I feel bad...

RNSuzq1, RN · Dec 31, 2005

I just found out that one of my classmates didn't pass this semester. This girl is smart and always did well clinically-I don't think she missed it by much.(maybe a point) This semester was crappy in many ways though. It was peds and maternity. I loved peds but HATED maternity. I started having nightmares about episiotomies and lochia. I tell you right now when I have my child, two words- Elective C-Section!:chuckle

Hi Ortess, Was this your first semester in school or your first semester to lose a classmate? We're starting out last semester next week and sadly - we've lost classmates each semester (quite a few actually). We started with 42, lost about 20 the first year, then a group of LPN transition students joined us this summer and I just heard that 6 more of our classmates won't be joining us this last semester due to grades. Out of our original group, I think there's only about 15-16 of us left, it's awful.

It's always really sad to go back after a break and see some empty seats. I really feel bad for the folks we just lost because we've all come so far, gone through so much and only have 16 weeks left of class. It's heartbreaking to those of us that are left because we know the people we lost wanted this just as bad as we do and truly gave it their best shot.

Like the classmate you mentioned - all the people we just lost did really well in clinicals and were smart, but I guess it was the final exam that did in their grades.

Hey, about having a c-section - I got to see several this summer and trust me, it's an incredibly invasive procedure and the recovery time is much longer than if you have a lady partsl birth. I had 3 large babies "natural" and an episiotomy is nothing compared to being cut open in surgery. Just thought I'd pass that along.

ortess1971 · Dec 31, 2005

Yes, we've lost people each semester but I was really surprised that this girl didn't make it- she is going to take it again this semester.

I have seen both births-lady partsl and I have scrubbed c-sections. I know that they are major surgery but my friends that have had multiple lady partsl births complain that they are never quite the same afterward. Also, we have gotten quite a few prolapses in the OR lately and that just horrifies me. I gather that Kegel exercises only take you so far...Thank god, I have had pelvic/cervical procedures and my doctor thinks that I would most likely need a C-section anyway...

following_faith · Dec 31, 2005

My school is suppose to be strict about grades, but we have had a couple people fail classes and they are still here. One was like the student you mentioned, good student-worked hard...the other just didn't do the homework, missed class...very irresponsible. Some people in the class do not think it is fair that either one is still there because rules are rules. I just worry about myself and don't get involved with their debate.

We had one drop out recently. Very upsetting because I really liked her and I know that becoming a nurse would of done some wonderful things for her. It is sad to go back and see someone missing.

ortess1971 · Jan 1, 2006

We were a group of seven that got fast tracked off of the waiting list at our CC by the hospital we all work for(The school and the hospital have a partnership) so we are very, very close. I'm proud of this girl that she is getting right back up there-she'll only graduate a semester behind us. She's taking it pretty well, I think I'd have to go into therapy!:uhoh21:

studentnurserachel · Jan 2, 2006

SusanNC, what school do you attend? I know it's not the same as me because although we started with about that many, we somehow still have about 29 original. I say somehow because there are at least 5-6 people in my class who have skated by somehow, passing with a 79.6 or something due to easy final or bonus points added at the end. I'm not unhappy about that or anything, they're all great people, but our school (Robeson, which has had horrible NCLEX results the past 2 years) isn't going to raise their pass rates with some of the people they've let stay on IMHO. It's strange because our instructors keep acting like they're cracking down on us, this last semester was the hardest one yet all throughout and I know for a fact that there were a good 4-5 people who were failing going into the final and needed to make in the 90s to pass and out of nowhere, we had the easiest final I've ever seen and the vast majority of the class made in the 90s on it, when all our previous finals have been very difficult. So again this semester we didn't lose anybody. I am glad that they let those people skate by again because at very least now, those people can be LPNs if they don't make it through this semester, I just question the wisdom of the powers that be, unless they're trying to get the program shut down.

SunshineBaby · Jan 2, 2006

It always sucks when you lose someone in your nursing class but that has to be expected. Nursing can be very tough at times and when you throw in marriage, kids, job, it can be almost unmanageable. Luckily, my class is very close and we all study together and push one another to succeed.

