourself even further in debt? If I were you, I'd have a plan B, for sure.

You've got some thinking to do. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

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Here is the latest: I filed an appeal to the University of Miami a-bsn and was let go 7 months ago for not passing 2 courses. They gave me disability serves but did not accommodate me with them. I spoke with the Dean in person and was still dismissed. I came back to California and have been looking for work. It has been tough to find anything.

During this time I spoke with an ombudsman. I also wrote a letter to the Committee that they either let me finish up at a slower pace or pay me my money back. The decision was made and sent to my school email on June 29th, 2017. However, they did not regard the fact that my school email was closed and I could not see it.

As of yesterday, I sent out an email to the ombudsman and she notified me of the email. I then contacted the main office and they resent it to my normal email. The letter said they are giving me one more chance to complete everything (I would be able to continue from where I left off with finishing up the last 1/3. Where as if I go to another school I have to start all over in a 2 year). They are going to make it slower for me.

The breakdown is 7 unit class med surg 2 fall. Then 7 units the next semester. Summer off and then 12 units the last semester with a final hesi to leave the school and graduate. If I was in the normal A-bsn program like before the breakdown is 15 units the first semester, 21 units the second, and 19 units the third with a final hesi.

I have many concerns:

1. being that I have to pick up and move back to Miami.

2. That it is going to take a year and a half that I am not working and school all said and done is going to be $150 grand between living expenses and tuition and that is including $20,000 from my undergrad. (I already owe 80,000 and feel like crying all the time).

3. Even if I try for a loan at Sallie Mae they will want a consigner which no one will sign for me. (I think it is possible to earn it back because in Los Angeles nurses seem to be paid pretty well. The avg is about $85000 a year).

4. I have been out of school for 7 months and am a bit rusty on everything.

5. I have a serious relationship now and it is going to put a ridiculous amount of stress on the relationship (This is important to me because I am 37 and would like to have a family).

School starts in 1 week and I just found this out so everything is super rushed. I would like to hear what others would do in this situation. Would you walk at this point or keep trying? I don't know what my other options are. Is it absurd to get myself into this type of debt for a second degree as a bsn. My first degree is a psych degree.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Have you considered just going to nursing school in California? Yes, you would be "starting over" as most your credits will not transfer, but think of it in terms of the money you will NOT have to spend moving back to Florida. Also, consider that repeating content with which you are already familiar will, in itself, give you some relief. Couple that with reasonable accommodations and you may find that success awaits. The only thing standing in your way may be you. I do wish you much success. My journey to becoming a nurse was convoluted and drawn out. I have ADHD but never requested accommodations, not because I'm stoic or anything, but because I didn't ever even think to ask about them.

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Why did you ask to be allowed to complete the course at a slower pace if you don't find that to be an acceptable solution? You are being offered something that most students are not and still throwing a pity party about it. I am confused.

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Hi fellow nurses, I have not been on this form in quite some time. However, I would like to inform everyone after being dismissed from school for bad grades I filed an appeal and was let back in seven months later. During that time I moved back to LA, (my hometown), and I met my future wife and the mother of my child that is due in April, 2018 (everything happens for reason, I really believe that). Also as an update, I am excited to say that I graduated on a high note last week. I studied very hard and I received an 1100 score on my schools exit HESI. I recently moved back home to LA and am preparing to take the NCLEX after the new year and start working ASAP. I have to say this has been a very arduous road for me, however this story has a happy ending. I gave this everything I had. The lesson folks, is if someone wants something bad enough they will do whatever it takes to make it happen. If I could do it so can you. I am living proof!

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Okay, so I have had ADHD. My family never knew about 'accommodations.' When I needed quite I wore earplugs and looked down. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad there is acceptance and help, but I don't think it's always helpful long term. We forget we can use our brains and ingenuity too. Glad things worked out for you though.

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