I’m looking for some encouragement to help me gain some confidence. I would love to hear some success stories from anyone who shares a similar situation to mine..
my heart still aches when writing about this.. I went 3/4 through a nursing program. Third semester I was doing my peds clinical on a hematology floor and my med surg on an ICU unit. Both instructors made it very clear on the first day of clinical how important it is that these fragile patients aren’t exposed to any illnesses that could worsen their conditions. We were told to not come to clinical if we were ill and if we did we would be sent home. Anyways long story short.. I developed bronchitis and was very sick for a month. I think a lot of it had to do with stress and not being able to take care of myself because I was so busy with school and being a single mom. I missed two days of med surg clinicals and had doctor notes for both times. Then I went to clinical and my instructor sent me home telling me I was not well enough to take care of patients. I was written up for absences all three times. At the time I had already one documented absence from first semester from my daughter tripping and falling hitting her head on the corner of my cement porch. I had to take her to the hospital for stitches. This program only allows 2 missed clinical days the entire 2 years while attending 2 clinicals at the same time each semester. Now before anyone says it, I’m not making excuses for myself in anyway I just had a string of bad luck and I understand the absence policy.
Anyways, they had a meeting after my clinical absence when my instructor sent me home and they decided to dismiss me from the program. They told me that having children had me at a disadvantage then the other students who had none. They wouldn’t consider that I had above the minimum 80% in all 3 of my classes at the time and I had clinical instructors trying hard to help me fight it. I was always told by my clinical instructors that I was going to be an amazing nurse. I had great remarks from all of them through out the semesters. I was completely heartbroken. It triggered severe depression and anxiety. I felt like a failure and that all the hard work I had put into the program was a waste. I had all this knowledge and nothing to show for it. I felt like I had let my children and family down. I was embarrassed to tell people when they would ask me how school was and if I was happy it was almost over. Having to explain the story over and over again just kept the feelings strong. I finally seeked therapy and have gained a new perspective on the situation. My heart is in nursing. I know it’s my calling and I know now that’s what has hurt my heart so badly about this. I’m now considering starting over and applying to another school and I’m wondering if anyone could share their story with me if they have a similar story with a successful ending. I would love to hear the positivity!
I can’t say I’m a success story yet, but i’m hoping I will be! I was in a nursing program that I started in 2007. Like you I was 3/4 of the way through and I failed my third semester (I was off by two points); I could have repeated the class, but at the time it didn’t feel right. I actually had two of my friends from my cohort have to repeat because our clinical instructor held them back from the clinical portion, they have both gone on to be very successful nurses. I went on to get my bachelors in social work, started working in the field and even got a masters degree, but then life got in the way and I left the social services field. I’m now looking to get back into nursing and trying to figure out the best path for me. I wish you luck in getting back into a program and hopefully since your program wasn’t as long ago you will have a few less hurdles than me.
Only two times for the entire time?? That is ridiculous. Why cant you just do the semester over?
There's no reason for that at all. If a student becomes ill and doesn't meet the clinical hours required by the state then they should be granted a medical withdrawal and be allowed to resume next semester. To expell a student for being sick is unacceptable and to me smells like a scam school. Even if this happened two years ago I would discuss this with an attorney and also file a complaint with your state BON. They're creating an unsafe environment for patients and continuing one of the worst parts of medicine when providers go in sick.
The state requires a certain number of clinical hours so the school doesn’t have much leniency there. The fact that you were dismissed instead of being allowed to retake raises some questions maybe there was a detail left out..
A few of my classmates had emergencies (death in family, etc) come up during the program had had more clinical absences than you did, but they also made up for the clinicals in simulation lab and writing papers....they graduated with the rest of us. Your school sounds a little unreasonable.
CamMc
128 Posts
I can’t say I’m a success story yet, but i’m hoping I will be! I was in a nursing program that I started in 2007. Like you I was 3/4 of the way through and I failed my third semester (I was off by two points); I could have repeated the class, but at the time it didn’t feel right. I actually had two of my friends from my cohort have to repeat because our clinical instructor held them back from the clinical portion, they have both gone on to be very successful nurses. I went on to get my bachelors in social work, started working in the field and even got a masters degree, but then life got in the way and I left the social services field. I’m now looking to get back into nursing and trying to figure out the best path for me. I wish you luck in getting back into a program and hopefully since your program wasn’t as long ago you will have a few less hurdles than me.