I failed out of Nursing School... Appealed and WON!!

[ToBeBornANurseJB]

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 ?

[Anna S, RN]

I'm an ADN nurse. All of our assignments were required to be written in APA format- and this was before the internet and formatting programs.

We studied nursing research, and "evidence based practice" was the foundation of our program.

We were told the difference between RNs (ADN or otherwise) and LPNs was critical thinking.

But...I'm certain there are LPN programs which stress critical thinking.

I didn't fail any classes. In fact, I did not have to take final exams in four of my hard science classes due to my grades being so high, but alas, I'm only an ADN.

Good for you for succeeding, but seriously, you need to get over yourself and the BSN vs. ADN thing.

[tara36278]

I've been a nurse for about 5 1/2 years and I can tell you that there is hardly any difference in a BSN and an ADN nurse. The difference is that BSN's can go on to grad school. My mother is an ADN and has worked for the past 25 years, in many different areas of nursing. I'm a BSN and will never live up to how great of a nurse she is!

ADN and BSN both take the same NCLEX and if you lined us all up and tried to guess who was an ADN and who was a BSN you would fail.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Anna S, RN said:

We were told the difference between RNs (ADN or otherwise) and LPNs was critical thinking.

Don't all nurses have to think critically? That seems like a rather ignorant statement to me. So then what do they teach LVNs? LVNs aren't nurses?

I know I can work in the hospital system here. If I did, that would require some critical thinking skills, would it not? I took & passed the NCLEX-PN & that required me to think critically.

I don't understand how being an RN would require one to think critically but as an LVN you wouldn't.

[floridanurse1983]

Pitt2Philly said:

Hospitals that employ larger numbers of BSN-prepared nurses have lower patient mortality rates, according to Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, FAAN, director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. A 10-percent increase in the proportion of nurses with BSNs was associated with a 7-percent decrease in patient deaths, she found in a study published in February in the Lancet.

Is there any reason to believe that the proportion of nurses with bachelor's degrees is associated with better outcomes? The answer is Yes, Aiken said in an interview.

Yes but what about ADN nurses at the top of their class VS BSN who barely squeaked by? I'd take an ADN without an entitlement problem over a barely passing BSN who thinks they deserve to be there just cause they can argue any day!

[Yave]

Now what makes you speak like that? You sound so bitter! You should go to school again and you will realize the importance of "Critical Thinking." Yes it makes a difference in nursing, but not limited only to nursing. Critical thinking is a skill and a tool. You will learn how to speak when you are communicating. You will learn how not to speak. You will learn to be professional.

[floridanurse1983]

icuRNmaggie said:

The author stated she has ADHD. Grandiose thoughts can occur if the symptoms are not well controlled. I believe that she may have a learning disability that affects her ability to express her thoughts on paper in an organized manner. I suspect that it took great effort for her to compose this essay and that her poor word choices are a part of her disability.These are enormous obstacles for a college student and her hard work and determination are commendable.

And being an effective nurse is also about word choice and clear communication. You think a civil suit attorney is not going to ridicule the crap out of her in open court because she has ADHD? Give me a break.

[Anna S, RN]

OrganizedChaos said:

Don't all nurses have to think critically? That seems like a rather ignorant statement to me. So then what do they teach LVNs? LVNs aren't nurses?

I know I can work in the hospital system here. If I did, that would require some critical thinking skills, would it not? I took & passed the NCLEX-PN & that required me to think critically.

I don't understand how being an RN would require one to think critically but as an LVN you wouldn't.

You did not read my whole post.

I said that we were told the difference between RNs and LPNs is critical thinking, not that I believed it.

I also said that I'm sure there are LPN programs which stress critical thinking.

I was alluding to the OP believing what she was told...without actually having any first-hand knowledge or experience, re: ADN vs. BSN.

I was an LPN for a number of years, and have now been an RN for years.

Please re-read my post.

[Anna S, RN]

floridanurse1983 said:

Yes but what about ADN nurses at the top of their class VS BSN who barely squeaked by? I'd take an ADN without an entitlement problem over a barely passing BSN who thinks they deserve to be there just cause they can argue any day!

Yes, that!

[Yave]

My goodness! How I wished I had what it takes to do what you did. I hope other students will learn from your experience. Congratulations!

[EricaRNinCO]

"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."

Really? And you know this how? I worked my ass off for my ADN and I sure as hell had to use critical thinking and evidence-based research. So perhaps you might want to hone those critical thinking skills and delve a little deeper into what separates an ADN from a BSN before spewing misinformation.

I hope that in your appeals and revelry of overcoming the system, that you are actually gaining nursing knowledge because you'll need it, assuming you pass the NCLEX. Yes, you'll still have to pass the same NCLEX that I passed (in the minimum 75 questions) with my lowly ADN degree. And once you pass your NCLEX and start actually working as a nurse, you will find that all you have learned in school is essential basic knowledge, but it is a drop in the bucket in comparison to what you need to know to be a competent nurse.

So, a sarcastic congratulations on your appeal. No nurse that I respect would be proud of such an accomplishment.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

OP, I have to disagree with your approach. Not meeting the minimum grade points for passing is still below passing. The time invested in appealing would have been better spent studying. There is no appealing NCLEX results. What will you do when you can't demonstrate minimum competency there and there is no further steps other than to pay up and take it again?

Also advise laying off the whole ADN vs BSN rhetoric- some of the best nurses I work with are diploma and ADN grads. It's so much more about the individual than the program completed. And as for having a calling? I hope you have an honest interest in working as a nurse because my experience has been those that only have a calling are the first to burn out.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Good for you for winning your appeal. To ensure your continuing success in school please learn some proofreading skills. If your incorrectly spelled direct quote by Florence [for which the source was not listed], referring to your educational path as a Bachelorette degree and a reference to Magnetic Status rather than Magnet were unintentional errors, you would be docked some serious points for letting those errors stand if this were a graded paper. Going forward I would suggest studying and actually passing your classes instead of appealing your failure. You probably won't get a third chance.