Need advice, just failed first semester of nursing school

x_factor · Dec 17, 2012

What class did you fail? Before re-applying and entering into any new nursing program, you need determine why you failed your first semester, and what steps can be taken to assure that this doesn't happen again in the future. Was it lack of time? Lack of understanding the material? Was it the critical thinking that tripped you?

Whether a school accepts you after failing depends on the school. There are definitely schools out there that will accept a student that has failed in the past, though you may have to start over from the very beginning, pre-reqs and all. It really just depends on the school, so I would start researching different schools in your area and beyond, and see what their policies are.

However, to assure this doesn't happen again in the future, make sure you take some time to reflect what caused you to fail. Nursing school is difficult and rigorous, and takes a lot of time and dedication to succeed in. You may need to change your study habits, get a tutor, or make some other changes that will help assure your success if you do re-enroll into another program. Good luck.

lonestar9918 · Dec 17, 2012

Honestly, I would consider another line of work. Not trying to be rude..but maybe work on something easier.

Mrsladysoul83 · Dec 17, 2012

Coming from someone who has been in your shoes & even failed the RN program all together, i will say that if you want it bad enough, you will do whatever it takes. When i failed out, my advisor told me to change my career plan BUT I DIDNT why do something else when its my hearts desire to be a nurse! I am currently enrolled in an LPN program & we just finished med surge I(the same class i failed in the RN prog) & I PASSED IT WITH A 91! It was my fault (not the teacher not the test) i failed because i didnt put in the time, work or effort to be successful. I literally studied everyday 4-5 hours, read my chapters at least 3 times & answered as many questions as i could find, thats way more than i did in the RN program. You just have to make up your mind that this is what you want! If they allow you back in, learn from your mistakes & do better. If you need help, ask early dont wait til the end. Use supplemental books to help make it easier for you to UNDERSTAND NOT MEMORIZE. Yeah it hurts & you cry but then you have to get back up & try again, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT! Let that failure drive you to determination which will lead to success! Even if you have to take the different route its OK as long as you finish the race. Dont let anyone make you feel bad about it either(some people will). Remember FAILURE IS STILL NOT AN OPTION!

blt99 · Dec 17, 2012

Did you just fail a couple classes? Can you retake those classes?

If you've failed more than your allotted number of fails, our school will dismiss you. I can understand their reasoning. If you can't succeed in these classes after 2 attempts, then you're not going to succeed through the rest of the program and in getting a license.

Like the previous person said, examine why you failed them. Why did you fail, what was your barrier, is that barrier something that you can easily overcome? If there are solid roadblocks, then I would consider not applying to other schools, that will only be more depressing.

I'm sensing you're desperate to get into the medical field. Maybe do something that you can get a quicker certification in, rather than a lengthy BSN? Work for a while, then try again?

mnurs · Dec 17, 2012

Thanks so much for the reply everyone!

I actually failed two courses: Health Assessment, failed by 3 points, and Fundamentals, also by a few points. But i did manage to pass Pharmacology and Patho. I can't retake those courses because in the state of TX they only allow to retake one nursing course. After that you are dismissed from the nursing program. So now I have that in my record and I can't apply to any BSN program for 5 years. I have been making lots of phone calls and emailing lots of people at different school to see if I am even able to apply.

The problem with these two classes was that I figured out how to study too late. I started off with 60's on my exams and ended up with 70's and 80's, but it did not help with my overall grade.

Also I feel like I am not good at the critical thinking part. For a lot of people it comes so natural and easy, but for me, I feel like I have not been exposed to much in life, even at the age of 26.

For now I have bought a book, saunders, and will be answering questions everyday while trying to get into nursing school again. I already go an appointment to an ADN program advisor, which is a good start. This is my dream! When I had clinical this past semester I touched so many patient's lives and they touched mine. I guess this school, specifically, was not for me.

For the one's that were in my situations, how did you get through this for the first couple of days? just wondering because it's hard getting through the day. grr!

mnurs · Dec 17, 2012

@Mrsladysoul83

Thank you so much for you post. I am doing all my best to tell myself that there are many things out there for nursing and it will take time.

How long after did you apply to the LPN program?

I'm wondering if I am doing it too soon, since it just recently happen to me. I want to try and get in the fall of 2013.

