Need Help Quickly!

[mkmm429]

Could somebody please help me, I have a real sticky situation. I have been asked to leave the LPN program I am in on Thursday due to the fact my math grade were not up to par, these were drop rates and ratios and proportions and things like that. My problem is that I have ADHD and the instructors are aware of this and I have tried really hard, I saw a tutor who found alot of anwers she mark wrong that were not, and we still had time until the end. I asked her if I could just write the formulas out on an index card so I could have them to refer to, since we could not use claculators yet. she said no, I offered to continue to work on them for extra credit and got a NO. The biggest problem was that we were just getting ready to get into pharmacology which I am very familar with, where we would be able to use calculators. She just would not let me try to prove myself in pharm. The actual math course had not ended yet, but if they were multiple choice questions then I would have done better. There were ones she marked wrong that looked like a decimal or my 3 looked like a 5.

During our clonical rotations at the hospital this instructor would never even come to see me, all the info I learned such as assessments besides what was taught in class I had to downloard forms from this page (this page is great) and pretty much teach myself.

Her last words to me were she could not arbitrarily change policy around for me which she has done for a student who just did not come in for a week and did not call in and just show up after losing 35 hours in the first week of Jan. the policy for that is a majority of the hours need to be made up in 1 month and at this time it still is not done. I apologize for the length of this post but I am so upset It has always been my dream to be a nurse, I am so upset because of this mistreatment, apparently if this course has an 82 percent pass rate on the boards the first try thet get a 10,000 grant, they did not get it last year, so she is trying to "weed out the people" she probably does not think can pass the boards. Just to let you I have a B in my FON and A&P, cna someone please advise the way to handle this, I tried to call the administrator of the school and he did not call me back nor did he call my counseler at the rehab center who paid for my tuition.

Can not go down without a fight! Someone please help!

[wildmountainchild]

Go see a lawyer. It's been posted before, but really, if you want some results bite the financial bullet and get some legal counsel.

I didn't think LVN's could give IV meds? Apparently I'm entirely mistaken (wouldn't be the first time). However, I agree that if the class doesn't get to use a calculator niether should you.

Are you taking any meds for your ADHD? I know some friends who say medications have literally changed thier lives for the better. I'm sure you've already been down that road though.

As far as the disability though...I just don't know how much special treatment is really feasible. I had surgery on my foot and the very next day had to take an anatomy exam. Despite being on serious pain meds I wasn't allowed a retake. And I think that was actually fair considering that setting up the cadavers, etc. takes hours and they can't just administer the test at any 'ol time.

My point being that I believe you should have extra time to do your tests but having a multiple choice exam wouldn't be fair to the other students. And I'm not aware of a single program that tests math skills w/ multiple choice exams. Even if the test is multiple choice you still have to work out the calculation to get the answer.

If you are having porblems with the math get the book "Dimensional Analysis for Meds" . It makes the math very easy to do and understand.

[mkmm429]

unfortunately it is too late to buy any books for resources, I have a shelf full of them, I am out of the program for now, but really want to get back in. I am going to check out the web sites that Here comes trouble has given but I hope you are still on trouble, I am just curious as to what these organizations did to help you, and was it during your education or work? I am actually browng through the web site, "Wild mountain child" what kind of attorney should I get, they are very hard to get in to see, I do not care about the cost of it, I have sacrificed alot this year to get through this, I sold my car and even went bankrupt so at this point i stand to lose nothing!

[caliotter3]

My friend went to the appropriate office at our univ and had herself tested when she suspected that she had the same learning disability that her sons were diagnosed with. After that, she was accommodated in nursing school. Nobody disrespected her.

Your argument about the unfair way others are getting away with things, like the young man who has missed too much class time, is only something for you to get upset about and cause you to waste time and energy. You should have already consulted an attorney before you go to any more school meetings with anyone. Your attorney may advise you to use a tape recorder for notes of any meeting. Get an initial phone consultation when you set up an appt. Ask the attorney if you can request to take notes with a recorder when you meet with school officials. That will show them that you mean business. A former supervisor did this at her attorney's request when she was suing her employer. Don't let these people intimidate you. And like advised before, keep a concise, complete notebook concerning every infraction you become aware of, as well as the details of your own case. You should enlist the aid of any disability people that you work with on a day to day basis. Stop wasting time, go to that lawyer, and good luck.

[herecomestrouble]

mkmm,I'm still here,about 3years ago I got pnuemonia and was dx'ed with AIDS,d/t complications I was in hosp for over 6 months and it took me another year and a half to go back to work.These two groups were very supportive of me,sent me info on going back to work,let me know what accommodations I was entitled to,and put in me in touch with another nurse who was HIV+ to mentor me.

I'm sure they can do much to help you,they both work with student nurses and those of us who have gotten some type of dx after we graduated.I know of another nurse they've helped who was recently dx'ed with MS too.I hope this helps

[mkmm429]

mkmm,I'm still here,about 3years ago I got pnuemonia and was dx'ed with AIDS,d/t complications I was in hosp for over 6 months and it took me another year and a half to go back to work.These two groups were very supportive of me,sent me info on going back to work,let me know what accommodations I was entitled to,and put in me in touch with another nurse who was HIV+ to mentor me.