On a side note, I don't want people to be misinformed about c-sections. It is major surgery and not something to be blinked at. I had my daughter lady partslly, induced on pitocin, with no meds, forceps delivery, and a 2nd degree tear. I was completely healed in 6 weeks with no after effects. While it was painful, I would do it that way over a c-section any day. Educate yourself and don't blindly listen to people's horror stories.

RNSuzq1, RN · Jan 3, 2006

SusanNC, what school do you attend? I am glad that they let those people skate by again because at very least now, those people can be LPNs if they don't make it through this semester, I just question the wisdom of the powers that be, unless they're trying to get the program shut down.

Hi Rachel, I'm in Wilson, - they had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX this past May and I'm pretty sure it was the same for the year before. We belong to the NEWH Nursing Consortium (made up of c. colleges in Nash, Edgecomb, Wilson and Halifax Counties). All 4 schools contribute questions to the Final Exams and although we're all learning basically the same things, we don't all have the same notes, powerpoints, etc. and not all Instructors in each school focus the same on each subject. You get used to the way your own Instructors phrase questions for tests, but getting questions on the Finals from 4 different schools can throw you and to most of us, the Finals are usually very difficult because of this. The one good thing about this is, it really helps us prepare for the NCLEX questions that will be coming from a completely different source.

You mentioned that those that don't make it in your class can at least be LPN's. I heard that several years ago our school did the same thing - after the 3rd Semester in the RN Program you could take the LPN Board and work as an LPN until you received your RN Degree, but for whatever reasons, they stopped this. I wish they still did this - because if you aren't able to finish the RN Program, you would still have the opportunity to work as an LPN insteading of ending up with only your CNA certificate after all that time, money, stress, etc...

mariedoreen · Jan 3, 2006

- after the 3rd Semester in the RN Program you could take the LPN Board and work as an LPN until you received your RN Degree, but for whatever reasons, they stopped this. I wish they still did this - because if you aren't able to finish the RN Program, you would still have the opportunity to work as an LPN insteading of ending up with only your CNA certificate after all that time, money, stress, etc...

Agreed. Ours does this now, but plans to d/c it with the next class. Another benefit I can see to having the LPN option is that it probably helps to prepare students better for their RN boards. I answered 60-100 NCLEX questions a day for months in prep for my PN exam and went through an NCLEX-PN review course when others weren't even thinking about prepping for NCLEX because they were still a year away from the RN exam. Combine this with the experience gained from working as an LPN and I don't see why they wouldn't want to encourage this for their RN students, it can only help.

Unfortunately student losses are a fact of nursing school. I still miss one gal terribly and wish she was there. It's just not the same without her.

studentnurserachel · Jan 3, 2006

Well in our school the LPN option is only available after you have completed 4 of 5 semesters, so it seems pretty pointless to me and in fact they are doing away with it starting with the current first years, but I am glad for some of my classmates that they will have something at least if they can't pass RN boards first time round or if they don't pass this next semester. I know I probably sound really harsh on some of my classmates and kind of mean, and it's not intended that way. As I said, I really like everyone in my class, but the fact of the matter is, the school I attend does not draw the cream of the crop students and we really have not lost very many and I don't expect our passage rate to be much above previous years (which have led our school to be on probation).

SusanNC: It sounds like Wilson really has a great program going. Our school does have a new administrator now who is doing her best to implement some changes, I only hope for the sake of the program that things happen pretty quickly because from my understanding, if my class does poorly on the NCLEX, the program could be completely suspended.

suzy253, RN · Jan 3, 2006

It's never pleasant when you lose classmates. In my junior year I was closeasthis to a gal but I didn't know she was barely making it with her grades--didn't discuss grades. I found out over break that she was one who didn't make it. Returning from break and seeing that empty seat next to me, I started to tear up and others in the class knew I was friendly with this gal and they all came to hug me. It took awhile and I still miss her terribly. She's at another school, has landed on her feet, doing well, and we still stay in touch.