Right Path to Nursing?

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I failed my second semester of nursing school in December 2015. Since then I transferred to a college closer to home and also changed my major to something that is the complete opposite of nursing. I feel as though the decisions I make are not wise. The effects of failing nursing school in 2015 still take their toll on me and I feel as though my passion has been taken away from me... so here is my story:

After failing two of my nursing classes as a result of not earning an 80% minimum, I was dismissed from nursing school. (I earned a 78.88% and 79.99% btw. If I would have received at least an 80% instead of 79.99%, I would have still been able to continue in the program. I would just have to repeat the one class I failed; 78.88%). Upon leaving the university despite being in good academic standing, I decided to change my major to health informatics. This falls under the health administration major. Upon completing one semester in this program, I realized I was not gaining much from it and the faculty/advisors were not helpful. I also did some research and found that this major leaves graduates unemployable and with no opportunities for jobs after college. Because of these factors, I changed my major to information systems and operations management (ISOM), which is part of the School of Business. This ISOM major is something I have no interest in and I do not like it. However, it put me the closest to graduating.

I plan on applying to an accelerated nursing program after I graduate with the information systems degree. I really am disappointed in myself. I know most people would not take the route that I did. They would not change their major to something they are not interested in. But I felt like changing to psychology or health administration would leave me without a job after graduation in the case that I may fail nursing school in the future (just thinking worst case scenario).

Most of my fellow classmates changed their majors to psychology, graduated, and are in an accelerated nursing program or awaiting entry into one. Some applied to other colleges/community college (not actual universities) directly after failing. I did apply to an LPN program at the community college, but did not get in for some reason despite earning a 4.0/meeting all application requirements. I kind of regret my decision and want to know what you all think. I don't think management information systems with be useful when paired with a nursing degree since they are completely unrelated.

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Specializes in NICU.

The problem you are going run into is when you apply for the ABSN program and submit your transcripts is that you were dismissed from a nursing program.

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I have contacted a couple of nursing schools who told me that it would be no problem applying if my academic transcript indicates I was in good standing with the last university I attended (which it does)!

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I have contacted a couple of nursing schools who told me that it would be no problem applying if my academic transcript indicates I was in good standing with the last university I attended (which it does)!

If you're close to getting your bachelor's then it seems like an accelerated BSN program would be the best option. However, since you failed nursing school do you think you would be okay with a fast paced program? I'm from California and the nursing school around here don't require 80% to pass the classes. Perhaps you can look into schools that don't have that requirement. My school requires 70% or better and has a 96.7% NCLEX pass rate, so I don't believe requiring 80% will make you any more prepared.

I understand you are in good standing with your previous school, but the applications I've filled out ask if you have ever been dismissed from a nursing program which I hear lowers your chances of getting in. If the schools you're looking into say that it is not a problem, then apply to those schools.

My best advice is to do your research. Don't limit yourself to a few schools. Apply to ABSN, associates, or regular BSN program. The last thing you want is not having options.

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You have a big failure on your record that is a cause for concern to any future nursing programs. The way to balance this failure is to show a subsequent big success.

If you finish this current degree, you will have that big success to balance the previous failure. Nursing schools like seeing students who were able to have success after a failure.

This will cost more money and time in the long run, but that's going to be the price you pay for the initial failure.

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Specializes in NICU.
I have contacted a couple of nursing schools who told me that it would be no problem applying if my academic transcript indicates I was in good standing with the last university I attended (which it does)!

While you are technically in good standing with the university, you are not in good standing with the nursing school. I have a hard time believing that a nursing school admission committee would not have an issue with you failing out of a nursing school and quickly applying to their ABSN program. Many schools have a 5 yr wait on reapplying for nursing school after being dismissed from a nursing program.

ABSN programs are intense and fast paced. To use an analogy, you failed drivers education and now you are walking to the race car driving school and think that it is a good idea.

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