Is it possible for a student who failed before in a class to pass the program?

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Hello everyone, I am a first year nursing student. Last year, I failed pharmacology and came back again this year, definitely much stronger than last year. I am just hoping for a glimmer of hope if there are stories of other students who failed a class or got laid back a year, and came back stronger than ever. I have two more years left in my BSN program (super far from now, i know). But I want to stay optimistic and not scared to keep going. Thank you for all your support.

Specializes in critical care.

Is pharm part of the program, or a pre-req before applying?

Pharmacology is a part of the program. In the program, we are allowed one chance where if we failed one class, we are held back a year and join the cohort before us. Failing a second time means a kick out of the program entirely.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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Specializes in critical care.
Pharmacology is a part of the program. In the program we are allowed one chance where if we failed one class, we are held back a year and join the cohort before us. Failing a second time means a kick out of the program entirely.[/quote']

We've had a handful from our cohort be held back, and their second time around they've flourished. Only one did not. Are there any classes that you are able to take? Or are you absolutely required to hold off on everything?

If it were me, and I definitely had this fear going through my head plenty of times, I would have spent that year working on a second major, or I would have picked up a minor and took the nursing classes they would let me take, like the electives offered.

But.... As much as it would have pained me to lose the year, I'm committed enough to this goal to go back. I think that's really what you need to ask yourself. Not - can I succeed the second time around, but, am I willing to lose this year for this goal?

I think it is. I met a nurse at my clinical site who graduated from my program, and she failed nursing 2 the first time, but passed with flying colors the second!

Believe it or not, a lot of students don't come back the second time after they fail once, so it's hard to really judge!

If your motivated, have a good attitude, and think critically about your studies and what you may need to do to improve; then I'm sure you'll do fine!

Hopefully you took the time to figure out what went wrong the first time so you won't make the same mistakes twice. I would suggest making use of any student services available at your school and developing a good relationship with the instructor. Good Luck!

Thank you everyone! During my year off, I took the rest of my GE's, electives, finished my art minor etc. Currently I'm strictly just doing nursing classes. Reason why I failed last year was due to a dosage miscalculation; however, this time around, I've got a pretty good hold on it- i think. I can see a correlation between why alot of student do not return for a second time around (the stress of failing again, finding a different major, etc). However, I am very committed to try to make this work out. I just feel so low at times, that I just need a reminder that this challenging journey IS possible.

I have seen classmates fail one class, double up on classes, and are now back in our cohort. We're graduating soon, so it certainly is possible to excel when given a second chance.

you can, but you will be put under a microscope to perform, especially at clinicals. Learn to do care plans and nurses notes especially.

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

Be sure you take advantage of your school's learning center or tutoring center. The name it goes by may vary by the school. It will be staffed by volunteering faculty members and students who are proficient in certain subjects. They won't make you feel dumb. That isn't why they're there. They're only there to help.

Another thing you can and should do is to ask your instructors and professors any questions you have. That's a sizable part of the job.

They expect it. You can email quick questions that only require quick answers or make an appointment during office hours. I hear my professor husband say, "I wish ___ had come for help." far more often than I hear, "Boy! Is that ___ ever a pest!" Wait a minute... I've never heard the second -- ever.

Also, if you have a chance to join a study group, do it.

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