Readmission into Nursing School Letter

[olivia91]

I need some critiquing for my letter!! Anyone! Good and bad I want to hear it all.

To Whom it May Concern,

My name is Olivia K....h and I was previously in the Fall 2012 nursing program. I would like to formally apologize on my previous failures and dismissal from the program. At the time, I was working five days a week, had three small children at home, and I did not know what I was getting myself into. I decided to wait until my children were school aged until I were to reapply into the nursing program. After my dismissal from the program, I started working for a hospital in registration within the Emergency Department. Working around the clinical staff has given me a better understanding of what nurses do, what is expected from them, and how they fit into the healthcare field. Towards the end of the Spring semester following my dismissal, I enrolled into the Emergency Medical Technician, Fast - Track Summer program, and in August of 2013 I received my technical certificate from Southwest for EMT and my Tennessee State License for EMT - IV. One of the many perks of working in the medical field, as you may know, is the ability to fit a full time work schedule into only three short days a week. With this being said, my work schedule gives me several more free days a week to fit in school and study time. Another benefit of waiting until this semester to reapply is that this year my daughters have started kindergarten and my son is now in preschool. As you can see, I have a much better understanding of what I am getting myself into as far as the work load is concerned as well as what nurses actually do, my work schedule is not nearly as demanding as it was once, and all three of mine and my husband's children are currently enrolled in school. I would like to respectfully ask for readmission into the nursing program so I can earn the degree I most desire. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Olivia K....h, EMT-IV

[mrsboots87]

To Whom this May Concern,

My name is Olivia K....h and I was previously in the Fall 2012 nursing program (this is not necessary because you will be signing your name at the end). I would like to formally apologize on my previous failures and dismissal from the program (dont need to apologize for being dismissed). At the time, I was working five days a week, had three small children at home, and I did not know what I was getting myself into. I decided to take some time off to reflect on the semester and evaluate how to improve if readmitted. I decided to wait until my children started school to reapply to the nursing program so that my primary focus could be my classes.Also, after my dismissal, I started working for a hospital emergency department in registration. Working around the clinical staff has given me a better understanding of what nurses do, what is expected of them, and how they fit into the healthcare field. Towards the end of the Spring semester following my dismissal, I completed an EMT training program and I received my technical certificate for EMT and my Tennessee State License for EMT - IV. I am now able to work less days per week, which affords me more time to study. Another benefit of waiting until this semester to reapply is that this year my daughters have started kindergarten and my son is now in preschool. (this is redundant and not necessary to have here because you already stated you waited until your children started school to apply). As you can see (not true, they can not actually see that you have a better understanding, you should cut that part off). Having already been through this before, I now have a much better understanding of the work load. My work schedule is not nearly as demanding as it once was and all three of my children are currently enrolled in school. I would like to respectfully ask for readmission into the nursing program. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Olivia K....h, EMT-IV

These are just some corrections of wording that I feel work better and sound more professional (but you or any other posters may feel free to disagree or make other suggestions of course). There still seems to be something missing though. You say you are now only working 3 days per week, but it doesnt state if you were working when you were previously enrolled. Without that piece, it appears that you have ADDED work hours to where you previously had none. Also, you should see if you are able to go part time so that you can say that your primary focus is school, and if you find yourself sruggling again that you will cut down work hours to ensure you pass. Your children in school is also not the only thing they will want to see if you state your children are a reason for not passing before. What if they are sick? What about weeks that they are off for breaks? What about off days that are not holdays that you may have class? They will want to see that you also have a backup plan for those times.

Overall, this letter isnt terrible, but it could use a little more oumph that shows that you have really reflected on what you did to not pass the first time and what plan you have to not let that heppen again. Youre almost there. GL

[stunurse2015]

Also most nursing schools I'm familiar with only allow readmission up to one year. After that you are considered a "normal" student and be susceptible to the rules of everyone else that is applying. I'd look into the rules of your school. Good luck!

[strawberryluv, BSN, RN]

Follow the suggestions from the people above. It sounds like an OKAY letter but I would not emphasize so heavily

that the children are attending school. Your children being old enough to go to school seems like an excuse.

Instead, I would briefly talk about how your children are attending school in a couple of sentences.

Start a totally new paragraph when you tell them that you got your EMT certification. Also, I would suggest stating HOW the EMT certification

helped you with learning a little bit more about health care and patient care. You told us that you got the EMT certification but whether or not that has benefited you from the "you" before EMT certification is yet to be said. You seem to suggest that the only thing you got out of EMT certification is the favorable hours it brings to a mother with a tight schedule.

I think you failing has a lot more to it than just time and I suggest you reconsider your comprehension of the material before immediately assuming it was just the hours.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I think you are coming off very unsympathetic in this letter and it comes off like you're using your children as a scapegoat. I think the admissions committee, or whomever you are sending the letter, will see this aspect as well. You are not taking the blame, but instead shifting it to your children/being a mother. There are lots of mothers that go through similar situations and come out on top in NS.

You also state that it was because of working full-time as well. How will you show them that this will not affect you this time around as well, even though you have more "free time" now? They will see that you removed 1 obstacle (your children) but have not seen proof how you are still able to handle school + work full time. I also don't really see how you have developed a better understanding of what you are getting yourself into re: school as you've stated you understand now the role of the nurse, etc but working as a nurse versus being a nursing student can be opposite ends of the spectrum.

Also, I see a lot of telling versus showing in this. You are telling them that you are ready but not really showing it via your actions. Possibly include examples of how you've acted/overcome issues at work, etc in comparison to nursing school? Have you taken any classes besides the EMT course? Think about what you would want to see in someone trying to appeal to return to your program after the reasons you have cited.

Good Luck!!

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I also think you need to own up to why you failed and not use the kids as a scapegoat. We all have issues going on in life. Everyone does. Most people work it out. I am a single mom, have to make tons of arrangements with friends for my child after school, he is very involved in competitive judo so I have to get him to practices and tournaments, I have no family out here so I rely on friends to help, and I screw up from time to time trying to get everything done. But I still have to find time to study and get my work done, which I do. So just own up to it and that would be the letter I write. I think the fact you got your EMT is great. Keep that part in. Just ditch the excuses and tell them what you are going to do better this time.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Also, I forgot to mention in my other post that I definitely think it would be prudent to mention the support system you have in line now in contrast to what it was before. When I interviewed for NS this was always a question. They wanted to know who/what was my support system and how I thought it will aid me in being successful in nursing school.

[random13]

If I were writing this letter I would not explain what happened last time where the children and work are concerned unless they ask for it. It makes the request long. Get straight to the point. Tell them that you were there previously, it didn't work out, but you are prepared to give it your all; if accepted again.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

If I were writing this letter I would not explain what happened last time where the children and work are concerned unless they ask for it. It makes the request long. Get straight to the point. Tell them that you were there previously, it didn't work out, but you are prepared to give it your all; if accepted again.

I think this a good approach as well. If you were to go this route I would just write about the changes you have made (without making excuses) and implemented and how you see them bringing you success in nursing school in the future.

[Southwest_nursing]

When are you applying ? @olivia91