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?
what I read on other forums about PA and medical school, it seems that medical education as a whole is behind the times in terms of the evolution of instruction and efficient learning.
No, this was in no way directed to you.....but the tide is turning in regards to catering to learning styles. The current literature, while saying you can deliver learning in different modes, stresses that you can't accommodate everyone in learning endeavors. Nursing and Medical education are NOT behind......entrance tests are used to evaluate if the student will do well with the formal learning program. Reading and lecture ARE indeed the most efficient method of instruction..not the best but the most efficient.
To compete in this 21st century you need to develop your learning style to include reading, listening, and practice. (Ohhhh, I only had my textbook.....) And please do not tell me you learn by making mistakes. If you want to be in a challenging, skilled, knowledgeable profession you need to know what to do by reading. If you have to have pictures to work consistently, a fast food restaurant will provide that.
Interestingly, reading comprehension is usually my weakest area (with probably 20 words on a standardized test that I've never heard of), math and science are my highest. Although we have weaknesses, this doesn't make someone a bad or lazy student or bad nurse. The statement seem pretty crass.
e.g. If I have to call for help changing someone's trach dressing, it's not that I don't know how to do it, I don't want to risk pulling the trach out since I don't have that much experience. With a few more tries, I will be proficient. And without hurting the patient. This is the same nursing attitude that doesn't allow for learning in a 'challenging, skilled, knowledgeable profession'.
No, this was in no way directed to you.....but the tide is turning in regards to catering to learning styles. The current literature, while saying you can deliver learning in different modes, stresses that you can't accommodate everyone in learning endeavors. Nursing and Medical education are NOT behind......entrance tests are used to evaluate if the student will do well with the formal learning program. Reading and lecture ARE indeed the most efficient method of instruction..not the best but the most efficient.
I'm going to ask you to cite that reading/lecture are the most efficient method of instruction. Because this is the internet and you cant see my facial cues or tone, it sounds crass or aggressive to ask you that, but I don't mean for it to be and I genuinely just want to read about that.
Accelerated nursing programs are not the same as associate two-year community college programs. I would expect a bachelors level accelerated program to provide their students with a higher quality education. I don’t know where you went but around here if it is at a private institution can run upwards of $70,000 You’re comparing apples and oranges. My experience was subpar. Yours probably wasn’t.
I started with a private school and was done with it because the federal government shut it down nationwide in 2018. Unfortunately, my nursing core courses weren't transferrable to other private or public nursing schools.
Anyway, my CC's NCLEX score has been above 95%. The curriculum and clinical are tough. The work is a lot...Give you enough to inhale and exhale and sleep. Other than these, you're going to put your face in the books and lab and clinical practices. ATI materials are coordinated with our weekly readings and skills. These help me prefer tremendously theoretically in practicals. When you show up in clinical, you better prepare your pathophysiology and case study before you do your clinical, or you're sitting in the triage watching your colleagues getting some fun or go home.
So, I'd say that I missed my private school where I didn't have this crazy amount of materials to juggle. I'm not saying that the private school teachers were slacking. I thought I had a lot of homework and practicals to know and master until I transitioned to CC. FYI, everyone in my program is smarter than me.
I'm going to ask you to cite that reading/lecture are the most efficient method of instruction.
Every textbook on the art of teaching will indeed say that lecture is the most efficient delivery system for giving much information in a limited time period. Now do the students learn that way the best? Not if it isn't done right
I have attended many teaching conferences that dealt with many student-learning goals and indeed, lecture is not considered the best. "Active Learning" was touted 10 years ago and now it is the "Flipped Classroom." Both of these methods require the student to come prepared to class to use the information they have studied ahead of time. I have tried it and sometimes it can be great, other times the class essentially turned into a lecture again. Hopefully, new teaching methods will be created and make the classroom more exciting and memorable. It is estimated that students only retain 10% of lecture content without additional review.
reading comprehension is usually my weakest area (with probably 20 words on a standardized test that I've never heard of), math and science are my highest. Although we have weaknesses, this doesn't make someone a bad or lazy student or bad nurse.
I totally agree..and the fact that you are aware of this shows your earnest interest in education. I have had several students bring medical dictionaries (or use our new fangled internet) to look up words they didn't know instead of ignoring them. This does not make them a bad/lazy/student/nurse. It is a plus!
With regards to your trach example ....of course you need support, encouragement and an experienced nurse by your side. Doing the actual care is dramatically different than a lab experience and of course, every patient is different. I am sorry if I gave you the impression to try to do new procedures alone.
Our original poster, AliceBack2It , has never said what she/he sees as a resolution to this situation....Repeat semester, get a passing grade on the semester, matriculating to another school? All I have read is blame but many AllNurses members have given support and suggestions.
AliceBack2It ==== what is it you want for a resolution?
I totally agree..and the fact that you are aware of this shows your earnest interest in education. I have had several students bring medical dictionaries (or use our new fangled internet) to look up words they didn't know instead of ignoring them. This does not make them a bad/lazy/student/nurse. It is a plus!
I saw the word 'impervious' on a test before, heck I've never used that word and don't know anyone who has. I don't even think a doctor uses that word (in the clinical setting). I could be wrong, but there were MANY words such as this that we don't really use that can lower your score.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
2 hours ago, neuron said:
I saw the word 'impervious' on a test before, heck I've never used that word and don't know anyone who has. I don't even think a doctor uses that word (in the clinical setting). I could be wrong, but there were MANY words such as this that we don't really use that can lower your score.
Come visit us in the OR! We refer to drapes, gowns, and other materials as impervious.
Our program weeds out people that they don’t think will pass the NCLEX to manipulate their pass rates.
FWIW, if your program did this it would lose accreditation (assuming it has it) very quickly. To remain accredited, the programs needs to have a graduation/completion and retention rates that meet the minimum standard (for example, for CCNE it's 70%). They also must maintain a NCLEX pass rate set by the state BON.
This is always a rumor in nursing programs, but its not something that can really happen.
I don’t see how what you said negates what I said. We started out with 30 or 32 students (I can’t remember exactly), then we probably lost 6-7 throughout the program. I still think it falls within that “70%” range. I know the students who passed the program are now using supplemental material like UWorld to study intensively for the NCLEX. I think that says more about their drive to succeed than it does about the quality of the education the school provided.
I don’t see how what you said negates what I said. We started out with 30 or 32 students (I can’t remember exactly), then we probably lost 6-7 throughout the program. I still think it falls within that “70%” range. I know the students who passed the program are now using supplemental material like UWorld to study intensively for the NCLEX. I think that says more about their drive to succeed than it does about the quality of the education the school provided.
You stated your program "weeds out" students to "manipulate pass rates"; that doesn't sound like the case if your cohort graduated more than 80% of the enrolled students.
Any quality program is going to have exams that are more difficult then the NCLEX; the NCLEX is a minimum competency examination. No quality program wants to graduate individuals who are not prepared to enter practice. Failing an exam does not mean the school is "weening" you out, especially if more than 80% of your peers passed it; it means you were not prepared.
Most quality programs also either require or strongly suggest students take an NCLEX prep/review course and do NCLEX test bank questions to prepare. It is not indicative of a bad program, in fact, good programs are more focused on preparing you for practice than teaching you to take an exam.
londonflo
3,002 Posts
No, this was in no way directed to you.....but the tide is turning in regards to catering to learning styles. The current literature, while saying you can deliver learning in different modes, stresses that you can't accommodate everyone in learning endeavors. Nursing and Medical education are NOT behind......entrance tests are used to evaluate if the student will do well with the formal learning program. Reading and lecture ARE indeed the most efficient method of instruction..not the best but the most efficient.