Refusing to give nursing pin to student!

[Haleiwa]

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?

[canigraduate]

It depends.

When I paid for my pin, it was made obvious that there would be no refunds. We had to sign a paper.

If if there was a similar situation where it was disclosed beforehand that there would be no refund, then the student deserves nothing.

I'm sorry she failed school, but if you don't pass you don't get the rewards for passing.

If there was no previous disclosure that there were no refunds, then she should be reimbursed the money.

[idialyze, BSN, RN]

All I know is my pin was engraved with my initials, and I paid quite a bit of $ for it in 1982! I guess I thought failure wasn't an option at that point LOL!

Besides who could you donate it to if it engraved? I think since she paid for it, it's hers to do with as she sees fit.

[Julius Seizure]

It depends.

When I paid for my pin, it was made obvious that there would be no refunds. We had to sign a paper.

If if there was a similar situation where it was disclosed beforehand that there would be no refund, then the student deserves nothing.

I'm sorry she failed school, but if you don't pass you don't get the rewards for passing.

If there was no previous disclosure that there were no refunds, then she should be reimbursed the money.

If there was a disclosure that she signed says no refunds AND you only get the pin pending graduation, I would agree.

I've purchased lots of things in my life that had a no refund policy. The property is still mine to keep or throw away, I just can't return it for a refund.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

If there was a disclosure that she signed says no refunds AND you only get the pin pending graduation, I would agree.

I've purchased lots of things in my life that had a no refund policy. The property is still mine to keep or throw away, I just can't return it for a refund.

A nursing pin is an extension of the nursing programs endorsement of meeting the requirements of graduation.

By using the logic of being able to keep all things that are paid for to have and to hold is analogous to being able to have the ADN degree.......the OP paid for the ADN degree, she should be able to keep it, right? (No).

[BlueDawnRN, BSN]

If this student got a lawyer it would be a very clear cut case. All she would have to do is show the receipt that she purchased the pin and she would get the pin. It's not the same as a diploma or degree. Sure, to nurses it's symbolic if something earned, but legally it's just a pin. Someone can sell me their cap and gown but they can't sell me their degree. It's not the same.

[elkpark]

This kind of scenario really makes me wonder why all schools don't do things the way my schools did -- they rolled the cost of the pin into the overall cost of the nursing program, and, at graduation, we were given the school pin (with initials engraved) without our having been involved in the ordering process at all. In that case, it's quite clear that you don't own the pin until the school gives it to you.

(And they probably got a significant discount by ordering in quantity each year ...)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I don't agree with the forced donation, but can see where it's something nonrefundable. They should hold it for her until she graduates and earns the right to wear it or allow her to designate someone she'd be willing to sell it to.

[blongo]

If this student got a lawyer it would be a very clear cut case. All she would have to do is show the receipt that she purchased the pin and she would get the pin. It's not the same as a diploma or degree. Sure, to nurses it's symbolic if something earned, but legally it's just a pin. Someone can sell me their cap and gown but they can't sell me their degree. It's not the same.

Good point, I agree with you.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

If this student got a lawyer it would be a very clear cut case. All she would have to do is show the receipt that she purchased the pin and she would get the pin. It's not the same as a diploma or degree. Sure, to nurses it's symbolic if something earned, but legally it's just a pin. Someone can sell me their cap and gown but they can't sell me their degree. It's not the same.

If the case is so clear cut, I would challenge you to call a local university or college nursing program that you did not attend, and request to order a nursing pin from them. By this logic, they should surely allow you to place an order. You did not graduate from their program, and neither did the OP's friend graduate from her program; nonetheless, as you say, a pin should be able to be awarded.

[elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

i dont..understand...what im missing here. she bought it. its hers. this is not the same as a diploma, which is earned through testing and coursework. this is a product. an item. she paid for an item and it is therefore hers.

if i buy my books for nursing school, and then find out im not accepted into nursing school, the bookstore cannot choose to keep my books just because i didnt get accepted. those are still my books. give me my books. give me what i paid for. any other alternative is pure insanity to me.

if i purchased a cap and gown for graduation and then for some reason i cant graduate, I PAID FOR MY CAP AND GOWN. give me MY cap and gown.

unless this pin payment was part of tuition, at which case no, they probably have some leeway to hold onto it (although personally i wouldn't let that fly without a HUGE noise) if this is something that was purchased and paid for on one's own accordance, this seems pretty point blank to me.

i keep reading people's reponses saying "well she paid for the diploma/degree" and no, she didnt. what she paid for, was the education; the classwork and coursework that preceed the degree. the degree is only awarded upon completion of coursework, therefore she's not entitled to the diploma. read your college handbooks, its a very simple contract you agree to when you apply. unless the pin purchase was bundled into the tuition of the coursework, if this pin was purchased at all separate outside of tuition, its a regular product, like a uniform, or a patch.

[BlueDawnRN, BSN]

If the case is so clear cut, I would challenge you to call a local university or college nursing program that you did not attend, and request to order a nursing pin from them. By this logic, they should surely allow you to place an order. You did not graduate from their program, and neither did the OP's friend graduate from her program; nonetheless, as you say, a pin should be able to be awarded.

Actually our class kind of did this. We had our own pins custom designed with the school name on it. They did not ask to see proof that we went to the school or completed the degree. We just sent them a picture of the design we voted on and payed them. Everyone got their pins a month before graduation. A couple people didn't end up finishing but didn't have to return their pins since they bought it. It's a product like any other product.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Actually our class kind of did this. We had our own pins custom designed with the school name on it. They did not ask to see proof that we went to the school or completed the degree. We just sent them a picture of the design we voted on and payed them. Everyone got their pins a month before graduation. A couple people didn't end up finishing but didn't have to return their pins since they bought it. It's a product like any other product.

Are you at a private, or State-run nursing school? This is the point that I made earlier in the post.