50 out of 100 Nursing students failed program

norcalRNstudent · Mar 30, 2007

Sounds like your school doesn't care how many nurses they produce. No one has failed out of my program, and it is definitely not easy, the school is just supportive, and makes sure that we are well prepared before we can apply.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2007

At my school 50 out of 100 nursing students failed thier first semester. They didnt make it. Geeze is nursing school that hard. I get really good grades but is it really that hard? These students must not be that dedicated. South Suburban college South Holland,iL

I think that is so frigging sad. To my way of thinking it is a testament to the poor administration of the nursing school. The people in charge of the nursing program are either not making good choices in student candidates for the nursing program, or the instructors within their nursing program suck. I wouldn't want to be the Dean of your school telling me that only 50% of the students made it through the first semester of their program. I'd have him/her in a corner firing some pretty pointed questions. He/she would be slinking off ASAP with a red face when I was done with him/her. What the heck is mentally wrong with the administration and instructors in the schools that do this?

amyk_ncsu · Mar 30, 2007

Sounds like your school doesn't care how many nurses they produce. No one has failed out of my program, and it is definitely not easy, the school is just supportive, and makes sure that we are well prepared before we can apply.

This is how my program is as well. We have a great support system and our teachers aren't out to get us failed. They help us if we need it, and we can always ask questions and get fair, reasonable responses. We started with 72, and have lost a few to various reasons, but its really not noticeable. Hopefully we'll all be there to graduate 12/08! :)

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2007

My school is killing everyone this year - first year is LPN, then you reapply for the RN. I made it but decided not to go since the commute was killing me, I'd rather do it on-line, I needed to earn money, and I frankly couldn't stand the instructors and their attitudes.

Some absolutely brilliant students from last year aren't even squeaking by this semester. The instructors decided they want a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX. Well, they're doing it in a terrible way. They're failing gifted, hard-working, dedicated people.

I am SO glad I decided to do Excelsior.

lizzyberry · Mar 30, 2007

I think that is so frigging sad. To my way of thinking it is a testament to the poor administration of the nursing school. The people in charge of the nursing program are either not making good choices in student candidates for the nursing program, or the instructors within their nursing program suck. I wouldn't want to be the Dean of your school telling me that only 50% of the students made it through the first semester of their program. I'd have him/her in a corner firing some pretty pointed questions. He/she would be slinking off ASAP with a red face when I was done with him/her. What the heck is mentally wrong with the administration and instructors in the schools that do this?

In my school, they give priority to indistrict students first. They turned down someone out of district with a 4.0! They accepted a student that was indistrict with a 2.5!! I think thats where the problem is.

lizzyberry · Mar 30, 2007

I have a 4.0. If they do not let me in this program I will poo a brick. I will go to the nursing department and demand my spot in the program. I want to be in the program sooo bad. I hope they would not give my spot to someone who just slipped their way in!!!:angryfire

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

Daytonite: Do you think some of this is "old school" thinking? I've noticed in our program that it tends to be the older instructors -- meaning late 50's and older (I'm 51, so not picking on anyone here) that tend to have more of the drill sergeant attitude. Wasn't that more prevalent in the past?

It's kind of sickening, especially when you've got a "shortage" and some really good folks who want to be nurses, but aren't willing to put up with some of the BS of NS.

1Tulip · Mar 31, 2007

I graduated in... well, many years ago, and half of the students that began with us didn't finish. Historically and generally... about a third to a half of the people who start Nsg school won't graduate.

I was told years ago that Nursing is one of the hardest majors at a University because of the range of material students have to master. Biochem students have to learn chemistry. English majors learn about poetry, Shakespeare, and The Great American Novel. But a nursing student (in addition to some English and History) has to have a working knowledge of a RANGE of hard sciences (Chemistry, anatomy, physiology, micro, pharm, pathophys) and soft sciences (Psychology, sociology, anthropology). Add to that, a nursing student has to develop into a new kind of person... a professional ready to step in and intervene in life altering events. That's a big demand. In contrast a geek entering the Computer Science program will probably be a geek when he graduates. Who cares?

