Just barely failed...need encouragement

luvmy3kids · May 18, 2006

Erika,

I'm so sorry you failed by one question. I haven't BTDT yet (I'm starting this fall), but I wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and hopefully you can approach your instructor and at least get some idea as to what might have happened. Best wishes... keep us updated if you speak with him/her. Good luck!

LoriAlabamaRN · May 18, 2006

Are you saying you failed the exam only or did your grade on the exam mean you failed the course even though all the other grades were As?

Bala Shark · May 18, 2006

Go through all your scantrons from the beginning of the semester and see if the instructor made an error in picking the wrong letter..One of my instructors did that several times and it threw the class off by a few points..

Also, argue that the question was kind of bad and it could go both ways..You are trying to get one point here..You have to do it with proof from your text book and your reasoning...If the text book says it correct then the answer is correct..Go to the director of nursing and argue like mad..

erikam · May 18, 2006

Thanks to all who replied.....

We need to score a 76....I scored a 75. And no, it wasn't just ONE question.....it was a total of 26 questions I missed. I will fight this with every bit of energy I have left this semester to pass. I've proved myself everywhere else and never missed clinical, lab, class, etc. I'm hoping that will help. If not, I'll stand tall and return next semester.

fnlyRNstudent05 · May 18, 2006

I am so sorry! I hope you can find a way to stay. Some of us are just bad at tests.. that's me and I can understand your situation!

NaomieRN · May 18, 2006

I hope you will be able to prove to your instructor that you should stay in the program. Good luck to you

MrsMommaRN · May 18, 2006

i know how frustrated you are right now. i hope everthing works out for you. keep us posted.

Tweege · May 19, 2006

Hi Erika, Sorry about your situation. I am there too, I failed by 9 miss spelled words, our final test was a 100 question written test, with a 3 hour time limit. We have taken 6 tests this semester,all scantron, the day before the final they were changed the final to a written exam. They gave each person in the class a packet with 5-7 pages, each page contained a scenario, and 4-6 questions, and each packet was different. We were allowed that day to find the answers to the questions in our packet, then they would make copies of each persons packet and we would each get a copy.This took us from 10:30 am till 5:30 pm to complete. We the were told to take the packets home and study them for the next day, they said the test would come from this packet, the questions and scenarios would be similar. I needed to make a 78 on the final to pass. One of our instructors said she would count off any miss spelled words,the other said she wouldn't. Two instructors teaching the same class, each scoring the way they want. I think there needs to be a concensus, across the board. I am not the best when it comes to taking tests,but can spell well, I started taking an anti-anxiety med, to help me calm down before tests. I felt pressured when told about the time limit. I made a 70 on my final. I was crushed!

I lost my father Easter Sunday, which which also was difficult. The ironic thing was that the material we were covering in class, was exactly what we were studying, ( heart problems, and neurologic issues) it was right before my eyes...

My dad had a mild heart attack April 1st, and never regained conciousness. By the time paramedics got there, he was already gone, but they were able to get a thready pulse. He was flown by chopper to a larger hospital, and he remianed on life support for 1 week. They determined he had only brain stem activity, so we removed him from all life support.After,he lived for exactly one week, with good B/P, good pulse, and even respirations.He died Easter morning. During this ordeal, I planned and put together a funeral and I wrote a 25 page case study, while sitting in the hospice suite in the hospital.I only missed one day out of each class, 4 total. I have not missed any days since going back to school 4 yrs ago (for my first degree) until now. Anyway back to the subject, we have to make a 78 to pass( final grade) I made a 76. I will not let this minor set back hold me from the ultimate goal, "RN," I have decided to put the knowledge I have gained to practice until I can slide back into to the program (hopefully January2007), I went to our local hospital and got a part time job as a CNA ( after our first semester, we are eligible for our CNA certification, not sure if thats the same for all?)on the Med-Surg floor. I also ordered a Saunders NCLEX exam study guide, and I am going to do some work in it daily to keep what I do know fresh, and maybe pick up necessary test taking tips along the way. Truthfully, I was not comfortable with the the amount of knowledge I had, and deep down inside I knew I was not ready to go forward on to another jam-packed semester. I want to make the best of the time I have, from now till January. I am going to audit the Pharmacology class this fall, I feel weakest in this area, and maybe in the spring of 07, when I am taking Adult Health I and Assessment, I will have enough foundational information to buld on.

I share my story, not for sympathy, but just to say, everything happens for a reason. The way we choose to deal with these issues, and the attitude we have along the way can help or hurt us. I was devistated when my father died, but only for a moment. I was devistated when I failed my final, but only for a moment. I brushed my knees off, and got back on the horse again, determined all the more, and will live believing that, "that which does not kill you, makes you stronger." I hope you fight for what is right in your situation, and hopefully, whatever happens will be for the right reason. I apologize for this lengthy response, but I felt led to share.

Suzan

wannabemw · May 20, 2006

Suzan,

Well said! I too failed out of a program & was devastated. I was 1st sem, had everything go wrong & in the end I flunked out. I just couldn't test well. But I still had the hopes & dreams of going through & completing a program, one day soon to call myself, RN. It was December 2003. I was DEVASTATED when I failed. I had no one to talk to (allnurses? what's that?). I searched everywhere for someone to talk to on the net.

In the end I found Health Ed & continued on through school (& decided to spend the $600.00 to get myself LD tested... turns out I am ADD. I went on meds, found a learning tutor & my GPA went from a 3.15 to a 3.5!).

We moved to another state, I became a dbl major & guess what? I couldn't make the grade I needed for the program I wanted (this is when I decided enough was enough & got tested). I could have pled my case, but decided not to. B/c I found a program that truly fit me. Then the school lost my application file! AGGGGHHH! I decided to finish my BSHE. After all, I only had 1y to finish for my 1st degree. I re-applied to the program & + applied for their accelerated BSN. I graduated from my University, & found out I was accepted 3 weeks later! (Hard to believe that was nearly 1yr ago today!)

I am now in my 4th semester of my Accelerated BSN (yes, me in an accelerated program, go figure!) & will finish my program the end of this August! (5th semester starts June 19th, as we have 10wks a semester). I am confident I will pass everything! & will live my dream....

OP: Erikam: hold on to your dreams... don't let anyone smash them. Follow your heart. Oh yeah: & GO FIGHT FOR YOUR POINT! (we had a few nearly fail last sem & went & fought a few questions & passed!)

Thanks (sorry for the long post... feels good to talk about it now... I cried for months).... no more tears now!

Keep on dreaming nursing dreams.....

~MJ

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 20, 2006

That sucks big time and I know you're disappointed.

Good luck.

Tweege · May 20, 2006

Thanks for the encouragement MJ, it just adds more fuel to my fire!!!

Suzan