I failed out of Nursing School... Appealed and WON!!
I am currently a Senior Nursing Student, I have read countless blogs, threads, and websites and have yet to find a story about a successful nursing school appeal. My nursing school journey is unique & I hope that it inspires those who have lost hope to never give up.... I failed out & appealed my grade. It is possible to win a nursing school appeal... I know this because I won MINE!!!
Members are discussing the differences between ADN and BSN nurses, with some arguing that periodic NCLEX testing is necessary to keep up with advances in nursing education and procedures. There is also debate about the importance of critical thinking skills in nursing, with some members questioning whether all nurses, regardless of degree, need to think critically. Additionally, the impact of having a BSN versus an ADN on patient outcomes is being discussed, with some members highlighting the importance of practical nursing knowledge beyond just passing the NCLEX.
I didn't choose nursing it chose me. I firmly believe that God called upon me to become a nurse. I know this because he planted a seed in me long before I knew it myself. I've had quite the journey in nursing school, and I attribute my success to persevering and never giving up. Florence Nightingale once said, "I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an accuse". This quote really means a lot to me and is what inspired me to keep going even when the odds were against me.
I was diagnosed with ADHD as a young child. I have always struggled, but I have learned to manage my disability, and I continue to strive to be an exceptional student. It is because of my learning disability, I have to make a daily effort to stay on top of my studies, and overcome the adversity of my circumstances.
In nursing school you're only able to retake one nursing course, which I already did a year prior. However, last fall my worst nightmare became a reality, I failed a second course by less than half a point, 0.43 to be exact. I was completely devastated but I wasn't going to give up that easy. If a nursing student fails a class regardless of whether it's their first or second failure, and if that student has reason to believe that the grade does not reflect his or her academic ability then they can appeal the grade with the dean of nursing. And that's exactly what I did, as a Bachelorette nursing student we have been taught that the best practice is evidenced based. After all that is what separates a BSN degree versus an ADN degree, we are trained to use our critical thinking knowledge and research the best clinical evidenced based practice.
I researched nursing school appeals to see if there were ever any students to fail out but were able to win an appeal. To my dismay I did not find any successful nursing school appeals even ones that went to court. That was a little discouraging but I knew I was born to be a nurse and that even if my appeal was not successful at least I gave it my all. Any nursing student can attest to the fact that it is infuriating when you get a test question and every answer available is correct. However, there is always one that is "most correct". Those pesky priority questions and select all that apply will always be the death of me. In this particular course there were three exam questions that I knew were reasonably debatable and I was going to find the evidence.
I wrote my nursing appeal letter and made a meeting with the dean. I found evidence base practice in my text-books, reading material from other classes and even in an NCLEX book that my school endorsed. All I needed were two points added back in order to be successful, I knew I had to appeal this because I was meant for greatness. After a long few weeks, I finally received the letter that would determine my future career as a nurse. I opened the letter and it said that my appeal was successful. That I was given back two out three of the test questions that were contested. I was in tears because I had never fought so hard for something in my entire life. But it was worth it and the only explanation that I can come up with is that this experience was a test. God knew I was supposed to be a nurse but how far was I willing to go? Also, one day I will have patients with way bigger fears and battles than I have ever had to endure. He wanted to know that I was willing to stand up for what I believe in and that I would speak even if my voice shook.
I graduate FINALLY in August this year and I plan to attend graduate school to pursue a masters in nursing. I would love to become a nurse practitioner but I think after this experience I would love to pursue a degree in nursing education. Nursing school is hard, I especially know this and hopefully my story will inspire others to never give up. I couldn't have done it with out God because he is the one who called me to be a nurse. I could have thrown my hands up and quit but I didn't. I inspire to always attribute my success to never giving or taking an accuse, like Florence Nightingale. Little did she know that her one observation of how important hand washing was between patients would forever change healthcare. And how it gave nurses and future nurses like me the hope and courage to make a difference.
-Hope this inspires others to keep going & believe in the impossible, JB ?
Actually the difference in ADN and BSN by most state boards of nursing is an emphasis on leadership, not critical thinking. The emphasis in almost ALL ADN and BSN programs is critical thinking, because the NCLEX is weighted in critical thinking (of course nursing knowledge is required too.)
I didn't choose nursing it chose me. I firmly believe that God called upon me to become a nurse. I know this because he planted a seed in me long before I knew it myself.
Ugh, I just know I'm going to cringe reading this original post.
The wrong "there" was used at the end of the post as well.
OrganizedChaos said:
The PP won't correct you but I have nothing better to do, so I will.
*SENTENCE x2
If you're gonna be rude, use spellcheck.
