I guess I need encouragement or experiences or something. I’m so depressed I cannot even think straight.
I’ll try to make this short. I was in a LVN program up until this past Thursday. I was doing very well. I was passing everything and I have so many A’s and 100’s at that and I was so proud of myself. I know the book. Test me on it now and I know I will pass. I didn’t memorize it, I learned it. And my skills, my grades are nothing but 100’s. But at my school you must pass everything you do with no less than a 70.
If all your grades are 100’s and your final average is an A or a B or even a C but you fail the final, you are out. You must pass everything you do. And I was passing. But my very last final, the very last thing, last test, last sheet of paper I would be touching for this portion of my courses, I got so nervous while taking our test ( a skills test!) and I went into panic mode and I froze. And I am now paying for it. I made a 66. I missed it just by 4 points.
This was only my first semester and only the first portion of a year program. I am 26 years old I will be 27 in September. I feel so old, if I wasn't busy with my husband when I was 21 I would have been finished with this by now I think.
I know there are other nurses out there that don't start till 41+ but I had/have goals I have set for myself and this has set me back. I feel so bad and so low and so dumb and worthless. They make us pay for all our uniforms and our classes for the semester at the beginning of the program before we even need our uniforms and classes for the 2nd half which I did not make it to, you pay of it and if you do not make it you are just out of luck and stuck with 4 ugly sets of scrubs that you will never use again that cost a total of $300. Not to mention the classes that I paid for that I don’t even have a chance to take and I can’t get my money back for now.
I go tomorrow to talk to the head of the department and see if she will let me back in the program. They have a rule that you may have a chance to redo the program but you are given only 1 redo but they make you take the entire level and all the classes over again just because you messed up on one test. If I get a chance at my 1 redo I know I will do good I will keep myself calm.
It wasn’t that I didn’t know what I was doing, it was that I froze. I have been doing so good. I was so proud I wish I could show you all my 100’s. I’ve been devoting my life to this.
I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was 6 years old and I put off everything for my husband when we were younger. We got married young and he was in the military. Now I feel so sad and depressed.
I’m not looking for pity here, I’m looking for options and to see if there is anyone out there who can say, hey I was where you are and now I made it, this is how…I have a 2 year old daughter. My mom even quit her job so she could stay home and watch my baby for me. That makes me feel like crap. I do everything for my daughter and feel so bad, I feel like I let her down. I feel so low.
I was a medical assistant before I started this program so I knew a little going in and I love working with patients and I’ve always wanted this. I feel like it is the end of the world, although people tell me it is not, I can’t help but think it. I need to work on my test anxiety, I was doing so good. It wasn’t that I didn’t know what I was doing. I just can’t believe I did this to myself. I do have dreams of getting my MSN and for my daughter I still want to get there.
I have 6 more classes to take to be able to start a BSN program. I had a plan to just start with LVN and get better at skills and also a way to get my foot in the door over all. But now I’m just so depressed. If I get another chance I will not be able to start school again till August, it is to late to enroll in any other classes at the moment and I quit working so I do not have a job at the moment.
I feel like sewage, if it wasn't for my daughter I wouldn't have even got out of bed today. Prayers and any info or thoughts, experiences, anything, anyone can give me would be nice. Thanks.
By now you've had your meeting. I don't have enough time to read through all the posts to see what happened, but I am sure you can either re-enter or start at a new school. The important thing to remember from my perspective is that your experience was completely human and normal.
Try to psych reading or work with a school counselor. This will not be the last stressful situation you face. In ten years, when you have saved a couple of lives because of your calm under pressure, you will tell stories of how you learned the value of the skill in nursing school. Nursing school stories are always funnier in retrospect...:).
First off, no respect JohnnyDoGood, but you are doing no good.
Anyway...
You have to believe in yourself. If this is a dream...then do not let anything get in your way. I am thirty years old and have two children. I just recieved my results and am now officially an RN. It was a struggle, but well worth it in the end. Nothing is supposed to be easy...when things are tough and rocky you just have something more to be proud of in the end. I don't even know you, but I can see that you are compassionate and know what you want...don't stop until you get there.
And do not let anyone discourage you...
I agree with you 100%..from no respect to JohnnyDoGood to do not let anyone discourage you...
I sympathise with you. If you were to ask me, I think nursing schools are all for profit sake.
I too have failed a semester out of nursing school, it was hard to take in, but went right back at the 2nd chance I was given and made it till the end of the program. Don't be discourage. Like the previous posts have said, sometimes life doesn't go the way we want it to, but don't start thinking on other programs. The poster who's sugggesting you try surgical tech, radiation thech, etc is so inconsiderate. It has taken you so much to be admitted in a nursing program and go through the the 1stsemester that to simply change majors and think this is not cut out for you, is pretty darn unfair. Hang on, you will make it! And allow yourself to cry, sob&be mad about it--it shows how important this is to you. As for your school changing te rules solely for you--I doubt it. Just give yourself another chance, especially if you can repeate the semester. One day when you have your license, it's not gonna say you are a semester repeater, it willl have your name and your title only. Theses are just growing pains, I was your age as well while goin' through the program. I salute you for your strength and courage....you are a star already! And your family is proud of you regardless--failing a course doesn't make you a less qualified nurse. So take the time off, relax and you'll be all set to go next time you take the semester all over again!
i don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.
general george s. patton
okay, i know that should be person, but that's not how he said it. life knocks you on your butt sometimes. focus not on being knocked down, but how you are going to stand up, dust your butt off and move forward.
