kicked out nrsing school-would u fight?

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I was 5 days from finishing my first year nursing and got bounced. i must go on record as not being the most beloved person in the class. the staff in a manner of speaking, hates my guts. i have clinical with a woman hell-bent on getting me kicked out. she has earned the name of dracula's daugher (AKA DD) from the clinical group. she is less than supportive, and when i asked for guidance regarding a straight cath (i anticipated a pt requiring one, no experience) she told me to read the book. (you get the picture, right?)

The last 5 weeks of class are med-surg in ortho. we got our first two patients the third clinical day. (i was not given a patient the first day of clinical--he never materialized from the OR) I happen to have an essental tremor. i found this out in lab first semester, when trying to draw up a meds my first semester. i sought care from my physician who placed me on lopressor. it has helped tremendously. I advised the staff.

Clinical was torture. we were required to fill out the paperwork described in the syllabus as well as additional forms introduced by DD. we recorded VS in 4 different places. If you did meds for the rotation, it was virtually impossible to finish on time (all my meds were administered late), and many of my classmates failed to accomplish this.

My first patient had alzheimers, total hip, and was combative. i fell behind schedule in performing his care. a future clinical instructor was shadowing DD and helped me with this patient. we fell behind DD's written schedule. I made the assumption that the shadow had a some authority and i took directions from her. I was later told that i was late emptying drains, and did not adhere to the schedule of care. i was told this was MY patient and I screwed up the timeframe for emptying foley and a hemovac. (i had never done either skill up to this day). The most EMBARASSING error I made (yes dear reader, i will tell you) was not telling the nurse in charge of the patient, that the wrong IV fluid was hanging (we had IV and foley training post these incidents). We had the postoperative lecture describing the tasks necessary for post op care after four patient care days. i didnt hang the fluid, which was not ordered and also incorrectly documented on the patient's flowsheet). DD found the error and told me to tell the nurse................and god, i forgot (i told the nurse 1.5 hrs later). I admitted my error in postop conference (there was never a preop conf) and got reamed (understandably). Had I kept my mouth shut, i would have escaped probation. THEN my other grievous error is reaching out of an isolation room to grab my clipboard. Ok i have dumped all the big ones. Remember the tremor? Well yesterday when they dumped me, they told me that I didnt have the motor skills to do the job. I never made an error in med admin. no problem there. i just couldnt draw up the med. without air bubbles (sigh).

it's hard to write this stuff up. i'll let this stand and wait for your comments. remember the agenda is to get rid of me......................there is no support whatsoever. i worked hard to get to this point and these creepy, unprincipled women have pushed me out.

your input most appreciated.

hotcoffee1:uhoh3:

PS there is a guy who has been put on probation last semester for a med. error, who made a med error this session. nothing happened

At my age the meat is pretty tough so lunch wouldn't be good anyway! :rotfl: Screw Starbucks! ..........I want it bad enough! I'll find a way.

As a nursing instructor, I feel the need to respond to the described plight you have experienced. Students and instructors are all human beings, and sometimes we 'get along' better with some students than others. Dealing with student personalities is much like dealing with patient personalities. You have a job to do and the instructor(nurse) must find to best method to accomplish this. Personalities play an important part in building relationships, not only in the school setting, but in the work setting. It has been my experience that those who have difficulty with relationships in school often have difficulty in work relationships.

As I read your posting, I made note of a few things that concerned me. First of all, you have two masters degrees...that should mean that you have experience in learning and disciplining yourself and your instructors actually may have expected more of you, rather than less. Nursing is so totally different from other fields that other degrees are not as applicable to learning nursing skills, etc. Have your previous degrees not brought satisfaction into your life? How will a degree in nursing help you? What is your goal? You also stated that in your life 'doors have been closed more than open' and 'I am not the most beloved person in class' and other comments that may indicate a less than positive self-concept. I am not saying that you may not have some validity to your complaints, but you may want to do some self-examination. How did you present yourself to the faculty? What could you have done differently? I cannot believe that your dismissal was all about drawing up medication with air bubbles. Schools have policies (refer to your student handbook) about disabilities, what behaviors are considered unprofessional and unsafe, and the procedures for counseling, probation, and dismissal.

