Flunked Nursing 3

[Butterflybee]

I talked with a nursing student today that said she failed Nursing 3 twice. Now she has nothing and is considering LPN in another state. My chin is dropped :stone to the floor with ...I dont know what. So much time, sweat, and money invested and nothing to show for it. She said she would have graduated this May. My heart goes out to her> It makes me feel relief however to know that I chose the LPN to RN path.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

At the end of first semester we were down 50%. Then we got an "infusion" of about 20% more to start second semester (those who had previously dropped or failed out or who were LPNs who got waived in). By the middle of the second semester, we were again down to the same as we were at the end of the first. Now, as we start our fourth (and last!) we are at that same lowest number from the end of first. I'm not sure what the math works out to be, but I'm guessing that since we finish with 50% of the ORIGINAL class number, it's more like a 60-65% loss rate.

I'm sweating, but I'm still here :)

[Sheri257]

Holy crap! Now you guys are scaring me! I hope I do well. I start my nursing journey on Jan. 10th and I really hope I'm one of those people who can think critically after studying. It doesn't help much if you study forever but can't put that knowledge into work. Pray for me people!!!!:uhoh21:

Don't panic. The bottom line is: even if you have the worst instructor in the world, if you study you do ok. The fact of the matter is: the vast majority who fail don't study or, rather, they don't read the book because it's boring.

Force yourself to read and you will do fine. Do not just count on lecture which is where students make their biggest mistake. Half of "critical thinking" is the teachers checking to see if you did the reading. Even if some of the test questions are unfair and really out there ... you'll still do ok as long as you read.

And work your butt off the entire semester, doing your absolute best on every test. This is another classic mistake because some people don't get serious about studying until the last month, when it's too late to make up for it. Always build a cushion of extra points going into the final, and you'll do fine.

[DaFreak71]

I know it's always a shock when we hear about someone we know personally who failed the nursing courses. However, remember that you are not with these persons 24 hours a day. Some people are very good at talking a good show, when in reality we don't really know what they are doing once they leave the campus. We all know how hard each of us studied to get what we have. There is no way to know if the people who fail are putting that same effort into it. They say they are, but how can we possibly know? Another thing is that some people for some reason or another are just not able to think critically, something that a nurse must be able to do. If a person can't think critically for their nursing studies, it's a pretty good bet they can't apply that logic to determining their own personal difficulties in their lives as well as with studying and learning. This is very sad, I know. However, if they are not released from nursing programs, it will be the patients who will end up being at risk. There are many wonderful, nice people in this world, but some are just not cut out to make it in nursing.

This is so true. It all boils down to your commitment to studying. My husbands class had a 50% drop/fail rate from nursing 1 to graduation. He said that the ones who applied themselves and studied were standing next to him on graduation day. In his class, there was a girl who failed nursing 3 twice and was removed from the program. She worked full time, had kids, etc but what it came down to was her priorities. There were many other married, full time workers with kids who made it through just fine. Just do whatever it takes to understand the material and you will be fine. I hear about the drop/fail rates and I say to myself "It doesn't matter what happened to anyone else, I'm going to be a nurse in 2 years and I'm going to spend the next two years in school studying and devoting myself to learning all that I can". You can hardly fail with an attitude like that. Best wishes!

Adri

[Drysolong]

To those who said they planned to go to LPN school after flunking RN school

In some ways, LPN school is more intense because of the relatively short amount of time given to take in so much information. I know that RN training is much, much more information, but if someone fails out of RN school, they will not necessarily have an easier time in LPN school.

I will start my last quarter of LPN school next week with a little less than half of the students we started out with. Some of our teachers taught and tested us as if we were in a graduate RN program. (Our class favorite saying during MED SURG I was, "but this is LPN school, why are you being so hard on us". I feel better prepared for RN school now. I'm glad I am doing it this way - CNA, LPN, RN.

