My Microbiology Teacher told me I can't become a Nurse

[louis345]

Hello,

Last time I visited the site, I got so much support from registered users of this forums, that I decided to enter the nursing program. Here is the link https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/late-me-become-497456-page12.html#post4569262 in case any wanted to see it.

Anyway, I was told today after Microbiology lab " That I'm sorry you don't have what it takes to become a nurse. It's just not your thing.". I had trouble with the microscope today and a few other days, so based off of that, she assessed that I couldn't pass clinical. Being in her position and her being a doctor, I felt so bad, and I had to refrain from crying on the spot. Keep in my mind I'm a guy. I told her that I would worker harder and hopefully by the end of the semster she would change her opinion of me.

Has anybody ever had someone tell you that you can't do something? If so, how did you handle it?

I tried to turn it into a positive, but having a real hard time doing so. My school has a low passage rate for the nursing program like 30 percent or something low like that. I don't want to tell my wife or my family what was said to me today, so I rather ask you for some advice.

I mean she could of worded it so differently like "if you keep on this path, you won't be a nurse.", but she actually said "You don't have what it takes.". I mean when she see's me she see's a failure.

[susan cagnon]

My high school guidance counselor told me I would never be a nurse, that there was not a nursing school in the state that would accept me. I graduated from the third achool in the top five in the state, a 3.85 GPA and for the last 26 years proved him wrong. My satisfaction was when I got my board scores (yes it was the day of printed scores and results) I took it to the high school and made a copy. He wasn't there so I made sure I put it prominently on his desk with a red inked star on top. It may have been reverse psychology on his part. No one can tell you how far you can go or what you can do. You control that part of your destiny..oh and I 26 years I have never used a microscope for work! You go girl and kick some micro booty!

[libragirl924]

This has GOT to be the week for instructors to tick us off - I was ticked at MY instructor when I commented originally, but I still stand by it. *L*

[annlewis]

I was strongly discouraged by a director during an interview for a 10 month accelerated LPN program. The director wanted me to take the 2 year part-time program instead. I personally felt that I could handle the full-time intensive course and I told her so repeatedly. I think she thought that since I had to take the math test over 3 times and that I had a southern accent that maybe I wasn't smart enough to handle the intensive course. Well, I listened to my heart instead of letting her discourage me and I graduated with honors. I have been working as an LPN ever since, and I love my job. Don't let anyone tell you what to do, listen to your heart, only YOU know what you can do and you must be honest with yourself. Your FAMILY is your support....you must be honest with yourself and with them, otherwize how can they know what to say to help you? let your family help you..that is my advise and good luck, work hard, and take it one day at a time.

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

This must be the week for microbiology professors to rattle our cages. I too have been treated with disrespect from my microbiology professor. I've been scolded in front of the whole class on several occasions. Mind you I'm almost 50 years old! My professor claims that he can tell which of us will fail nursing school and I can't help but think that he is referring to me. Well guess what? He doesn't know me, has never seen the great job that I do at my job and doesn't know what great skills I have outside of the biology lab.

I am a firm believer that what doesn't kill us will just make us stronger. I know that I would never make a great lab technician but I WILL make s great nurse!

Do your best to study the material every day, make notes of everything that you don't understand and review those questions with your professor. Learning to study the material by passing the class with a decent grade is more of a predictor on how well you will do in nursing school than knowing how to use a microscope!

Blessings to you!!

Wow I hated microbiology but had an awesome and very nice instructor!!! That teacher was stupid and I would never let anyone tell me what I can and cannot do, it would just amke me want to prove her wrong. What in the world would she know about nursing anyhow???? Just take as a lesson for later because it is amazing how teachers can make you feel once you are in nursing school. One day I leave class feeling on top of the world and the next I'm driving home second guessing myself and if I can ever do it..

[seng25]

More to Learn

HI ... Nice to meet you .I saw your writing back to anyone who has questions to asked. Its was got more energy for me. I did not start my pre req yet . I will take a placement test next month. I am so nerves and scare. I am from other country and i been here about for almost five year .My english is not that fluently ,but i really want to study about lvn course .Some of my friends told me don't waste time you are old why you have to take the pre req class.i am confusing and i dont know what should i do . People give me many kinds of suggestion. They only told me don't wasting time you will be done totally three or four year. Please gave me any suggestion.

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

Forget the haters! For real....just get your grade for that class and move on.

Do you know how many great successes had opposition before they made it?

