THE most horribe day - so far.

[NS2010]

Hello fellow students, I am new (but not really, been lurking for a long time) but started my account today b/c I've had the worst 2 days of my nursing journey, possibly life.

First off I'll start by saying I am in my first semester, just finished NR100 with an 82% and now I'm in NR105 which is the start of my clinicals (first day today!) I am an average student, I study really hard for my grades.

Monday (yesterday) was my dosage test. I studied for 2 weeks and passed with a 92% (yay!) so I was suppose to be able to pass meds today. Anyway, after going over the test yesterday it was pretty hectic b/c of students who didn't pass but I ended up putting the test into my book bag along with other papers I had.

My clinical site is literally 2 blocks from school and I was there to pick up my clinical assignment but while in the parking lot I got a voice mail message from my instructor telling me they were missing my test. I went back to my car, opened my bag, went through my papers and found it. I went directly back to school and gave it to the receptionist to give to my instructor b/c she was in a meeting.

Probably a total of 15 minutes had passed. I went back to the hospital got my assignment, went home.

Today. My clinical instructor came in and told me and another girl that we couldn't pass meds today b/c someone took their dosage test home and they suspect cheating AND are possibly going to make EVERYONE (even us that passed) retake the test. OMG!!

My heart sank into my stomach. I didn't say a word to anyone as everyone in my group was upset about this (as was I). My clinical instructor did say that "a few students" so I assume others took their test also in the chaos but went home with it.... I dont know.

So on my break I went outside and called/left a message with my instructor that I didn't mean to take the test with me, I didn't even realize I had it, I never took it home and returned it as soon as I was called that I left with it. I didn't tell or show anyone the test, I didn't copy the test, etc.

I passed the test, I didn't need to take it to cheat nor would I help anyone else in class cheat on a test. Anyway, I haven't heard back from her but I feel absolutely HORRIBLE and SO responsible for a huge mess with everyone. I had a horrible first clinical day b/c I couldn't stay focused.

What a mess this is. What else can I do? I have clinicals again tomorrow and dont have class again until Friday. Should I call back or wait for her to call me? Should I go in early Friday to talk to her? I dont know what to do but I am going crazy and feel so bad. I just want her to know that I didn't do anything intentional and didn't mean to cause so much trouble. Should I email her? I dont want to bombard her with calls and emails but I just want to make sure she knows how sorry I am.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I would probably e-mail her to apologize (and produce a written record of your explanation and apology). After that, there is probably nothing you can do to "un-do" it. You simply have to accept that you made a careless mistake, learn from it, and move on. Take comfort in the fact that you were not the ONLY student to have made this mistake -- and the consequences of this mistake do not seem extremely severe.

Take a deep breath ... and move forward.

[NS2010]

Thank you, I will send her an email tonight.

[Melinurse]

I agree with llg. Just a simple to the point e-mailed appology should be enough and leave it at that. We all make mistakes and believe me that one is minor. BTW, same thing happened to me in NS. I did not take the med math test home but someone else did. I was not mad either when the instructor made us do a re-test. I looked at it as a chance to better my score. I'd gotten a 88% the first time. Got a 98% the second.

[Dolce, RN]

Don't feel bad about it. If this is the worst mistake you make over your nursing career you are doing good! Chalk it up to a lesson learned and move on with your life.

[xobrwneyedgrlxo]

I also had a girl in my class that took a test paper by accident, it was a pain at the time bc we did have to retake the test but hey thats life and everyone makes mistakes, and like someone else said if thats the worst thing you have done so far then your doing ok!! I would just write the email to her and maybe go in early on friday and let her know how deeply sorry you are, after that there isnt much you can do, and if you do have to retake the test you did well the first time and you will do well again!!! believe in yourself and think positve!!:wink2:

[NS2010]

Thanks for the replies, I do feel better knowing I am not alone.

Question though, why do they make us retake the test when someone takes it from the school? We've already taken it, someone taking the test home/away from school doesn't change the grades everyone made the first time. Confused about that.

[Bobylon]

Take a deep breath ... and move forward.

Right on !!!

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

if she does not understand it that means that she has issues!!!! come on!!! ask her to test you again of she wants to!

I hate drama!

gosh!

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

Regardless, you may have to take the test again...but so what, you know it, and you'll have to do tons of calclations in your career. let them think what they want...such is life. Good luck.

[teeniebert, LPN]

Thanks for the replies, I do feel better knowing I am not alone.

Question though, why do they make us retake the test when someone takes it from the school? We've already taken it, someone taking the test home/away from school doesn't change the grades everyone made the first time. Confused about that.

If there is more than one section of the class, you could be sharing answers with other sections. Also, anyone who was absent on the test day could get answers before the make-up date. I remember being told in orientation that the tests were all changed each semester because they'd had problems with students taking photos and passing them on to the next class. I'm thinking, if you're putting that much effort into cheating, wouldn't it be easier just to study the material?

[Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

We had an incident last yr with our drug dosage exam as well. The test was given over a week, at the main campus, and the satelite campus wrote it on a saturday. The main campus failure rate was like 60%!!! While at the satelite campus everyone passed. So it appeared fishy (to staff) so they stated they exam had been compromised to the satelite group! So EVERYONE had to rewrite it!! tota lcrap! I think they just wanted a reason to rewrite it, as 60% was a huge failure rate and one only gets 1 rewrite and ur out. It was frustrating, bu twhat could ya do, had to play thier silly game. In reality, one should be able to pass a drug test every day. best of luck