Set you up to fail?

Nursing Students General Students

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I just completed and passed my first nursing class and I'm excited to move on to clinicals next year. It was difficult, but I made it. Many students did not make it and I've talked with a few who believe that the school purposely set them up to fail. Some of them believe that there's this conspiracy to have only a few students graduate even when there's a nursing shortage. I myself don't believe in this "conspiracy" not because I was one of the few who passed because I believe I'm in control of whether I pass or fail. The one thing I didn't like is when the faculty and staff would mention that half of the students who were currently in the nursing program would not pass. Some people automatically gave up (subconsciously) when they heard this while others were determined to pass. I was determine to pass even when I procrastinated from beginning to end. I'm tired of students who refuse to own up to their own mistakes. They need to stop blaming others.

Interesting post.

I don't think it's a conspiracy. A lot of people don't understand that the schools are under tremendous pressure. They have to keep those NCLEX pass rates pretty high, year after year, or they get called before the Board of Nursing and potentially lose their accreditation.

So the best way to keep those pass rates high is to weed out those who are less likely to make it. It's often a game of percentages. If they have less students and less NCLEX failures, the percentages go up.

However, I don't know if the approach you described is the best way to accomplish that. It would be interesting to find out what really works and what doesn't.

Specializes in ER then CVICU now.

Hmmm! That sounds like the students in my nursing program who are always saying that the faculty "weeds" out students in the first semester. I've always been tempted to say: well if you studied more then maybe you would've passed. It's time for people to own up to responsibility instead of blaming others when things don't go their way....nursing school isn't supposed to be all fun and games it's time consuming and hard work!

Congratulations on passing your first semster! :)

Originally posted by raynefall

I've always been tempted to say: well if you studied more then maybe you would've passed.

I know what you mean. Someone asked me the other day, "How did you get an A on that test?"

"I read the book."

You should have seen the blank look on their face. Like studying was an alien concept or something ... LOL

Its so weird to come across this post right now. I am studying for my advanced med-surg final on monday, and as usual am getting bombarded with phone calls from friends/classmates, saying "i dont think im going to graduate, i have to make a ____ on this test to pass...................."

It's all about your belief in yourself that you will get through the program. You are right, you ARE always in control of whether you pass or fail. In nursing school, Attitude IS everything. I truly believe that. There are situations where a student, or group of students will really tick off the instructors with their bad attitudes, and in that case they seal fate for themselves. I myself have had very difficult times this semester with a teacher, but that will not keep me from graduating and passing.

Studying is so important, even for the people who didn't have to study in high school to make A's. You need the information and you will be a better nurse in the long run for truly knowing the patient's condition and how to treat the manifestations of it. You seem very smart, and I'm sure you will do well. And like someone else said before me, when you do make A's, people will act like it is impossible and you must have supernatural powers, or cheated, or have "too much time" on your hands, or WHATEVER. The people who fail or who are borderline will always have something to say about it. It doesn't matter though, as long as you hold your head high and know inside that you are going to do great and be a super-duper nurse.

Sorry for the long rant. I try to give my confidence and attitude and "believing in yourself" speech all the time and no one listens.........so thanks for listening. And good luck in school.

Thank you all for your replies. I'm glad to see that I was not the only one disgusted in class. My only regret is that I could have gotten a higher passing grade if I did not procrastinate. That was my fault.

I still working pre-reqs here but I just finished up A&P 1 with an A. I have twin boys who are 2, I work part time, and pulled 14 credits this semester. While I appreciate it, I am so sick and tired of the "omg, how on earth do you do it with all that? You must be super smart." I'm not a genius, I'm intelligent yes, but no more than most other students. But I use my time studying, I apply past tests to future tests to focus my studying time, I forgo going out when I know I have studying to do.

It's not some big huge secret how you pass a class....it's called studying. I'm so tired of other students thinking there must be some super huge secret that I'm just to mean to share.

They said the same thing at my school too -- "look around you at the faces in your first semester of nursing school, because they all won't be here when you're done." Right there, the message we got was buckle down, it's going to be a bumpy ride at times. Nursing school is definitely an endurance test and it's most definitely the effort you put into it.

Originally posted by Juni

I'm intelligent yes, but no more than most other students. But I use my time studying, I apply past tests to future tests to focus my studying time, I forgo going out when I know I have studying to do.

It's not some big huge secret how you pass a class....it's called studying. I'm so tired of other students thinking there must be some super huge secret that I'm just to mean to share.

I agree. I don't think I'm smarter than anybody else. I just work hard. My mother used to say, "You either know it or you don't."

That's always stuck with me. If you know the material, you don't have to sweat the tests (at least, most of the time)

What I really hate is some of the resentful comments you hear from time to time. Maybe we should all wear T-shirts which say:

"Don't hate me because I study." ;)

That is great!!!!! Someone make a bumper sticker that says that and I will SO buy it.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Good for you,, you believe in yourself and you take responsibility for the course you choose to take. Belileve it or not,, thats half the battle in nursing, you will be faced with some real difficult, impossible situations and YOU will be prepared to handle it because you dont let a defeatist attitude walk in ahead of you.

Nursing is about taking "responsibility" for your own actions and the outcomes of those actions. Thus, main reason for the "weeding", the others just dont get it yet.

I like your attitude!

It was my first semester in nursing school (I still have finals). I see people CONSTANTLY mentionning the "conspiracy" thing and usually those are the people who do not understand the link between responsability and studies. We've lost a few due to circumstances in their personal lifes and I really do feel bad for them. Me, myself, I'm doing well, I have great confidence in my abilities, but sometimes I break in sweats. Sometimes it feels like I am walking on the rope above the canyon, and I am doing good, but I look down and the hight scares me.

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