What to do?? I failed!

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ok.. I failed. basically I was 1% short of where I needed to be. My instructor told me to back up my answers so I did. He said well use the textbook and do it.. I did. - then he says well eventhough it's in the book it doesn't make it right. what we say in class is more important. This is bull.. so I appealled my case, had what I thought was a meeting today, only to be ambushed. I was told that they were not excepting my challenged questions, so move on. They want me to do there LPN program because I repeated a semester in the past and they will not let me repeat another. I should have graduated last week. What are everyone's thoughts? Anyone else have this happen? If so, what did you do?

Thanx :nurse::cry:

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Contact your state board of nursing, find out if you have enough clinical hours with the semesters you passed to challenge the LPN boards, there have been nurses on the floor that did this and worked as LPNs untill their class rolled around again for re-entry to RN and finished with alot stronger clinical base than other RN students who didn't have that added experience

This was more of what I was thinking...if the OP was one point short of graduation from an RN program, then, at least being able to sit for NCLEX-PN should not be a challenge.

I have also been in situations where the text was not really clear, or poorly chosen, and I was also told privately the same-that arguing with the professor can severely compromise your position in school. Bottom line is they have theirs-but the student is counting on them to obtain their own. I certainly understand the arguments that Hopeful is saying, but, unfortunately, in most cases, the student is the loser. I really hated nursing school for those very reasons... (forget my rant...I can go on forever about that...).

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One think I have learned so far in Nursing school is to find out what I need to do to pass. Last semester, I had a horrible instructor who was using different sources. Next semester, the new intructor only test from her notes. Whatever she says is what is going to be on the exams. I am not going to waste time reading the book into depth as I always do for other instructors. You have to know your instructor style. The book is not always right because science change, there are always new medications, new therapy, new procedures, so whatever your instructor mention in class is more important than what's in the book.

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:) Well, I feel for you, I have been there. I was dumped the last day of clinical 2nd semester. I have spent this entire semester stewing over what happened. I did get tot ake my theory test though and they are on my transcripts and passed with A's & B's........Depressing it is, but you must move on and work on yourself. I was doomed the first week of second semester when I found a patient had a dressing that hadn't been changed for over 15 days before I ever entered the scene. When the dressing was removed we found a dubitus ulcer, all heck broke loose and wound people came and blah blah, I was suppose to get checked off for doing his dressing the next day, but because teacher was doing med passes with others I had to wait, in the meantime the dresing had fallen off in bed during the night. Well because he went a couple hrs without being dressed(the foot), she wrote up all kinds of crap in my eval, all over that foot which I found. Because he had gotten up when I was not in the room and used the comode. I'm now learning "don't trust anyone in school or your teachers either". They are in cahoots together. Watch what you say and even yes mam's and no mam's don't cut it. Im having a hard time moving on with this too, because I'm 49 years old and was going to graduate last week with my class, well, i had this semster off to have to think about it all, and I've applied to another school, I dont think I can go back there again after what I've seen. And believe me, I've seen it all. The caniving backstabing bull that goes on between child hood friendship nurses is pathetic and I could write a book about it. # 1 Sisterhood of backstabbing B_____es. Sorry I'm mad but i havn't gotten over it yet. I thought we were in LVN school to be taught....I dont get it. And there is alot more to the story but dont want to bore anyone.

ANyway best of luck. My story is a little diferent but, I've done about all I can do. I have applied to the same school and another school to get back in, but that is no guarantee, and it wont be until next january or next fall of 09.

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ok.. I failed. basically I was 1% short of where I needed to be. My instructor told me to back up my answers so I did. He said well use the textbook and do it.. I did. - then he says well eventhough it's in the book it doesn't make it right. what we say in class is more important. This is bull.. so I appealled my case, had what I thought was a meeting today, only to be ambushed. I was told that they were not excepting my challenged questions, so move on. They want me to do there LPN program because I repeated a semester in the past and they will not let me repeat another. I should have graduated last week. What are everyone's thoughts? Anyone else have this happen? If so, what did you do?

