Permanently Kicked out of Practicum

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi, nurses. I just made this account in order to write my second post. Despite a spotless record as a nursing student, an incident today at clinical may have forever crushed my hopes of ever becoming a nurse. So I'm not a nurse, and I may not even be a nursing student after tomorrow, but I had to come here and seek advice from people in this profession.

12 minutes ago, Pixie.RN said:

I am so sorry, I am sure this is really distressing. But you have two options: repeat, or quit. Which sounds better? Don't answer now; give yourself a few days to get yourself together again. Self-care is important.

It is a great thing that they are allowing you to repeat! I know it probably doesn't sound like it, but after hearing tales upon tales of people who were kicked out permanently, trust me - they see your potential. If you can't finish the practicum, you probably can't meet the required hours and they can't allow you to graduate under those circumstances. Are you going to have to go to a different location next time?

I know you're down right now, but this is a nasty speedbump, not a brick wall. Take care.

I'll be at the same campus, but with the next cohort. The hardest part of all this is going to be explaining to my family and especially my girlfriend, who have all been cheering me on about finally getting my degree, that I've failed them. Guess I should've waited a few weeks to mail graduation invitations.

0 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Just now, FrustratedExStudent said:

I'll be at the same campus, but with the next cohort. The hardest part of all this is going to be explaining to my family and especially my girlfriend, who have all been cheering me on about finally getting my degree, that I've failed them. Guess I should've waited a few weeks to mail graduation invitations.

If they cheered you on this long, they can cheer a little longer. Be honest and ask for their support. You didn't fail anyone; giving up would be the real failure, and I am guessing you will see this through. Let your loved ones be there for you.

9 Votes
30 minutes ago, FrustratedExStudent said:

My only option at this point is to retake the class and graduate next semester. This has really discouraged me from going into nursing, though. I haven't eaten and have barely slept in three days. It's genuinely depressing.

Take some time to just let it settle. It is not the end of everything - - but it is indeed a big discouraging blow, so I don't mean to sound cliche.

It's important that you not let this put you down in life, separate from what you may eventually decide about nursing itself. I'm a little different than my peers - - I personally have no problems with someone level-headedly deciding that they want no part of this (nursing) in their future based on an occurrence like this since it involves a stupid level of poor treatment - - but it's also true that through perseverance and resilience you can go on about making good for yourself despite others.

Take care of yourself. Really. Eat light snacks and keep yourself hydrated. Do something enjoyable that you haven't been able to do while studying. Force yourself. Keep posting here if it helps; I hope you will.

ETA: Tell your loved ones ASAP so they can support you and you can stop worrying about how they receive the information!

4 Votes
Specializes in Medsurg.

Im so relieved you was NOT kicked out. Everyone above me gave great advise. Heres a e-hug ?.

I had to repeat a class too because my husband got sick and i could not focus. I felt like my life was over having to repeat. It was the BEST experience i ever had. I even learned the content even more deeper.

You would get through this. I had to repeat half a year ago, im a few weeks from my last exam of nursing school and being done.

2 Votes
Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

I am so sorry this happened. It does seem excessive based on how you described it. You persevered through nursing school this far, so you can make it one more semester as much as it stinks! You can be a leader and study group leader for the next semester. You will graduate with just that much more knowledge and have an edge up as a beginning nurse! Trust me, as much as this sucks now, when you start out as new graduate nurse you will be that much more confident and knowledgeable!

Just be very careful in clinical situations next semester!

1 Votes
Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

I am so sorry you are going through this. Definitely take care of yourself and lean on your family and friends. Best of luck in your next semester, you can do this.

2 Votes
Specializes in Family Practice.

I'm so sorry! It sounds like this particular nurse didn't like you and inflated the situation to punish you.

It's great you were allowed to stay but I would talk to a lawyer. The school and this nurse have now caused you economic damage. Not only do you have to retake the course, which may cost several thousand dollars, but you'll lose about six months of nursing wages.

Your 'crime' does not fit the punishment. It wouldn't hurt to at least see if something can be done.

1 Votes

Wow, what a harsh reaction. If I were your clinical instructor, I would have you apologize to every single person who was in that OR. I don't see the need for failing you from the class, however, especially if this is your first transgression.

In my experience, there is a LOT of chatter unrelated to the case in the OR. They play music, the docs and nurses often talk about the big game this week, their kids' doings, politics, current events, etc. Of course, any time a surgeon asks for quiet, he gets it so he can concentrate. But there is a whole lot of casual convo going on for the most part. As a student, it wasn't really very smart to carry on a conversation in there, especially after once being told to be quiet. The birth of a child is a very emotional, intimate time. I'm guessing that the circulator felt that your chit chat might well have detracted from the parent/baby bonding time, and that criticism is legit. But still, to fail you days away from graduation? An overreaction, in my opinion.

6 Votes

I think this is a very unfortunate situation, but want to mention that in my experience the relationship between a facility that has an arrangement with a nursing school that allows nursing students to do their student clinicals at the facility is based very strongly on the students' observation of certain standards of behavior as they are guests in the facility.

I remember as a student that these standards of behavior were impressed on us before we even set foot at the clinical sites; we were cautioned that we were guests at the facility and expected to behave accordingly. I am pretty sure that if this situation had happened when I was a student that the nursing school would have taken a similar action. I think this situation is a stern reminder that as students we are expected to be on our best behavior at the clinical sites and to show respect for the staff and patients.

1 Votes

The instructors themselves show no respect half the time.

I agree I would never have dared stand around in a patient area (especially with a procedure underway) chatting with another student.

My guess via observation would be that those standards aren't as hard and fast as they used to be. Decorum itself seems to be going by the wayside, not just with students in clinical areas. Therefore I think the conversation as described wasn't as blatantly disrespectful as it would have been considered when I was in school. It very much sounds to me like an OR/OB nurse knew how to wreak havoc.

After all, I would have just approached the students and said, "We need conversations to be kept to a minimum now." (Smile/thank you). Or even, "This isn't the best place for general conversation. You are welcome to stay, but I will have you step out to continue if it's an important conversation. Thank you."

2 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
17 hours ago, JKL33 said:

After all, I would have just approached the students and said, "We need conversations to be kept to a minimum now." (Smile/thank you). Or even, "This isn't the best place for general conversation. You are welcome to stay, but I will have you step out to continue if it's an important conversation. Thank you."

I get the feeling the circulating RN got her hackles up because she had already asked them once to cut the chatter. It does seem a bit excessive, though.

@FrustratedExStudent, I hope you are getting the support you need.

1 Votes

Your school absolutely infuriates me. Yes, talking about other cases with an awake patient in the room is highly inappropriate. It's technically a HIPAA violation. I actually thought this is what you were dismissed for.

Yes, the OR manager has the right to ask you to leave (for any reason), but the school has 100% control in getting you to another site to complete a few more hours so you can graduate.

The OR manager is not an instructor nor an employee of the school...so it doesn't matter if they dismissed you or not. The school needs to look at why.

Sometimes you get nursing faculty that has spent way too long in the classroom has not enough time at the bedside.

2 Votes
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