Weeding Out.

[SabineEffect]

Okay, so I've been lurking on this site for over a year. Hi!

I've been working on my core classes and with each day now, I question everything.

I wonder if I'm doing the right thing in life?

I am working as a nursing technician (CNA) at a hospital here. I've been doing that since 2010. It's a tough job and I'm ready for a change.

So here I am, almost done with my core classes and thinking of applying for nursing programs and I still need to take that dreaded Teas V exam. Yes, I've purchased a study book to prepare for it. Your input on that is encouraged if you have any!

This semester, I'm taking 4 classes- Micro Lab , Micro Lecture, U.S. History, Art Appreciation.

The latter is the only one I'm taking online and the rest are strictly on campus.

The problem: In the first 3 mention classes, my professors are trying to weed people out it seems. They know the majority of us are there working on our Pre-Nursing classes and they've cracked down on everything. I'm starting to think that people need to stop telling colleges and their professors that they're nursing majors because if they find out, they're already trying to weed people out so most folks don't make it to the nursing program.

There's nothing I can do about that, but a little rant helps!

No matter what I do these days in my classes, all the tests are curbed and nobody seems to be passing. I have a good GPA! I've talked with other students and without me mentioning my grades, they're telling me their grades. Well what do you know? We are all being given the same grade in our classes. It seems they're giving a 57 to everyone in the class. Socialism and grading nursing students is a horrible idea.

I keep questioning everything. Why do I want to be in a program where nursing students aren't welcome? Why do I need to be there?

I would rather be in a program where students are welcome to learn and actually succeed while there.

Could it be just my college? It's pretty bad over here in Georgia. I've heard nothing but horror stories about how Georgia colleges weed the crap out of classes to make people want to drop out of classes and make them want to change their major. They're all for failing people it seems. I am not lazy. I work day and night on my studying and I talk regularly with my professors. I've done research on my professors as well to make sure I didn't sign up to take classes from a neo nazi.

I will be applying to nursing programs here and I am open to applying outside of Georgia. Does anyone know of a good nursing program that actually wants their students to pass and they have a great support system (great learning environment, great professors, etc)?

I know someone who said she can get me into a nursing program at a college she teaches at and she's a nursing clinical instructor. However, I don't want to limit myself to just that college and for all I know, I could be walking into another disaster. I have had my fair share of pain from the college I'm at now. We don't have open labs at all after labs are done. We get 7-10 minutes to perform 2-5 different labs per class and that's it. If we don't finish, we never get the chance to go back and work on it because "the school doesn't allow open labs for micro and they can't afford open labs for micro". Oh, the classes are 1.5 hrs long. Not learning anything!

I do all my reading before classes.

My brain is fried. No support here. The students in my classes are more motivated to pay someone $300 to do their work for them and they want to cheat off the work.

The next college I transfer to, I need a break from all this mess.

Is that even possible or are all/most colleges a power trip?

[Shawn91111]

I'm in the process of finishing up my prerequisites, and I've had professors say that this class is a built in weeder, but not because they purposefully make it so. The material is difficult and a lot of people cannot meet the demands. It is what it is. I grinned and took it because otherwise I can't apply. Now, it seems that you are being very defensive. Yes, you can share how you're feeling on this site. You cannot, however, be upset if people do not necessarily agree with your experience. I wish you luck.

Pretty much word for word what my AP prof said as well

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

First, please learn the real definition of Socialism. It isn't what you are implying here. And before you jump on posters for jumping to conclusions, think about the fact that you referred to your professors as "neo-nazis". Who was jumping to a conclusion there?

Second: No, they aren't weeding people out. The classes are tough because of what they are. Micro and Lab, A&P 1 and 2 are tough science courses. Nursing school is going to be tougher. If nursing school or the related sciences were a cake walk, people will die.

Colleges aren't on power trips. Maybe a few profs along the way, but not the entire collegiate system. And I didn't have open lab for micro either. You are dealing with toxic substances. Suck it up

[Kastiara, ASN, RN]

You're right and wrong at the same time. I'm sorry, when did you graduate again?

If you didn't graduate nursing school within the last 5 years, I promise you things have changed dramatically. Everything is way more strict and the pre-req's classes for the RN program are usually being weeded out because the professors are trying to give students an idea of what nursing school may be like. So either the students learn to handle the overwhelming load and demands during their science classes, or they'll think twice about that nursing major they had in mind. That is a fact.

Those weren't even my words. Maybe it's a different scenario in your area, but here in GA they have cracked down on the classes. That doesn't mean I'm lazy or discouraged.

It's funny OP because I am also in GA and did not feel weeded out during my prerequisites. Yeah, it was difficult, but A&P is a difficult class, as is Microbiology. They both require a lot of effort and dedication to pass. Instead of making excuses about not getting the grade you wanted, put more work in and actually get the grade you want.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

I had to giggle about colleges being a "cake walk like it used to be 20 years ago." I'm a second-degree student, going for my BSN, after having a mid-life "OMG!" crisis. In my previous life, I'm a certified teacher.

Before I decided on teaching way back when in the 1990's, I took the same science prerequisite classes I took 20 odd years later, at the same college. Obviously, I didn't do so hot when I took them back then, and in my frustration, and in everyone else's frustration of all who weren't passing, the college was 'weeding us out, damn it!' It was a 25,000+ student university (so, huge student population), so the rumor mill went that the university used the prerequisites to weed out prospective major.

They weren't. They don't.

20 years later, back at the same university. Same prerequisites. Same intensity. Different work ethic. Voila. I graduate with my BSN this December.

