I finished all requirements for my program, was pinned, and "graduated" this May. However, on June 1st I received an email from the Records Dept saying my record was "deficient", Nursing Dept clarified that was not the case and filled out the forms to fix my problem. About a month later only my lecture grade had been changed from an incomplete to my appropriate letter grade but my clinical grade was still a unsatisfactory. The Nursing Dept filled out ANOTHER form to fix the issue.
By July 6th my grades were fixed and I submitted my application to the Nursing Dept (that's what we do at my school). A week later, it turns out my transcripts were still not released to the Nursing Dept for them to send to the BON. When the Nursing Dept contacted the Records Dept the said they would not be releasing them until AUGUST 15th. A FULL MONTH LATER! Why so long? I don't know! Anyway, the Nursing Dept assured me they would request that their release be expedited. I contacted various individuals in the Records Dept multiple times via telephone and email to ask about the status of the release of my transcripts and I got ZERO response from anyone! I contacted the President of the University and no response.
On August 11th my transcripts were FINALLY released to the Nursing Dept and personally walked over to the BON. However, the transcripts list my degree date as AUGUST 8, 2015. OH. HELL. NO. I graduated in May. I have already had my NCLEX delayed for 3 months. And the Records Dept still will not contact me.
I will guess I will reach out to the President's Office one more time, not sure if I should mention if I once again receive no response that I will be contacting the BON, the Tennessee Board of Regents, hiring a lawyer, and contacting local news stations.
I agree with PPs. Let the sleeping dogs lie. It is unfortunate that you were delayed a bit, but ultimately you were able to take your NCLEX. Your employers will not care if you graduated in May or August, as long as you pass the NCLEX. Drop it and move on.
At this point, wait for your ATT, study for the NCLEX and pass it. Now, if in the long run, the date is important to you, talk to the Dean and see what can be done at this point. You also have to remember that May is the time most students graduate from all programs you school has to offer. They are getting records done for everyone and those that require documentation for a certification take longer. Yes, sometimes errors to happen and this time you were the one it happened to.
When I graduated, one of my friends was delayed in receiving her ATT. They said she owed money which she did owe after going over her records. She paid it and her transcripts were released. As a result, she received her ATT a week or more after I did. At my school and in my state it takes at least 3 weeks and many times 4 weeks for everything to be in place to receive the ATT.
So, as I said, make sure you are studying and go pass the NCLEX
I finished all requirements for my program, was pinned, and "graduated" this May. However, on June 1st I received an email from the Records Dept saying my record was "deficient", Nursing Dept clarified that was not the case and filled out the forms to fix my problem. About a month later only my lecture grade had been changed from an incomplete to my appropriate letter grade but my clinical grade was still a unsatisfactory. The Nursing Dept filled out ANOTHER form to fix the issue.
By July 6th my grades were fixed and I submitted my application to the Nursing Dept (that's what we do at my school). A week later, it turns out my transcripts were still not released to the Nursing Dept for them to send to the BON. When the Nursing Dept contacted the Records Dept the said they would not be releasing them until AUGUST 15th. A FULL MONTH LATER! Why so long? I don't know! Anyway, the Nursing Dept assured me they would request that their release be expedited. I contacted various individuals in the Records Dept multiple times via telephone and email to ask about the status of the release of my transcripts and I got ZERO response from anyone! I contacted the President of the University and no response.
On August 11th my transcripts were FINALLY released to the Nursing Dept and personally walked over to the BON. However, the transcripts list my degree date as AUGUST 8, 2015. OH. HELL. NO. I graduated in May. I have already had my NCLEX delayed for 3 months. And the Records Dept still will not contact me.
I will guess I will reach out to the President's Office one more time, not sure if I should mention if I once again receive no response that I will be contacting the BON, the Tennessee Board of Regents, hiring a lawyer, and contacting local news stations.
All water under the bridge now, but why didn't you just go into the office? Anticipating trouble by doing so ... is not the coping mechanism a nurse should use. You are going to have MANY issues where you need to take the bull by the horns and wrestle it to the ground.
Think about your reaction. It was not healthy or productive. Wishing you the best of luck in your career, let us know about your first job.
Look, OP, the situation is what it is now. You posted on a public forum geared toward nurses, and vented your anger and frustration....AND ASKED what we thought you should do about it all. WE TOLD YOU.
Your response to the overall consensus of "drop it" was "but my co-workers and classmates are saying NOT to drop it, it IS a big deal," etc etc.
Ok....so...now you know what your colleagues think, and you know what WE think. Rest is up to you at this point. Beating a very VERY dead horse won't give you a single piece of new advice.
Sadly, perhaps, the events that are screaming headlines in 72 font bold type to us personally in the All About Me Chronicle do not warrant even a small one-liner buried in the lifestyles section of the Rest of the World Tribune.
I can see how this experience would be frustrating and irritating as all get out! I'm sorry you experienced this and I relate to the anger you feel. However, life is full of glitches and unfairness. You could take this as an opportunity to practice your coping skills. (I'm fairly sure you'll encounter bureaucratic screw-ups in the future.)
One suggestion: Exercise yourself to the point of sweatiness while growling out all your anger. (One reason I love running.) The feelings will eventually pass. Then ask yourself, "How important is it really?" Consider how you might otherwise spend your precious and limited life energy and what you can learn from the experience. Think about the effect your actions will have on your relationships. Because in work, it's all about the relationships. Then move on.
Me, I'd be more focused on passing the NCLEX and getting a job.
... Besides, although I am not an atty and don't play one on AN, I doubt you'd have a case any atty would take. You need to show damages caused by a breach of actual duty owed you, and being PO'd is not damages...
Rereading the post I do think the poster may have a legal claim against the school with damages in the amount of lost potential salary.
The real question for the OP to consider is whether or not it is worth pursuing those damages. I don't see how the media or anyone besides an attorney would be helpful.
The best course of action may be to contact your local bar association for a referral to an attorney to discuss your options with. They may tell you it is worth pursuing or they may tell you it isn't worth dealing with. Based on your posts you seem angry enough that you probably need resolution so that you are able to move forward. A conversation with an attorney would probably be the best way to get resolution from an outside source.
Sometimes you can't fight city hall- but sometimes you actually can.
I'd never take this case. Damages are too speculative and too small. Would OP have passed NCLEX? Would OP have received a job offer? Would OP have made it through the probationary period? And how much money are we talking about? Enough to even get out of district court?
You posted on a public forum so people can post as they please.
I would move on. If you have your diploma & ATT study for your NCLEX & pass it instead of putting all of your time & energy into trying to change a date on your diploma.
Watch out, Chaos! I sense a grievance headed your way!
cracklingkraken, ASN, RN
1,855 Posts
I agree with PPs. Let the sleeping dogs lie. It is unfortunate that you were delayed a bit, but ultimately you were able to take your NCLEX. Your employers will not care if you graduated in May or August, as long as you pass the NCLEX. Drop it and move on.