People are dropping like flies

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 20, 2009

It's very common. In the first semester or two, you get 2nd chances as the faculty wants to give people a chance to get the hang of it. But as you get closer to graduation, those additional chances start to disappear. By then, you need to be able to perform up to standards or face the fact that you are not ready to graduate and be licensed. The standards become closer to what they are in real practice and students need to show that they can perform at that level.

Good luck to you!

Music in My Heart · Oct 20, 2009

We lost the bulk of our folks after the third semester. I don't really know why but that's how it worked out.

You probably know how you're doing. If you're doing OK, don't sweat it (easy for me to say, I know). If you're struggling, get some help.

They will drop people right up until the very end. A sister program to ours had someone who was dropped just two weeks before graduation and our program - like many/most - had a comprehensive, standardized final which was make-it-or-break-it on the last day of our program.

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2009

It happens all the time. We started in January with 52 and we now have 14 with one who was failed just yesterday and another on the verge of failing. It's the way of nursing school apparently.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2009

Here's my personal rule of thumb: I don't worry too much about my classmates.

As long as I am doing well enough to progress through the nursing program and graduate, that is all that matters to me at this point. I've watched people drop from my program, and it only motivates me to strive harder so I don't end up in their predicament.

My outlook might seem ruthless, but it works for me.

NDegollado714 · Oct 20, 2009

Here's my personal rule of thumb: I don't worry too much about my classmates.
As long as I am doing well enough to progress through the nursing program and graduate, that is all that matters to me at this point. I've watched people drop from my program, and it only motivates me to strive harder so I don't end up in their predicament.
My outlook might seem ruthless, but it works for me.

Not ruthless, just honest, why worry about everyone else when your grades are the ones that really matter. I'm on the same page as you!

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Oct 20, 2009

I started the nursing program this fall and in my nursing class, almost half are gone. In my clinical, they allow 7 students. 1 girl was gone after the first week and then another was gone the following week. It's crazy....some people don't even give it a chance.

axiousguy · Oct 20, 2009

Nursing school is a survival game. Every test, quiz, midterm, final is a potential to fail on top of skills evaulation. Not sure how other schools grading criteria is, but mine is right around 100 points for quarter which means extremely easy to fail. In my clinical group 3 of 9 are people who failed 3rd quarter and are retaking it again. Ive made it to 3rd quarter and its gone by fast! Just keep head down and study and be positive and stay focused and all should be well with of course manageable stress all along the way.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Oct 20, 2009

I am in my last 6 weeks of first semester and we have lost 2. One was lost on the first day, they didn't have all their paperwork in order, and another girl left in like week 3 or 4 after we went on our clinical orientation.

It will be interesting to see what next semester brings because a few have failed many fundamentals tests and from the grade they said they had I don't know how they can bring it back up enough to pass.

chuckz, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2009

The difference between regular classes and nursing school is pretty extreme. In gen ed classes you can get away with bombing a test and still being able to pull out a good grade. That is hard to do in nursing school because you have to maintain a certain grade on EVERY test and the scales are usually adjusted to be higher. I understand why, but it still sucks.

As for the tests? In gen ed you can regurgitate information, in nursing school you have to learn the information and now apply it. It is hard to get used to at first, but you do get used to it.

We are always under pressure. I think that makes you prepared in some ways for the stress of actually nursing with peoples lives in our hands. I didn't understand that, but I think I do now.

Good luck to all of you.

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Oct 21, 2009

I'm in my first semester. We haven't lost anyone yet. We might lose a couple at the end..more because this isn't what they want to do than anything else. So far, our professors aren't TRYING to get us to fail out or anything.

Rednights · Oct 21, 2009

During my first semester, we started off with 50. We eventually lost 8 students. Some figured that Nursing wasn't for them and just gave out. Some failed because ... quite frankly they deserved it ... (read: lazy lazy lazy lazy) ... and some couldn't handle the work load AND a family that needed to be taken care of.

We haven't lost a student since the first sem, we are now Seniors.