How does a person fail clinical?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

Hi, Dratz :)

Well, I don't think it's so much that any instructor is "looking to fail" anyone; generally by the second year they're pulling for you, if they weren't before :rolleyes: .

That said, there are some things that are no-no's that you can expect will shorten your student experience. NOT following directions, not staying within your scope of practice (which, at this point, is anything outside of what you have already been taught and, if necessary, demonstrated competency on). Anything dangerous, of course, and that includes doing something you "didn't know" was dangerous. You're expected to practice safely. If you don't know something, please don't say you do. If you need help, please ask!

Placing patients in physical as well as emotional jeopardy. A small infraction may be a warning, a large one might be "it". Please don't take that to mean that any little thing you do could knock you out, just use sense and sensibility :)

If you're supposed to know certain skills, KNOW them. By our last semester, students who were not demonstrating the ability to do certain routine skills with an acceptable level of competency were dismissed. They were NOT dismissed without warning, however, and were given time to improve--at least, until the next clinical day, if that's the deal. If an instructor feels that, as you are fast approaching the end, you haven't been able to demonstrate these skills competently and confidently, you won't pass. It's not that s/he is out to get you, just that a certain standard has to be met, and it's not helping you any to send you out into the nursing world ill-prepared.

As far as I know, everywhere has the same standard: failing clinicals means failing the course. It's not the college's view that matters; it's up to the nursing department to implement the criteria for the Board of Nursing/ Board of Education. That doesn't mean you can't go back and take that course and clinical over again and succeed, that's common enough, providing there is space in the next year's class.

All that aside, please don't go into this next year trying to not get kicked out , go through your classes prepared, practiced, safe and professional. You might just enjoy it!! :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

If the student is prepared, knows their stuff like drugs, etc. the things that might get them failed are doing something that has the potential for harm, or making decisions on their own without consulting the instructor, violating school or hospital policies.

Sometimes it's a bunch of little things and a seemingly small thing is the final straw. Like being slow, disorganized, etc.

I'd like you think about your question which is "why are they kicked out if they fail clinical". It doesn't make sense to allow them to continue if they fail clinical. We need safe and competent nurses. I do believe in 2nd chances and lessons learned and think that unless it was a sentil event that students should be allowed to repeat the semester after failing clinical if there's a spot for them. Isn't this the practice at most schools?

It's good to know what will get you kicked out. Just toe the line, play the game their way, make no decisions on your own, be prepared and know your stuff. Stop and look up stuff you don't know. If you ever find yourself in a position where you are questioning "is this right?" then stop. Remember your instructor, not the nurses on the floor, are the ones who set your duty description, never do anything you're uncomfortable with. Keep a low profile and don't talk too much. (wink)

NoWaNrN, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

we always had to do the 5 rights when passing meds and 3 checks to make sure the drugs were right. The instructor watched the student do 2 checks said make sure you do your 3 check at the bedside and ask the pt there name. Instructor watched the student go into the rm to the right pt then went to okay the next students drugs. Well the first student came back out and said OK the instructor said did you do your 3rd check she said uh no well thats a big fail.

Dratz · Jul 31, 2006

Thanks !!. When I pass all my clinicals (not if I do) you all will be the first to know lol. :wink2: Thanks for all the tips.

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · Jul 31, 2006

I've never heard of a student kicked out of the program b/c they failed clinical. Encouraged to move to the LPN program, yes, but not kicked out of the RN program. Various students that I know who have failed clinical, failed b/c they always showed up late, didn't call when absent, showed up without pre-clinical assignments completed, couldn't organize their day for the life of them, had to be talked through everything (literally....nothing seemed to stick), weren't prepared to practice their skills, never improved their skills, had a bad attitude, or simply missed too many days. I've also seen a student almost fail b/c the instructor basically didn't like her. Little things that most teachers might have brushed off, or taken to be minor were constantly pointed out as being a big deal, so the student kept getting into a deeper and deeper hole being more and more discouaged. She ended up passing, but only after hugely sucking up to the instructor. Students who have failed at my school are offered the opportunity to make it up at the end of the term either before or after exam times. They make it up in 1/2 as many days b/c the make is 12hr days as opposed to normal 6hr clinical days. A few have had to drop back a year, and one student finally realized that the RN program was over her head, but I can't think of anyone who was actually kicked out. What not to do: let the instructor know that you don't like doing clinical on that particular floor (always have a great attitude....even if you're thinking otherwise), hand in crummy assignments, show up late, show up out of uniform, go out of your scope of practice, and never cover up mistakes. Thats about all I can think of.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

I never heard of failing a clinical rotation either. You either didn't finish all the work that was required of you which got you an "incomplete" which could turn into a fail grade if you didn't take care of it, or you were booted out of the nursing program because of unsafe practice or putting a patient in extreme jeopardy and were never heard of again by the rest of the nursing students. Mostly, the clinical instructors were patient beyond patient to help students learn how to be nurses. I always thought they had one heck of a hard job considering all the different student personalities they had to work with.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

For what it's worth, I unfortunately have seen students kicked out of clinical. Not to freak the OP of course (!) just responding to the last two posts. My school wasn't so unusual either, I don't believe; students who didn't make it through for the reasons I gave in my previous post were simply told they would not be completing the course. They weren't encouraged to go into an LPN program; actually, unless it was something aggregious, they were usually encouraged to practice up and come back next time.

Sometimes it was early in their student careers, sometimes late. The ones that hurt the REST of the class most were the late ones--as late as weeks prior to graduation Those were tough on the rest of us, too.

I remember one gal who wasn't unsafe, exactly, she was just....really shaky at skills she had been passed on earlier and for whatever reason, couldn't "get it together" enough at the end for the instructor to see her graduate

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

Thanks !!. When I pass all my clinicals (not if I do) you all will be the first to know lol. :wink2: Thanks for all the tips.

Precisely! WHEN not if :)

Annabelle57 · Aug 1, 2006

Most of our clinicals this semester (2 of the 3) had a skills checkoff attached with them: you demonstrated the proper steps, from memory, of a certain basic nursing skill like NG tube insertion, central line dressing change, foley insertion, and the different parts of a body system assessment (neuro, CV, resp, etc). For the practical skills, you had three opportunities (with rotating faculty members so to ensure no one was failing you out of spite) to pass, each on separate days. Only a few people ever made it to attempt #3, and most of the time, they pass. For the systems assessments, there was only ONE attempt at that, but I understand everyone passed that, too. However, failing either one of the skills checkoffs meant you failed the course.

During checkoffs, faculty would prompt you somewhat - enough so that the people who studied hard but just had awful nerves were able to remember, but not enough to hold hands for people who just weren't prepared.

CHATSDALE · Aug 1, 2006

got a lot of good advise here

important ones were keep within your scope of practice..don't do anything you have not received instruction no matter what the floor nurses say . if this comes up go t the instructor on the floor and let her fight the battles

they will not hesitate to do so

make sure that your basic skills are hammered into your head, these skills will serve you for the rest of your career they are that important

be friendly with your instructors...these are not your enemy...they are people who are working at a very stressful jobs trying to make a living and providing the next generation with nurses you would want taking care of your loved ones

be confident in your self the past classes were about getting grades the

is is about getting it right

oldornurse99 · Aug 1, 2006

I am a preceptor. Things I can't tolerate are: an "I know it all attitude" and unwilling to ask for help, a lazy person,and people slow to think ,act or react appropriately..