My letter and appeal got denied

denicu · Feb 27, 2014

I have been a RN over 26yrs and just last week I was talking to a friend who have applied to several nursing programs and have been denied or wait listed for all of them. I asked her if she applied to a particular school and she replied" well I heard its not a good program" Knowing how difficult it is to get in a RN program I advised her to apply to the program and if she gets in -work very hard,get good grades and hopefully she will be successful in getting a job when she graduates. Then after working a few yrs she can then apply to a RN to BSN program. I have seen honor graduates from Ivy league nursing programs who struggled as first yr nurses.

mhy12784 · Feb 28, 2014

You really want a half-rate degree as your foundation? Good luck with that BSN.

If the alternative were nothing or potentially waiting several YEARS (while retaking a ton of classes) to get IN a respectable program then yes.

I dont know anything about NCCC as I live in Suffolk. But ive worked with more than a few pretty good nurses who started at SCCC. And I find it incredibly difficult to believe that NCCC is exponentially worse than SCCC.

And I know NCLEX pass rates arent the end all, but last year NCCCs pass rate for the NCLEX was 5% higher than the rest of NY. And .5% higher than the rest of the country

So I highly doubt its some nightmarish horrific place.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2014

I'm hardly speculating on the school itself. I have absolutely no idea nor do I care what NCCC or SCCC is. It doesn't really matter.

The point is that if you have crap for a foundation in nursing, you're going to have difficulty down the line. That's not to say you won't struggle in your first year of licensure because you went to a good school or life will be unicorns and rainbows because your college has a 98% NCLEX pass rate. Of course, that's also not to say that because you graduated from a bad school that you'll never be a good nurse. It'll just be more difficult to get there because you weren't taught properly. Nursing school cannot really teach you how to be a nurse. It can only give you some of the many tools you'll need when you get started, but just like building a foundation to anything, those tools and the quality of the foundation itself are extremely important.

If you have a solid theoretical base and your education has laid the framework for understanding research, critical thinking and the nursing process, you will probably have an easier time standing on your own two feet as a nurse having graduated with a quality education versus the kid who graduated with their (insert degree level here) from Skippidy-Doo-Da-Day University, whose only interest was lining their pocket with your tuition and passing anyone with a pulse.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2014

I'm confused. You say you were denied admission into the nursing program. You said, "I'm going to make an appointment with whoever is in charge of my rejection. I know that you have to show them your plan...I know that. I'm going to explain that I didn't understand the nclex style questions and I'm going to show him physically that this is the book I'm going to be using".

What does NCLEX style questions have to do with your denial? Did you fail a pre-nursing class that tested in NCLEX style questions?

Nursing pursuit · Feb 28, 2014

Yes, the questions are nclex style. Everyday, I find out something new, today I found out that I may have another chance to appeal as well as write another letter. I didn't even know you can appeal twice...or maybe I'm just losing my mind. P.S: I failed 2 major nursing classes.

Nursing pursuit · Feb 28, 2014

I'm trying to get reaccepted. I was in the program and got dropped, sorry for the confusion.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Feb 28, 2014

You failed TWO nursing courses? I'm sorry but your chances are not too good. I hope things work out for you.

Nursing pursuit · Feb 28, 2014

I know someone by name who got a second chance.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2014

I was a little skeptical at that too. 2.75 is the minimum I've seen. I think my only realistic approach is to get my LPN at my school. It't the long way but its the easy way since lpn and rn nursing classes overlap with each other which is a bonus in addition to me finishing my last pre-req this semester.

Pre-req (pre-nursing class) for what?? You said you were already IN the program and failed 2 major nursing classes. Why would you currently be taking a pre-nursing class?

I don't think the school where you failed two major nursing classes would deny you re-admittance back into the RN program but allow you admittance into their LPN program. If you can't grasp NCLEX style questions in the RN program, I have many doubts you'd grasp them in the LPN program. I became an LPN and then went back and became an RN. My LPN NCLEX style questions were just as difficult as the RN ones.

Nursing pursuit · Feb 28, 2014

Ok, here we go. I was in the the RN program last semester. I passed 4 out of 6 classes. When you fail 2 classes what happens? You get dropped from the program and go back to general studies. I still have to take a psychology class which is for the RN program so I'm finishing it up now. I could of been in the LPN program for this spring semester but I decided to take this route instead. In my school, the LPN program is not competitive and you could go straight into it even after failing out from the RN program.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2014

Thank you for explaining it. Pre-nursing to me are the pre-reqs taken required by the nursing program (chem, A&P, whatever). Gen Eds to me are those classes that are a part of it or the classes required by the School for graduation (the core courses everyone takes no matter what major they are in such as English, Math, etc).

I stand by my original opinion, if you didn't grasp the NCLEX style questions I don't think you'll grasp them in the LPN course either. You need to figure out why you aren't grasping them before you jump into any program (LPN or RN) again.

Now, will you win your appeal to get back into the RN program..that I'm not sure of. In my school its very, very difficult to get back in after 2 course failures and you can't appeal the appeal.

Best of luck to you.

allnurses Guide · Mar 1, 2014

The problem is if you can't pass NCLEX style questions in school you definitely are going to struggle with the NCLEX itself. The school has to maintain a certain pass rate to remain reputable. Going to a school that takes students as low as 2.25 is going to do nothing but waste your money getting an education that still will not have taught you decent critical thinking skills with ability to pass NCLEX. Look at the school's NCLEX pass rates. They are published publicly. I bet anything they are terrible. This means you spend all that money and have no career in the end. The only thing a nursing degree is good for is nursing. Without a license it is useless. I think you need to start down the path of Plan B.