Interview in another nursing program after being dismissed

dudette10, MSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

Hello Everyone!
I have an important question. I have an interview coming up in a nursing program. I am excited and nervous . I was almost graduated from another program, but long story short I was dismissed from the program because of politics.
That was the end of one bad chapter and I am on to the next. I can sit here and be depressed or I can move on and learn. That is what I choose to do, with the help of God ! My grades are not where I want them to be, because of failing a class twice. I fought for the school to get this corrected and I still am it is an on going battle. I do not feel that I should have failed this class twice.
Anyway, I really need advice. When I am at my interview and the nurse director asks me why I did not complete my nursing at the previous nursing program what should I say? I really need some great feedback, advice. I just do not know what I should say..... I want to tell this nursing director that I want to move forward and I learned from my mistakes, but please please tell me how I should word it.....I feel I am going to be sick....please help :redpinkhe...Thank you so much

Have you indeed learned from your mistakes? It seems to me that you are still blaming the program for failing a class twice d/t "politics."

Please know that I'm not saying that all situations are completely fair--I've read about really odd situations in the student forum when I was a student; however, with the information you've given, my above statement applies.

shah · Oct 2, 2011

You just tell the truth. You failed a course.No further explanation or blaming.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

I'm with Dudette on this one. You stated you failed a class twice. In my program, one failure puts a student on probation and a second failure puts one out of the program.

As far as how to answer the question about why you didn't finish the first program, you've got to be honest. Not trying to be mean, but I don't really see a dilemma.

bagladyrn, RN · Oct 2, 2011

Right or wrong, do not bring up excuses as to why you failed the class twice. No matter how justified you may feel it will NOT make the right impression.

What you need to say is that you failed a particular class and then tell what you have done in the way of remediation - have you taken any remedial courses, gone back and spent time studying the subject and reviewing the material, gotten a tutor to help you learn the subject?

All of these would show you taking responsibility for yourself and show you as someone determined to succeed.

allnurses Guide · Oct 2, 2011

One thing you definitely do NOT do is blame the school or politics for your failing out.

If you take no personal responsibility, whether you feel it is justified or not, your nursing school chances are nonexistant. It will paint you as a problem student and undoubtedly they have plenty of those already.

Figure out what YOU did to enable flunking out. Identify it in your interview, name what steps you have taken to ensure it won't happen again and what you have learned from the situation that YOU can and will correct. Nothing you say should even remotely imply there might have been something going on you could not help. Again, it doesn't matter if it is true or not. What matters is you showing them you personally took responsibility. If a grade was not rounded up one of the times you flunked, if you thought the questions on the exams were too hard, if you were just positive a clinical instructor was out to get you, etc etc etc etc etc ad nauseum....believe me, they have heard it all before and want no part of that mess. The ONLY chance you have comes from saying what you could personally take power for and that you have learned from it. And that doesn't mean you have learned to keep your head down and mouth shut. It means you will practice your skills more, you will study harder, that you have identified better ways to study, that you have quit partying, that you realize now how hard it is and are prepared to work your butt off, that you will never let your grades hover that close to barely passing ever again, etc.

Good luck. From your original post I am concerned you still see it as something out of your control. And if you do, you aren't going to get in.

Sun_danc3rRN · Oct 2, 2011

Sounds like if you have failed a class twice that you did not get bounced due to politics. JMHO Go in to the interview and be honest, don't blame your former program. Tell them that you failed, identify if possible things in yourself that inhibited your success, and what you have changed in yourself, your studies, your home life, etc., so that they see you have a good solid plan for success. Good luck!

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

just curious...what class was it that you failed?

Guest27531 · Oct 2, 2011

Hello Everyone!
I have an important question. I have an interview coming up in a nursing program. I am excited and nervous . I was almost graduated from another program, but long story short I was dismissed from the program because of politics.
That was the end of one bad chapter and I am on to the next. I can sit here and be depressed or I can move on and learn. That is what I choose to do, with the help of God ! My grades are not where I want them to be, because of failing a class twice. I fought for the school to get this corrected and I still am it is an on going battle. I do not feel that I should have failed this class twice.
Anyway, I really need advice. When I am at my interview and the nurse director asks me why I did not complete my nursing at the previous nursing program what should I say? I really need some great feedback, advice. I just do not know what I should say..... I want to tell this nursing director that I want to move forward and I learned from my mistakes, but please please tell me how I should word it.....I feel I am going to be sick....please help :redpinkhe...Thank you so much

You are in a difficult position. You say you were "almost graduated" when you were dismissed. That seems like a real problem to me. Although I do wonder what class you failed, it is hard to imagine failing any class and still being allowed to graduate, so I cannot fault your school. In your interview, you need to be completely honest about your short-comings and not blame the school at all but apart from that I can't say I have any words of wisdom.

I do wonder whether you should consider another career as testing will continue throughout your nursing career. Some people just don't test well and it is better to change careers now than to be dismissed from full-time employment which will follow you for life.

nurseryRN14 · Oct 3, 2011

If you were on probation at the school you left. You will more than likely be on probation at the school that you transfer to. I don't think that you will have a clean slate at the new school. Do you have another chance to finish at the school that you were dismissed from or is that it. Sometimes schools will give students a third try, but you have to meet with the head of nursing to justify why you should have another chance... I remember when I was in nursing school and I had failed a psych test. You had to speak with the instructor after, because if you didnt get a passing grade at the end you would be put out of class and have to wait for the next psych rotation to continue. Well, I can remember my instructor saying maybe you should think about dropping the class. I couldn't believe it. I was so mad. That made me go home and study my heart out. I passed the class and I am an RN. I vowed that if I got myself out of that situation that it would never happen again. I would take my books everywhere with me to study. It really helped. Maybe you should try it. Good luck.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2011

I think ur finding it hard to move on.

Failing is devastating, but it isn't the end of the world.

You need to analyse WHY you failed firstly: was it poor study habits, lack of time management, not understanding the material or what was expected from you?

I don't understand myself how u can be dismissed from a course 'due to politics', that doesn't sound quite right to me.

However analyse as to whether or not nursing is for you - maybe u aren't suited to it.

Good luck anyway.

Riseupandnurse · Oct 3, 2011

I am not trying to be mean, but in our program you would not be eligible for admission no matter what you said. If you do have a chance at another program, ditto the advice given here. Do not say one word blaming the previous school. You have to take all the responsibility and show that you are mature and have owned your failures. Have you?