I'm scared and I need your support

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A little background first.....I entered nursing school with a 3.6 GPA and I attended 3 semesters at Charity School of Nursing. I failed my 2nd semester (nac 1) by 1 question...you need to make a 77 (no rounding). My grade was a 76.67. I repeated the semester, passed, and then entered the 3rd semester (peds 1st half of the semester and psych 2nd half of the semester). I took the peds final after completing the first rotation and failed by 1 or 2 questions on the final again. My grade was a 76.30. Because i failed twice, I was ineligible to attend again and CANNOT get back into Charity for another 5 years after failing out (their policy). It has taken me almost 2 years to heal my mind, heart, and self esteem, lick my wounds and pick myself back off the ground. Now, I feel like I'm ready to give it another try at a different school. I'm applying at LSU so I can get a BSN (which I've wanted) but I'm so afraid of failing again. I don't think I would be emotionally stable enough to go through what I've already been through with failing and watch my class friends succeed all over again. It was such devastation.

I'm asking for some encouragement or stories of either yourself or someone you know who've tried and tried again and finally succeeded. I need to hear success stories to help lift and encourage my mind again, :). Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU.

I've been there... I flunked out of CrNA school for 0.5 percent. I know your pain, it hurt, cut deep took me almost 2 years to pick myself up too! Cost me $30000 in student loans but I'm bound and determined to not let that be the last of me in grad school. I've applied to 2 fNP schools and got accepted to both:) that helped the " I'm too stupid for Grad school" ego. So go for it, fnp fits my life better, I hope LSU fits for you too. The finish line is always moving, dont Give up. Keep us informed.

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Thanks for sharing, canchaser. I've accrued a VERY large loan debt too and that's another reason why I'm continuing on. I would rather get a little more in debt but have a degree behind me rather than a large debt with no degree. Reading your story encourages me. I have had nurses at my job tell me to keep trying but they haven't walked in my shoes and can't relate to my fear of failure. Those nursing questions....I always think much more into it than what it's asking for and it kicked my butt every time. I hope this time around I don't think too far out the box and get too complexed with my thinking, ughhh. I will post back on this thread from time to time to keep it updated. Thanks again!

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Specializes in ICU.

It's so hard to see your classmates graduate and know that should be you. But soon you will be known as the student going to LSU and not the student who flunked out. So get in there and change the ending of the story. You can do it and get tutors when you sense the least bit of trouble. Can you transfer classes?

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Those nursing questions....I always think much more into it than what it's asking for and it kicked my butt every time. I hope this time around I don't think too far out the box and get too complexed with my thinking, ughhh. I will post back on this thread from time to time to keep it updated. Thanks again!

I had a hard time getting into nursing school with my GPA, but after three applications, got in. I'm like you and always go to the "but what if..." in a question. I learned quickly that the best remedy was to know the material so well that the choice was completely obvious as soon as I read the question. As in know it so well, you can just put the page # of the reference text next to your answer. (I once got credit back on a question because I showed our instructor where there was actually a second correct answer on her test according to our book.) There is a difference between understanding the material (pick one side effect from a list of four) and KNOWING the material (write down a list of all side effects). Our micro instructor encouraged us to study with blank paper so we could periodically write or draw out the material we were studying to see what we were really retaining. I did, and I ended up with an A in his class!

Remember, winners never quit and quitters never win. My wife took the NCLEX three times before she passed. I passed the first time with only 75 questions. And you know what? We both have the same license. Hang in there, learn what doesn't work for you, and kick Sallie Mae to the curb!

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None of my nursing classes transfer so I'll be starting again from scratch but that's okay because at my age, 45, it takes me a few rounds for it to sink in. I'm not one of those who can listen to a lecture and ace a test, lol. You both made me feel much better about hitting this once again. I like that phrase, "winners never quit and quitters never win!" I will be glad to kick Sallie Mae to the curb once she's off my shoulder but I still have a ways to carry her and pay her back once I finish. I have a feeling me and Sallie Mae are gonna be friends for a loooooong time, lol. Thanks for all y'alls feedback. I feel much better knowing I'm not alone in this with my struggles. Thanks again!

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Specializes in ICU.

Nope, your not alone. And Sallie wil be with me for a long time too. I'm 39 so I understand the trouble with needing to repeat info to get it in there.

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