No Longer a Student :(

Italia13 RN · Mar 5, 2008

They dismissed you fro crying?!?! I think thats alittle crazy, I have never heard of someone getting kicked out of school for crying? Maybe you can appeal and get back into your school. Transferring to another school sucks with nursing because even though we learn the same material it can be taught at different times during the program or named a different course, so all of the credits that you worked hard for mean nothing! I am so sorry to hear this happened to you, but seriously if you want to be a nurse I wouldnt let this stop you, try applying to different schools and dont give up. some of my friends who quit went back to school for teaching. I hope you do well in your future plans! Dont give up if this is really what you want to do!

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Mar 5, 2008

They dismissed you fro crying?!?! I think thats alittle crazy, I have never heard of someone getting kicked out of school for crying?

I'm guessing this was more than just an isolated incident. I think you need to explore exactly what was happening, why you were so emotional in school. What exactly was going on? Also, is this the right time in your life to be doing this? Have you been to a counselor, either privately or through your school? Until you tackle this, I would hold off on nursing for a while, maybe a year off wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Perhaps a job as a CNA may work for you, with the experience you have as a student.

beth66335, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2008

What do you mean you have the majority of the classes done? How many years/semesters of NS do you have completed? You may be able to sit for the LPN exam if you have enough NS done, some of the folks I went to school with said they were going to get their LPN first and then try RN again. Just to get some good experience, you know? If you don't have at least a year in you might be able to work as a NA uncertified, they hired those at the hospital I used to work in, you can't work cardiac or CCU/ICU, but some places will hire you and then send you through the program to get certified. The counseling idea doesn't sound to bad either, but don't think you can't talk to us too, anytime!:heartbeat If you really want this you can find a way!

suanna · Mar 6, 2008

I don't want to be discouraging but your instructors may have had your best intrest at heart. If the stress of school pushed you to crying on multiple occasions( I don't know if there were other reasons you were on probation) then nursing may not be for you at this time. Ours can be a very frustrating, emotionaly draining, stressfull job and if your instructors were that concerned about your emotional stability it may be a blessing for you that you are out of the program. As your life changes you may find you are able to better handle the stress of the job, but for now cutting you from the program may have been a kindness- I just wish they had done it before you spent so much time and money in the program. Drug dependency, alcoholism, depression , divorce, suicide are all pretty common in our field. I wouldn't want to see another casualty of the stress if it could be avoided.

kukukajoo, LPN · Mar 6, 2008

It can be done. I think firstly I would see if counseling were available to help you learn why you can't keep calm and your emotions in check during class/clincial. It can only help if you ask me.

In my school, we have pretty supportive staff for the most part, who really try to help you through. I was nearly canned first two weeks of the first year after a serious illness put me in the hospital nearly a week and I had so many abscences. Somehow I stuck it out despite not making friends after challenging the absence policy possibly a little to aggressively. But here I am about to graduate in May.

There are many schools everywhere and you may not have to repeat ALL of them. I would contact the schools directly. I was prepared to transfer if I had to but it never came about. The other college would have taken ALL classes passed with B+ or better.

Best wishes- if this is what you really want, you WILL find a way!

not2L84me · Mar 6, 2008

I have a similar problem that I posted, but not sure how to find it! Don't give up! This just happned to me this Monday 3/3/08. At first I cried and slept away some days, got depressed. Last night I got mad and am going to make an appointment with the Dean. (Wish me luck). This school is not very supportive and doesn't even warn you. It's just bam! You're out. Even though they knew I had 2 set-backs and one home emergency. I missed 2 clinical days, no lectures and had already made up one clinical day. On Sunday, I got a message from my clinical instructor stating that they had scheduled a "conference" for me. Ha! The idiots let me start working my second clinical day. I had already done my assessment and was getting ready to chart. That's when I got pulled aside! In the middle of clinical. How humiliating! I'm so angry now that I am going to contine to find ways to get this done. All my life since I was 15 I have been in nursing. I will not allow anyone to take that dream away. I like you am in California. Maybe we can join forces and help one another out with info. Like you said, I have already come across colleges that will not accept anyone who has failed at another college. Don't give up. "If there's a will, there's a way." I'm in the same boat you are so let's help each other paddle that boat. i believe you can do it!

Oops, I thought you lived in California, don't know why. Sorry!

angelchick · Mar 7, 2008

DONT GIVE UP!!!! I too was kicked out last year half way through practicum because my "mental illness", came to the forefront of our head nursing educator. I fought through human rights act and politicians etc, and although I wont be gratuating with my year 1 buddies I WILL be gratuating! just a year later then planned, don't let others step in front of your dreams!!!

All the best!!!!

angelchick · Mar 7, 2008

P.S They tried everything to put barriers up for me returning and I fought like I have never fought before. Although I still have resentment I feel stronger as an individual for standing up for my rights and dreams.

jjjoy, LPN · Mar 7, 2008

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. As you try to regroup, some things to consider might be: do you think the dismissal was at all warranted? Are there some issues that need to be dealt with before continuing (either emotional or academic or whatever)? Were you given fair warning with clear goals and consequences for not meeting those goals? Is there any chance at readmission next year to the same school?

Every school and instructor is different so those of us listening can't tell you whether or not the school was hasty and/or unsupportive. They may well have been. For now, it's your call on whether or not the feedback that you weren't ready for nursing school at this point is valid or not. Can you identify how you feel about it? If you're not sure (and that's okay), there are things you can do to build your confidence and prove to yourself if this is really what you want or not.

You can try to get a job as a nursing assistant or unit secretary or any other kind of job that will give you exposure to nursing. Some places might have strict hiring guidelines where you end up over or under qualified. But other places are more flexible so don't give up at the first "no" you might receive. If you explain that you have completed some nursing school already but had to leave "for personal reasons" I can imagine some places would be more than willing to hire you.

Or you could try to get a totally unrelated job to allow time to reflect on this experience and take some time away from nursing pursuits. Or if you feel all you need is a second chance then you could dig right in and find those schools that would accept students from other programs and try to get back into school ASAP. Or many other options.

When a door is closed it can feel pretty bleak and like a dead-end. Give it a little time and take the chance to look around a bit, and you can see that there are other options and paths to take.

ORRocksRN · Mar 7, 2008

student1000,

you and me and not2l84me are all in the same boat. maybe we should chat off line through personal email? i know i could reallly use some support from others in the same position as me and it would be helpful for all of us to compare our experiences and ideas for what route we want to take back to nursing.

i know exactly how you feel. i have been feeling really lost and alone too, but after a month of contemplating this all alone, i am starting to come out of the fog and see some hope. please let me know what you are thinking and what you have found out and what you are planning to do now and i will share my story too.

lets all chat... anyone have a hotmail or yahoo account where we can connect?

i'd also like to hear from angelchick, the new zealand student about her experiences.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Mar 7, 2008

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. As you try to regroup, some things to consider might be: do you think the dismissal was at all warranted? Are there some issues that need to be dealt with before continuing (either emotional or academic or whatever)? Were you given fair warning with clear goals and consequences for not meeting those goals? Is there any chance at readmission next year to the same school?
Every school and instructor is different so those of us listening can't tell you whether or not the school was hasty and/or unsupportive. They may well have been. For now, it's your call on whether or not the feedback that you weren't ready for nursing school at this point is valid or not.

This is very true, and I think we need to realize this. that maybe, this was in the best interest of the student, not necessarily the instructors being unreasonable.