So I just failed out of Nursing School, is there hope after?

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Hello all,

So last week I found out that I failed Nursing School. I was 1% away from passing and was devastated that I was THAT close to passing. I was in an advanced Med-Surg class in my 3rd semester. When I went to talk to the director of the class she said that I can transfer to other schools but I heard from a counselor at another school that no nursing schools do not take students that fail twice. Also, my 2nd F on my transcript caused me to drop to a 2.4, .1 short of minimum GPA requirements for other schools. I don't wanna waste time taking irrelevant classes just to raise it again and if I do my recency of my sciences will be non-void and I will have to take those again and I don't want to because I got all B's on those. Should I even bother applying to other community colleges? Should I try applying for the LVN boards? I'm trying to stay positive but with my GPA dropping below minimum and the fact that my director and my professor kind of leaving me in the dust its been difficult. I don't know if I should look into private schools, hope that other schools will take a student with a 2.4 average, or just bow down and move on knowing I tried my best. Thanks.

Well, I know for sure a nurse is what I want to be, and the truth hurts sometimes, but in my opinion my gpa only matters on an academic level. I may have failed in theory but in clinicals I excelled. Knowing that I know for sure I shouldn't give up because of 1 percent. Maybe my test taking skills just need to be worked on but I know in my heart the clinical portion is my strong point and a nurse is what I'm going to be no matter what obstacles come. Just because I'm a bad test taker doesnt mean I'm a bad nurse. Thanks for your opinion

You aren't a "bad nurse", you aren't a nurse at all. You were just studying to be one.

I admire your persistence. Whatever you do, remember that while you might not consider your GPA to be important, the school/program will. There are schools that use a wait-list option, and don't focus on GPA alone. The real problem is the 2 failures. I looked at several schools, in a lot of different states (my ex was military and I didn't know where he was getting orders, so I wanted to have options regardless where we moved) and EVERY single one of them stated that you were ineligible if you'd failed 2 nursing classes, and even for LPN-RN you have to meet all regular admission requirements. I'm not saying you can't be a nurse (LPN is a nurse, and their scope of practice is more clinically based) I'm just saying that you might not find an RN program willing to take a chance on you. Something you need to look at also, even if you did find a program and got through, do you feel you could pass NCLEX if you cant pass your theory class? Unfortunately, that's what all of nursing school boils down to. ONE test, covering years worth of information and unfortunately clinical performance isn't considered.

Try to get into an LPN/LVN program, get your license and get some experience, while working to improve your GPA (this will show potential RN programs that you have been working to improve yourself) and do everything you can to get A's. Then after you've done these things, someone might be willing to allow you another chance.

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I failed Human Body for Nurses (basically Anatomy and Physiology) twice at one nursing school (which sucked, because I had to wait an entire year to retake the course only to fail it again), wrote an amazing letter of intent for another nursing school, as well as spoke to the head of the program at the open house and I just recently found out I was accepted to the program starting in January. I think it helped that I had amazing grades in my nursing classes though. I'm living proof that it's possible!

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I'm really sorry this has happened :(

I didn't fully read through all of the comments so I'm not sure if this is an option BUT the technical college I am going to only counts your GPA towards classes you have taken at that school (which is very lucky for me because I was not doing well prior). I don't know where you live but it's part of SKYTC in Kentucky. Maybe you can find a school that grades that way and get back into school

Good Luck

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

I agree.....The poster wants us to feel sorry for her? Umm..sorry I don't feel sorry for her. She had opportunities and blew it. So life goes on. Feeling sorry for the OP will do NOTHING to help her. She needs to be told the truth. Telling someone they are not cut out for nursing school is not "kicking them when they are down"...it is giving them the truth that they are wasting thousands of dollars. All nurses has become the official feel sorry for everyone. Since when did telling people the truth become "mean"

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Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.
You've failed 2 nursing schools now? Maybe it is time to hang it up. A degree from a private, expensive school won't be worth anything. There is a reason it is so expensive. They charge a lot to give a degree to anyone. Then no one will hire you and you will owe a ton of money. Unless you can figure out why you are failing, I would hang it up. No reason to keep wasting money.