Sounds like that teacher is in the wrong profession of teaching....students need encouraged in their abilties. There are many great male nurses. Please do not get discouraged. Get your passing grade and move on. Patients are not microscopes either....geesh.

Best Wishes!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Seng25, I suggest that along the way you continue your studies in English because that is going to be something that is going to be a problem for you down the road. It appears that you have a reasonably good grasp of the basics of English, you just need to learn to distinguish between the various tenses of the words used. That should not be all that difficult, I hope, for you. Beyond that, I think you should seriously consider pursuing all of the prerequisite education you need to begin your LVN studies. The science should not be the difficult part for you because wherever you go, the science is the science. Just remember that you need to be able to write well in English because that can cause issues later because your instructors are expecting well-written reports and papers from you. Once you are a nursing school, that will make a big difference in your clinical grade because your care plans will need to be well written also.

Don't worry about age, you are only too old after you're dead. You are never too old to continue to learn! Continue learning, continue asking questions, keep your plan in mind for how to get there and do whatever you can to make that happen! Good luck.

[hudabelle]

3 Years ago I was told by the nursing adviser (for a community college) that I had "no hope" of getting into nursing school. She looked at my grades in A&P from 7 years ago (I was re-taking them since they "expired" and I was getting good grades) and put my paperwork down without looking at anything else and said that the grade was too low in anatomy. Then she called, what I assume was, a coworker in to the room and asked about their lunch!!!! right in front of me as though I wasn't even there. I was so mad, I had scheduled a half-hour meeting with her and I had been in there only maybe 5 minutes. I asked her... "aren't the grades averaged out and that is what decides if you get in? It's not just one poor grade" (This fact was true, and my average was way above what was needed. And it's not that the class counted anyway because it was too old for this program). She said "Oh, I don't know, you'll have to ask the secretary out front about that" Oh My Gosh SERIOUSLY????????? YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR OWN JOB?!?!!

I was so dejected and downright angry. I swore off that school (it is where I earned my AAS-DTA and did most of my pre-reqs), their nursing program has been viewed by other schools as acting kind of "elite" when they really have no better scores/graduates than any other CommColl RN program around. I applied at 5 other schools and got in to 3 of them one of which was university. So whatever, dont listen to some old bitty about what you can/cannot do, they don't know you based off a couple encounters.

[happyinmyheart]

In her vast experience in nursing, she thought you couldn't hack it? Seriously, she's a micro instructor. I'm guessing that she (like most non-nurses) would roll into the fetal position and cry if she had to spend a day in my shoes as a nurse.

I'd put more weight on what your nursing instructors and preceptors say. If she isn't going to offer any constructive criticism, let it slide right off your back. I know it was discouraging to hear, and what a terrible thing for an instructor of any kind to say; but recognize that she is NOT a nurse, and she really has no idea about what it takes to be one.

Amen!!

[JoiTydings]

First day of class today I was called an idiot. I'm anything but. Crying. Passing rate is horrible! That just made it worse!

[invisiblewounds]

Wow and SMH. Why become an educator if you're going to tear people down? Not one of my instructors/professors would say such things to a person. They have all been very supportive of us students...above and beyond, really.

Sorry that you had to experience such negativity. Make sure you fill out your class/professor evals!

Physical or mental...one way or another...future "wound" nurse.

[AOx1]

This is a really old thread, but for those going through something similar: A microbiology/biology/chemistry/etc instructor is not a nurse, and therefore does not understand what it takes to be a nurse any more than I know what it takes to be a microbiology instructor. I am a nursing instructor and I do. First and foremost, I have been doing this for many years. I see brilliant students for whom school is easy. I see students of average intelligence and great compassion who must work harder, but can still be great nurses. Some of my favorite students are those who have been told they are not able to succeed. They are told they are too stupid, too slow, too quiet, too bad at math. They are told they are not smart enough, not rich enough, not technically adept. The vast majority push through, work hard and succeed. The majority of students I see fail are either those with very difficult current life situations who often return later and succeed, or those who don't apply themselves or don't really want to be nurses.

Throughout your life, there will be people who will tell you that you are not_______ enough, or that you are too ____. Stop letting other people define you. You decide who you are and what you want to be, then work fiercely and be determined to prove them wrong. Recognize and remediate your weaknesses, but realize that they don't characterize you.

I pity this type of instructor. It must be hard to have a life so terrible that insulting students makes you feel better. The most discouraging part is to read the end of the OPs journey. Would it have been different for him if instead of insulting him, someone could have shown him other paths to his dream (Such as another program)?