Dismissed from nursing school...appeal denied

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I was in my second level of clinicals. Our school's dismissal policy is that you can't fail anymore than two nursing courses. However, there is an appeal procedure for students that have been dismissed.

I am a good student. I got excellent grades in first level, not to mention all of my prereqs.

One of the classes I failed, I felt that the grades were not weighted fairly. Our grades were quizzes and skills checkoffs (IV's, NG tubes, etc). Well, we had about 7 quizzes and 4 checkoffs. I made A's on all of the checkoffs plus 5 of the quizzes. I failed two of the quizzes, which caused me to fail the entire class since all together everything was only 200 points.

Long story short, I had a lot of health problems last semester. I spent many days in the emergency room not only for myself, but also my husband, who had emergency surgery. I have endometriosis which is very painful when it flares up, plus I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

The difference in energy and concentration ability when I was not on thyroid medication vs. now that I am is like night and day.

So, I appealed my dismissal, with a nice long "feel sorry for me" letter, and I found out today that it was denied. I know that I slacked off last semester, it would have been hard not to in my situation, however I am a good student and feel that I deserve a second chance.

So basically, what I am wondering, is my nursing education over for good? Will any other schools take me since I have been dismissed from my program? Has anyone here ever been in my shoes?

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I, myself, got a raw deal. Am dealing with the repercussions 10 yrs later as best I can. There is only so much an indiv can do. That is why I often advise posters in some kind of similar trouble to strongly consider, not rocking the boat. Likewise, became acquainted with several indiv who also left nrsg program under adverse circumstances. We all know that there is a difference between someone who fails out legitimately and someone who gets screwed over. Often, others portray people who complain or talk about bad situations as whiners, complainers, or not being truthful. People that I met, were working RN's who were able to walk into neighboring nrsg programs and finish. I distinctly remember one who told me that her story was met with the attitude "we know what/who you are talking about; you are not the first/nor the last; we have taken many who were booted from that program........". Nice that it worked out for these people. However, recently, our state affiliate of the ANA mailed out a newsletter which contained an article quoting the statistics, that as of 2004(?) there were approx (just shy of) 15,000 qualified applicants who were turned away from nrsg programs in this state. I do not believe that anybody could get booted from any nrsg prog nowadays, and just walk into another. That's just the way it is.

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Thanks for sharing. So how did things turn out for you?

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I can't believe they'd put that much weight on a quiz. :uhoh21: I'm sorry to hear about this, maybe you can apply to another school or hold off a semester and return?

There was a guy in our class (2nd semester) who was told to withdrawl because he had a broken leg. It was upsetting because he was an extremely hard worker, never missed a class (not even the day after he broke his leg), always made good grades and yet 2-3 weeks before the end of the semester they made him withdraw. They said it was because he couldn't complete clinicals, but he would have only missed two or three. They could have made other arrangements for him....in my opinion, lab work etc...(as they've done for people before) especially since there are plenty others who missed class all the time for no good reason. :nono: Now he will have to re-do the entire semester and possibly wait a year to get back in...Sigh! To make things worsehe quit his job of many years to enter nursing school, so his wife was the one bringing home the bacon and now he's sitting on borrowed time just waiting. Arg...drives me mad. :angryfire

Things like this happen and often times there is nothing you can do about it. Again, I'm sorry you were denied.

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Specializes in er/icu/neuro/trauma/pacu.

Re-apply for next semester, good students have bad days (or semesters).

An LPN I work with worked an extra day shift, then her young son kept her up all night with a GI bug (translate-puky,whiny,messy night, NO SLEEP) she failed her 7am math/meds test by ONE point - long story short- out of the program. But she re-applied and will be an RN this spring!!!!

Another young man was 3 weeks from graduation when Uncle Sam decided he was needed in IRAQ! He survived, had to reapply and is now one of my favorite newer nurses at work

So keep your chin up, re-apply to your program or another if nearby, yes you may have to repeat somethings, it will be worth it.

