Here are my stats. I’m an older student (in my 30s). I hold a previous bachelors (3.025 GPA, yuck), all prereqs (3.59 GPA) and a masters degree in psychology (3.8 GPA). I’ve had to retake a statistics to achieve a A instead of my older C- grade. All of this will be seen on transcript.
I had no clue what I wanted to do in life so I’ve made some mistakes along the way. I started the nursing entry process in 2016 (ADN level) but hated the school so I withdrew, did not fail out. Then, I decided to go back in 2019 at the same two-year community college because it was the economical decision and they accepted my TEAS (big mistake) because the program was/is terrible.
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.
I’m devastated. I want to become a nurse. What are my options here? Do I have a chance at applying to accelerated programs based on my stats or will they reject me?
Although students in the accelerated program have a higher passing rate (92.3%) than the traditional students (89.5%), there was no statistically significant difference in the NCLEX-RN pass rates for the 2 groups ([chi]2 = 0.347, P = .388).
Was the education subpar, or were you just not focused? If you withdrew the first time, maybe it would have been best to apply elsewhere then. In hindsight, you made bad mistakes all around. Also, if you were getting above a 3.0 but felt the program was horrible, what did you do to seek help prior to the pandemic? During the pandemic? If you were struggling, were your professors available via email, zoom, phone, text, etc? It's not all the school's fault because everyone was affected, not just you. Some people don't learn well online only and if that's the case, you should have relayed that to the school.
Having said all that, I would try to have a conversation with them and explain the online-only situation. Most schools are understanding of the circumstances and foregoing failure policies to allow students to repeat. Maybe your school is willing to do the same. However, you can't go in with the mindset it's all their fault and project an attitude or animosity. Good luck to you
I would look into being re-admitted to the program, talk to the advisor.
Otherwise, go for LPN at another college.
I do not think you should apply to the accelerated program, if you failed the regular-pace, it will not be any easier. You're probably looking for the time-saver by now, but no, don't do it.
I keep getting stuck on the fact that you have a graduate degree in psych. That is great! But that leads me to ask - have you considered a masters entry program? I am not sure what your student loan debt looks like; if it's already up there, then definitely look for the associates degree route! I managed to do ASN to BSN to MSN without debt, and it is a relief to have it paid. My husband, on the other hand, is about to start repaying loans for med school. Ugh.
Disorganized and chaotic program. It had nothing to do with anyone’s academic abilities. I think you are using your own frame of reference from however long ago you graduated. If you have 51 years of experience, what year did you graduate and what was your nursing program like and was it all remote on the internet? Was it in the middle of a pandemic?
Disorganized and chaotic program. It had nothing to do with anyone’s academic abilities. I think you are using your own frame of reference from however long ago you graduated. If you have 51 years of experience, what year did you graduate and what was your nursing program like and was it all remote on the internet? Was it in the middle of a pandemic?
Nursing school is hard enough in person then to switch up your routine more than half way through is unfair. There was no choice to switch but you can't choose your instructors in nursing school. You can be stuck with some low down professors. Professors who thrive on intimidation and threats. Not a good experience if you're learning online. Also, if you depended on the schools computers for faster learning, students had to make sure their online skills and computers were up to par. That could be a culture shock if technical requirements were not addressed by your instructors. If they are so big and bad about you passing, then they should reach out and make sure you have the resources needed. If your school didn't offer that assistance, I would definitely make a case.
Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
You may think what you like. I went to college (working as an aide in a geriatric unit 3 shifts a week) smack dab in the middle of the LBJ-Nixon Vietnam era, with extensive experience with student strikes, getting beat up by DC, NYC, Chi, and Boston cops, tear gas, and street first aid. Then after a few comparatively quieter years I went on to critical care practice while in grad school, bearing children, and teaching students in the AIDS era. (If all you know of HIV now is those perky ads on TV for a drug keeping one’s viral load undetectable, you can have no idea what it was like. See if you can find a copy of Rand Shilts’ definitive history, “And The Band Played On.” I was in San Francisco and Seattle then and lived that. The Irwin Memorial Blood Bank was where we got all our blood got open hearts...)
We all have our own challenges. I am confident that there will be more even if we can no more foresee them than we foresaw those. You make the best of it or you don’t, up to you. If you find yourself in a job and unable to perform, nobody will care that you blame your faculty for doing what they could during COVID, is all; let us all see what you are made of as you figure it out as an adult.
Why? Because nursing school is just the very small beginning of your learning to be a nurse. Suck it up and get going; it’s on you.
I’m just curious if you’ve ever battled major depression to the point that every day you have to fight with your brain to keep putting one foot in front of the other? If you haven’t then I don’t think you should pass judgment. Like you said, we all have our challenges.
I don’t doubt your experiences have been difficult but you’re trying to compare two things that are vastly different. You may have a lot of experience but you haven’t had my experience and vice versa.
I’m just curious if you’ve ever battled major depression to the point that every day you have to fight with your brain to keep putting one foot in front of the other? If you haven’t then I don’t think you should pass judgment. Like you said, we all have our challenges.
If you have a severe chronic illness to that extent, maybe nursing school should be put on the back burner while you take care of yourself. There's no shame in working towards getting stabilized so you have the stamina and energy to put towards your program.
You're correct that nobody has had your experiences and vice-versa. And nursing school during the pandemic sucked. I'm still bitter a year later that I never got an actual graduation or pinning, and they just mailed me my nursing pin. But it's also worth considering what went wrong? Sure, maybe the whole program was garbage and your cohort were the victims of an unjust educational system.
But there are three sides to every story - yours, theirs, and the truth in the middle. You will not be successful in ANY program unless you reflect on what you could have done differently as well. Nursing school is hard. And it's different kind of hard from other college programs.
It's a tired trope but the day will come that what you do will determine whether the patient has a good outcome. If you don't know what to do, you'll ask someone like @Hannahbanana who has the experience to teach you. It isn't just critical care like ICU...something as basic as a good, sterile catheter insertion can prevent a UTI that causes sepsis.
You've also come at every nurse on this board who doesn't fit into your narrative. While your experience and theirs may not exactly line up, they had their own struggles, put in the time and have been nurses for years. One of my favorite posters ever is @Ruby Vee, who persevered in the most difficult of circumstances. Maybe you could learn something from them? I sure did when I was a student, and I still do every time I come on here.
I’m just curious if you’ve ever battled major depression to the point that every day you have to fight with your brain to keep putting one foot in front of the other?
Yes, I have. Amazingly I would come home from the hospital and iron my uniform for the next day, so I could collapse, knowing I would be able to get dressed for clinical.
17 hours ago, AliceBack2It said:
I don’t doubt your experiences have been difficult but you’re trying to compare two things that are vastly different.
Your path in nursing school is harder than anyone else's. I get it.
londonflo
3,002 Posts
I am curious about how you would define a "higher quality education"?
NCLEX results? I am interested in your thoughts on this.
Here is a study on the difference between NCLEX rates of an accelerated program and an associate program.
https://www.nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=818370&Journal_ID=54020&Issue_ID=818306#:~:text=One study compared the performance,and a traditional nursing program.&text=The accelerated students performed better,with a 70% success rate.