back in february, the pre-nursing students were sent a notification whether they were accepted into the nursing program or not. 80-90 students were accepted (i don't remember the exact number) and i was one of them. the majority of my 'friends' that were up for evaluation with me were rejected from the program. (you'll see soon why this is important.) after students had been rejected, there were roughly 30-40 students who complained, cried, and ******* to the dean of nursing that they did not deserve to be rejected from the program. i completely understand the whirlwind of emotions that comes with a rejection letter, so in a way i do understand their response, however, they handled it immaturely. one girl even went as far as bringing her mother in to talk to the dean of nursing for her.
now, last week 30-40 students received letters from the dean of nursing saying that they now had been accepted into the program. the president of the school did not like the complaints being filed against the school, so he pretty much made it so anyone that met the criteria, and complained against the school for rejection was now to be in the program. all of these students, including my friends, are super happy and i am happy for them by all means. however, in my opinion this is not fair. would you agree? i mean, you get rejected and it sucks, but you only get in because you file complaints against the school? how can you look yourself in the mirror and truly think i deserved this letter?
some of the students that have now been accepted into the program include those with a 2.8 gpa, and teas scores way below what should be acceptable. i have a meeting with the dean of nursing this week, and i just feel like i have been slapped in the face. my meeting is mostly to get this off my chest. i know nothing can be done, and i don't want anyone to lose their chance. maybe i shouldn't have tried as hard as i have to get in if all i had to do was complain about it. i have a 3.9 gpa, every science class i have taken i have earned an 'a,' and my teas scores were high 80s-90s. i'm not the only student that is extremely upset with the circumstances and now all my friends are mad at me because i disagree with the way they got into the program (this is why my earlier statement is important).
Sit back and enjoy the distinct advantage you will have over those who are less qualified to be in the program. They will make you look good by comparison.
BTW, 40 squeaky wheels might seem like a mandate from on high to enlarge the class. But a single complainer about the 40 squeaky wheels will probably feel more like a sliver in the patoot. Stay off the radar.
Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.
I agree with others. Be happy and excited your in. The people that seemingly don't deserve to be in may not be in for long. This little fiasco will be of little concern when the real BS begins. Someone said political stuff goes on. I think this occurs as well as so many other annoyances. This won't be the last. You'll learn to let go of these types of things otherwise you'll go crazy! It's only the beginning!
I predict about 30-40 students will weed themselves out of the program in short order. Life is too short to worry about the whining of others, and trust me, the day will come in nursing school when something happens to you that will not seem fair. Save up your energies to deal with that day.
Not to be catty, but I quote Mahalia from Weeds: "Fair is what you pay on the bus." Maybe those students whined their way in, maybe they didn't, but life is full of not fair. I've personally learned the hard way in previous employment that pointing out things that aren't fair not only won't help you, it may end up hurting you.
I also would like to point out that I'm gen X, tail end. If I had a college kid now, or a gen y'er, I'd have had them in HS. There's like a 20 year difference between the start and the end of generations. And while the gen Y'ers like a lot of positive feedback, they also are better at teamwork. So it's not all bad.
Regarding the admissions, if you are now concerned about the quality of your education (which I would be), you can probably double check your catalog and also with someone other than the dean regarding whether there are additional faculty and clinical slots available to handle the total number of students. In other words, it is fine to make sure you are getting what you paid for. As others have said, I would do so in a low key fashion. Adminstration need not even know your name and probably better that way.
While I agree with other posters that your numbers will drop (we finished with 24/60, I believe) as time wears on, I don't necessarily agree with remaining silent on issues that you feel strongly about and especially, when your convictions are based on facts. I think you can speak up and do so in a way that won't come across negatively, at least to the majority of people (other students/staff) who hear what you have to say (or hear about it). Nursing may be "highly political" and there are people who ought to be more professional than to diss you "just because" you speak up. I always think of Ignaz Semmelweiss, who saved the lives of many mothers and babies, but was driven out of his clinical post in Germany (and later, out of his mind, before dying at a relatively young age), due to friction with colleagues over his STYLE of communication (and possibly, their personal biases, as I think his published points are fairly clear and non-inflammatory).
