Seeking Advice! Failed 2-Year Program. Now What?

Tacocat, ASN, RN · May 21, 2021

I'm going to sound like a jerk here, but you need to consider what went wrong, and you can't blame the pandemic for your failure.

Depending how much time you've already put into your program (you say "halfway"), most core nursing classes don't transfer and you would need to re-take (and pay for again) those courses in a new program. Are you able to appeal your dismissal from the program? Is the program truly "terrible," or are you just struggling? Can you work with your faculty to find ways to help you be successful?

AliceBack2It · May 21, 2021

The program went fully online March 2020 due to the pandemic with absolutely no meetings and no lectures. They assigned us our readings and that was it. We had very little supplemental resources to help us. Many students struggled.

I’m not blaming the pandemic but it did cause me to have some set backs for reasons that are personal.

I believe I’m ineligible since I’ve had two attempts in the program according to them (one in which I voluntarily withdrew) and the handbook states a student with two unsuccessful attempts won’t be re-admitted.

caliotter3 · May 21, 2021

You say you believe you are ineligible. Verify this with the school first. Perhaps you can argue your case that the first withdrawal not be held against you. All they can do is to deny your request. Certainly worth a try.

Neo Soldier, BSN, RN · May 21, 2021

Is there a possibility to get the LVN done there and then bridge to the RN program? Is there another program you can try?

AliceBack2It · May 21, 2021

That’s kind of what I was thinking of doing, Neo Soldier. I’m just not sure if that’s a waste of time or not. I don’t think my chances of getting into an accelerated program are all that great given my low undergrad GPA and I don’t want to commit myself to a 2 year associates program again.
Lots to think about. Thanks for your advice.

Tacocat, ASN, RN · May 21, 2021

I'm 32 years old and I graduated in May 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. My school had a caveat that acknowledged the pandemic screwed up a lot of things for students and that students would be allowed to repeat the semester without it counting against their readmission penalty. You might want to check with administration to see if you could make a successful case for readmission. You may also be able to appeal because the first time you withdrew and were not dismissed.

If you are readmitted, or are accepted to another program, I think you need to advocate for yourself or at least hone your skills of self-sufficiency. If the assigned readings aren't enough, contact your instructors. Ask for practice questions or if they recommend any other resources. The internet is also a wealth of information for nursing students, from YouTubers like RegisteredNurseRN, or other sites with practice questions and resources. Your textbook also likely has an online component that you can access with bonus content, even if it's never been required for class.

It sucks paying money for tuition and having to teach yourself. I get it. My entire senior semester was online because of the pandemic and I bought a couple extra practice books to help me through. (Saunders NCLEX Review is amazing!) Some of my classmates and I banded together to share study guides, questions, and other stuff. But sometimes that's what nursing is -- if you don't know what the answer is, you need to be able to find it.

londonflo · May 21, 2021

5 hours ago, AliceBack2It said:

I believe I’m ineligible since I’ve had two attempts in the program according to them (one in which I voluntarily withdrew) and the handbook states a student with two unsuccessful attempts won’t be re-admitted.

The rationale for the number of admissions to the program is based on the fact that the college is funded through property taxes levied on the citizens. Every time a student fails or drops out, that "seat" may remain empty for the rest of that program sequence. Therefore when "only 48 students graduate," instead of 50, 2 seats were financed but did not create a graduate. $ down the drain and the "property taxed" citizens lose 2 educated professionals added to their community

On 5/19/2021 at 1:15 PM, AliceBack2It said:

they accepted my TEAS (big mistake) because the program was/is terrible.

If this is the case, I would think you are relieved to be out of there. Are there measurements of NCLEX pass rates to back your opinion up?

On 5/19/2021 at 1:15 PM, AliceBack2It said:

the pandemic happened which totally lowered my motivation.

The pandemic had an effect on everyone. Can you cite exactly why the effect on you was worse than the students who passed?

