i need some sound advice about my situation. i completed 3.5 semesters of an acelerated bsn program in the boston area and was dismissed due to a clinical failure 3 weeks from graduation. i had excellent grades, and even made the dean's list a few times. (and for the record, i did not put a patient in any harms way. it was strickly a political/personality situation, and unfortunately i have no recourse so i need to move forward.)
i've looked into a few other schools, but they do not transfer upper lever [color=#ae04e8]nursing courses which means i'd have to re-take nearly all of the classes i already passed. (that is if they accept me because of my clinical failure!!) this is a really tough pill to swallow, and i'm not getting any younger.
i can't fathom starting over from scratch again, so i'm looking to anyone in this forum who may have some reliable advice. (i was told from one school that they would accept two classes, but that was about it. they also have a board you can petition, but that is a time consuming process and it's not always a guarantee.)
will i be forced to watch all my hard-earned credits drift out to sea??? it's just heart-breaking.
i'm so close to finishing.....i need some realistic ideas about other options. are there any schools in the boston area that will tranfer my hard-earned upper-level nursing credits??? unfortunately, relocating is not an option for me at this time.
praying for a response(s) that will set me on a new track so i can finish what i started.
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.
Sometimes when we suddenly face a roadblock to what we think we want, it's a sign that something better is out there for us. Maybe this is the case for you?
I wish you luck and hope things get less stressful for you....
I'm a big believer in things happen for a reason, but this is a very TOUGH lesson to digest. I know I'm cut out for nursing, there is no question there....and I even know where I'm best suited. I just need to finish these last few requirements.
Well I can say that you might have run into someone who is, although working as an instructor for a program like yours, really against the very idea. Even in my program, I know of some who were picked out and everybody knew why. It was because they were capable. Not know-it-all but courteous and serious learners. Being intimidated by people who already have previous education and experience as adults is a problem with some instructors. All they do is look at your transcripts and there is always that "get to know you" chat that happens with each new instructor for the weak instructors to get enough knowledge of your CV to begin getting intimidated and start setting traps for you along the way. You, after all think you are paying a professional for your education, are easy game (at first), who knew you would be dealing with this type of person?!
Problem with this approach for the weak instructor, is that 100 percent of they time, they don't have any game. You can absolutely nail them to the wall. So, if this is sort of what your situation is like, I'd go for it as others have said and make them sit and reflect just a little while. Afterall, this is about some big money, isn't it? I know of a few who have very successfully called foul and are now RNs.
if you really want to be a nurse, then redoing a year or so is a small price to pay in the infinite scheme of things. imagine yourself ten years from now. are you kicking yourself because you didn't spend that year? yes? then swallow your pride, redo the year or whatever it takes, and learn from the experience.
if you really don't want to do what you have to do to finish your nursing education now (and if what you're telling us is correct, that's the way it is), then don't be a nurse, be something else. consider using your credits to get a bs in something else, then in a year or two or three, think about applying to an Accelerated BSN program or a bs-in-anything-to-mn program at mgh.
Well I can say that you might have run into someone who is, although working as an instructor for a program like yours, really against the very idea. Even in my program, I know of some who were picked out and everybody knew why. It was because they were capable. Not know-it-all but courteous and serious learners. Being intimidated by people who already have previous education and experience as adults is a problem with some instructors. All they do is look at your transcripts and there is always that "get to know you" chat that happens with each new instructor for the weak instructors to get enough knowledge of your CV to begin getting intimidated and start setting traps for you along the way. You, after all think you are paying a professional for your education, are easy game (at first), who knew you would be dealing with this type of person?!
Problem with this approach for the weak instructor, is that 100 percent of they time, they don't have any game. You can absolutely nail them to the wall. So, if this is sort of what your situation is like, I'd go for it as others have said and make them sit and reflect just a little while. Afterall, this is about some big money, isn't it? I know of a few who have very successfully called foul and are now RNs.
Yes. Yes. Yes. These weak instructors have neither the heart of a nurse nor the heart of a teacher. They are often incompetent as nurses and somewhat incompetent as people in general. When dealing in any capacity with a capable person who is educated and accomplished in another field, the incompetent instructor gets defensive for no reason, then goes from defensive mode to offensive mode. Some of these same incompetent individuals find themselves in nurse manager positions. If they are approached by an earnest competent nurse to address an unethical or dangerous patient care issue, they personally feel threatened. They are not glad to have capable good people working for them. They aren't interested in finding solutions. They care nothing for patient care. They are obsessed with getting rid of the good capable people because they are insecure and afraid of being made to look bad. This is regardless of the fact that the capable person has no desire or interest in making the incompetent manager look bad. Their sense of self is threatened by any contact with competence. They can't tolerate close proximity to integrity or competence.
