Refusing to give nursing pin to student!

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Unfortunately, classmate and friend did not pass the last semester of RN Program-

the faculty and administration REFUSE to give her the "nursing pin" she paid for nor

will they reimburse her and so she is unable to get her money back ($100

The Director of this community college RN program, in California- told her the pin she paid for - was going to be "donated" to someone - she was forced to "donate" the pin to the program and won't be reimbursed for the cost.

Does your school have the same policy? Isn't this coercion?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

If you didn't earn the pin you don't deserve to receive it. Is the classmate repeating the failed semester? If so it can be used when they graduate. Since the pin likely cannot be returned perhaps selling it to a classmate. But the fact that the student failed and as such didn't graduate is not the school's fault. No graduation = no diploma, no degree, no nursing school pin. So refusing to give the student an unearned pin is correct. As to whether reimbursement is appropriate--not exactly as it's not the school's fault the student failed. Perhaps allowing the failed student to sell it to a graduating classmate would be amicable since it's likely a no refund/no return item.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

She didn't pass, correct? So where in lies the problem?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Try this perspective should she be reimbursed for tuition and books for the classes she failed? Not that different.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Try this perspective should she be reimbursed for tuition and books for the classes she failed? Not that different.

Great example. At first I thought I misread something in the OP. I thought, yeah she deserves to get her pin/money back. No, it's just my delirium from being up all night trying to change my sleep schedule. [emoji12] I got it after reading it a few times.

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Was the pin purchase mandatory part of the program? If so I agree with the previous posters but if not then the paying customer has the right to keep their purchased merchandise. I would have raised hell if it wasn't mandatory and they did that to me. I would have demanded they either give me my purchased item or had them throw it away bc they would be no freaking way I would donate it. At least not in that circumstance.

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Was the pin purchase mandatory part of the program? If so I agree with the previous posters but if not then the paying customer has the right to keep their purchased merchandise. I would have raised hell if it wasn't mandatory and they did that to me. I would have demanded they either give me my purchased item or had them throw it away bc they would be no freaking way I would donate it. At least not in that circumstance.

The place we bought our pin from had a no refund policy. The pin had our school name on it so the company can't do anything else with it. Maybe it's the company who won't give the money back, not the school.

However, she didn't pass so why would she get the pin? That's like giving you your diploma because you paid for the classes even though you failed. Not going to happen.

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I'm not surprised. Hopefully they take the semester over and can receive it upon graduation.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Maybe I'm the odd one out. I agree with all that the pin is unearned, therefore it should not be presented/awarded.

But I do think OP should be reimbursed for its cost. What's the $100 to the school in the grand scheme of life? I really think she has a right to a refund or the pin itself. What she going to do - WEAR IT?!?!? I doubt it.

Now I'm a traditionalist re nsg caps & pins & whites. But she DID pay for something. Would any of you pay $100 to a vendor for something, have your plans fall thru without intention, not receive the item by vendor choice, and then just b OK about it??? I DON'T THINK SO!

Give her back the money.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Maybe I'm the odd one out. I agree with all that the pin is unearned, therefore it should not be presented/awarded.

But I do think OP should be reimbursed for its cost. What's the $100 to the school in the grand scheme of life? I really think she has a right to a refund or the pin itself. What she going to do - WEAR IT?!?!? I doubt it.

Now I'm a traditionalist re nsg caps & pins & whites. But she DID pay for something. Would any of you pay $100 to a vendor for something, have your plans fall thru without intention, not receive the item by vendor choice, and then just b OK about it??? I DON'T THINK SO!

Give her back the money.

There could be many reasons why the money is non-refundable. If she bought it as a package through he school or a third party it might not be refundable.

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…So refusing to give the student an unearned pin is correct…

The school is not giving her the pin, she bought it. As such, it is hers, not the schools. The school has no right to take her property and donate it to another student.

…As to whether reimbursement is appropriate--not exactly as it's not the school's fault the student failed…

They wouldn't be reimbursing her, they would be purchasing it. Otherwise, just taking the pin is the same as stealing it, as it is her property.

Try this perspective should she be reimbursed for tuition and books for the classes she failed? Not that different.

No, she shouldn't be. Regarding tuition, she paid that to attend the class, regardless of whether she passed or not. The textbooks are a different matter. As she bought them, they are her property. Or are you suggesting that since she failed, her school should take her books as well, and don't them to another student?

Was the pin purchase mandatory part of the program…

Makes no difference, as she bought, and paid for, the pin.

I agree, she should not wear it as she did not graduate, however, it is her property.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

I don't agree it's her property any more than a diploma she may have paid for in graduation fees before determining she failed.

I most definitely do not agree it should be given to another student/donated. If another student didn't order on time she should be able to sell it to a classmate and receive the $100. I don't think the school is responsible for reimbursement anymore than the vendor should be forced to issue a refund for customized merchandise. However I do agree the school overstepped when telling her she must donate the pin to another student. Hold onto it until she graduates but even though she paid for the pin it wasn't earned. She should not be forced to donate to a classmate

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