Help! I quit nursing school and I might want to go back.

inspired-nurse2b · May 13, 2010

I think you should go back there, you're familair with the place and know how the program works and didnt you sya you have some of the courses done already completed, sounds like a good idea to me. And if not seek out sokme other schools/programs.

caliotter3 · May 13, 2010

Just wanted to wish you well in your endeavor to get back into school and commend you on your decision. Good luck.

Nguyenap87 · May 14, 2010

Thanks you all! I went to a pretty horrible nursing program so when I do go back, it will definitely not be that one. I've had other friends who attended different programs and they loved it so I guess I just had a bad experience with this program. I'm just afraid they won't let me into a different program because they think I'm a quitter. =(

SCSTxRN · May 16, 2010

The higher the NCLEX rate= the better they prepare you for NS. The school I am attending in the Fall pass rate for 2009 was 76%, but the pass rate since 2005 has been 85-96%. Now personally I am not too fond of the 76%, but I want this (Nursing) so I will not let the pass rate deter my decision from attending the school. Sometimes programs have their low % years, but if it's ever too low the program could get suspended.
Any Nursing Program that has % in the 100, 90's and even 80's are known to really prepare their students for the real world. The % is determined by how many students take the NCLEX and pass it the first time. For example: If I attend XYZ Nursing School and 40 students take the NCLEX and 28 out of the 40 pass the first time the school falls to an approximate 70% pass rate. For 12 students not to pass says a lot. Technically for the BON this is not an acceptable percentage it's considered below average and the teaching methods may be questioned.

I graduated today from a school that consistently has a 99-100% pass rate on the NCLEX. It is not because they do such a super job educating everyone who comes in. Passing is a 78. Fail a class, out of the program till next year. Fail two classes, out of the program permanently. Half of my class failed in the first year.

Then there's HESI. It's supposed to have a predictive value - and at 850, they predict a 98% probability that you will pass NCLEX.

You have to score an 850 on HESI to graduate. If you don't score an 850, you don't graduate. You have three tries in the last semester, then a semester in summer and three more tries. Six tries total. No 850, no diploma, no sitting for NCLEx.

So lets do the math - 65 students accepted 8/2008. 34 students continuing, picked up 36 LVN 8/2009 - transitions for a total class of 80. Another 5 or so dropped, and about 20 people have yet to pass HESI. About 55 people in my cohortwill be "the graduating class 5/2010"... that would mean 54 out of 91 students who were accepted into the class of 2010 passes NCLEX the same year. 59% Heck of a success rate.

I say all of that to say that NCLEX pass rates aren't everything - look at retention. Find out their HESI policy.

Natingale, EdD, RN · May 16, 2010

nursing school is still difficult, i dont know how fine you were doing if failing the final exam caused you to fail the course.

not only is nursing school hard, but so is nursing

so look down and deep, and do some soul searching before you decide to jump back in.

the career in itself is no cakewalk.

i know this is where i belong, and with ALLLLLLLLLLL the sacrifices ive made, it is totally worth it to know, after thursday I am on my way to adding RN at the end of my name.

Nguyenap87 · May 17, 2010

I actually was doing pretty great, making A's in clinicals. I guess I just had an off day and failed my final by 1 point but it doesn't even matter how you do in the course if you failed the final, you failed the course. At least in my program.

I will definitely think about it some more, it's not something that I want to do right away.

Thanks for all your advice!

calledtodo · May 25, 2010

If you want it bad enough you will stick with it. There aren't as many rules in life as you may think. A portion of them we impose upon ourselves, such as will the school take me back? You won't know unless you apply. Show the school through academics and perserverance that you really want to be a nurse. People act as if failing a course or taking a break from nursing school doesn't give you a shot at nursing. There mere fact that you failed and are considering giving it another try, seems to imply that you really want to be a nurse. A good portion of people that fail never look back. They quit and say, I just don't have it in me to be a good nurse. Years later, some look back and say, I wish I would have given it another try. You may regret your choice that you let it go. You don't have to be perfect all the way around to make a good nurse. Just don't kill anyone and be a safe nurse who shows up for her shift. You will be fine. Those are the nurses that make it in the end. LOL!!

tfleuter, BSN, RN · May 25, 2010

Definately take some time and research a variety of schools and then apply to the ones that sound the most promising for your situation. As explained, don't rely on NCLEX pass rate. If anything, I am very suspecious of schools that advertise 99 or 100% pass rates, especially if they also lack a competitive entrance process. Use allnurses to get first hand accounts from current students and make sure to ask the admissions people about both the NCLEX and retention rate. A school that's consistantly scoring barely acceptable NCLEX pass rates may be at risk for loosing their accreditation. A program that consistantly weeds out 50% of their students by the last semester is not the kind of place I would want to take a chance on when it comes to paying for an education. If an unusually large proportion of students you talk to are unhappy with their choice of nursing school, there's probably a good reason for that.

Good luck and don't be discouraged! You can make this happen if it's something you really want! Good luck!