Is every nursing program the same way?

mangopeach · Dec 1, 2011

I'm in 3rd semester, & I've seen more people fail out this semester than the previous semesters- This semester we did OB,Peds & Psych. I can't confirm it but the "grapevine" said 11 people failed OB. We started with 60something. I was shocked that so many people failed. We've never lost this many in 1 semester. In previous semesters we would lose a few but it was usually no more than 3.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 1, 2011

your BON will have stats on all the accredited schools in your state. This is public information.

I did an ADN program first. We lost half our class before graduation. People just did not believe it would be that much work and dedication.

When I did my BSN it was a bridge program but we had classes with "generic" students. The nurses in the bridge program all graduated, but the generic students had a high drop out rate. So I personally believe it has to do with the individual not being able to devote the time and energy to complete the program. It is an endurance test sometimes.

leenak · Dec 2, 2011

I'm applying to a second degree BSN program for this upcoming fall. I asked them about their retention rate and they said it is pretty rare for a student who starts the program to not finish it. So I think it does vary.

allnurses Guide · Dec 2, 2011

No, that is not the norm. There are schools who do their "weeding out" in the acceptance process rather than during the education process. Those schools only accept the highest achieving students and then empower them to succeed. Attrition rates are low and NCLEX pass rates are very high (97-97% within 90 days of graduation).

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2011

last semster we did peds/ob and both sections did horribly, and the other classes before us did as well. by horribly i mean A/B students getting C's.

a few dropped, bc they werent doing well and retook it, a few failed.

i dont know what it is. Ped's/OB is def. interesting but i dont know why so many have trouble

KatieJ91 · Dec 3, 2011

WOW. I really think it depends on the program. My mom graduated 5 years ago with 11 of 35 original students. But, last year in my program only 2 of the original 50 did not graduate!

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Dec 3, 2011

I teach the class that most students end up failing (we call it "the choke point"). 2nd semester. Many students end up having to repeat this class. Our statistics vary from

One semester to the next, but it has the highest fail rate. needless to say, it does wonders for my ego :/ (we are a team of many of this level, and this was going on long before I got there).

Currently, out of 40 in my section, 13 are repeating the class. This is 32%. I haven't done any formal stats, but I'd say half of the students who have failed one course fail a second course.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2011

Yowsa. In my school, students that can't hack it in the sophomore year leave in the first semester or second semester. Med-surg is another weed out class, but not many people failed that class. My senior year, taking OB and Peds has actually felt different. The instructors are not interested in weeding people out. I suppose they reckon the weed out was already done.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Dec 5, 2011

C'mon guys - The program/school did not fail anyone. Students failed out because they were unable to meet the pre-established criteria. They are not victims that were singled out as targets due to no fault of their own. The requirements are the same for everyone and they're certainly not a secret. Keep an eye on the bigger picture. Schools with more stringent entrance requirements have higher success rates, but they are also labeled as "unfair" for not admitting people with low GPAs.

daystarmike · Dec 5, 2011

I do not know what world you live in, but the premise that any student who fails is because they are not smart enough or couldn't meet the minimum criteria is a little short sighted. I had 4 courses last semester. Some were more difficult than others, but only 1 instructor administered a final exam that had a 60 average. Now there is no problem with an instructor giving a challenging exam, but when the average of her other 4 exams given during the semester was an 82, then I do not think it is unreasonable to consider there might have been a problem with the test administered, and if that is the reason some students failed, I believe they have a right to think things might not have been administered fairly. The fact of the matter is that some Nursing Schools are quickly becoming programs designed to teach test taking. This is all geared to ensure students pass the NCLEX. Although it is critical students are able to pass the boards (what good is a degree without a license), I would rather have a practicing healthcare worker who was knowledgeable over one who can eliminate 2 answers and then select the best possible of the remaining answers on a "critical thinking" question. Nursing school is hard. It should be hard we are dealing with people's lives, but it is annoying when someone who is doing a little better, or did better, in school throws a label of unqualified to those students who are struggling. By the way, this is being written by someone who is not failing, but was concerned at the rate their fellow classmates are.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Dec 5, 2011

Yes, SOME schools are that way. But the vast majority are not. If they want to earn/maintain NLN accreditation, they will not last very long doing this. And the schools that are doing this tend to prey on the vulnerable student: the ones who cannot get into a more competitive school (because of their pre-requisite GPA). Hence these students are less likely to succeed.