Stop focusing on what the gossip mill is saying -- it'll just get you more stressed out and it's just not worth it. How does listening to gossip improve your grade? It doesn't.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Hi, I understand where you're coming from but the reason why my school has cracked down is because some time ago they lost their accreditation. I guess it scared them so bad, they refuse to make that mistake again which I don't blame them. The reason they have made the core classes harder is because they're trying to get everyone to realize that Nursing school in Georgia isn't an average college class. I know it's hard! They make the core classes much harder just so students adapt before trying to get into nursing school. Oh, and if they don't adapt and they get into the school's RN program and fail the NCLEX-RN test afterwards, apparently it hurts the school's accreditation over a period of time. Apparently if a lot of people fail the NCLEX-RN exam, that can cause the school to lose accreditation. So I understand why they've gone all hard core with their core classes.

But yes, that is the reality here in my area. They are fighting to make sure that people are more than serious about getting into the RN program and they better pass that NCLEX-RN exam. I had no idea this can affect their accreditation.

So?? The School of Nursing at your school has sent a memo to the Science Department and asked them to make their courses harder so they can weed out the pre-nursing students before they make it into the nursing program. Do the instructors give the Nursing Majors a different test than the non-nursing majors? or do all the other students in your class that are not nursing majors suffer because your nursing school has an issue with graduates passing NCLEX?

There must be a lot of pissed off Biology majors at your school. The school is intentionally making the Science classes harder in order to weed out nursing students and as a result, the Biology students have to suffer along with them. Is the Math dept. in on the conspiracy also or is it just the Science Dept.?

[briforsure]

My professors told us point blank that certain courses we were taking were "weed out" courses. It's not necessarily that they are making the subject hard on purpose, but it's just that the subject is hard in general. Classes like anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and organic chemistry are difficult and require a lot of committed time to studying. My rule of thumb for those kinds of classes was to start off by studying 10 hours a week and then adjust as necessary. Good luck!

[direw0lf, BSN]

So?? The School of Nursing at your school has sent a memo to the Science Department and asked them to make their courses harder so they can weed out the pre-nursing students before they make it into the nursing program. Do the instructors give the Nursing Majors a different test than the non-nursing majors? or do all the other students in your class that are not nursing majors suffer because your nursing school has an issue with graduates passing NCLEX?

There must be a lot of pissed off Biology majors at your school. The school is intentionally making the Science classes harder in order to weed out nursing students and as a result, the Biology students have to suffer along with them. Is the Math dept. in on the conspiracy also or is it just the Science Dept.?

Just a little note of interest, my pathos class does give different exams to nursing students than the other majors, but I think that has to do with the kaplan and nclex style. But afaik not one of us complains. It's a small class size maybe that's why but I don't see the mentality in my school of "the world owes me" and/or "everyone is to blame except me" like I read on the forum sometimes.

OP - do what it takes to do well in your classes, or don't. Let's talk about the issue, like you said you wanted to do. If someone doesn't study as hard as they need to, would you say the school weeded them out if they don't pass?

[NotAllThoseWhoWander]

I'm not in your shoes, so for all I know, things might be run unfairly.

HOWEVER. What type of person would you want to care for you, or for a beloved family member? Somebody who couldn't make it through the fire? I am grateful for "weeding out" - a term my instructors plainly presented to us at the start of the year - because the tough ones make good nurses. Generally.

[UCFAshley]

Whoa. What did I read? OK! I thought classes like a&p, micro and etc were not only prerequisites, but also weeding out classes? If you cant do well in a good a&p course, you won't do well in nursing school. Am I wrong? Why herd students through all the pre-reqs just for them to fail in nursing school? What benefit is that to the student or the school? If they can't turn out students that can't pass nursing school or the nclex?

[kkbb, MSN, RN]

But yes, that is the reality here in my area. They are fighting to make sure that people are more than serious about getting into the RN program and they better pass that NCLEX-RN exam. I had no idea this can affect their accreditation.

The Boards watch first-time pass rates for the NCLEX and they also look at on time graduation rates. If either of these fall too low, then the school gets in trouble with the Board.

OP, is you school's nursing program a direct entry or do you have to apply once your pre-reqs are complete. I ask this because if it is direct entry then it might explain why the pre-reqs are so hard. They are trying to get those students out before it impacts on-time graduation and NCLEX scores. If you have to apply for the nursing program, then the other option is to take the pre-reqs at another (more supportive) school and then apply and transfer into the nursing program.

[MamaBeaRN]

I don't think there is a problem with "weeding out." I watched a lot of people get weeded out and each and every one of them was not meant to be a nurse in my opinion. Micro was super hard, but it's a cake walk compared to the program! And why would teachers want students to fail?? It's a poor reflection on them! How is your school's nclex pass rate? If it's high, they are obviously supporting the students in the program. If it's low, then they suck, find a new school!

[NanikRN]

I don't think there is a problem with "weeding out." I watched a lot of people get weeded out and each and every one of them was not meant to be a nurse in my opinion. Micro was super hard, but it's a cake walk compared to the program! And why would teachers want students to fail?? It's a poor reflection on them! How is your school's nclex pass rate? If it's high, they are obviously supporting the students in the program. If it's low, then they suck, find a new school!

I take exception to this. Honestly, how do you know that" each and every one of them was not meant to be a nurse". You state " in my opinion"-- more like, in your judgement

Students have to pass the class and master the material. What if they fail and come back stronger and more determined? More dedicated?

Are they still "not meant to be" a nurse then?