I need some guidance. Sadly, I did not pass my Med-Surg 2. The clinical instructor failed me for clinical because of potential unsafe medication administration. While asking me questions, she felt that I did not catch unto the patient information and medication information fast enough to provide safe administration. She gave me an F for failing the entire course and clinical. I was heartbroken, upset, and angry but I understood why it came to be.
I came into the BSN nursing programs with A's and B's in my pre-req and nursing courses. This is my first failure and I was shocked...I am a hardworking and determined student. I felt that this F do not define me. I was given the chance to retake the course but I was conflicted in the amount of stress, disappointment, and lack of confidence to succeed in the program. Then, I switched my major to the health science at the end of my junior year. I am a rising senior now. I would say I have "failed out" of nursing school since I did not re-take med-surg 2.
I have heard students who go off to nursing school with their BS degree in health science. If I take this route, I do not know if I will be able to succeed if I go into nursing school again. I feel as though my confidence has been completely shattered from my past experience. Out of my experience, I can say that I had good experiences with the patients and nurses I've met on the floor. I've had only bad experiences with the clinical professor. However, I felt that nursing school was overall extremely stressful and many professors were less accommodating to student's needs.
I have also realized there are other health professions that also involves patient-oriented focus such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, lab technician etc. Part of me wants to go into a different health profession and the other wants to take some time to gain enough experiences to give nursing school one more try in the future. However, again, I feel that this occurrence in Med surg 2 tells me I may not be competent to be a nurse. It's a very difficult decision for me because I came with the determination and motivation to succeed to this upsetting result. I have never imagined it would come to be this way.
I would like to hear anyone's suggestion on this. I am 21 years old and I have some time to think about whether I should stick with nursing or go into something else.
If you really want to go into nursing, you should not let one failure be the reason to keep you out. Certainly you need to be competent to give medications, but does one failure mean that you can not gain this competence? After the failure did the instructor provide you with ways to improve? I would suggest finishing your BA and then finding a nursing school with a solid reputation and a good , supportive atmosphere.
@undertheoaktree, yes, I also thought my lack of experience also effected me. I have not done many jobs with multitasking. I've only had desk jobs. So I am lacking some experience in how to handle difficult situations on a fast paced environment. I see older adults in my program and they seem to be more experienced in handling difficult situations. It could be out of maturity and built on experience in how to adapt.
This is a test, see it as such. How much do you want to become a nurse? What are you willing to do to become a nurse?
If something as minor as failing a specific class sets you back from your career aspirations then nursing is not for you.
You will be bullied by colleagues, yelled at by family, insulted by doctors. At the end of the day you have to pick yourself up and carry on.
Fight hard and then fight even harder. Do not let minor things like this deter you from your goals.
You are right. It is a test to see how much I want to be a nurse. I am still trying to see that for myself.
My goal is to be working with patients and I am looking at other healthcare professions along with nursing. As much as it's easy to say my desire is to be a nurse. Because anyone can say it, but can they achieve it realistically? I think I need to know myself and my strengths and weaknesses.
belljar1995, PhD, RN
57 Posts
If you really want to go into nursing, you should not let one failure be the reason to keep you out. Certainly you need to be competent to give medications, but does one failure mean that you can not gain this competence? After the failure did the instructor provide you with ways to improve? I would suggest finishing your BA and then finding a nursing school with a solid reputation and a good , supportive atmosphere.