I failed a class- should I go to Pinning?

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I failed my critical care class by 2 points and will have to retake it in the spring. I am so bummed about having to wait to graduate, but my class is allowing people who failed critical care and those who have to retake the HESI to attend pinning. I am really torn about whether or not I should go. I am worried that if I don't go it might be one of those things that I will regret in the future. I am worried that if I do go it will be utter hell as all of my classmates are graduating and starting their new jobs. I don't really want to attend pinning with the class graduating in Spring as I don't know them.

I wanted pinning to be celebratory for my family, but I am thinking that we will have a hard time celebrating. My kids and husband were going to be the ones to pin me. We are pretty stressed financially right now and this failure has made that stress feel nearly overwhelming. Celebrating feels presumptive and inappropriate. But, this is my class. My group of people that i have cried with, struggled with, studied with, and gone through hell with for the last 2 years.

What should I do?

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Specializes in Postpartum & Nursery.

Awww man... I can't imagine how you must be feeling. Sorry that you won't get pinned with the rest of your class.The only advice I can give is to follow your gut. If you think that you're able to go and celebrate with your classmates, then go for it. If you think it will honestly be too difficult, don't put yourself through the torture. Hope that helps... :confused:

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Awww man... I can't imagine how you must be feeling. Sorry that you won't get pinned with the rest of your class.The only advice I can give is to follow your gut. If you think that you're able to go and celebrate with your classmates, then go for it. If you think it will honestly be too difficult, don't put yourself through the torture. Hope that helps... :confused:

Thanks. I would actually still be able to be pinned- I am just not able to graduate.

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

nah, i personnaly would not worry about pinning, i would gather my taughts, prepare for the next class, review whatever i could about the subject, and remediate the areas that had made me fail...

then i would retake the class, pass it, graduate, get a new job

and maybe the next vacation, take a cruise, and go to the bahamas, or something like that, i would take my nursing cerimone clothes, and dress up, hold a cocktail and take a picture at the beach!!!!

you made it!!!

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You know I never made any of the extra ceremonies or activities that took place at my school. I was always too busy working, lived in the opposite direction from everyone else, and usually never heard about anything anyway. I can't say that I suffered for it. You know how you will feel. If it is going to be a sad, humiliating affair for yourself and your family, then don't go. Instead, have your own celebration at the proper time for you and invite some of your close friends from school along with your family. A nice dinner party sounds like a nice idea. But if you think you can get through this, then go. The school says you can, so you shouldn't feel that you don't belong there. Good luck with getting back on track.

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If other people who are not graduating are going I would go.

I failed last year and now that I am repeating the people I am with just don't feel like my class. It feels really awkward, in the spring I will go to the pinning with my new class - it sure would have been really great to go with MY class.

But I would not do it if I was the only one - because I would feel too weird about it.

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The good news is that I would not be the only one. I do know a couple of people who are not graduating (either HESI or Critical Care) who will be there.

Do any of you know people who never went to their Prom in High School? I know a couple who made the decision not to go. One regrets it and the other does not.

I honestly do not see any benefit to me or my family by going. I am only worried that one day I may possibly regret it if I don't go. Of course, the sad looks and "I'm so sorrys" from my classmates won't help to make it a great experience. Some of these people I may never see again. This may be my only opportunity to say goodbye. I know that if I don't go to this pinning- I won't go to the pinning in Spring. I've already bought my pin, so at least I will have that.

I feel like I am already back on track. I have found a Nurse Tech job to supplement our income until May and I am positive that I will do great the second time around in this class. The class will be taught by different instructors this next semester which is a huge sigh of relief for me.

The biggest frustration is that I know that I could take the NCLEX today and pass. I am so frustrated with the sadistic gatekeeper mentality of nursing professors. The test questions in my program were 100x more difficult than the HESI or NCLEX questions. I have gotten A's and B's in all of my clinical courses until now- this class was just taught like crap and the questions were somehow different than other courses. *rant over*

I am leaning towards "no" now. I know that my classmates wouldn't be judgemental, because trust me plenty of super smart people have had trouble in this program, but I think that I would be more judgemental of myself- you know?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I was in a similar situation with my PhD graduation. I hadn't finished my dissertation in time to graduate with the rest of my cohort. But I would have been allowed to participate in the ceremony if I chose to.

I chose not to participate and do not regret it. I would have felt like a phoney and that would have taken the pleasure out of it for me. I waited to celebrate until I had truly finished and I could enjoy it fully. However I was on hand to sincerely congratulate my friends who did finish before me.

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I see things a bit differently. If the pinning ceremony means a lot to you then you should go. Granted it will be hard knowing your friends will be moving on to the next level whereas you have to stay back for another semester but if you go then you can just think of yourself celebrating ahead of time what you will have accomplished by the end of the spring.

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Well, after getting about 10 really positive phone calls from classmates I have decided to go to pinning. I am not 100% certain about this decision, but I have to admit that I feel loved by my classmates and like I am wanted there.

Thanks for all of the replies. I appreciate it.

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I would not even consider going. You get pinned when you successfully complete your nursing courses. If you failed a class and aren't done, in my opinion that means you don't have any business being at that particular pinning. You are now going to be part of a different class, I would go to that pinning, when you have actually earned it. JMHO :). It must have been devastating to fail that last course, I'm sorry that happened to you.

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Specializes in LTC.

I wouldn't go, personally. I wasn't even going to go to the pinning when I had actually graduated! I was held back a year because I failed the very last part of the semester which was the 5 week externship. I felt horrible. My family members were all notified a month ahead of time(after I passed the written final) that I was graduating in a few weeks and had reservations to attend the pinning ceremony. I was in anguish while explaining to them that I did not make the hospital externship.

So the class I was graduating with were all strangers and I and felt somewhat awkward because it wasn't the same people I shared laughs and tough times with for those first two years...but I still went. Suprisingly after I failed though, I got over it in a few days, worked on what I was going to do next to improve myself, took up a summer externship and passed the following year. Just thought I'd share my little story, I know how you feel in a way(although we all deal with things and think differently).

:redbeathe

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