I was also concerned about the comment about 'use of ada issues to exploit my disability'. What do you mean by the term 'exploit'? Does the school owe you? You may want to review the defense mechanism 'projection' As hyperstudent wrote, you seem to see yourself as a victim, and that there may be more to this story that you do not choose to see.

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I was 5 days from finishing my first year nursing and got bounced. i must go on record as not being the most beloved person in the class. the staff in a manner of speaking, hates my guts. i have clinical with a woman hell-bent on getting me kicked out. she has earned the name of dracula's daugher (AKA DD) from the clinical group. she is less than supportive, and when i asked for guidance regarding a straight cath (i anticipated a pt requiring one, no experience) she told me to read the book. (you get the picture, right?)

The last 5 weeks of class are med-surg in ortho. we got our first two patients the third clinical day. (i was not given a patient the first day of clinical--he never materialized from the OR) I happen to have an essental tremor. i found this out in lab first semester, when trying to draw up a meds my first semester. i sought care from my physician who placed me on lopressor. it has helped tremendously. I advised the staff.

Clinical was torture. we were required to fill out the paperwork described in the syllabus as well as additional forms introduced by DD. we recorded VS in 4 different places. If you did meds for the rotation, it was virtually impossible to finish on time (all my meds were administered late), and many of my classmates failed to accomplish this.

My first patient had alzheimers, total hip, and was combative. i fell behind schedule in performing his care. a future clinical instructor was shadowing DD and helped me with this patient. we fell behind DD's written schedule. I made the assumption that the shadow had a some authority and i took directions from her. I was later told that i was late emptying drains, and did not adhere to the schedule of care. i was told this was MY patient and I screwed up the timeframe for emptying foley and a hemovac. (i had never done either skill up to this day). The most EMBARASSING error I made (yes dear reader, i will tell you) was not telling the nurse in charge of the patient, that the wrong IV fluid was hanging (we had IV and foley training post these incidents). We had the postoperative lecture describing the tasks necessary for post op care after four patient care days. i didnt hang the fluid, which was not ordered and also incorrectly documented on the patient's flowsheet). DD found the error and told me to tell the nurse................and god, i forgot (i told the nurse 1.5 hrs later). I admitted my error in postop conference (there was never a preop conf) and got reamed (understandably). Had I kept my mouth shut, i would have escaped probation. THEN my other grievous error is reaching out of an isolation room to grab my clipboard. Ok i have dumped all the big ones. Remember the tremor? Well yesterday when they dumped me, they told me that I didnt have the motor skills to do the job. I never made an error in med admin. no problem there. i just couldnt draw up the med. without air bubbles (sigh).

it's hard to write this stuff up. i'll let this stand and wait for your comments. remember the agenda is to get rid of me......................there is no support whatsoever. i worked hard to get to this point and these creepy, unprincipled women have pushed me out.

your input most appreciated.

hotcoffee1:uhoh3:

PS there is a guy who has been put on probation last semester for a med. error, who made a med error this session. nothing happened

As with the previous post, I am a nursing instructor. I have been watching this thread with curiousity and sadness. I am disappointed in the negative tone it has taken overall. I can't help but wonder what value many see in their nursing edcuation and preparation to be nurses if their nursing programs were so terrible.

I've been waiting to see if the original poster (hotcoffee) would answer the question about what type of program he/she (I can't tell gender by the posts) was enrolled in. For sake of discussion, let me propose that it was an ADN program. "I was 5 days from finishing my first year nursing and got bounced"--- I have taught in two different ADN programs, and for both the successful completion of the first year requires the ability to provide complete care for at least two stable patients (often three). Items like emptying foleys and drains, confirming that the correct IV solution is hanging (whether you hung it or not), and understanding isolation precautions are early responsibilities in the first year. In addition, I know of no college that would allow students to care for a post-op patient without a preparing (on paper) for what to expect for the type of surgery they had. HC admits "we were required to fill out the paperwork described in the syllabus as well as additional forms introduced by DD" I can only assume these were to help prepare for the needs of the patient and plan for providing care.

