Talking to Dean about returning to nursing school, advice please?

mluvsgnc · Jan 13, 2014

It sounds like an excellent plan to me. And I would probably include that you have another option, but, for stated reasons, you want to come back to their program. Worse case scenario... you have another option!

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 13, 2014

"(3) I want to show her that since failing nursing school, I've graduated with another BSN degree and I've remained in the Dean's list, first honors, since failing nursing school."

I must be missing something. What other "BSN" degrees are there?

edmia, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2014

Confused. Why do you need to return if you've already gotten a BSN? Otherwise, good plan.

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krisiepoo · Jan 13, 2014

Confused. Why do you need to return if you've already gotten a BSN? Otherwise, good plan.
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Unless she means "bachelors degree" with another major and mistakenly called it a BSN?

Looks good, OP. Good luck!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 13, 2014

Hi,
In a couple of weeks I'm going to speak to the Dean of nursing about possibly returning to the nursing program. To keep the story short, I was in the nursing program 7 years ago but unfortunately I was unable to make it. I was young and foolish but since then I've learned from my mistakes and now I hope to pursue my dream again.
My game plan is:
(1) Get a letter of recommendation from three poeple: (a) an old nursing teacher that taught at that school who supported me 7 years ago; (b) From the Vice President of Student Affairs, © From the Dean of the program I graduated from.
(2) Talk to the Nursing Dean and explain to her that I've changed a lot since I was in the nursing program 7 years ago. I want to tell her how difficult failing was but at the same time I'm kind of glad that it happened because it woke me up and brought everything into perspective it helped me grow up quickly.
(3) I want to show her that since failing nursing school, I've graduated with another BSN degree and I've remained in the Dean's list, first honors, since failing nursing school.
(4) I want to explain to her that nursing has always been my passion... Even though I've now graduated and have a job, I want her to know that I've always wanted to be a nurse despite living comfortably now.
(5) Should I tell her that I actually got accepted at a different school? The reason why is because I would prefer if I stayed at my old school because it's really been a second home to me and because I believe in their teaching method and their holistic approach to treating patients.
Does this sound like a good plan? Thanks for reading and sorry for the length :).
Regards.
Somethingcreative

I don't understand. If you've graduated with another BSN, why do you need to go to THIS school to become a nurse?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2014

I'm thinking it must be a typo. OP, from here I am assuming that it was a typo and you don't really already have a "BSN" from another program...

If you would prefer to stay at the other school to get a BSN now, though, after getting some other BS from them and being accepted into their nursing program, I guess I'm confused as to why you would even go to the Dean of the nursing program you left 7 years ago. If I am misunderstanding you, then could you clarify please? Is it just to make a point with her? If there's no real purpose to it, just drop it.

caliotter3 · Jan 13, 2014

I would have to advise you to go with the fresh start at a different school. Don't give the first school the advantage of holding your previous failure, together with all of the ramifications of that fact, over your second attempt. You can not be assured that the faculty will be on your side this time around. At the new school, there will be minimal opportunity for an adverse view of you, as long as you don't broadcast your history.

UVA Grad Nursing · Jan 14, 2014

I have been in higher education for 30 years, and will chime in as well.

1. I would also recommend that you move on and do not return to your old school. Your 'old' transcript remains valid (including any poor grades); they will never go away. This can be quite a weight on your academic record that cannot be erased. Attending a new nursing program allows you the chance to show that you are different student now than you were 7 years ago. It also gives you that new opportunity to graduate with a great GPA.

2. If you are adamant on wanting to return to amend matters, then I recommend the following tactic in your meeting with the dean. In my past experiences, I have been the dean who delivered the academic dismissals as well as the individual who dealt with readmissions. Faculty and administrators do believe in redemption, but we also want to protect students from further harm.

Admit what errors you made in the past (and thoughtfully discuss what led to your past poor performance). Account for your role in your own past.
Discuss what remedies you have made to whatever led to your poor performance over the past 7 years. Was it immaturity, lack of focus, illness, addictions?
What assurance can you provide that whatever happened before will not happen again?

Somethincreative · Jan 15, 2014

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and insightful advice. Also, yes it was a typo, I meant BS (Bachelor of Science) instead of BSN, I apologize for that. I actually have a degree in Criminal Justice with a specialty in Homeland Security/ Counter-terrorism.

Also, there seems to be confusion between the two schools, so I'll break them down into school A and school B.

School A

- My former school where I took nursing 7 years ago

- This is also where I got my degree in Criminal Justice with a specialty in Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism.

- The reason I want to return here is because I believe in their curriculum. I've seen first hand how knowledgeable nurses become once they graduate from this school. I'm not saying other schools are bad but this school is known to produce good nurses. Doctors have told me that they actually look for students that come from this school.

- Also, I'm hoping for a new start here because I heard there was a new dean of nursing and new teachers. Most of the teachers I had before have all since retired.

School B

- This is where I got accepted. It's a nice school and I wouldn't mind going here if I had to. I am thankful for the opportunity they've given me but I believe I'll become a better nurse if I attend school A.

Somethincreative · Jan 15, 2014

I have been in higher education for 30 years, and will chime in as well.
1. I would also recommend that you move on and do not return to your old school. Your 'old' transcript remains valid (including any poor grades); they will never go away. This can be quite a weight on your academic record that cannot be erased. Attending a new nursing program allows you the chance to show that you are different student now than you were 7 years ago. It also gives you that new opportunity to graduate with a great GPA.
2. If you are adamant on wanting to return to amend matters, then I recommend the following tactic in your meeting with the dean. In my past experiences, I have been the dean who delivered the academic dismissals as well as the individual who dealt with readmissions. Faculty and administrators do believe in redemption, but we also want to protect students from further harm.
Admit what errors you made in the past (and thoughtfully discuss what led to your past poor performance). Account for your role in your own past.
Discuss what remedies you have made to whatever led to your poor performance over the past 7 years. Was it immaturity, lack of focus, illness, addictions?
What assurance can you provide that whatever happened before will not happen again?

Thank you for the insightful advise. I was immature back then but the experience really brought everything into perspective. The experience really did force me to grow up because it made me think of my future. I realized that if I kept going the way I was going 7 years ago then I would end up as nothing, and that scared me more than anything.

Also, I believe the big issue why they didn't take me back was because I didn't have a car back then so I was always late for classes and clinicals. I always depended on friends to bring me to school. I couldn't even practice in the lab when I wanted to. However, now I have my own car so that shouldn't be an issue.

I just have two questions, if you don't mind:

(1) As a Dean would you believe that I can succeed this time around, if I showed you that I've remained on the Dean's list since I was dismissed from the nursing program? Or would that not be enough?

(2) Would it hurt me to mention the personal problems I had back then which contributed to my poor grades? Specifically, my grandpa was diagnosed with Leukemia while I was in the nursing program and that my family and I were facing financial problems back then, which forced me to pick up a second job just to pay my tuition?

Thanks for your time,

Somethingcreative

runsalot · Jan 15, 2014

Personally I would just go to school number 2. You will be an RN.

But if you do want to talk to the dean, emphasize the positive changes. Not the excuses why you failed. Other people don't have a car, and pass. Other people have family issues and pass. Teachers don't like to hear excuses.