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There was a guy in our class (2nd semester) who was told to withdrawl because he had a broken leg. It was upsetting because he was an extremely hard worker, never missed a class (not even the day after he broke his leg), always made good grades and yet 2-3 weeks before the end of the semester they made him withdraw. They said it was because he couldn't complete clinicals, but he would have only missed two or three. They could have made other arrangements for him....in my opinion, lab work etc...(as they've done for people before) especially since there are plenty others who missed class all the time for no good reason. :nono: Now he will have to re-do the entire semester and possibly wait a year to get back in...Sigh! To make things worsehe quit his job of many years to enter nursing school, so his wife was the one bringing home the bacon and now he's sitting on borrowed time just waiting. Arg...drives me mad. :angryfire

As unfair as this seems, it is the policy in most programs. You just cannot afford to miss any clinicals. Lab & clinical experience are just not the same. In my school, you can miss one clinical, but you better do an excellent job in all the rest or you just might fail. You are completely out of luck if you miss 2 clinicals in a term. There is no way to pass that part of the course & if you fail either class work, clinical, or lab, you repeat all three.

Dixie

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

I had 2 bad semesters. I made it through ok. It might not be easy to go to another program, but it's possible.

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Specializes in Emergency.

If the school does not want to pass you forward b/c they feel that your failure of this course was justified, instead of asking for them to feel sorry for you, maybe try asking for a repeat to prove yourself. If you inform them that due to a medical illness during that semester, and additional family medical issues, you were not able to focus on that class as much as you believe you really needed to. They may be ok with dropping you back a semester or a year to allow you to repeat the course, and that would be far better than not continuing on at all. I don't think you'll be successful in your appeals if you try to convince them to pass someone forward that they do not feel has met the standard.

Best of luck to you...

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

count your blessing nursing sucks

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Here's my story....

I found out my Mom had cancer this past summer, she lived 3.5 hours away (one way), but I went every week, to every doctor appointment, and stayed with her throughout her surgery. During radiation, I went on Tuesday evenings, and stayed till Friday evenings, came home and worked Saturday and Sundays, school all day Monday, and Tuesday, after Community clinical, it started all over again.

In November, Mom became very ill with what we found out was HHNK (extrmemly high blood sugar), and was in the hospital for a week. During that time, we moved her in with us, and brought her home when she was released.

As far as school goes, grades dropped, thought not extrmemely, but we had to write a "policy paper" worth 25% of our grade.

I failed that paper miserably. Asked if there was anything else I could do, was told no, requested that the dean of the program (also the instructor of the class) look over the paper again, as we were told we used no local sources, (which we did, but I won't go into details over that one).

Anyway, to make a long story short, I failed my nursing program by 2 points with one semester to go.

I went after the first of the year to a CC college nearby, and was told that I just made it to take the last TEAS test to assess whether I could be accepted into the very last accelerated program for ASN that this school was offering. I took the test on Thursday, and was notified Friday that I had been accepted!

So, I may not graduate this May and I may not have my BSN when I am finished, but I WILL graduate in December and I will have my ASN...

I am thankful.

Keep trying, and attempt other avenues. One door will open as another one closes. Hang in there and let us know how things go for you, ok?

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.
count your blessing nursing sucks

Great way to contribute and offer support....

Anyway try not to beat yourself up or let yourself feel depressed, as the others have stated you can reapply for next semester. We can't be at our best all the time you WILL get through this :)

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count your blessing nursing sucks

I DONT know you but I have a very good feeling you are one of the people that give nursing a bad name! If you just feel the nerve to BASH nursing then you should probably go somewhere else because there is A LOT of people who love nursing & cant wait to be able to sit for their boards so they can be nurses! It just kills me that there is sooo many nurses out there like YOU & it is tooooo bad your spot was wasted & couldnt of gone to someone else that really wanted to be a nurse:madface: :madface: :madface:

Sorry about the rant!!!

My school has the same policy also if you fail 2 classes you are out of the program. We have been told that there is NO missing clinicals and to not even try it. I understand the policy but I understand that you were dealt a bad deck of cards. Try to apply next session & you probably have a great chance to get in...you sound like a really good student!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

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