The attrition rate has forever been high in nursing school. I suppose a school can beat the odds by passing weak students. But done right there will be a lot of students who flunk or otherwise drop out.

1Tulip · Mar 31, 2007

It's kind of sickening, especially when you've got a "shortage" and some really good folks who want to be nurses, but aren't willing to put up with some of the BS of NS.

Certainly wanting to be a nurse is a NECESSARY criteria for success. But it ought not to be a deciding factor in determining who graduates from nursing school If WANTING to be something was the criteria for realizing a dream, I'd be an opera diva today. (Actually... I have sung at the Metropolitan Opera. No lie. I was in the ladies room washing my hands and hummed a few bars of Donizetti.)

But seriously... Nursing School has got to be hard.

1Tulip · Mar 31, 2007

"It's kind of sickening, especially when you've got a "shortage" and some really good folks who want to be nurses, but aren't willing to put up with some of the BS of NS."

I disagree.

Certainly wanting to be a nurse is a NECESSARY criteria for success. But it ought not to be the deciding factor in determining who graduates from nursing school If WANTING to be something was the criteria for realizing a dream, I'd be an opera diva today. (Actually... I did once sing at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. No lie. I was in the ladies room washing my hands and hummed a few bars of Donizetti.)

But seriously... Nursing School has got to be hard.

cisco · Mar 31, 2007

The nursing school where I went started with 50 students and by graduation there were only 22 left. They dropped out for various reasons, not passing, financial problems, too much stress, family problems etc. We also had a high % of students passing the NCLEX. Nursing school is difficult, stressfull and totally worth it in the long run...all you students, hang in there, and study, study, study. Good luck!!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

daytonite: do you think some of this is "old school" thinking? i've noticed in our program that it tends to be the older instructors -- meaning late 50's and older (i'm 51, so not picking on anyone here) that tend to have more of the drill sergeant attitude. wasn't that more prevalent in the past?
it's kind of sickening, especially when you've got a "shortage" and some really good folks who want to be nurses, but aren't willing to put up with some of the bs of ns.

it sounds to me like administrators who have been given a bunch of "rules" for admission to work with that they don't like, might have decided to deal with them like spoiled children, and are rebelling and turning their backs on their teaching duties and the students just to show their bosses just who they think they are trying to push around. wrong attitude. in programs that do this, the schools are basically throwing the students into the water and it's a sink or swim situation for the students. that is really sad. what kind of teaching is that? what would any country be like if they did that with the kids from the kindergarten up? the schools spend a lot of money funding nursing programs. that 50% who get failed out of a program represent a lot of money that is being thrown away by the nursing program. why the college regents running these schools don't do something about this horrible waste of money is a mystery to me. and, here there are all kinds of people in healthcare complaining about how there aren't enough schools and instructors to teach nurses and get them out and into the world where they are needed. this kind of nonsense of admitting a group of students and then flunking out half of them needs to stopped. its a big waste of money that could be better used in the education of nurses.

i think that any instructors who go into the beginning nursing classes stating that "50% of you are going to flunk out by the end of this term" or "only 60% of you are going to pass the nclex" ought to have their head examined and fired. that kind of negative thinking is absolutely abominable. they should be watched for rulers and the smacking of the knuckles of students hands for giving wrong answers. beatings and fear, yeah, that works wonders--not. that kind of mentality is a game of ego and one-upmanship for the perpetrators of the game (the instructors). what kind of professionalism and collegiality is that teaching future nurses? how can a profession permit hypocrites to train people for a profession that asks nurses to first be kind to others? there's something wrong with that picture. but, the problem is that so many want a career in nursing so badly that they will willingly put up with this kind of abuse just to get through the training. maybe it's time some of us older nurses started a movement to stop these abuses from occurring.

i was very fortunate. i was in a basic nursing program that said once you are admitted you are guaranteed at least a "b" as long as you keep up with the work. you could flunk a test, but you had to keep taking it (a different form of it) until you passed it. we were seen by our own personal nursing instructor/counselor every single week in a private session where we discussed our progress in the program and got individual advice or emotional support if needed. every single person who started in my program, finished and we all passed the state board exam (no nclex at that time) the first time around. you could feel the love and support for every single student in this program!