Need some help/recommendations following removal from nursing school

[mlb69]

Hello,

This is my first time on here so I will explain the scenario. I am a b- to a c student. I am very safe and proficient in my client care but today I was released from the program with the explanation "the faculty feel you are unsafe to practice at clinical". There is nothing on my record that even indicates I am "unsafe" with patients. There has been "concern" of my inability to connect dots at times but STUDENTS don't always connect the dots. I am a 3rd semester student currently passing all courses with a steadily improvement track record. Clinical evals in the past of yielded 90% or greater. I just do not understand it. How is "slowly" connecting the dots relevant to direct patient care? If schooling is building a foundation and the majority of our "learning" occurs in the hospital setting wouldn't all student nurses be "unsafe"?

[dura_mater]

From my experience, learning in NS was all in what I made of it. I couldn't waste my time wishing things/teachers/situations were always "calm, cool, and collective" This was the real world... this was nursing

If I wanted this (my education) bad enough, I had to learn to play the game (so to speak) I am an adult learner & I had to take responsibility for what I was going to get out of my education

It took me the better half of my first year to realize this (my instructor was absolutely dreadful.... but that's a whole nother thread lol) but I was so thankful when I finally did, it made the rest of my time in school much more enjoyable & productive

I can still remember my 1st NS instructor telling us (after she had changed the class/clinical days & times again for the 5th time): "well adaptability & flexibility are the essence of nursing"

boy, was I p****d at the time, but now looking back this was one of the best things she taught me :)

don't give them a chance to dot their i's & cross there t's (if u think they're trying to do this to boot you)

go in there for your 'check offs' & knock their socks off, you are going to be an amazing nurse, don't let the negativity getcha down

also, do you have a trusted faculty member that you could talk to about this in confidence, one that sees your potential & believes in you? maybe they could help you to "play their game"

just my thoughts

good luck

[mlb69]

Well the main point is why does there have to be games? We are ALL adults paying these instructors to teach us. I have learned a lot from my teachers, while I have learned a lot of nursing as a profession. If nursing is suppose to be this "compassionate, caring" profession why do they have instructors like this? To me it makes absolutely no sense.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I hope it all works out. I can see how bitter sweet it can be, you got your place back but now will feel like you have to walk on eggshells

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Just got off the phone with the department head and, well they do want me to come back as "protocols" were not followed.

YAY!!!!!

Sounds like someone wanted you out for specious reasons, and higher-ups thought better of it.

Congrats...go show 'em what you're made of!

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Keep your eye on the prize. STOP ruminating on this NOW.

... and get down to it.

[mlb69]

What is the difference between finishing up with excelsior and finishing with the institution? Which would you all recommend? Is there any other "recommendations" or thoughts/suggestions anyone else might add?

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Finish up with your school. Chances are that you've rattled cages they didn't expect you to. So you really do sort of have the upper hand for the moment. Be sure to write a very calm thank you letter to those who made things move for you.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

What you do now is really up to you. I mean, you might get a different answer from every poster on here, but it's all from *their* perspective. What's *your* perspective? It sounds like you don't want to go back out of fear of the unknown...that you feel they have all the control, and you have none. Whether that is true or not...none of us know...and neither do you.

If I were you...if I were you...but I'm *not* you. You sound like a good student, dedicated, and trying very hard to become the nurse you want to be. I think your next question should be, "This is what they reasonably expect of me. How can I deliver that so I can get my degree and go be a nurse?"

My deepest good wishes for you.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Make sure your state board is ok with Excelsior. Some states require more if you go that route. I don't know much about it, if you search it on here you will find a lot of information on it as a school though and difference, I have seen a few threads about it before with lots of info :)

[mlb69]

GREAT response Dudette...

My perspective (honestly): I would really love to go show them what I am made of and to demonstrate that their "bias" of unsafe practice was very very unprofessional. I want them to eat their words and apologize following graduation. This will never happen but one can wish :) I want to show them that the education I have received far exceeds what they ever expected into the nursing as a profession. However, in reality/practicality this just seems to me as there way of "attempting" to do right and that next time they will come at me with machine guns loaded...

[mlb69]

I just wish that this had gone down a more politically correct way b/c frankly, I am scared. If they can just about throw a student out for a "bias" that is totally undocumented then they can just about do anything in my book...

[guest2210]

I've heard of a situation where one particular NS instructor picks one student in the beginning of the year and rides that student mercilessly, often resulting in that student leaving the program. the friend that happened to went to a different school and became a medical assistant. It totally turned her against being a nurse.