Kicked out of Nursing program

Nursing Students School Programs

Updated:   Published

So I am an RN. I am writing on behalf of a nursing student I spoke to. She had to repeat her mother baby semester because she recapped a needle during lab. She explained it was muscle memory , she knew better but because that is how they practiced it because they only reused on needle sheessed up during the actual thing. She retook the class and this time around in lab she calculated and administered an IV med to a child she got it all right but the instructor asked her at what rate would she flush the med and she replied " at the same rate as the medication" . She was failed for that even though she had proof that was on the handout given to her by her class instructor. She got an 88 in the class but was kicked out because of failing the lab and because it was her second time not passing the class due to lab.

To me this seems unfair and without discretion.   What actions could she take ? If any?

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Nope.  No one made any negative comment.  Just that there is more to the story.  Your friend is either skipping some details, or she doesn't know them herself so she needs to talk with someone in her school.  No one here judged her.

Here's what I've told many people:  don't work harder on someone's behalf than they're willing to work for themselves.  Your coming on here and asking for advice on your friend's behalf shows that you are a really good friend, but you may need better boundaries.

This is a lesson I learned the hard way.  I have spent many sleepless nights fretting over someone's situation that I was powerless to help with.  In practically every case it turned out the person made decisions I would not have in those circumstances.  In the end, everyone has to live their life and fix their own errors and omissions.

So my original advice stands:  be there to support your friend while she navigates her own way through this.  That's it.

8 Votes
Specializes in oncology.
2 hours ago, Naseberry said:

Anyways, I can see this very post is a microcosm of the nature of the profession.

Actually this post  isabout you or your observation of  a microcosm with what faculty deal with. I have had students ask me to come to their defence and when I investigate....usually the story they gave me was NOT what the documented facts showed. A student on a cardiac unit failed to document any data on the heart/cardiac system after multiple weeks with direction to do so. I had a  second year student who came to me for giving meds and did not look them but in the book. I spent atleast an hour showing him how to read the drug handbook  (although this was taught previously) and suggested using two colors: one for the mechanism of action and another color for dose and side effects. Frankly I did not care if he used any method to learn the drugs  JUST LEARN THEM.......After a rocky week disregarding anything from my rotation he blundered into the next rotation, unprepared.He acted like he never knew why he was dismissed and I felt sorry for his lack of perception. He would of been a good nurse if he attended to what was important to learn.

3 Votes
Specializes in Geriatrics.

I have a feeling this has nothing to do with a recapped needle. Depending on the situation and where you work, a re capped (clean) needle would not result in this action. What’s the worse of two evils, walking around with a bare needle or re capping it? If you work LTC this sometimes happens, not that it’s right, it’s just one of those unspoken things.

3 Votes
Specializes in oncology.
22 hours ago, Naseberry said:

Yes they do eat their young darling , researched , studied and solidified facts, was that a debate here

Naseberry, I do want to help with the individual's experience is with you or a student friend. Has the student tried to figure out ways to avoid capping the needle...put it far away from them, turn it upside down, put it on the alcholol wipe? There are lots of tips to try to better enhance one's practice....BTW. For YEARS before AIDS I capped needles and then found out I needed to protect myself..I am old enough when we had to break needles (usually back and forth with the cap) and walk the needle out to the station where there was a needle box. Yes you and the student can learn. You will need to learn many more skills and adaptation to skills before you retire. A new or old for that matter, nurse should not be relying on unconscious thought.

Quote

the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.

 

2 Votes
Specializes in retired LTC.

londonflo - I remember the same disposal technique.  I remember one facility where nsg had to count the used syringes & needles before final disposal.

I guess the scourge of AIDS/HIV stopped all that.

1 Votes
Specializes in Community/Public Health.
On 5/1/2021 at 12:10 PM, Naseberry said:

Yes they do eat their young darling , researched , studied and solidified facts, was that a debate here. LOL. Anyways, I can see this very post is a microcosm of the nature of the profession. Simple question and answer leads to judgement, lack of empathy ( empathy does not mean agreement with the person). OK she needs to appeal , remediation or contact her Dean if she feels wronged that's it. Note how the nature of the comments lead towards the negative end of blame. You all were conditioned to be that way and if you are still in the profession I can comprehend why certain feelings and concepts go right over your head. Unfortunately after years of fighting on the battlefield those who survive become the ones who repeat the cycle and forget where they were coming from. Anyways ✌

What even. 

Why is the trend here to post something and then cop an unnecessary attitude when the majority doesn't agree with your perceived injustice? 

Nurses aren't "conditioned" to look towards the negative end of blame. Nurses are conditioned to think critically and consider what the variables may be that can affect outcomes. Your "friend's" story had a poor outcome, and that's unfortunate. 

2 Votes
Specializes in Occupational Health.
On 5/1/2021 at 1:53 AM, Naseberry said:

OK, who was saying I was taking her side?

I was being supportive and shared this comment for suggestions to give to her that is it. To be honest cannot say I didn't expect comments of this nature.

Unfortunately for her indeed this is a foreshadowing of the profession she is trying so hard to get into ( I didn't tell her this she is already tasting it), no fraternity, no support, eating their young and put on big girl panties. Thank God I did not allow years in the profession to change my core as a person and offer empathy when I am seen as a confidant.

No one gave you a response requiring this type of defensive and argumentative statement. People offered their advice and support and, for whatever reason, you chose to become defensive. Based on your interactions in this chatroom, my advice would be to let your friend deal with her issue without the benefit of your "advice" or "input". Unfortunately, you do not seem well suited to the advisory role. 

1 Votes
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

In your original post you said "I'm writing this on behalf of a student I spoke to."  You didn't say anything about this person being a particular friend of yours.  You made it sound like a very casual encounter.  Yet, you start a thread on this person's behalf and get quite incensed when you don't receive the desired answers.  This person does actually exist, right?

What exactly is it you're looking for?  Confirmation that your "friend" was treated horribly unfairly?  We don't know the whole story, so none of us has anything useful to tell your "friend".  We do have students on this forum.  Why don't you encourage your "friend" to start a thread herself?  We could ask her questions about her situation and with better information we might have something useful to offer her.

The whole go-between strategy isn't doing much for either one of you.

0 Votes
Specializes in retired LTC.

popcorn time

1 Votes
On 5/1/2021 at 1:53 AM, Naseberry said:

OK, who was saying I was taking her side?

I was being supportive and shared this comment for suggestions to give to her that is it. To be honest cannot say I didn't expect comments of this nature.

Unfortunately for her indeed this is a foreshadowing of the profession she is trying so hard to get into ( I didn't tell her this she is already tasting it), no fraternity, no support, eating their young and put on big girl panties. Thank God I did not allow years in the profession to change my core as a person and offer empathy when I am seen as a confidant.

I totally agree with your comment. Nurses definitely eat their young! I believe the whole superiority complex many display is the cause for this. Clinicals are a place for student nurses to learn, I believe it would have been more appropriate for the instructor to use that moment as a teaching opportunity to provide appropriate rationale instead of outright failing her?(just my 2 cents). 

0 Votes
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