Getting into a nursing program with a L.D.

[hlr2752]

Hello everyone,

I have always had an interest in nursing, due to the fact that many of my immediate family are in the healthcare field. It is my dream to become a Nurse. I took the TEAS and was confident that I would pass. I done exactly as I predicted; well on everything but the math which has always been a problem for me. I have a 3.7 GPA and made A's in anatomy and Physiology (as well as several other classes that will go towards my Bachelors).

The problem is that I never told anyone at my college about my learning disability that has haunted me since the third grade. But it has became apparent that I am going to need some help if I am going to succeed. Understand that it is counterintuitive to every instinct that I have to ask the college for any type of help. But it has came down to either my pride or following my dream and being able to support my family while doing somthing I would love. I literally forget that I will be getting paid for being a nurse when I daydream about working. I guess I though I would grow out of my Learning Disability:rolleyes:.

I truly feel ashamed for needing to ask for help and I feel that I will be treated as I always have; A burden. I know for a fact that I can perform as well as anyone in the classes and clinicals, all i'm asking for is the chance to do so.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Thank you! She does have accommodations. She turned in her paperwork last year when she enrolled. She did not use her accommodations this past year and did very well due to the great support with her instructors and the one on one ability to ask questions. We didn't find out that she could use her accommodations for the TEAS until after her 1st attempt. She approached the school to let them know she could use her accommodations for the TEAS and would like to use them on her 2nd attempt. It was like asking to meet the Queen of England. The came back that she could not use her accommodations for the TEAS or NClex (but she informed them that she could), both ATI and the State Board of Nursing told her/us she could. Their demeanor changed with her. They were not the "helpful school" she knew this past year. They were rude, short answers when she would ask a question, put her on the back burner and it started with the Nursing Director and trickled down. We found out they never processed her paperwork for accommodations last fall and this was last minute to them, plus we feel they probably didn't know what to do. We had to send everything to their corporate office who were very helpful. Just the local campus was not the best. She knows nursing will be tough for her, but she is very dedicated and ready for the challenges. We have a tutor ready to be part of her action plan with studying. She enjoys her sciences and math. She does have a diagnosis with a disability and she WILL graduate with her BSN and plans to continue her education. The funny thing, there are other campus sites for this school and we have already been told she has an incredible package and they would accept her in a second. The TEAS is the last thing they look at. She has sent her n to the other campus sites. Unfortunately, she would have to move away, we just don't know how far yet. Thank you again for your comments.

School with a corporate office sounds like a private for profit school run by investors such as DeVry/Chamberlin. Perhaps she should consider applying to other programs as she may need accommodations moving forward. FYI if she never accessed her accommodations during classes she has a chance of being denied when attempting ATI or NCLEX. They don't accept that you need accommodations just for a single exam you must have a pattern of needing them. The same for SATs and ACT and other standardized exams. Even if she had documentation that she used her accommodations in high school that would gibs merit to her request for ATI and subsequently NCLEX. It often fails the "reasonable" test if the student chose to never access accommodations and modifications during other coursework. Fair? I don't know but it is reality. I have a special needs teen that is approaching high school. I'm ensuring his background and documentation is solid to ensure he has the modifications, accommodations and support he needs for high school and beyond. Grades are most definitely not indicative as to whether accommodations are needed especially if the classes were taught in a manner to promote student success and the student has the desire to succeed. Something to consider

[hayest]

Thank you. She has had accommodations since 1st grade and went into college. As I mentioned, she turned in her accommodations in the fall, but did not use them. ATI said she could use her accommodations and will be able to for the Nclex. I know for nursing school, she will use her accommodations. She will be applying to other universities in the area. Thank you again!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Good luck. I'm only saying use the accommodations as standardized and licensing tests are getting more stringent to access test accommodations. If you don't use them you lose them and I don't want her to need them and be stuck.

At least she found out before starting the nursing classes which are near impossible to transfer....I guess it's tough when you think you are at your target and get knocked down at the last steps

[hayest]

Thank you so much for your advice. It is very hard. She is ready for that next step and for a school not to accept applications because of a TEAS score and not looking at all the criteria as indicated on their website is very frustrating. She steps ahead only to be knocked back to the beginning, but she will overcome this. I'm confident in her and others are too.

[NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN]

hlr, she needs to realize this is not about her comfort level. It's about your rights. If you have the documentation from your psychologist that you have LD, please go to your school's Student Support Services or whatever they call it there for the LD/Disabled students and talk to an advisor or director. THEY know the law. Nursing dept isn't playing nice. Don't expect them to. I know we are starting to talk about money when we talk lawyers, but you might have to slap down some money for a lawyer to draw something up for discriminating against you. Before you do that, go to EVERYONE you can possibly go to in the college, and if you keep getting NO's, let them know you will see a lawyer, but back it up.

All this and: email these people. Make them commit to writing what they are telling you in person. Emails can't be denied if you continue to pursue their rights and they feign innocence regarding disability accommodation.

[Inlike]

They are just trying to weed you out! They do this to all students to test their mental toughness. I would look into the Student Resourse Center and see if they can help with getting you accomodations.

Good Luck!

[maddieebobaddiee, ADN, RN]

Hey! I was and still am in the same boat as you. Back when I took chemistry 101, my professor played a game with me that I did not want to play, and my parents and I were NOT happy. I need a copy of class notes (can't write fast enough to keep up with lectures) so I gave my chemistry professor the accommodations letter and she said "I don't know how to send it to you." which translated into a big fat "no." PISSED. This was when the hurricane struck Puerto Rico (where the LD lady was at the time) so I went to her office where one of the counselors wrote her a typed letter, begging her to give me what I needed. I gave it to her, and absolutely nothing happened. I went to the LD lady (she was able to come back after a while) who brought my friend and I down to the Dean of biology/chemistry to get this resolved. When I explained the situation, the Dean PRAISED my professor instead of helping me. What the actual you know what. I was beyond pissed at this point. The LD lady then offered me some pen that would record the lecture.. haha nice try, I am not gonna listen to a 3 HOUR lecture. After that, I went to the library where I got the pen and the librarian asked how I liked it so I told her the truth and she was appalled that this was happening to me. She took me down to the tutoring center to see if someone could help me get the notes and someone actually did. Not the exact class notes, but thank god it was something. I ended up getting a B in that class, so I'm pretty happy. I had a private tutor, too, so that definitely helped a lot.