This student reports "i was late emptying drains, and did not adhere to the schedule of care. i was told this was MY patient and I screwed up the timeframe for emptying foley and a hemovac. (i had never done either skill up to this day). The most EMBARASSING error I made (yes dear reader, i will tell you) was not telling the nurse in charge of the patient, that the wrong IV fluid was hanging (we had IV and foley training post these incidents). We had the postoperative lecture describing the tasks necessary for post op care after four patient care days. i didnt hang the fluid, which was not ordered and also incorrectly documented on the patient's flowsheet). DD found the error and told me to tell the nurse................and god, i forgot (i told the nurse 1.5 hrs later). As a clinical instructor on a surgical floor, I would be quite concerned by this scenario. I would certainly not address it in post-conference in the presence of other students (I'm not sure if other students were present), but it would certainly be discussed with attempts at problem solving.

"I never made an error in med admin. no problem there. i just couldnt draw up the med. without air bubbles (sigh)" Sorry, this is an error in our program. Let me clarify that a student would not be removed from the program for this ifthey are able to recognize it as a problem and correct it. This involves probelm solving on the part of the student - as does providing care within timeframes, understanding responsibility for everthing "connected" to your patient (drains, catheters, IV fluids, etc.).

We are hearing only one side of the story. The student admits to being on probation and it would be interesting to know just how many issues arose after the probation was initiated. I know that both programs I've taught for are excellent and very cautious to respect student rights. The NLN and State Boards of Nursing monitor probation and suspension requirements and assure that students are aware of course and clinical expectations up front. If this students program has not followed these written guidelines, he/she has every reason to appeal.

my goodness all the analysis. ok by me. i have a masters in business economics and i belong to a laboratory discipline. i was in telecommunications as a business woman. made it to management at the fortune 50 level. the lab was not my thing. my bs is in social work. i practiced that as a vietnam era vet stateside doing psy crisis intervention. i know about the human heart and that it is nonexistent here. the latest development, is that i have caught them altering my evaluation. im lying in wait. hope overall to be reinstated. there's a secure place for me in nursing. i have a couple of hip surgeries pending and i need a secure place to park. secure, flexible and one that allows me to give to people. i didnt get a family in life, and there is love to give.

As a nursing instructor, I feel the need to respond to the described plight you have experienced. Students and instructors are all human beings, and sometimes we 'get along' better with some students than others. Dealing with student personalities is much like dealing with patient personalities. You have a job to do and the instructor(nurse) must find to best method to accomplish this. Personalities play an important part in building relationships, not only in the school setting, but in the work setting. It has been my experience that those who have difficulty with relationships in school often have difficulty in work relationships.

As I read your posting, I made note of a few things that concerned me. First of all, you have two masters degrees...that should mean that you have experience in learning and disciplining yourself and your instructors actually may have expected more of you, rather than less. Nursing is so totally different from other fields that other degrees are not as applicable to learning nursing skills, etc. Have your previous degrees not brought satisfaction into your life? How will a degree in nursing help you? What is your goal? You also stated that in your life 'doors have been closed more than open' and 'I am not the most beloved person in class' and other comments that may indicate a less than positive self-concept. I am not saying that you may not have some validity to your complaints, but you may want to do some self-examination. How did you present yourself to the faculty? What could you have done differently? I cannot believe that your dismissal was all about drawing up medication with air bubbles. Schools have policies (refer to your student handbook) about disabilities, what behaviors are considered unprofessional and unsafe, and the procedures for counseling, probation, and dismissal.

I was also concerned about the comment about 'use of ada issues to exploit my disability'. What do you mean by the term 'exploit'? Does the school owe you? You may want to review the defense mechanism 'projection' As hyperstudent wrote, you seem to see yourself as a victim, and that there may be more to this story that you do not choose to see.

got your pm email me.

