I failed a nursing course, should I go back?

[Nurse Pure-Spring, CNA, LPN]

Hey everyone!

I am currently in the LPN program and I was unsuccessful in our PN-118 class. We need at least an 80% to pass and move on to the next class. Unfortunately, I finished the class with a 77%. I felt extremely discouraged and almost withdrew my seat from the program. Lately I have been going back and forth on whether or not I want or even SHOULD continue on. In regards to going forward, I noticed at the end that our professors ask a lot of "nursing consideration" questions. Sort of like 'what are you going to do and look out for in this patient with this disease?'.

Do you have any tips on what to focus on in these exams? I am afraid to go back because I do not want to fail again... Please help! Thank you :)

[OneWhisper]

I know it's very discouraging to fail a course and have to retake it! I failed one, and it was right before my last semester, so it was really discouraging! But, I was so close to the end, it wasn't even a consideration of whether or not to finish! If it's something you really want, you definitely should continue on with it. If it's not something you really want, then you might want to consider something else. That's something you have to look inside yourself to find the answer to!

If you had a specific example of a question, I might be able to help you better. But, I'll try with what I think you're asking - If you have a question, that is asking you what you should look for in a pt that has a specific disease, in order to answer that question, you need to know the disease process. You need to know what would be EXPECTED with that disease process. Then, you can figure out what you would be looking for in regards to that disease. If the question is asking something about, what you would report related to a disease process or something along those lines, then you would need to know the disease process and what would be EXPECTED, so then you would also know what is UNEXPECTED, and when something occurs that you aren't EXPECTING, you would want to report that or assess the pt further. Even if it's something you EXPECT with the disease process, if it is causing the pt DISTRESS, then you need to assess the pt further and figure out what to do from there. I feel like I'm getting off track here! Lol! That's why I felt if I had a specific example of a question, I could help show you how to break it down!

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

Go back. It is hard to fail a class, I have.

Write down the disease and then put down signs and symptoms, both obvious and not so obvious. What would you assess?

Yes, give us an example and let us know what you think and the nurses will help you think it through. This is one of those things that gets easier as you do more of them.

[Nurse Pure-Spring, CNA, LPN]

Thank you guys for the feedback! I was quite upset until I read more about why I should not give up so rashly. I have spent so much time, energy and money into doing this and I realized I should not let 3% of a grade determine whether or not I can be a nurse. So thank you for your words!

In regards to a question or even subject that I struggled most with in PN-118 (Med/Surge I) was the nutritional aspects that tie into the diseases. Questions such as: "a patient has been diagnosed with GERD, what things would you teach them to help control the GERD as well as to limit flare ups?" The answer would be to not lay down 2-3 hours after meals, avoid foods and drinks that are spicy/acidic/caffeinated. TUMS/PPIs/H-2RBs will help but not to exceed the daily recommended dose. But other questions such as potassium, sodium, diabetes. The professor wants to know what diets work best with these patients.

Our PN-118 course comes with a clinical portion as well, I spent too much time making care plans that I failed studying the nutrition pieces. Keeping balance is hard. Any tips or mentions? :)

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

The only thing I can say is that now you know where you need to focus the second time around.

You can start reviewing these items in your books and lecture notes now before you start the class again.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Yes!

Nursing school is hard. Not only is it hard academically, it is hard emotionally. When i first went through nursing school I felt every semester i was having a mental break down. When I finished my last class I did not feel it.....but when I got to graduation and walked across the stage my face was filled with tears. It was an incredible experience. It was incredible not only because I am finally accomplishing my dream of being a nurse, but this was one of the very few things I completed in my life in its entirety. I want this feeling for you as well.

Go snatch some wigs!