I agree, private schools are expensive. But if you want to achieve your goals badly enough, it is an option. I chose a private, expensive school after being put on a 3 year waiting list everywhere else. I don't think they give a degree to "anyone", I worked hard for my RN, went through clinicals, passed HESI, and passed state boards just like everyone else. And I'm proud to say I landed a job, have succeeded greatly, and have almost paid off my debts in about 5 years ($64,000). What determines success is not where you go to school or GPA, but work ethic, good judgement, and attitude. Of course you must make it through school first. No nursing school is easy.

To the OP, best of luck, I would say you are running out of options and may start looking into other careers. If nursing is your dream and a private, expensive school gives you a chance, if you're young enough, go for it. But don't go broke if you really don't think you can handle the test taking.

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I agree.....The poster wants us to feel sorry for her? Umm..sorry I don't feel sorry for her. She had opportunities and blew it. So life goes on. Feeling sorry for the OP will do NOTHING to help her. She needs to be told the truth. Telling someone they are not cut out for nursing school is not "kicking them when they are down"...it is giving them the truth that they are wasting thousands of dollars. All nurses has become the official feel sorry for everyone. Since when did telling people the truth become "mean"

Look, I didnt want ANY pity from anyone, thats pathetic. I just wanted some honest opinions and although some are saying give it up and others are saying weigh my options first, at the end of the day I want to be a nurse still. It may be grim right now, but whatever, I'll find another way. Like I said earlier, giving up is my LAST resort. I didn't go halfway through nursing just to give up.

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I agree, private schools are expensive. But if you want to achieve your goals badly enough, it is an option. I chose a private, expensive school after being put on a 3 year waiting list everywhere else. I don't think they give a degree to "anyone", I worked hard for my RN, went through clinicals, passed HESI, and passed state boards just like everyone else. And I'm proud to say I landed a job, have succeeded greatly, and have almost paid off my debts in about 5 years ($64,000). What determines success is not where you go to school or GPA, but work ethic, good judgement, and attitude. Of course you must make it through school first. No nursing school is easy.

To the OP, best of luck, I would say you are running out of options and may start looking into other careers. If nursing is your dream and a private, expensive school gives you a chance, if you're young enough, go for it. But don't go broke if you really don't think you can handle the test taking.

If I couldn't handle the test taking I dont think I wouldve made it out of 1st semester. But I managed to make it to 3rd. But I want to become a nurse, I learned from my mistakes and if theres another school that's willing to take me I'll be ready. Private school is my second to last resort, but I'll look into it. But right now I just have to see what I gotta do to move forward.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
If I couldn't handle the test taking I dont think I wouldve made it out of 1st semester. But I managed to make it to 3rd. But I want to become a nurse, I learned from my mistakes and if theres another school that's willing to take me I'll be ready. Private school is my second to last resort, but I'll look into it. But right now I just have to see what I gotta do to move forward.
I think at the end of the day...take the advice that is valuable and leave the rest. You need to look at options...unfortunately you have failed 2 RN programs. Have you been evaluated for test anxiety or possible learning disability? Many disorders are undiagnosed until college especially nursing because of the testing format/NCLEX question format. If you find another shcool here are some helpful hints

Breaking down the NCLEX questions

A question consists of the stem (part that asks the question), the case (patient’s condition or the scenario), the answer, and distractors (choices that look correct but are actually wrong). It is easier to analyze once you have identified the different parts of the question.

1. Look for keywords

No matter how a long a question is, there is that one word or phrase that bears the most weight. Key words may relate to the client, the actual problem, and to specific aspects of the problem.

2. Repeated words

The same words may appear in the NCLEX question and in the correct answer. It may be the same word or a synonym of the word.

3. Opposite answers

If two choices have opposites, like increased heart rate or decreased heart rate, one of the two choices is usually the correct answer.

4. The Odd answer

The one answer that is different from the rest is apt to be the correct answer.