5 hours ago, AliceBack2It said:

The program went fully online March 2020 due to the pandemic with absolutely no meetings and no lectures. They assigned us our readings and that was it. We had very little supplemental resources to help us. Many students struggled.

I would expect that no nursing schools were predicting it would be necessary to stop a physical classroom method of instruction and go virtual. It was a tough decision, I am sure, for every school to decide whether to close until physical classroom attendance was possible or try to stay open.

While I detest schools that offer no lectures, only reading and other learning activities (in non pandemic times) many students achieve their RN this way . I can understand that transisting from one learning mode to another must have been horrible. But reading the textbook is a traditional method of learning also. Had you had readings required on your syllabi before the pandemic?

On 5/19/2021 at 1:15 PM, AliceBack2It said:

In the middle of my program, the pandemic happened which totally lowered my motivation. In short, I was able to maintain a 3.27 GPA in the program until my last course. I received a failing grade because I bombed the final.

Finally, has your college been virtual since March 2020? Have some classes been converted to IN PERSON?

Surely you were not dismissed because of a cumulative GPA going below 3.27, were you? Sounds like a smoke screen to me...Usually a student just needs to maintain a 2.0 to continue unless they receive a D/F for a course. You may want to clarify this before preceding forward with a meeting with the Dean.

Yes I am saying harsh things. If you chose to reapply or at least with the Dean you will need to explain what things contributed to your failure without blaming the college, pandemic, non traditional learning approach.

I hope you will arrange a meeting so that you can continue your education. With your psych background and experience you may be an asset to nursing.

AliceBack2It · May 21, 2021

Nothing was converted into in-person besides our clinical but even that was a bad experience.
Our program weeds out people that they don’t think will pass the NCLEX to manipulate their pass rates. I’m interested in seeing the statistics for 2021, as our graduating class got cheated out of many important learning experiences and the faculty was just a bunch of lazy millennials who wanted extra income. Also, they require some intensive ATI virtual program to supplement their poor teaching so that ATI can help bulk up their pass rates. Such a scam.

My original post asked for advice on how to move forward, not to dissect every minuscule thing I wrote and cynically question whether I’m being forthcoming or not.

Your comment was the metaphorical equivalent of beating someone up and then putting a bandage on their wound. Is your comment that my background in psych being an asset genuine or sarcastic? I can’t tell.

londonflo · May 21, 2021

1 hour ago, AliceBack2It said:

I’m interested in seeing the statistics for 2021, as our graduating class got cheated out of many important learning experiences

The 2020 year graduate NCLEX pass rates should be available now on your state site. In about October you should begin to see the 2021 stats. Stats are usually reported quarterly but I don't know how your state does it.

I actually was trying to point out ways that you could improve your argument for why you need a third chance. Changing how you view things and state them to those in authority can have a positive effect in changing minds. THIS WAS THE ADVICE I WAS GIVING YOU.

I am sincere in wishing you the best outcome and I was trying to help.

FiremedicMike, BSN, RN, EMT-P · May 22, 2021

On 5/21/2021 at 10:48 AM, Tacocat said:

I'm going to sound like a jerk here, but you need to consider what went wrong, and you can't blame the pandemic for your failure.

With all due respect, if you weren’t a nursing student when covid hit, then I don’t think it’s fair for you to make that statement.

Covid tossed a huge wrench into the system and nursing programs had tow scramble to recreate content into an online format, figure out what to do about clinical, and figure out how to evaluate lab skills.

To say it can’t be considered as a factor is disingenuous at best.

AliceBack2It · May 22, 2021

Thank you for that comment, Mike. I appreciate your compassion. Covid was so difficult for me on many levels and I think that it really needs to be considered a factor. I felt very underprepared to become a nurse and many colleges didn’t do nearly as much as they could have to accommodate us. Not to mention all of the stress and anxiety associated with trying to enter the medical field as a nurse in the middle of a deadly pandemic.

Again, I’m not using it as an excuse but definitely a factor.