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
I agree with most poster.s...brush yourself off and fight fight fight!!!! My LPN program had many students stop/quit/fail between semeters and start again the next year. They just started where they left off, only a year later. Many did that and are great nurses!
I definately agree that you should get the definitive diagnosis for dyslexia and maybe anxiety. Take advantage of the helping programs with ADA, and MAKE the school assist YOU to pass! That should really be their goal--to HELP you PASS! (oh not if you were truly having issues like failing everything, etc., but that isn't true with you!)
As for options....you can't start until August? There are many months between then and now, and how about doing some online prereq's for RN during this "down time". Keeps you busily working towards your goal!
Any ways, keep your chin up, head held high and go girl go!!!!!
Specializes in Leaning towards Trauma and Lifeflight.
ALL of the nursing schools in this area, NW Ohio, require 2.6 or better in all core classes, ONE retry. Then you are out...for good, no other program can take you. A friend missed by one point on her last patient log prior to graduation with BSN, had failed and retaken a class two years prior while her husbands chemo was going badly...out and done, no recourse. So there is stress attached to everything we do in school.
I've been in a lot of emergency life or death situations, including under fire a loooong way from home. I handle stress well. I froze on a test. I knew the material, I had nearly all A's...I just couldn't find the information file in my brain for some reason. I wrote a note on the test and turned it in. The Instructor called me later and said "Take the weekend and relax, come to the testing center Monday and I''ll leave you a copy there" automatic ten points off for not taking it on time...I got a 99.
It's not a personal or intellectual failing, it happens to nearly all people now and then. A good instructor will accomodate as long as it's not a routine(there are plenty of people trying to game the system)
For those few people who gave you are hard time here, I''ll just say..."Must be tough to live in perfection all of the time, bet it makes it rough when you have to interact with Doctors"
Hang in there and good luck, TJ (52yo nrs student)
Specializes in Med/surg, ER/ED,rehab ,nursing home.
I did well in school and in practical factors. Started as an LVN. In my class we had someone who was doing it all again. She just had testing issues. But was a good and caring nursing student. You will find that on the job, you will experience brain freeze situation. I remember doing my LVN boards, and being sick. I would rush through the test portion, go out to my car, set my alarm, and nap till the next testing period. Olden days. Then I decided to apply what I had earned in college ( an associate degree) towards a RN program. I took challege exams on a pass/fail basis in nursing. Passed all of them. But when I took the practical it took me 3 times to pass. I felt defeated. I know what did happen to me....blood sugar issues causing mental fog...so I learned to be more prepared, keeping a pocket of candy, made my lunch and brought it with me. I passed! Finally. It was expensive to do this redo, but I wanted to be able to do everything for my patient. Not have to wait till a RN got free to push a drug. I took my boards, back when evey question was answered by filling in the dot. And I passed the first time. You know the Snoopy cartoon happy dance? That was me. So do not give up. Your failure will be your strenght. Something you can tell your daughter about. BTW, my husband made a career of the military....it took me years to get my schooling done back in the old days. Good Luck
The failure rate in nursing schools is 25-50%. Don't feel like a failure. I didn't make it all the way through last year, so I have to wait a year to jump back in. Meanwhile, I'm taking classes that may help me get through it the second time, and also for my Bachelor's in Nursing. You are VERY young. Enjoy the break from nursing classes, but become more prepared before you jump back in again. You CAN do it!
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
If you did as good as you say for all tests but the final, it sounds like you may have test anxiety. When you are overcome with anxiety you cannot think straight. Talk to your doctor about this problem.
I say go to RN school, either ADN or BSN. The programs are pretty different than the lvn program. They dont fail you out on one grade, it is the overall average. Either way I am guessing you start at square one with the LVN program so just write off one more year and go for the two year program right off the bat....
My thoughts exactly. If you are thinking of going all the way to MSN one day anyway, go for the ASN now (you know I'm sure that LPNs have to do 3 semesters of the 4 for nursing ASN programs, at all the schools I checked out anyway). And all the prereq's you need in the future you can do in the meantime, chemistry or patho, foreign language, whatever you'll need for BSN or MSN. Don't give up; you are going to make a great nurse!
Sorry you are going through this but look at it this way, every dissapointment is for a good reason. Maybe God is just telling you to go straight for your RN or BSN. You sound like you were born to be a nurse. Just take the few classes you have left for the BSN or apply to the ADN program instead of beating yourself up on getting in the LVN program. Maybe that's not the path God wants you to take. Pray about it and go for it, and don't worry you already are a good nurse.
darrell
103 Posts
By now you've had your meeting. I don't have enough time to read through all the posts to see what happened, but I am sure you can either re-enter or start at a new school. The important thing to remember from my perspective is that your experience was completely human and normal.
Try to psych reading or work with a school counselor. This will not be the last stressful situation you face. In ten years, when you have saved a couple of lives because of your calm under pressure, you will tell stories of how you learned the value of the skill in nursing school. Nursing school stories are always funnier in retrospect...:).
Get up, dust off, and get back in the ring...:).
D