5. Umbrella principle

If all answers seem to be correct and applicable, choose the one that includes all the choices in it. One answer is better than all the others because it includes them.

6. Eliminate obvious answers

In NCLEX questions asking for a single answer, some choices are obvious to be incorrect. You should be able to identify some of these incorrect responses if they are/have:

the same idea- eliminate choices that have the same concept or idea. these choices are just reworded but if you analyze them carefully, they are actually one and the same

absolute answers- choices containing the words all, never, always and the like are very likely to be incorrect.

unrelated to the question- if the question asks for interventions and the action in the choice is an assessment, it is obviously incorrect.

After eliminating the obvious incorrect answers, analyze the remaining choices and select the option that best answers the stem.

7. Prioritize based on patient’s needs

Questions containing the words initial, first, priority- is asking for your prioritizing skills. The choices are usually all correct but only one should be done first. When prioritizing, you should always remember the following:

  • ABC’s- use ABC’s (airway, breathing and circulation). Patients with airway problems or interventions to provide airway management are top priority.
  • Maslow’s hierarchy of needs- remember the hierarchy and from there you will know that physiologic needs come first before safety and security and so on and so forth. This is typically used in patients with multiple problems to be addressed.
  • Nursing process- Assessment should always be done before planning anything or instituting interventions. Unless the question already has subjective and objective data about the patient, assessment is at the top of the list
  • Patient first before equipment- if a patient is attached to an equipment and sudden removal of the equipment causes problems, primary assessment and interventions should be directed to the patient and not to the equipment.

Not all states have the LPN option but it usually requires that you are passing. Look at getting into a straight LPN school.

Good Luck!

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A problem I see you having in your line of thinking is when you said you did great in clinicals but not theory. Well that's all fine and good but that isn't going to get you to pass the NCLEX. It doesn't matter how good you are in clinicals if you can't get your license. And the NCLEX (I've done both PN and RN) is a beast. You have to be on point, I've known great students in both theory and clinicals who failed the NCLEX.

I see though that you are passionate so I encourage you to not give up. Remove distractions, maybe sign up for something like simplenursing.com or get a tutor once you get back in a program. And as futile or annoying as you may think it is, if you are really passionate about making this work do what you need to get your GPA back up. There are TONS of relevant to nursing classes out there for you to take.

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Specializes in ICU.
The poster came here for consolation and advice, not to be kicked while already down.

Telling them to throw in the towel does not help.

I really love how you took 2 phrases of my comments and posted them together and said I was mean. That's great. Maybe if you had posted my whole post it could be read into context where I said unless you can figure out why you are failing, then maybe you should hang it up.

If the OP can not figure out why she is failing these classes, continuing to throw money away at different schools and failing is silly. She might as well take 100k and flush it down the toilet. In my area, 100k will buy you a nice house.

My whole entire point is to sit down and evaluate why she failed. Is it note taking? Maybe not showing up for classes? Or being on your phone during class? There are many reasons this could be happening. Not recognizing when the professors repeats stuff or says here is something important to know. Knowing that picking up on these key points will help when studying for the test.

I personally think it was wrong to sit there and pick phrases out of my post and put them together so I look like the evil person to everyone else. She has failed 2 classes and needs a reality check. Not saying oh don't give up, you can do this!! Classes and programs are expensive. She is going to have to pay this money back at some point. I'm looking out for her financial future. Are you?

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I personally think it was wrong to sit there and pick phrases out of my post and put them together so I look like the evil person to everyone else.

Time for a chill pill.

If you aren't ok with your words being open to interpretation, then don't post them in a public forum.

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I applaud your devotion. I would definitely check out the LPN/LVN option. I've been through an LPN program, then RN, then BSN. I'll be honest with you, the LPN was harder than the other two, but it may have been that my LPN experience made them easier. If it truly is a testing issue, then my suggestion would be to enroll in a NCLEX review class. I learned so much in mine that would have helped me throughout the program. Wish I had taken it at the beginning instead of at the end. I wish you the best of luck no matter what.

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