Got kicked out of an RN program don't know what to do

NewGoalRN · Jun 17, 2009

I unfortunately was kicked out because I failed on my third attempt on drug calc. Fortunately, because the school accepts students twice a year, I'll be able to start again in September. I will have to take a remediation class on drug calc starting next month and will have to pass the class in order to continue. Thinking about starting up school again is making me nervous that this will happen again. I've never had test anxiety until I started nursing school. Any suggestions?

If I were you, I would get a couple of basic math books for nurses and then a few dosage calc books and immerse yourself in it before you go back to school.

If you failed it 3 times, chances are that you don't understand some parts of basic math. You may also consider geting a tutor. REview decimals, conversions, how to isolate a variable, ratios, percentages etc.

good luck

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

You have completed more than half of the RN program. This qualifies you for the Excelsior College nursing program. Check out their website, call them up, and get the ball rolling: www.excelsior.edu.

I met a nurse in clinicals who said she flunked out of final semester at my nursing program. She said she did the Excelsior program and passed NCLEX on her first try. It might be worth checking into states that border NY to see if Excelsior is accepted close by.

Hopefully you can get permission to repeat that semester at your nursing program, though.

Isitpossible, LPN, LVN · Jun 17, 2009

courageandcare...i feel terrible for you..thats sounds downright awful, and yes i realize that you are NOT complaining about your grade..your gripe is that the school made allowances for particular students...thats just NOT fair...and yes i agree, things have not changed as much as some would like to believe....please contact your lawyer, and see what options he/she suggests...you are too close...please FIGHT...please keep us posted..God Bless!!!

courageandcare · Jun 17, 2009

I thank you a million for those words of support courage, and I will definitly keep you all posted.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

I am sorry that you failed so closed to graduation, for accreditation purposes and licensing purposes the school can not allow a student who failed twice to continue on. I understand you had issues, in hindsight you should have withdrawn when you were passing. Most students who fail to great in clinical so you can't go by that.

Someone recommended Excelsior that maybe a great way to go and best of luck.

AOx1 · Jun 17, 2009

The responses regarding med math are directed at classykaren, who found it odd that waitingforthedream's school was requiring 100% on math meds. These members are also participating in the thread, and there is nothing wrong with addressing their questions as well.

If by attempting to assist both the OP and other members of this thread makes myself and other posters "self-righteous" as NewGoalRN claims, then so be it. I don't find the tone of any other posts to be self-righteous, they are meant to help those posting in the thread, whether they are the original poster or not. All gave concrete suggestions intended to help. Assigning a label and an assumed motivation to someone else's actions because you disagree with their position is not helpful.

If I didn't care about the OP's situation, I would have just said "too bad for you"- instead, I and several other posters took the time to offer our best advice. What anyone does with it is up to them. The OP obviously cares about and is committed to nursing. The idea of a community like allnurses.com is for nurses and future nurses to share advice, thoughts, vents, etc without needing to tear each other apart. If my intent was to "nail someone to the wall," I could certainly find more expedient methods of doing so than to offer advice that has worked for many of my students.

cooly · Jul 19, 2009

Girl,I really feel your pain,Im in the same situation, but mine was with fundermentals.my school needed 80% but didnt make the mark last year.now am home thinking about going bach this fall,but now am so scared about the unknown.my schools tution is so expensive, am just torn in between of finding another school or just returning.I really Love everything about nursing but is so hard to reach the mark.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 19, 2009

No I don't think that this is strange at all. My school had a 100% to pass on all their med tests, and we had one at the beginning of each class, each semester. Granted we were given 3 chances at them...I think we may have actually lost someone b/c she couldn't pass after all the remediation required, and re-taking the test.

How hard were the tests? What type of questions were asked?

DoGoodThenGo · Jul 25, 2009

To the OP, have just read this post and am sick to my stomach for you, wish there was something that can be done and hope you have sucess with an appeal.

It must be said however that one nearly universal truth about nursing programs is students cannot fail and or repeat one nursing and usually one core course. Harsh as it may seem, that is the lay of the land. Believe me you are NOT alone nor the first. Some students are sent down like yourself at the end of the program, others barely make it past Med Surg I.

While our initial wishes and desire is to either seek reinstatement or go elsewhere, would strongly advise you to seek out some sort of counsel to go over things and give you an honest evaluation. If you have areas where you weak (and we all do), those must be addressed or you will more likely than not fail classes again.

Sadly do not think other schools will accept nursing classes from programs not their own, so yes if you are not reinstated, the only option left would be to start over at another school. On the bright side many of your non-nursing classes should transfer.

Huggs and best wishes!

beth66335, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2009

So any more news?

Isitpossible, LPN, LVN · Jul 31, 2009

courageandcare- where are you and whats going on? please keep us posted, and hoping all is well!!!!