I wrote a few weeks ago with a similar problem. I followed the appeal process with no luck. Just last week I e-mailed the director and asked her for a list of reasons why I failed clinical because I am not clear what they are. The response I received was one sentence,"you have all your papers". I find it amazing that some of you mention in your letters that a student shouldn't know everything. Every question I asked during clinical was answered "you should know that by now". I quit asking because I thought I would flunk out for not knowing, so I looked everything up or asked one of the friendly nurses on the floor so I wouldn't have to ask the instructor. I worked so hard and at 57 yrs old every month counts as far as going to another school, fighting etc. I have a family to support also, and I can't afford a lawyer. Keep us posted. Any answer you find may help me or someone else....I will pray for you.

You can either get used to that type of behavior or get out now. Nursing school is difficult, then comes the real world which is just the same. Everyone seems to have their own agenda. Your welfare is of no concern. Unless you are quite adept at office politics and/or kissing up, there will be much more of what you now describe. I found that functioning as a caring competent nurse is not appreciated as much as being an opinionated, dominating, aggressive delegator. My experience has been that argument is futile. Rational thought is not rewarded. I have changed professions entirely. Perhaps I just never found the right environment. In retrospect, I wish I had bailed in nursing school and persued something else. If the profession means that much to you, by all means--fight back. If it is about the injustice, let it go now. Just my opinion. Good luck.

You can either get used to that type of behavior or get out now. Nursing school is difficult, then comes the real world which is just the same. Everyone seems to have their own agenda. Your welfare is of no concern. Unless you are quite adept at office politics and/or kissing up, there will be much more of what you now describe. I found that functioning as a caring competent nurse is not appreciated as much as being an opinionated, dominating, aggressive delegator. My experience has been that argument is futile. Rational thought is not rewarded. I have changed professions entirely. Perhaps I just never found the right environment. In retrospect, I wish I had bailed in nursing school and persued something else. If the profession means that much to you, by all means--fight back. If it is about the injustice, let it go now. Just my opinion. Good luck.

yes, it is about injustice. and for that reason i fight. there are some rights here that have been denied me. hopefully this week will give me a sense of direction. the ball is in their court. I found life as you described it, to exist everywhere. when you get this old, not only do you have a thick skin, head; but also a few tricks up the sleeve. i'll let you know what happens. Thanks for your opinion.

I have mixed feelings. I had a french teacher in middle school who disliked me and treated me unfairly but, hey, that was 7th grade and she was, well, a french teacher.

Hmmm... to get removed with 5 days left in the 1st year of nursing school and start making conspiracy claims, one begins to wonder. I agree with HYPERSTUDENT, I am always leary of people who claim they have gotten the short end of the stick for "no apparent reason". TYour instructors had a full year to evaluate you. I doubt if the essential tremor is nothing more than the reason they gave to you to justify a decision that was based on a years worth of more intangible things.

Maybe it's something as simple as personality conflicts, but if that's something that intereferes with your ability to work with others then I would suppose it is a legit reason to remove you from the program. Lord knows nurses have to tolerate and work with all kinds of disagreeable folks under extreme conditions.

Also, it sounds like you had more than a few issues on your clinical rotation. Did other people have these problems? Were other people put on probation for similar mistakes?

I would stop pointing a finger at others and sit down and take a long look at yourself. If you still feel nursing is for you and you were wronged then pursue this deal about your rights with the college. I doubt it will change the outcome, even if you were mistreated, because in essence reversing their decision would be an admission of guilt - inviting a lawsuit.

po po

DD found the error and told me to tell the nurse................and god, i forgot (i told the nurse 1.5 hrs later).

