I'm really struggling here with a tough decision, please help!

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Hello everyone, let me start with the basics. I am in my first semester of nursing school, and let me just say I started off really rough. First, my grandmother died the first day of clinicals and I had to go all the way out of state to go to her funeral. And by doing so, I missed my first exam. This already put me behind by one exam. Then Before school even started I got into an accident and I had a court date, AND this was on the first exam for my other class. I had a lot to get caught up on, and in my one class, which is 8 credit hours, I am currently getting a 73%, I need a 75% to pass, and I hear that make-up exams are harder. And the make up exams are on the same day, and that is the same day of my 5th exam for my one class. So if I stay in I have 3 tests in one day? I work full-time, but the week I have those 3 exams I am off work all week., and it is the week before my final.

My question is...Is it even worth staying in? I have 3 more exams for both classes, one is a regular exam, one is a final, and the two make-ups. I am getting a 65% in my other class but I have a lot more points I can do. My final for that exam is worth 70 points as well.

I'm spinning my wheels as my clinical instructor would say...What would anyone do? I hear stay in, I'm hearing withdraw, has anyone else been in my boat before? I would withdraw, but my job does "direct-pay" tuition reimbursement and If I do withdraw or even fail I have to pay back $1000! I'm starting to understand the test questions better now that I got an NCLEX book, so it helped me on my last exam, I got the highest I scored which was a 76% but I would of gotten 80% if I didn't switch my answers!

Please I need some advice here!

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

When you sat down with your program director and advisor and asked them what to do, what did they say?

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, Neuro/Trauma, Dialysis.

I would do the best you can, it sounds like either way you will have to pay back $1,000, so you might as well try and do the best you can with the hopes of passing then to withdraw. Plus a completed class that you fail by just a point or two will look better on a transcript than to withdraw at the end of the semester! Good Luck!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I am guessing it is too late to withdraw and get any money back, so at this point you are better off just finishing up your classes. Even if you withdraw you would be withdrawing failing. I say stick it out

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Stick it out. I'm just working on pre-reqs right now, but I dropped out last semester because I hit a rough patch (partially unplannned stuff) and now I wish I hadn't. It gets better, just work hard to keep GPA up. You can do it!!

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Personally, I would stay in. You already paid the money. Learn what you can and if you have to repeat next semester, at least you will know what to expect.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Sorry to hear you are having a hard time...I cannot imagine losing my grandmother, I am really close to her.

I encourage you to stay!! You made it in the program; you are having a hard time. Work hard to overcome all that! If I were you, I would most definitely be cutting down on work hours. I have 3 kids to look after and I am not worried about bringing in the "big bucks" right now because I have too much to do!!!

Nursing school is overwhelming for anyone, let alone having to deal with all those issues. Again, I think you should stick with it and consider going part-time at work...

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All I know is that I am not a quitter and I have done it before---worked as hard as I can to reach my grade up. I'm tiring of getting to the point where I am not passing at the last "withdraw" point and just giving up...Ive done it before, but I am now just trying to get through this! If I fail, my GPA will drop drasticaly, it's an 8 credit hour class, so I would have to take easy classes to get my GPA back up so I can take nursing classes again.

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1st off I agree with the other responders "Stick with it". Even if you fail you will be ahead of the game when you return to retake the classes.

2nd-Do not be defined by your circumstances.

I don't mean to sound harsh and I do sympathize with your circumstances. Losing a loved one is difficult no matter what. Did you let your professor know prior to leaving for the funeral? I have found by being open and honest with my professors they will usually try and work with you. I have had 2 circumstances while in nursing school that I have had to ask for exceptions. By contacting the professors ahead of time I was able to take a final exam 2 days after the scheduled date in the testing center (due to a documented eye injury).

3rd: Make a list of why you want to be a nurse and keep this list where you can see it frequently. Nursing school is not for everyone and it requires much sacrifice. More than most would ever guess. Maybe you are meant to be a nurse but maybe the timing for school is off. It might be better to complete this semester and than withdraw for a semester to get your life straight so that you can return to school and focus on school.

4th: Can you cut back on your work hours? I know there are a few students in our class that work full time but our professors have told us that it is extremely difficult to continue working full time through out nursing school. I thought my 1st semester was extremely demanding. But as I have continued on I have realized that every semester has become even more demanding ( I am currently in my 3rd semester).

Ultimately you have to decide what is best for you and your situation. I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

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Is it possible to take an incomplete? I did that once when I had a health problem that I couldn't catch-up from. This was not nursing school, mind you, but if you had proper documentation you could petition to complete the course the next semester. I would want to check on that before making a decision.

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I highly recommend going down to part time in your job though. Even if they do offer tuition reimbursement, thats what student loans are for. Your grades will thank you in the long run. When I was in school many people had to stop going to work and had to support their families off of student loans. Im starting my bridge program in May and have to drop down from full time to two days a week and believe me I dont want to but I have to to keep my grades well.

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You've had ANrs' recommendations to cut back on your paid job hours already, to upgrade your study skills, and to keep in regular contact with your faculty. Have you done so? Helpful? What happened?

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