Run out of nursing school - what to do?

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Greetings all,

I started my last semester of my RN program very badly. My clinical instructor and I had a serious personality clash. It snowballed into a big mess. I forgot that the instructor is always right. There are many chapters to this which I won't bore anybody with, other than the final one. I was made to sign a contract that said, among other things, that I would meet with the lab instructor once a week through February. After my first meeting with her, I came home to find an email from the dean of nursing saying I was going to be thrown out of the program because I did not pass my lab exam. I wasn't aware that I was being tested when I went to see the lab instructor. Throughout this crisis, I attempted to contact my advisor, other teachers, the dean, and so on. No one responded to me. I have such a bad taste in my mouth about how the entire episode happened that I don't think I would want to continue in this program even if I was allowed. Has anyone had an experience like this? Right now, my strategy is to look into other programs. I will probably have to spend a longer time in school, but I have no choice. Please advise!

Diahni

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I would suggest another program. You may have to repeat the whole thing; nursing schools rarely allow someone to come in from another school partway through. If the clash was that bad I doubt you will be able to get back in their good graces. Good luck.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
I would suggest another program. You may have to repeat the whole thing; nursing schools rarely allow someone to come in from another school partway through. If the clash was that bad I doubt you will be able to get back in their good graces. Good luck.

Your episode of tragedy sounds a lot like what happened to me at a local university!

Do not pass go! Do not collect 200 dollars! Get yourself a getoutofJAIL Card and move on to a better College. If you think a BSN is the only way to go...consider possibly the hands on approach of a community college. I have a Bias, I thought the university would be the BEST, however I soon became disillusioned because of mistreatment I got! Good luck!

PS. You can always get your BSN online later or attend a unversity after getting your ADN and remember a lot of work places provide an educational stipend....The university costs alot (big loan debt), the community college costs practically nill in comparison!

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I would suggest another program. You may have to repeat the whole thing; nursing schools rarely allow someone to come in from another school partway through. If the clash was that bad I doubt you will be able to get back in their good graces. Good luck.

Thanks TazziRN,

yes, that's what I'm going to do. I wouldn't really want to continue there, it's just so toxic. Nurses tell me it's pretty much like this everywhere, though. There's quite a few schools in my area that will give you advanced transfer status. Anything but going back to that h*ll hole! What I don't get is that the profession is hard. Isn't that enough? I hear medical students get hazed quite a bit in school. I undederstand the mentality but don't agree with it. People don't do their best when they're motivated by fear and loathing.

Thanks again!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Maybe its just me but I wouldn't leave my last semester unless they called security guards to escort me out. If they are giving you the boot its a moot point of course but no way I'd quit with that little time left no matter what a hell hole it is. Best of luck and please keep us posted. Jules

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maybe look into the above mentioned transfer status (educational facilities will do this)

after your description, I wouldn't want to continue at your present school with people like that (not even letting you know that you're being tested)

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Your episode of tragedy sounds a lot like what happened to me at a local university!

Do not pass go! Do not collect 200 dollars! Get yourself a getoutofJAIL Card and move on to a better College. If you think a BSN is the only way to go...consider possibly the hands on approach of a community college. I have a Bias, I thought the university would be the BEST, however I soon became disillusioned because of mistreatment I got! Good luck!

PS. You can always get your BSN online later or attend a unversity after getting your ADN and remember a lot of work places provide an educational stipend....The university costs alot (big loan debt), the community college costs practically nill in comparison!

Hi TeleRNer:

Not sure I made it clear, I'm speaking of an ADN program. I'm not sure if individual experiences depend on which kind of program one is in. This is funny: I told my tale of woe to two nurses I know, both shook their heads and said, "You should have gone directly to Yale." They've got a program you can go to if you already have a bacherlor's degree. Supposedly, it's as far from boot camp as nursing school can be. I don't understand what all the meanness is about. I started having a clue when I watched a movie in class about the history of nursing. There's one place where the commentator says that nursing schools took women and turned them into compliant children. I can really understand this legacy. Time for a chage, I think, don't you?

Diahni

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Maybe its just me but I wouldn't leave my last semester unless they called security guards to escort me out. If they are giving you the boot its a moot point of course but no way I'd quit with that little time left no matter what a hell hole it is. Best of luck and please keep us posted. Jules

Jules, yes, I know what you mean. It was nuts, but I beat them to the punch. Many students flunk out in the last semester, it must be so frustrating. Thing is, I'm not really in a hurry to finish, as I have a lot of writing work to do and a family to take care of. Sounds super idealistic, but the whole incident was so gross, I can't imagine continuing. Life is too short to be around such uglyness.