Sounds like you are being a bit sarcastic. An error should be reported immediately, the excuse "I forgot" could be the difference between life and death for some patients. You have definitely minimized your numerous mistakes. My question is this: before meeting your patients, did you look at their charts? Even if you were not aware of how to hang IV's, you should have checked the doctor's orders and MAR before you stepped foot into the patients room. In doing so, you should have caught the mistake. Instead, as you said, your instructor found the mistake... not you. Then it was you, who failed to report the mistake. Such mistakes at our college are enough to get you bounced...and rightfully so!

there was no time to really check the chart. and my knowledge to that point was to check the date on the bag; patency of the tube and condition of the site. the only lab we had was how to time the drip. we had this timeline that we HAD to adhere to. we took report from nurses who had nothing to report. I ran to check the vitals were taken. we had to do the assessment. up to this time, i had given one shot. i had no iv experience. i had my first two patients. i was demeaned in post conference the day before for not emptying the foley on time. i had the nurse assistant with me....i thought she was calling the shots (she was from urology) and we ended up emptying the foley late. when i returned from dinner, i couldnt get an o2 sat on the guy. he was a mrsa, i changed and ran out the door to get another o2 sat machine and i couldnt get that to work. the guy was ice cold. i grabbed the assistant and she couldnt get a reading. the guy pulled out his iv and bled all over the place. a third nurse couldnt get his o2 sat. i was a wreck.

on the last clinical night the instructor was all over me. she and i went into a patients room for the first time to evaluate. she went to one side of the bed and the foley was touching the floor. she blamed me. i realized i was being set up. all night long it was like this. i was so pissed that i wrote down everytime she falsified or embellished an issue. and that paper suddenly disappeared, when it was normally given back to us.

so that's a little bit that went on. im not going to work in environments like this....im too old. and lame. but i have a right to pursue this, and find my niche. yes, other people made errors. a guy previously on probation for a med error made a med error and nothing happened to him. nothing.

im learning here kids. it's all personality. mercifully it's school and the handbook says you cant be tossed because of personality. losing my paperwork doesnt look too good for them.......and then there's the problem of changing the first page of the final evaluation when they finally handed it to me. the caliber of integrity is suspect.

Sounds like you are being a bit sarcastic. An error should be reported immediately, the excuse "I forgot" could be the difference between life and death for some patients. You have definitely minimized your numerous mistakes. My question is this: before meeting your patients, did you look at their charts? Even if you were not aware of how to hang IV's, you should have checked the doctor's orders and MAR before you stepped foot into the patients room. In doing so, you should have caught the mistake. Instead, as you said, your instructor found the mistake... not you. Then it was you, who failed to report the mistake. Such mistakes at our college are enough to get you bounced...and rightfully so!

hotcoffee,

although posters here are seemingly playing devil's advocate, i am sure it is because you need to be able to evaluate both sides of the situation; take responsibility in areas you were erroneous but that works both sides/ways. if any of the teachers targeted you, then dang, they need to be accountable also.

i say as long as you're being honest w/yourself and the situation at hand, then you keep on keepin' on.

leslie

I graduated from a nursing program, probably like many other posters, that was definitely biased. They played favorites and I wasn't one of theirs but I always remained within my boundaries. Personally I didn't give a damn whether they liked me or not and saw everything as a challenge. It made it rough on me and them but I graduated at the top of my class with my peers' respect and, most importantly, my self-respect intact.

Do you have a case? If your program is anything like mine, probably. Is it worth the fight? Only you can decide. A previous poster, I believe it was slo, made a good point - nursing is difficult, get used to it. I believe nursing school is only the tip of the iceberg and many times I considered dropping not because the work was too difficult but because I saw the ugly "dark" side of nursing.

I think the saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know..." rings very true in nursing. I have seen so-so students climb up the social nursing ladder and be taken under certain instructor and hospital wings. I think this is something to consider as you pursue your fight - will burning this bridge benefit you in the future? Ex: are there instructors who sit on your state BON? are there instructors who could influence your future employment? Keep in mind nursing, like other professions, is about networking - in my small state this is a big deal.

I guess the biggest question is one that was previously posted - are you doing this because you feel you have been slighted or truly because you want to be a RN? Where do you go if you "win" this battle?

I send you my best wishes. I hope that you are able to find quick resolution and peace in your decisions. Please keep us posted on your progress.

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