Ok, so there's a difference between ADN & BSN nurses. But she still failed. Period. Why does she think she's better than anyone else who failed? Maybe if she was more determined she would've passed instead of feeling so entitled.
Specializes in Long-term care, finance, appeals, more...
Florence Nightingale's actual quote was not what you said, but rather, I attribute my success to this: "I never gave or took an excuse†(Mason, 2012, p. 45). Please quote her correctly if you must use her words to support your cause. Also please use citations with page numbers when using direct quotes. Thank you. --T Dunaway RN BSN RAC-CT MHA/Ed, MSN, FNC, PhD student (Nursing Instructor).
Mason, J. (2012). Let go of whatever holds you back. ​Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Florence Nightingale's actual quote was not what you said, but rather, I attribute my success to this: "I never gave or took an excuse (Mason, 2012, p. 45). Please quote her correctly if you must use her words to support your cause. Also please use citations with page numbers when using direct quotes. Thank you. --T Dunaway RN BSN RAC-CT MHA/Ed, MSN, FNC, PhD student (Nursing Instructor).
Mason, J. (2012). Let go of whatever holds you back. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Ugh, I just know I'm going to cringe reading this original post.
Take a deep breath. You're a psych nurse you know. Listen to the message not the messenger.
A young wide-eyed hopeful destined for greatness unappreciated by tyrannical old bats posing as instructors fights back and regains her rightful place continuing in Florence Nightingale's inexcusable footsteps.
That's about it.
Any similarities real or imagined are not the intent of this writer.
To the OP: Good luck with the rest of your nursing education. I'm glad that the outcome of the appeal is what you wanted it to be.
I do have to say that I take offense with your posted remarks regarding the ADN vs BSN. I am an ADN student graduating very soon. In my program critical thinking was emphasized and taught. Everything that we learned was based on evidence based practice, a term I have heard ad nauseum at this point.
I do plan on continuing my education and pursuing a BSN. I plan, in the pursuit of my BSN, to write a lot of papers and learn things that will supplement my nursing education.
Critical thinking and nursing based on evidence based practice is something that I am learning right now.
I urge you to choose your words more carefully in the future and to evaluate how your words come off to other people. It is possible that you are inadvertently offending people (as you have done with your post) and that will make the rest of your nursing education, career and life more difficult if that becomes a pattern.
Last time I heard anything about it, ADN and BSN students both take the SAME NCLEX! Yes, BSN students get more research experience and research training in school, but in ADN school I was still taught EBP and continue to use it on a daily basis as a nurse (which includes my critical thinking skills).
I also agree with some of the others who have voiced the following opinion. I worked hard to pass nursing school and if someone who fails just appeals and gets back in what is the point in me continuing to study hard and fight for my good grades? I can just go appeal it, right?
I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it.
When I read the original post it was immediately apparent why the OP failed in the first place, and why she will continue to do so in spite of her extensive critical thinking and BSN book-larnin' . As others have pointed out, the lack of attention to detail and apparent inability to "own her own mistakes" would seem to indicate greater issues that need to be sorted out. I truly am hopeful the OP took the lesson of her own failure to heart and is using that lesson to reflect upon how she can improve herself.
Signed,
The BSN who was once an ADN who will probably be your trainer on your first real job provided you get through the NCLEX and the remainder of your classes.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Mully said:
That's why when I hear of someone who just barely failed due to 2 questions, then decided to fight to get herself re-admitted, I quickly take her side.
I don't agree. She had already failed once before & was let back into the program. Then she failed again. Is it horrible that she failed by less than a point? Yes. But do I take her side? No. She could've used all that energy that she used to fight, to study for her test.
NCLEX style questions are tough to get use to but obviously people comprehend them. It is a different way of thinking, definitely. It takes awhile to get use to. But the OP should not have been let back into the school after she failed for the second time.
Since the successful appeal resulted in the reversal of answers to two exam questions, in the interest of true fairness, I wonder if the other students in the course then got their grades adjusted accordingly.
. As others have pointed out, the lack of attention to detail and apparent inability to "own her own mistakes" would seem to indicate greater issues that need to be sorted out. I truly am hopeful the OP took the lesson of her own failure to heart and is using that lesson to reflect upon how she can improve herself. 
viperblue72
22 Posts
Actually the difference in ADN and BSN by most state boards of nursing is an emphasis on leadership, not critical thinking. The emphasis in almost ALL ADN and BSN programs is critical thinking, because the NCLEX is weighted in critical thinking (of course nursing knowledge is required too.)
viperblue72 LPN, ADN, soon to be BSN