Help! I'm petitioning for readmission into nursing!

[eaglebritt]

I did not make it through my second semester of nursing and I am petitioning for readmission for the spring. I need help on how to form what I want to say. They ask you to answer the following three questions.... What I put after them is not what I intend to send in, it is just letting you know what my issues or remedies are..

1. What do you believe to be the cause of your inability to meet academic program requirements? (Please identify and describe circumstances on a separate sheet of paper.)

I had a lot of difficulty sleeping and, therefore, I was often very tired in class, which made it difficult for me to pay attention to lectures and take my own notes. I no longer am having those issues though. I also have a 2 1/2 year old little girl who always wanted my attention, which made it hard to study. The main thing was that I do not have good study habits and when I do study, I cannot retain the information (reading: I tried highlighting important info as I went along, taking notes, reading back over... nothing worked to make it stick). Also, I cannot focus well. I believe I may have add, which I plan to see my doctor about, if that is the case.

2. Why do you think your performance will be improved in the future?

I have a good support system now. My boyfriend plans to help me in any way possible (quizzing me, watching my little one, etc..). My family has said they will keep my daughter for me, in order for me to study with no distractions. Also, she most likely will be in headstart, which will allow me more time to my self (study time). I also plan to get the help I need in order to study and take tests better.

3. Describe in detail what you have done or plan to do, prior to the semester you might be eligible for readmission that will enhance your probability of success.

I have looked up many different study tools. I manage my time poorly, so I plan to a schedule each week and write out what all I have to do (class, lab, work, travel time, appts, etc..) so that I can better manage my time. I also plan to try and find a study buddy, so that I have someone who is also in nursing to help me out. They have tutoring once a week, that I plan to attend. And there is a skills lab, that i also plan to go to, to see if they can help me to formulate a good study plan. I plan to start studying now, since I have do have all of the books. So that I will hopefully get a head start at learning what does and does not work for me.

Any help with how to actually state what I need to say, or really anything would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you have any study tips, I would love to hear them!

[direw0lf, BSN]

I would say more about the resources/tools/coping methods you will do this time around and less about what problems you had just IMHO. Talk about using the school: contacting your teachers more and peer tutoring even counselling there (for ADD or stress/time management). The study buddy and skills lab is good, say how often you will do that such as 3x a week or after class etc. Talk about what problems you had in past tense (not "I manage my time poorly" but "I managed my time poorly and learned how to organize now by doing XYZ") say you realize the value of a college education and it's importance and priority to you!

Good luck to you!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

The more specific your plan is, the more likely they will approve your reinstatement.

For example, someone to take care of your daughter while you are studying: 'I have arranged for either my mother, sister, aunt, and boyfriend to take her while I study (daughter needs to be physically away from your house while you study)." Look into government daycare assistance. Even if you don't use it, you can say "If all of my family support falls through, the XXX will provide money to send her to daycare while I study".

"I will meet with each of my instructors weekly to determine areas that I need to improve"

"I will meet with each instructor following each test to determine why I answered questions wrong to improve my critical thinking skills for the next test."

"I will meet with a tutor X times per week"

Avoid vague statements like "I plan on improving my study skills". State "I plan on improving my study skills by attending Skills Lab sessions on Time Management, Organization, Improving Study Skills"

[annie.rn]

Don't use the word "plan to". It makes it sound like you may or may not do it. Use "I WILL".

I will now critique each paragraph w/ suggestions for what you can write in quotation marks:

1. Explain HOW you have overcome your problem sleeping and how much sleep you are getting now.

"I had a lot of difficulty sleeping which affected my ability to retain material secondary to fatigue. I have improved my sleeping habits by (explain what you've done) and I now am getting an average if (#) hours of sleep each night. Since I have begun doing this, I find that I am no longer tired and I am now much better able to assimilate and retain information."

You have not explained adequately how you will address your study habits. You've explained that nothing you did last time worked but then you don't go into detail about methods you might try. Maybe you could go NOW to a student assistance type place where they can help you come up with ways to study and take notes and tests. Then you will be able to say,

"I had (name problems) studying but I have received helped from (insert name of place/person) and I have learned the following techniques to improve my note taking and study skills: (list what you've learned). I am hopeful that these techniques will empower me to succeed."

You say you may have ADD and are going to go to your MD. I would suggest saying,

"I have learned about ADD and I feel I have a lot of the symptoms. I have an appt. with my MD on (insert date) to be evaluated. If found to have ADD, I will get treatment. I found out about a support group for students with ADD that I will attend if diagnosed with ADD. This will improve my study and test taking skills." (Look for such a support group to see if there is one in your area. Don't say it, of course, if there isn't one.)

Is it possible to take a course of some kind before this is due to show that your study skill plans are working? Then you'd be able to say,

"I took (insert class here) this summer and received an A. This would not have been possible before I made the above mentioned changes."

2.) Again, you need to be much more specific.

i.e., "I have a young daughter that requires a lot of my attention, as most children do. Last semester I did not have adequate resources in place to help me w/ my daughter so that I could have enough uninterrupted time to study.

This time around, my family and friends have agreed to help me out more. They saw how devastated I was when I failed out of the program. They now see more clearly how important the goal of becoming a nurse is to me. They really want to help me make that happen.

My mother's schedule will allow her flexibility to watch my child so that I can study w/o distractions. She has spoken to her boss and her boss has agreed to let her schedule herself around my school days once my schedule becomes available.

I also have childcare help from my significant other.

My daughter will be going to preschool (#) days/week for (#) hours each day. I will use this time to concentrate on schoolwork."

Of course I am making up the stuff about your mom's boss, etc. I'm not saying to put that in if it isn't true. However, you need to describe HOW this extra help will happen not just that it will.

3.) Again, specifics.

"I have been researching study tools and I believe that (name study tools) will work very well for me. I like them because (explain why). I think they will work better for me than my old way of studying because (explain reasons).

I have also been researching planning tools to help me organize and utilize my time better. I plan on using (name planner). I like this planner because (list why).

I am going to use a study buddy if I am re-admitted to the program. I plan on finding a study buddy by observing my classmates. I will look for someone who is very organized and has good study habits so that I might learn from him/her. If this doesn't work, I could also place an add on the bulletin board. I could also ask a faculty member for a recommendation.

I am going to take advantage of the tutoring center and skills lab as much as I need to in order to succeed.

In summary, I realize I did not maximize the use of all of my resources in my last attempt at the nursing program. Although it was painful to fail out, I feel like this failure may have been a blessing in disguise. It has allowed me time to reflect on where I went wrong. This reflection has pushed me to come up with an action plan for completing any future nursing program successfully. Thank you for your consideration."

O.K., OP. I know this was really long. I hope it has helped. I'm sure there are several people on this board who have sat on the decision making side of this process. They will be able to give you the wisest advice. My advice is what I think would work but I am not an educator.

Good luck :-). I hope your support systems follow through and that you are successful. I think consistent childcare will be very important for you.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

^Well said.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

annie.rn just said everything I could have, and then some. Good advice!

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

Part of what you'll want to do is ensure everything is in past tense. Never use the words "thing", "it", and "that"

Example: "The main thing was that I do not have good study habits and when I do study, I cannot retain the information"

Better: "The main issue was that I did not have good study habits and when I did study, I could not retain the information.

Best: During my previous semester, I lacked the knowledge of good study practices. I have reflected on the studying issues, and (here's what I'm going to do instead).

Keep it in the past and let them see that you have a plan now. Best of luck to you!

[eaglebritt]

Thank you very much!

[eaglebritt]

Thank you so much!