Nursing School Heartbreak of losing fellow students

Genista, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

I think there was only one student in my nursing program that didn't make it. Our class was a tight knit group. We were very supportive of eachother. In fact, one of our instructors commented on how funny we were about giving praise and high fives to eachother for each new achievement. LOL!

But I can relate to your sense of loss on another level, because I remember being a new grad RN on med/surg and I was hired with another new grad. I felt a kinship with her because we were the only new nurses on the unit. This unit didn't hire new grads very often (this was 8 years ago). Well, apparently, this poor girl was struggling inside much worse than any of us knew. She quit her job one day, seemingly out of the blue. It was strange, because she kept it all bottled up and didn't let any of her coworkers know how much she was struggling. I felt bad that she didn't seek out support from us. I was struggling too, as a new grad, but to tell you the truth, I am a stubborn mule and it never once entered my mind that I wouldn't make it. I knew it was hard, but I was determined. However, there were times I cried, it was so hard. I would have loved to have a support person to share those struggles with.

My advice is to support one another as much as possible. Have fun, laugh & share successes as well as failures. If someone drops out, then maybe it just wasn't meant to be for them. Corny as it sounds, they say when a door closes, a window opens. Maybe the people who leave will move on to something that is a better fit for them.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

First day, nursing school...first class! I sat next to a great gal and we got to talking before the class began...sharing our excitement and fear and stories on why we chose this path. She was great and since that day we have been best friends!!!

Sadly, she got ill and missed many classes in A/P (this was before it was mandatory before acceptance to RN school). She failed A/P and took it over the summer to catch up...this time she passed but by the skin of her teeth! It isn't that she didn't understand...I helped her, but she had severe test anxiety (she took a class on that too)..and well...

So second year came around (two year RN degree), and missed her midterm by .1%!!!!! They flunked her out, and she was told that she wouldn't be accepted to apply again. She was devistated and so was I!!!!! We cried, we complained, we went out lots of times just to talk...we just basically took time to 'mourn' and talk things out, then after a while made up a plan on where to go next!

She started working as a unit secretary at the hospital I am doing agency for (yeah...we are working together again!!!!!!). She still has a steal trap nurse mind...but none of the responsiblities! She knows a nurses role and gets along great with the MD's and reminds them when they are screwing up orders or ordering something nurses don't typically do or certainly don't drop everything and do STAT (in a given circumstance of course). She is great with patients and explains things well, and also is awesome at gaining their patience while waiting for a nurse...and she has no probelm breaking from the desk if time allows and helps with VS, Transfers, or even taking time to read to a scared patient or someone that can't read the paper well!

She loves her job! She is now so glad she isn't a nurse! She feels totally fullfilled and wants to stay as a unit secretary for life! Back when she failed that wasn't even in the picture or even wanted...now she is the happiest person on the floor...and bless her heart...she never gave up on staying in the medical profession! She took a different path and loves it!!!!!!

That was awesome...took a few years, but wow...now I envy her! LOL! She always teases me that I got the raw end of the stick..LOL! But we both admit...I am a great RN, and she is the BEST unit secretary!!!!! :)

Sometimes these things just work out for the best...especially if you take time to be true to your feelings of disappointment and heartache..take that time...and then get back on that horse and do some research into what path to take next! We researched many options..this one was it!

danigirl58 · Mar 24, 2006

my program was 4 years long. at the beginning my nursing class had about 97 people in it. how my program was put together all of us stayed together as the courses were preset. as a result my class was very very close and very supportive. during the first 2 years we all grew as people and in the roles of student nurse. third year came and it was pure hell for everyone .... it was so hard the instructors even stressed to all that if they had a job that they should quit it because they would not pass with all the required work. well i think it is safe to say that approximately only 20-25 (this number would be on the high side) people made it through that year safe and able to go onto their 4th year. i was one of those that didn't make it, and as a result i lost contact with a lot of very good people (i was bitter and angry ).

i have just finished my senior practicum and had an awesome experience as my preceptor was a person that i went to school with and there were other nurses on my unit that were from my original class which made the learning experience awesome.

ultimately it was sad to be left behind but at this point in time it doesn't matter because i am now done :lol2: . i would say though that i really don't think anyone knows how hard nursing school is on those that go through it. my program dropped many people that would have made awesome nurses over very petty things. i think that if you can make it through school you'll remember all the good and the bad and learn from it.

debbieuk · Mar 24, 2006

i think this is universal. my course in the UK started with 96 students in september, when we came back after christmas we where down to 72. only 45 graduated this year.

in the first year i think it was an eye opener for many both clinicaly and academicaly. many couldn't cope with the work load or with the realisation that nursing can be a dirty job. our tutors seemed to know that many would not make it and gave us no support or comittment.

by the final year those that has stayed were really close and my two best friends in the world were from my course.

throughout our time we had weddings, engagements, births, divorces. we had good times and very bad times but we were there for each other.

i remember on enroling we were all stood in a line talking and getting to know each other and some one asked if we won the lottery would we continue our programme and we all went yeah of course we would.

we asked each other just the other week (when our schedules meant that we could meet up) would we do it again and we all said NO WAY.

i am pleased i passed, i worked hard and love my job. but the emotional and physical rollercoaster that is nurse training, i couldn't do it again.

nursepenny · Mar 24, 2006

My LPN class started with 60 students. Only 15 graduated.

t78m · Mar 24, 2006

can anyone help me find out if i passed the nclex or not?

danigirl58 · Mar 24, 2006

i am pleased i passed, i worked hard and love my job. but the emotional and physical rollercoaster that is nurse training, i couldn't do it again.

if i had to do it all over again, i don't think i would either. nursing is my calling but honestly i gave up to much to complete my education. when people ask me about how school was i honestly say it was hell, but i add that i learned a ton.

Drysolong · Mar 25, 2006

This thread was very interesting to me as I have had the same experiences. Just graduated LPN school. I found out that one student who failed in our first quarter has been going to another school in our area all along and will graduate in June. Others transferred to local colleges and university for RN course.

The thoughts you all have expressed were very comforting.

hdorsey · Mar 26, 2006

I just lost a fellow student who dropped Peds last week & it hurts. You just have to be successful in their honor!