[Maisie]

at orientation we were told about 25% of the class wouldn't be here the next semester. it's a big world, and there are lots of other things to do, and there is more than one way to get that RN tag, no doubt. I would guess most other hard professions have similar drop rates....but 60%? Daaaang!

I think it is only nursing and maybe other medical professions. My previous degree started and ended with just about the same number of students. Some transfered to other schools, but no one was dropped or forced out because of low grades.

[nurstobe]

I Happen to know someone who failed one of her Nursing Courses, and I can honestly say that she studied her behind off! Some people just have a little trouble taking Nclex type questions and need a hand. Yes, maybe not everyone is cut out for Nursing but at least they gave it a try, and deserve the credit. I feel awful for those who do not make it through. As for critical thinking, if they remember Maslow's Hierarchy of needs from Psychology, and the ABC's of Nursing care then critical thinking can fall into place.

nurstobe

[cruzanyumkc65]

That is really sad that she had to fail the semester. I had trouble with 3rd semester last semester and dropped a class, which put me back in 3rd semester, it had nothing to do with lack of critical thinking skills, but a terrible case of test anxiety, to the point that I had even blacked out during an exam! It is a horrible feeling to go through that and see that a great deal of people don't realize what that is like. I never had that problem while I was in school for my LPN, but as I get older it seems to

have happened, why I don't know, but I did have to see a Doctor and was placed on an anti-anxiety med for taking just before an exam, I saw a therapist and she has really helped me with the anxiety, more so than the

PRN med did. I really was ashamed at what I was going through at first, then I began finding out from several other student that they had been put on anti-anxiety meds since being in school. Another thing I have come to see is that just because someone is booksmart doesn't mean they have common sense in the clinical setting. So I guess what I am trying to say is

no one should feel ashamed if they are suffering from anxiety with testing or when in a clinical setting, (I had severe attacks at clinicals and I am an LPN, I never get anxious at work!!) I think that the amount of pressure placed on students has a great deal to do with the large rate of drops/fails.

All I can say is if there is a problem, speak with your Dean of Nursing and let her know what you are experiencing ( let your instructors know as well)

it is really suprising how supportive they are when you admit that there is a problem. Next, talk with your Doctor or make an appointment with a therapist that can lead you in the right direction. Never be worried what others think, (there are some students who feel that they never will deal with this problem, so what is the matter with the person who has it!! Can't they do this!! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.) I mean no disrespect to anyone of you, I am referring to few students I have dealt with.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!! When the going gets tough just remember that you are not alone!!!

[mis111]

Hi Im one of those nursing students that just flunked a course. Luckily I am a LPN. I am in my last semester was supposed to graduate in May. half our class just failed. We went into the final with 78s and in the 80s. 35 percent of the final was our grade. The teacher put 3 new units on the test, which is the norm, But all the other units questions of the final were all hard and different, not even from our notes or lectures, maybe a few. Most were new and indepth questions. How can your read a book in a week plus study for new units. I think finals should be review questions not new ones. Now I have a decision to make. Do I go ahead and take ob next wednesday, because if I fail a class twice Im out forever. Or do I wait until next spring to take the last semester again. I would have to get a full time job as a lpn which I am part time now. Get insurance and then how next year do I work part time again without losing my insurance. I am so confused. Should I stay an LPN and give it up. Im done with crying my eyes out now I am angry and confused.

[ArmyKitten]

It is tough to see someone fail (or fail yourself). One of my best buds in nursing classes didn't make it. We sat next to each other at every lecture, went to clinicals together, shared notes, quizzed each other, etc- for years. Our school had a 2 fail you are out policy, and she had failed Pharm back at the beginning. Everything was fine though until our very last semester- 1 week from walking the stage at graduation she found out she was given a "fail" on our final paper for Gero. The point of my long story? After 4.5 years in the program, she has nothing....no diploma, no chance to sit for boards, no job. I really feel for her, and I hope that things work out for her. Last we talked she is going back for her Biology degree, and she can hopefully finish that in a year or so.

Our class started with 100 students. 75 of us graduated.