I'm sure they can do much to help you,they both work with student nurses and those of us who have gotten some type of dx after we graduated.I know of another nurse they've helped who was recently dx'ed with MS too.I hope this helps

I did contact the exceptional nurses and received an answer ver yquickly, we chatted via email for a while and she asked me if this was worth the fight for me, which I replied YES!! she then emailed the teacher and superintendent of the school asking what accomodations are available for students with learning disabilities, as she sees no mention of them on their web page. Tomorrow my husband and I are going to the school to speak the the superintendent face to face, and see what he plans to do about this situation. I am so nervous!!! Which is why my husband is coming, and I am bringing a tape recorder as suggested to me, Thanks for all your help, will let you know the results!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!

[outcomesfirst, BSN, RN]

Why should the school make a special accomodation for you because of ADHD? Your difficulties with math? Your superior knowledge of pharmacology? Did you need more time to study? To take the test? I don't think your patients, employer or physicians will give you consideration or time. I am not trying to be mean or put you down, but this whole thread disturbs me. I am not qualified to be americas next idol, because I was not born with the talent and no amount of preparation will prepare me. Why are you more special or deserving than any other student struggling in the program? Not everyone can be a nurse, teacher, rock star etc. What was that commercial - "It takes more than caring about people to be a nurse... I think one of the challenges in the profession right now is not just quanity of nursesd, but quality and capabilities of nurses. Just my thoughts.

[mkmm429]

I find that really insulting, to be honest my plan was to work in a physicians office where iv's are not really needed. I am only asking for a chance to proves myself to this instructor. You sound like you have no care or concern for the Pt., maybe its time you get a new career, I have met your kind "old school", I only hope your children or grandchildren or anyone close to you ever is ever in this position, perhaps if they were you would sing a different tune. How funny with the idol dig, I guess you are the Simon of this thread.

[mkmm429]

Perhaps if you were any kind of a nurse you would have read all the details of this post and see where my other concerns lie, it is not just the math, I realize I need to learn all of that. Is this what you do with your pt.s just pick out the symptoms you want to hear and dismiss the rest. Put your glasses on and read the rest before you 2 cents is issued. Other wise not interested SIMON

[moongirl]

Bottom line is you must be able to do calculations to be a nurse.

My program does not do multiple choice for math, either. When you are working the floor, there is no " multiple choice" you will be expected to provide safe accurate care, and the way that schools do this is by making your prove yourself with the math.

My CC makes us take a math test EVERY semester, even this last one I am in and you get 2 chances to pass with 100 percent or you are out, it doesnt matter if I can do an IV with one arm tied behind my back while standing on my head blindfolded.. or I have and A in theory grades... I HAVE to do the math to pass, end of discussion.

I understand your point of the disability, but I think that when you go into a program that states its requirements clearly and you cannot meet them, it is not up to the program to change for you. It would be different if you were in a wheel chair and they would not accomodate you, but their efforts with you is to provide SAFE PT CARE- no room for error.

If your disability, even with tutoring, prevents you from providing safe care, then they are within their rights to prevent you from returning. If however, they have not provided you with the resources you are entitiled to as a disabled student, then you have a case.

[herecomestrouble]

All three of my children and two of my grands have ADHD,the problem is learning a new skill,(like math,spelling,reading etc)once they master the skill they know it inside out and backward.Its simply that with ADHD a person learns in a different way than most people and they need certain accomodations in order to do that.

[moongirl]

All three of my children and two of my grands have ADHD,the problem is learning a new skill,(like math,spelling,reading etc)once they master the skill they know it inside out and backward.Its simply that with ADHD a person learns in a different way than most people and they need certain accomodations in order to do that.

if that is the case with the OP, then she could take the time to get her dosage skills concrete, and then reapply to the program.

Its not that I dont have sympathy for the situation, I do, my nephew struggles with ADD as well.

Stating that " i only want to work in a physician's office and will have nothing to do with IV's" is not relavant to the situation. Unfortunately, there are not "types" of RN degrees on an entry level. Your RN would be the same as mine regardless of where you plan to work, and passing the math is a requirement for a degree in nursing.

If I have to pass the math, then so do you.

You just need to fight for your right for HELP, not special consideration, or a blind eye and letting you slip under the standards because of your disability, it shouldn't work that way

good luck, it sounds like you are dedicated and because of that I am sure you will find a way to overcome the challenges and become a great nurse

[kukukajoo, LPN]

your school should have a procedure in place to follow if you feel you were discriminated against and I would advise you to find this procedure and go to the person listed and follow the procedure to a T. Also contact an attorney as well possible civil rights groups. Contact the place that is helping you pay for your training as well. Keep notes and record everything you can think of.

Hoping for a good turnout in this.