I just had my orientation for nursing school and boy, it was a downer. No, "Welcome, we're so glad you're here, yada yada." More like: study or else; don't work, you won't make it; and more threats and negative comments. Anyone else have this experience?
My main question is this: how many students graduate from your program from those who enter it? Ours was "bragging" that the program was so hard that only 32 students made it out of 57. I'm thinking, hmm, maybe there is something wrong with the teachers/program, not the students!! Is this the norm?
Also, they said that there are two math tests (one the first year and one the second year). If you don't get 100%, you are out of the program! The director said that she would rather you not be a nurse than make a med error. But anyone can make a mistake on a math test! Can you imagine getting through two years of nursing school and getting kicked out for a 98% on a MATH TEST???
Cindy I am so sorry you are getting all these negative messages. Maybe they are just trying to protect themselves from future complaints if students who work full time or whatever later fail and blame the school for not warning them.
Either way it must be so disheartning. Everyone at my school passed the drug test that you had to get 90% on because they really prepared you for the test. Additionally, those who did not make it to graduation... failed more because of psychosocial reasons (single mother with no money and working, major medical illness in family, etc) than purely academic.
Unfortunately this is your first taste of the dark side of nursing... how we put each other down sometimes. There is however a bright side as well, namely those extraordinary nurses you will meet who will care about you and your career and support you all the way...
I am really sorry that so many schools are using this at new student orientations! The school that I am attending is soooooo much different!! Don't get me wrong, they did not sugarcoat anything, but they are just so very supportive! Instead of saying "1/2 of you will fail out", their approach is, "we know that some of you are going to have a hard time, especially in the beginning, but know that we will always be there to support you, to help and to counsel you if you feel you DO want to leave." We also have math exams (1 per semester) but again, they didn't make us that nervous about it. Some semesters we get 3 shots (to get 80%) and some semesters we get 2 shots (to get 90%), but we know that if we fail the first time, we can get help at school to figure out where we went wrong and how to prepare to take it again.
I just hate that with all the stress new nursing students are under, you have to go to a school that tells you from the very beginning that they expect you to fail! :angryfire Well, I say prove them wrong!!!!! Go in there and do what you have to do to make them bite their tongues!!!!
bluesky, BSN, RN
864 Posts
Cindy I am so sorry you are getting all these negative messages. Maybe they are just trying to protect themselves from future complaints if students who work full time or whatever later fail and blame the school for not warning them.
Either way it must be so disheartning. Everyone at my school passed the drug test that you had to get 90% on because they really prepared you for the test. Additionally, those who did not make it to graduation... failed more because of psychosocial reasons (single mother with no money and working, major medical illness in family, etc) than purely academic.
Unfortunately this is your first taste of the dark side of nursing... how we put each other down sometimes. There is however a bright side as well, namely those extraordinary nurses you will meet who will care about you and your career and support you all the way...
Take care