It's hard losing classmates...

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I just found out today that a good friend was dismissed from our program for failing sterile technique. I feel awful for this person because I know how hard they worked to get in.

The shock was that this person is a stellar academic student. Has made an A on both our exams so far. I just feel terrible that this one issue ended it.

It's so hard to see classmates leave I didn't think it would be so hard. But when someone sits next to you each day, it really hits home when they're not there. So sad!

[christina731]

I just found out today that a good friend was dismissed from our program for failing sterile technique. I feel awful for this person because I know how hard they worked to get in. The shock was that this person is a stellar academic student. Has made an A on both our exams so far. I just feel terrible that this one issue ended it. It's so hard to see classmates leave I didn't think it would be so hard. But when someone sits next to you each day it really hits home when they're not there. So sad![/quote']

Yikes, that's harsh! I'm in my 3rd semester so unfortunately a few of my friends have been dismissed for various reasons. I wonder if there were other issues going on with this person that you may not know about? I understand that sterile technique is a very critical but to be dismissed from the whole program for that just seems terrible. I've made a few very good friends over the last year and I can't imagine losing one of them. So sorry to hear that

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

That's the issue. This particular person had terrific exam grades, good reviews on PA skills, etc. We helped write the appeal and we're hoping they'll be given another chance. (I'm specifically using "they" instead of he/she to avoid identifying. Please don't think I have poor grammar :) )

[Malorymug]

This is rough to read one hour before my sterile technique check off, LOL. Good luck with the appeal.

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

Ouch One of my besties in school failed 3rd semester. There were three of us, and it just seemed so weird going into 4th without our 3rd stooge :/ Hope the appeal works!

[Cortney2013]

I recently lost a VERY VERY good friend from our program due to some major health issues and class just isn't the same without them our group just isn't complete now. Its very hard to watch someone who works so hard get setback by something that just can't be helped.

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

One of my good friends left the program at the end of last semester, rather than being asked to leave. I was so disappointed for her, and it felt very strange to not have her sitting next to me during class and eating with me at lunch. We still talk often on the phone, and she's making plans to shore up her skills before reapplying next year.

That being said, there are few I was happy to hear were not coming back. The sheer negativity they exuded was enough to make even the happiest of days need a good shot of whiskey to get through.

[EmilyEmily]

Sad he was let go over sterile technique. All that money towards his career is down the drain

[DawnJ]

And then in my school, we have students having physical fights with injuries in the parking lot and fighting over who sits in a particular seat in the classroom and disrupting the entire lecture. And they get put on probation. And these are NOT stellar students academically. I don't think enough people are being booted from my program and they have good reason. Sterile technique can be taught far more easily than self control, ethics and tolerance.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Sterile technique can be taught far more easily than self control, ethics and tolerance.

I totally believe this and am trying to turn a version of this philosophy into my capstone project. Skills can be taught. Attitude- many believe it can't.

[trishmsn]

Speaking as a (former) instructor, I can assure you that since the instructors are forbidden to discuss one student with another, your friend's reason for being let go came from him or her. What they SAID they were let go for and the whole story are five different things!! I have been on the other side of this, biting my tongue and unable to clarify the real reasons. For example, one student who told his classmates that he was "thrown out for not knowing everything about a med" REALLY gave meds without checking names, meaning that two little old ladies got each other's am doses. AND then he tried to cover it up, and then he got defiant about the whole mess. Last time I saw him, he was working the drive through at What-a-Burger!!!

[Jaykalkyn, BSN, RN]

Are you sure that is the reason? It seems pretty harsh to be let go for sterile technique. Maybe there's another sterile technique process that I'm not aware of; I'm a first level student and that check-off was pretty easy. At any rate, i'm leaning towards the opinion that there was more to it than just that, but what do I know. It just doesn't make sense that no mistakes can be made during the learning process without being let go. Either they are perfectionists, in which case they don't graduate anybody because nobody is perfect, or they are seriously weeding out folks.

But to your original comment, I'm sorry that your friend is no longer there to share the experience with you...but, the show must go on. We lost a classmate in week three of our program. She was stuck on dosage calc and decided that she would rather not chance a bad grade on her transcript. She's going to bone up on it and then apply to another program.