Somebody will take the bull by the horns and speak up; if we must have politics, better to have those with reasoned intelligence, a basis in fact and a clear rationale and expected return on action - even better when those politicizing can point to past successful results. Not to say that you should talk a lot or anytime; but seriously, if there are a few issues you do feel passionately about (maybe even reasons that you chose to become a nurse), develop some expertise about them, counterpoints and future trends at least. That way, you will be prepared to speak when those topics are up, and speak well, since you know the subject. Since a great deal of nursing consists of activities such as teaching, influencing and communicating with respect to different points of view (cultural, religious, age, gender, as well as across professions), developing poise, tact and sensitivity, as well as improving your "listening skills" may actually help you become a better nurse and patient advocate.
What will you accomplish by meeting with the dean? Point out poor decision-making? Cancel it, pretend you never heard any of this drama, and focus on your own goals.
Totally agree....the programs content and rigorous study will weed the pretenders from the contenders....meeting with the Dean can only do you harm, and you don't need that....Good Luck to you!.....
I still think you should stay on the sidelines for the moment. But this post did give me a much higher opinion of you. I wish you the best of luck with your studies.
Is it fair...eh not so much...does it concern you...eh not so much. Your in...thats all that matters. And honestly, working so hard to get good grades and a good TEAS score is a personal thing. By lowering your expectations of yourself because others got in with a lower score...thats your own thing. But in my perspective, I'd be proud of myself for the hard work and dedication I put in, get over the fact that life isn't fair and be happy for my friends that they were in the program with me.
Life isn't fair. I would not go to the dean to discuss this. Remember that out of all those people accepted, probably 1/3 will drop out or not complete the program. High GPA and all As don't mean anything in the real world and don't predict the success of a nurse IMO.
I agree with most of everyone's responses so far. I have not read all the responses, but just be happy you were accepted. By going to the dean and "complaining" that it's unfair that they were accepted too, you are kind of doing what they did. Hold your head high, study your butt off and prove to yourself and them why YOU belong in the program. I have a sneaky suspicion that most of those students that were accepted "unfairly" will not make it through the first semester, and probably some will. Your job is to make sure that you do what you have to do, and that is to study as hard as you can.
one last little bit on boomers and their heirs: born in the first third of the bb years myself, have kids age 29 and 32 (gen x? y? somewhere in between?), neither of whom cared a whit for the participation trophies and neither of whom has evidenced a shred of entitlement whine as long as i have known them. not all boomers taught their kids to be whiners. i am also pleased to see that my grandchildren are being brought up properly in this regard.
as to the op's problem, let me expand on what i had to type briefly on an iphone last night. op, many nursing programs accept more students in the fall than they expect to be there by winter break, not because they cynically expect to collect the tuitions from people they know will flunk out but because they know that a predictable percentage will leave because they find out nursing school is just not for them for one reason or another. it's not always possible to predict which individuals will do this, but experience tells us that some will.
in this case, there could be many reasons, some contradictory, why the school of nursing decided to admit people whose admission did not meet previously published standards. whatever they were, it's not your problem, and to be totally cynical on your behalf, i think that it could work to your advantage. if (a big if, you know) the admission criteria were valid, then you should expect to be highly-ranked in your class and not have to struggle as hard as they will to stay in the program.
on the other hand, success in academic prereqs is not necessarily the be-all, end-all predictor of success in nursing classes, especially for people who memorize well. nursing uses a different set of cognitive skills than straight academic work, while at the same time expecting that you will have a good handle on on all that prereq science and math. this discovery is hardest on people who have always gotten as in school and now have to learn a whole 'nother way of thinking, and it's a hard lesson.
so... when they leave in droves, there will be a better faculty-student ratio for the ones that stay, and life will go on. mind our own business, do not talk this up with your classmates (or faculty!), and gracefully, but firmly, decline to participate in any discussions that come up along these lines. you sound like an intelligent and thoughtful person. be that person. good luck.
rn/writer, RN
9 Articles; 4,168 Posts
Sit back and enjoy the distinct advantage you will have over those who are less qualified to be in the program. They will make you look good by comparison.
BTW, 40 squeaky wheels might seem like a mandate from on high to enlarge the class. But a single complainer about the 40 squeaky wheels will probably feel more like a sliver in the patoot. Stay off the radar.