I'm not naive, I know there's a lot of this in health care, but not always. My husband adores his co-workers in a mental health agency. I hope you dont think I'm being spoiled when I say I don't want to be in a environment where treated so badly. I have nightmares about it. No way!

Thanks for writing!

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Specializes in LTC, AC, ER, Outpatient, Urgent Care.
Greetings all,

I started my last semester of my RN program very badly. My clinical instructor and I had a serious personality clash. It snowballed into a big mess. I forgot that the instructor is always right. There are many chapters to this which I won't bore anybody with, other than the final one. I was made to sign a contract that said, among other things, that I would meet with the lab instructor once a week through February. After my first meeting with her, I came home to find an email from the dean of nursing saying I was going to be thrown out of the program because I did not pass my lab exam. I wasn't aware that I was being tested when I went to see the lab instructor.

This is pretty vague. First of all, why were you to sign a contract to meet with the lab instructor? Then, what happened during the meeting with the lab instructor that forced you out of the program?

Throughout this crisis, I attempted to contact my advisor, other teachers, the dean, and so on. No one responded to me. I have such a bad taste in my mouth about how the entire episode happened that I don't think I would want to continue in this program even if I was allowed. Has anyone had an experience like this? Right now, my strategy is to look into other programs. I will probably have to spend a longer time in school, but I have no choice. Please advise!

Diahni

Diahni, as I've said - much seems to be missing from your post. Maybe you *should* bore us with what is minutia to you - in order to make sense of all of this.

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This is pretty vague. First of all, why were you to sign a contract to meet with the lab instructor? Then, what happened during the meeting with the lab instructor that forced you out of the program?

Diahni, as I've said - much seems to be missing from your post. Maybe you *should* bore us with what is minutia to you - in order to make sense of all of this.

HI Theofficegirl:

Yes, it is minutia. That said, after a pow-wow with the dean, she said I was supposed to strengthen my med-surg skills throughout February in order to remain in the program. I might have mentioned I was back in med-surg after a two and a half hiatus, in a psych unit, then a one month vacation. It is toally my fault that my med-surg routine suffered. I don't question this for one minute. But the "contract" told me to work with the lab woman on my assessment skills, etc. I did so, and after one session was booted out. The dean said as much in an email to me which said I did not prepare for the lab session. I had studied all weekend for a test, and didn't realize that this meeting with the lab person was pretty much a make or break situation. I regret not praticing my skills over the vacation, but feel being thrown out 12 weeks before graduation was a little draconian given that I had three semesters of very good clinical evaluations. In short, I walked into what I thought was a session of determining my weaknesses, and it really was an exam. Had I known, I would have spent the weekend preparing for it, but I thought the lab sessions were supposed to be a remedial workshop, which I was greatful for. Does this make sense? I do appreciate your interest. As I told a few others, I have left, and will transfer to another school, but I'm angry that nobody was straightforward with me. It would have taken the dean to utter one sentence, i.e. "better walk into that lab at the top of your game." I had no idea. Mea Culpa. Thanks for listening, as it's great to vent.

Diahni

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

I would be VERY cautious about leaving this currently horrible school. If you leave and try to go somewhere else they will want a letter from your previous school that you left on good terms. If they find out you had a huge personality clash you might not get in, whether or not it was your fault. I had left an LPN program to go to an RN program for educational advancement and had to produce a letter i was in good standing with my LPN school before they would take me, good thing the LPN school loved me and supported my decision to move ahead. If I was you I would find a way to stick it out and start kissing some butts, im sure people will hate me for saying that but if its your last semester i would weather the storm and then after I graduated laugh all the way to the bank, soon they will be out of your life forever.

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I would be VERY cautious about leaving this currently horrible school. If you leave and try to go somewhere else they will want a letter from your previous school that you left on good terms. If they find out you had a huge personality clash you might not get in, whether or not it was your fault. I had left an LPN program to go to an RN program for educational advancement and had to produce a letter i was in good standing with my LPN school before they would take me, good thing the LPN school loved me and supported my decision to move ahead. If I was you I would find a way to stick it out and start kissing some butts, im sure people will hate me for saying that but if its your last semester i would weather the storm and then after I graduated laugh all the way to the bank, soon they will be out of your life forever.

Ann,

I hear ya! I'm taking care of it.

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