I wanted to share some insight and knowledge I've learned since beginning my nursing program in 2010. I'm sharing this story so that other nursing students can be better prepared when choosing a school. Do your homework so you don't have to withdraw 4 weeks prior to graduation.
Do a lot of research before choosing which school you would like to attend. If possible, interview the head of nursing. Review the textbooks they are using and ask where the questions for their test are obtained. Ask if they rewrite the questions they use or if the questions are verbatim since NCLEX style question are thoroughly researched.
Talk to students already in the program and get a perspective on the teaching styles of the instructors, the flow of a semester, etc. I realize we're all in a hurry to get accepted into a program and most of us will take what we get. By doing your research ahead of time you'll be confident that you're not wasting your money, time spent away from family and friends and sanity.
I say all this because I just dropped out of nursing school 4 weeks before graduation. The straw that broke the camels back? Four weeks before graduation I was told I couldn't graduate because I hadn't completed a basic English class. The fact is I did complete the class on my first go around in college.
The class fell through the cracks during admissions and when I provided proof of completion, with transcripts, the credit was not accepted. I followed the chain of command all the way to the president of the school and was given the same response at each level. I attempted to offer evidence based research papers as work already complete (made a 97 or greater on all papers) and they were not acknowledged. I felt as though I had no advocate and was defeated that the powers that be wouldn't help in some fashion.
I had to fight to stay in a program that I was paying for out of my pocket.
Anyway, I began the program and after two weeks was separated from my husband. I had to find somewhere for me and my daughter to live. We moved in with a girlfriend from school, was there two months then moved into an apartment.
For the next six months I fought through a bitter divorce.
Life changing event #1: I maintained my grades and was still able to work. The second blow came after a major rotator cuff surgery last May. I missed two days of school because I hurt so bad I couldn't dress myself. The third day I was late for clinical, again a challenge with dressing with one arm. I followed school protocol and called my instructor to let her know I would be late.
I called multiple times without an answer from her. When I arrived to the site she stated she hadn't received any calls from me, belittled me in front of my classmates, then sent me home. This pushed me over the hours allotted to miss for the semester and I was kicked out of the program. I was written up and kicked out of the program. Later in the day I was reinstated. The following day the instructor apologized and stated she acted inappropriately. Unfortunately that wouldn't undo the damage already done to my record.
Life changing event #2: The math competency test. The first one I failed and the second go around I made an 89. You have to make a 90 to pass. The head of nursing would make no exceptions and stated I would be kicked out of the program. I went to the director of nursing with evidence that we were not consistently tested on the math and with each test the rules changed. The instructors did not follow the math rules outlined in our math book. I ended up having to go to the dean and was able to retest. The curriculum was changed as a result of this and now math is reinforced in exams and reviewed prior to testing. I was allowed to retest and was successful.
The straw that broke the camels back for me was the unwillingness to accept a class I had completed at another college, for credit to graduate. Nursing students shouldn't have to fight this hard to stay in a program. It's hard enough without all the pitfalls.
Also, find out what grading scale your college of choice is on. The one I attended used a 7 point grading scale. The colleges around them, offering the same program, uses a 10 point grading scale.
I think this person did not like the responses. I sure hope she decides to put her tail between her behind and beg to come back to nursing school for her own sake. This is definitely going to be a bought lesson on her part...
Hey, people are allowed to take the NCLEX 6, 7 and even more times! As long as they eventually get it, it's fine, right? Math is just the same! (sarcasm...)
For the life of me I can't understand why people think its acceptable to get anything less than a 100 on med calc tests. 100% and one try; if I get sick and end up in the hospital I really don't want to think about the fact the nurse caring for me did basic med math wrong 10% of the time.
For the people that disagree: would you let me do a bone marrow biopsy on you if I missed 10% of the time?
Because we are in SCHOOL, training to become nurses, not actually nurses in the field calculating medications.
A hospital giving a medcal exam upon hire? Absolutely you should have a 100% the first shot. For a first year nursing student.. STILL LEARNING.
This idea that all nursing students need to do everything perfectly upon entering the classroom and clinical rotation makes no sense. That is the whole purpose of going to school.
Because we are in SCHOOL, training to become nurses, not actually nurses in the field calculating medications.
A hospital giving a medcal exam upon hire? Absolutely you should have a 100% the first shot. For a first year nursing student.. STILL LEARNING.
This idea that all nursing students need to do everything perfectly upon entering the classroom and clinical rotation makes no sense. That is the whole purpose of going to school.
What about when you are in your 3rd or 4th semester, and you get questions wrong that you were supposed to master in the 1st semester, after you have "learned" it?
Because we are in SCHOOL, training to become nurses, not actually nurses in the field calculating medications.
A hospital giving a medcal exam upon hire? Absolutely you should have a 100% the first shot. For a first year nursing student.. STILL LEARNING.
This idea that all nursing students need to do everything perfectly upon entering the classroom and clinical rotation makes no sense. That is the whole purpose of going to school.
If you are passing meds you should be able to do the basic math to ensure you are safe. I don't think that is negotiable. Everyone makes mistakes, and students are allowed mistakes, bust basic math shouldn't be the root of them.
If you are passing meds you should be able to do the basic math to ensure you are safe. I don't think that is negotiable. Everyone makes mistakes, and students are allowed mistakes, bust basic math shouldn't be the root of them.
And we are talking basic, BASIC math.
I am NOT a math person; very far from it. This stuff is basic algebra. Any adult who is getting a college degree should be able to make these kinds of calculations.
Even an expert in mathematics may occasionally make a mistake in arithmetic.. I'm not saying it's not dangerous and God knows it's basic calculations- but it should happen in school, with the student having the ability to see where the mistake is made so that it doesn't happen in the real world. To just cut off their head immediately seems harsh. And also a total rip off for someone who has spent so much money and effort to get to that point in their education in the first place.
Even an expert in mathematics may occasionally make a mistake in arithmetic.. I'm not saying it's not dangerous and God knows it's basic calculations- but it should happen in school, with the student having the ability to see where the mistake is made so that it doesn't happen in the real world. To just cut off their head immediately seems harsh. And also a total rip off for someone who has spent so much money and effort to get to that point in their education in the first place.
It the math expert makes a basic arithmetic mistake, what do you think the cause is? Moving too fast? Not paying attention? Not double checking their work? They are all very dangerous things when lives are at stake.
I have witnessed someone forget to convert lbs to kg in a weight-dosing calculation because they were distracted and missed a step. The result was unfortunate.
That being said we all make mistakes. Everyone should do their best to limit them. Perhaps I was too harsh. Two shots at 100 or one at 90.
It the math expert makes a basic arithmetic mistake, what do you think the cause is? Moving too fast? Not paying attention? Not double checking their work? They are all very dangerous things when lives are at stake.
I have witnessed someone forget to convert lbs to kg in a weight-dosing calculation because they were distracted and missed a step. The result was unfortunate.
That being said we all make mistakes. Everyone should do their best to limit them. Perhaps I was too harsh. Two shots at 100 or one at 90.
Absolutely careless mistakes. Those mistakes should be learning experiences when it comes to the medcal exams- I think. Show them how important it is during the education experience the importance of taking your time and triple checking your work.
ixchel
4,547 Posts
Thankfully patients are understanding when you explain to them (after a med error) that you have 3 tries to get it right.