Yes. Yes. Yes. These weak instructors have neither the heart of a nurse nor the heart of a teacher. They are often incompetent as nurses and somewhat incompetent as people in general. When dealing in any capacity with a capable person who is educated and accomplished in another field, the incompetent instructor gets defensive for no reason, then goes from defensive mode to offensive mode. Some of these same incompetent individuals find themselves in nurse manager positions. If they are approached by an earnest competent nurse to address an unethical or dangerous patient care issue, they personally feel threatened. They are not glad to have capable good people working for them. They aren't interested in finding solutions. They care nothing for patient care. They are obsessed with getting rid of the good capable people because they are insecure and afraid of being made to look bad. This is regardless of the fact that the capable person has no desire or interest in making the incompetent manager look bad. Their sense of self is threatened by any contact with competence. They can't tolerate close proximity to integrity or competence.
Really?
This is starting to smell (between your post here, and the one you replied to with said post) a tad narcissistic.
You're both saying that these incompetent, jealous nursing instructors are so intimidated by someone with an existing degree in another field and/or "life experience" that they have decided, after the first week of classes, and chatting with you, that you pose such a threat, that they must then find or manufacture an excuse kick you out??
Seems mildly paranoid.
I think the OP did something fairly egregious, IMO, and is reluctant to share it. Fine, that is her right, but like some wise poster earlier remarked- if you only spill half the story, you only get half the help.
This is starting to smell (between your post here, and the one you replied to with said post) a tad narcissistic.
You're both saying that these incompetent, jealous nursing instructors are so intimidated by someone with an existing degree in another field and/or "life experience" that they have decided, after the first week of classes, and chatting with you, that you pose such a threat, that they must then find or manufacture an excuse kick you out??
Seems mildly paranoid.
I think the OP did something fairly egregious, IMO, and is reluctant to share it. Fine, that is her right, but like some wise poster earlier remarked- if you only spill half the story, you only get half the help.
She is very smart, IMO, to not give details on a public board. How much help can anyone here really give her, anyway? She is absolutely right, also, IMO, in realizing that politics played the role they did in her situation - I am pretty sure. There are so many really insecure people, so many jealous, so many really downright whacko, and don't forget the just plain cruel. There are so many people who can't stand to see anyone else succeed or have happiness. There are lots of vindictive people, stupid people. Realizing this does not make one paranoid. It makes one wary and teaches those who are relatively powerless to keep their mouths shut and their eyes down, to learn how to get on the boss' good side, and be as political as one needs to be to keep that job. Even then, sometimes the good are let go.
For OP - if you have really exhausted all options, you can either start over somewhere else or try another field. The paucity of jobs for new graduate nurses should be causing you to look around and see what other field you might find of interest. I really don't see any other choices unless you can beg your way back into your present school and maybe work out some arrangement with them. It's a tough situation when an organization closes ranks against you and kicks you out, but I think it can turn out well. Yes, it's very painful at the moment, but will be ok in time. I do wish you every success and happiness. Don't panic. Just figure out what you might have done wrong or how you were unwise, if you were at all, and don't do it again. If you have a degree or are above average in intelligence or competence, leave it at home. When you are in someone else's "house", be humble. I know it's hard but you might have to crawl a little, eat some humble pie. One step at a time.
Pray for God's help. They might have meant it for harm, but He can and will use it for good. Offer the sacrifice of praise to Him no matter how you feel. Just ask Him to step in and bring you across the Red Sea on dry land. Sorry if my religious views offend you or anyone else. It's just my view, my practice, take it or leave it as you see fit. God bless. I truly do want you to prosper and be in health and have all good things, no matter how dark the days are for you just now and I know of no other way for you to have the fat of the land than to seek God's help and call upon Him to be your protector and defender and to give you favor with everyone.
In all likelihood, there is a reason, as hoopchick suggests. I don't believe in the likelihood of a baseless conspiracy taking shape 3 week before graduation either. However, detailing whatever the incident leading up to this circumstance was is probably not a good idea b/c it could possibly identify the poster and make matters worse. Best to keep a lid on it.
OP, if you have already exhausted transfer options as you say, and relocating is not an option, that leaves you with appeals channels through your school, your state nursing association, or you can seek legal advice. I think that about sums up the possibilities. Good luck.
Whispera, MSN, RN
3,458 Posts
Sometimes when we suddenly face a roadblock to what we think we want, it's a sign that something better is out there for us. Maybe this is the case for you?
I wish you luck and hope things get less stressful for you....