Thanx :nurse::cry:

You probably know your situation better than anyone else. I guess what I will say is this: I can definitely empathize with your frustration over whether or not to

go by the book vs.

what your teacher says vs.

what your clinical instructor says vs.

what the other book says vs.

what the drug guide says vs.

what the video they told you to watch says vs.

what your online lecture outline says vs....

Well, yeah. You get the point. I feel your pain, man. :(

To me personally, this in itself is probably 50% or more of what makes nursing school so hard. In a sense, I can accept it and even appreciate it, because life itself (including our eventual careers) is by no means always fair or easy. Still, if the point is simply to challenge us to think harder, I would imagine there would be other ways (and more realistic ones at that) to do this. But I'm slowly getting to the point that I don't really question it anymore; I just try to make heads and tails of it all and do the best I can.

Hang in there! It can be done!

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Can we all hold hands and say it together???

"And they WONDER why there is a nursing shortgage along with a high drop-out/failure rate in nursing school."

I wish I could push the thank you button over and over!!:heartbeat

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Specializes in Psychiatry/ICU.

I flunked my Med/Surg class by 1 point and got kicked out of my B.S.N. program in 2004. After 4 years of deciding, I finally have made the choice to go back to Nursing school and will start an R.N. Program in the Fall of 2008. I am very excited and these 4 years have given me clarity. I am really prepared now. I am glad I failed, because I was not ready 4 years ago, but I am now. It was a blessing in disguise!

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This was more of what I was thinking...if the OP was one point short of graduation from an RN program, then, at least being able to sit for NCLEX-PN should not be a challenge.

I have also been in situations where the text was not really clear, or poorly chosen, and I was also told privately the same-that arguing with the professor can severely compromise your position in school. Bottom line is they have theirs-but the student is counting on them to obtain their own. I certainly understand the arguments that Hopeful is saying, but, unfortunately, in most cases, the student is the loser. I really hated nursing school for those very reasons... (forget my rant...I can go on forever about that...).

Sorry for getting to this just now, but it depends on the state. Not all permit one that is going thru the RN program to sit for the LPN boards any longer. This is slowly being phased out in many of the states. It is going to depend specifically on their actual BON.

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Update:

Hi everyone,

thank you for all your thoughts. I have appealed my case with the board of education in my school. I challenged my questions that I could successfully back up and I am now waiting for my hearing, which should be mid July. I think they were hoping that I would go away. If nothing comes about this with me at least I know that I have raised a few eyebrows. Many things need to be changed in the program, so at least I know that a change will be made for future students. Hopefully no one in my school has to deal with this again.

Thx.

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ok.. I failed.

I don't think you should look upon this as a failure. It is not what you want nor probably deserve. But this so much of life. Look upon it as : you are at a fork in the road and now you must choose which way to go. I suggest you choose the LPN route and choose it optimistically, and more importantly, enthusiastically.

I don't like anyone telling you that LPN is not the way you want to go. You want to go forward and for now LPN is forward for you.

This is not failure. Don't beat yourself up.

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Cheer up! It could be worse. You are being given the option of getting your LPN. I would do the LPN thing for a year then reapply to your schools RN program. Take advantage of every opportunity, even if it isn't exactly what you were expecting. Everything happens for a reason. Look at the positives, LPNs make decent money, you'll get experiences, you have time to study so things will go better when you go back for your RN. Look on the bright side! There are enough negatives in life, don't add on another one.:smackingf

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Specializes in ICU, hospice, MS/tele, ED, corrections.

I think it's great that you are challenging the decision to fail you. I think that it's people like you who will help make some much-needed, long-awaited changes in nursing school culture. I've posted some things about nursing school difficulties earlier this year - I have respectfully challenged my school, and so far, it is paying off; the school is listening. I got a lawyer, but am not suing - she is helping me work out a negotiation with the school. More to be revealed...

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thank you for your response. We definitely need more people fighting for what they believe. I had my appeal meeting last week and should have an answer tomorrow. Hopefully it will be good news. I have been waiting for over 2 months. I'll let you know and keep up the good work.

-T

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