Thank you for your kind words! Good luck with your nursing education.

x_factor · Dec 17, 2012

Life will not end, even though right now I'm sure it feels like it's the end of the world. Realistically, you can and will be able to get back into a program, but I suggest going the ADN route. I am currently finishing up pre-reqs, and will be applying for my ADN program next semester. With the ADN, just start from scratch. Find a good community college with a good ADN program, and start from the beginning by taking your pre-reqs, or seeing if the pre-reqs you took for your BSN program will transfer. And then start from there and work your way up. If that does not work, start with an LPN program and work your way from there, and bridge in the future. If this is what you want, go for it. Acknowledge your mistakes, accept what happened, and then learn from it. Good luck, your future is what you make of it. :)

Mrsladysoul83 · Dec 18, 2012

I failed out of RN school spring of 2011, enrolled in technical school to get my gpa up to standard summer 2011 @ that particular school they lowest gpa they had taken was a 3.68 & @ that time i had a 3.8 & i had taken all the required classes & was gonna take the psb exam for the fall 2012 admittance, sat out spring 2012 semester just 2 clear my head & had applied to another technical schools program sometime in march which i had forgot all about it & they called me in May & said i got accepted & we started over the summer with nutrition(which i didnt have to take since i took it at another school) & dosage calculations. So roughly a year. I just focused on getting my gpa up & like your school i would have to wait 5 years so in the mean time, why not get my Lpn its not what i wanted at the time but its a start & since ive been in the program i happy i made the decision. Also the good thing about it for me is that 2 other programs that have the bridge program said that i can apply to theirs as long as i finish the lpn program, get my license & work for a year & i dont have to wait the 5yrs. 1 of the schools said that as long as the failure is 2 years old i can apply so thats why im making sure im busting my butt so they can see that i over came the failures & took it serious. & IM 29 so dont feel bad! It bothered me @ 1st because by 30 i wanted to be finished & have my RN but hey its never to late. We still have time! My instructor is 62 & she just finished up her master's over the summer SO AGE AINT NOTHING BUT A NUMBER! just take a break, cry, scream, be depressed its normal i did it for about a month(self pity party) but just know you are not alone! What got me thru mines was i goggled failed nursing school & it lead me to this 1 story from a AN subscriber how she failed out of RN school, went the lpn route, graduated, went back for her RN & if im not mistaken she graduated with honors. By reading her testimony that helped me cope because despite it all she never gave up!

Mrsladysoul83 · Dec 18, 2012

I failed out of RN school spring of 2011, enrolled in technical school to get my gpa up to standard summer 2011 @ that particular school they lowest gpa they had taken was a 3.68 & @ that time i had a 3.8 & i had taken all the required classes & was gonna take the psb exam for the fall 2012 admittance, sat out spring 2012 semester just 2 clear my head & had applied to another technical schools program sometime in march which i had forgot all about it & they called me in May & said i got accepted & we started over the summer with nutrition(which i didnt have to take since i took it at another school) & dosage calculations. So roughly a year. I just focused on getting my gpa up & like your school i would have to wait 5 years so in the mean time, why not get my Lpn its not what i wanted at the time but its a start & since ive been in the program i happy i made the decision. Also the good thing about it for me is that 2 other programs that have the bridge program said that i can apply to theirs as long as i finish the lpn program, get my license & work for a year & i dont have to wait the 5yrs. 1 of the schools said that as long as the failure is 2 years old i can apply so thats why im making sure im busting my butt so they can see that i over came the failures & took it serious. & IM 29 so dont feel bad! It bothered me @ 1st because by 30 i wanted to be finished & have my RN but hey its never to late. We still have time! My instructor is 62 & she just finished up her master's over the summer SO AGE AINT NOTHING BUT A NUMBER! just take a break, cry, scream, be depressed its normal i did it for about a month(self pity party) but just know you are not alone! What got me thru mines was i goggled failed nursing school & it lead me to this 1 story from a AN subscriber how she failed out of RN school, went the lpn route, graduated, went back for her RN & if im not mistaken she graduated with honors. By reading her testimony that helped me cope because despite it all she never gave up!

itsmejuli · Dec 18, 2012

Perhaps the issue is your lack of study skills. If you're weak in reading comprehension then all classes will be be difficult.

How did you do in non-nursing classes such as english, math and anatomy?

truckinusa, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 18, 2012

I learned how to study late too. I just barely passed. I wouldn't say my school in oklahoma is the greatest, but it's easy enough to get into and cheap. There are cheap apartments and dorms nearby too.