What are my options after failing nursing program in CUNY School

U.S.A. New Jersey

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I live in New York and attended a CUNY College where I failed my 3rd semester of nursing and was not able to continue in the nursing program. I applied to Long Island University because I thought since it was a private school I could continue my nursing studies there, but was denied entrance into the nursing program because I failed the a nursing class in the CUNY College. Can someone help me with information on where I can continue my nursing studies? I am currently an LPN but dream of becoming an RN.

Thank you for all of the suggestions, I think I may try all until I am accepted somewhere. The Director of Nursing at LIU suggested I try excelsior online nursing program, but I feel I should have classroom activity. Thanks for all of the suggestions, I am going to take all into consideration.

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Thank you for all of the suggestions, I think I may try all until I am accepted somewhere. The Director of Nursing at LIU suggested I try excelsior online nursing program, but I feel I should have classroom activity. Thanks for all of the suggestions, I am going to take all into consideration.

While wishing you the best of luck, will also impart some final advice.

Before running off to find a new program that will admit you, I would carefully go over your previous mistakes and shortcomings that caused you be dismissed from the CUNY program. Did you fail any other classes besides the one that lead to your being chucked out? Did you have to repeat any classes? What was your GPA? What were your evaluations from professors? By how much did you fail the class that was the final straw?

There are many posts here in the group and many other nursing forums from students removed from programs due to failing grades. Many like yourself were close to graduation, however as an older (and perhaps a bit wiser) person, am always of the mind here are two sides to every story. Sort of like trying to find out what exactly happened with a child. You will have his side of the story, and the other child's or person's; our job is to cut the meat and get to the bone. Usually in between the two stories, lies the truth.

Standards for entry and retention into nursing programs have gotten tougher because RNs are being held to a higher standard of practice in the real world. Everyone and then some who has been dismissed from a nursing program thinks "I would have been a great nurse, but only failed......".

Every nursing program in the United States it seems is geared towards one goal, obtaining a NCLEX passing rate of >90%. Sadly for persons in situations like yours, study after study states that passing rates can be predicted rather well via GPAs and course content retention via passing classes the first time with high enough grades to make those high GPAs. If this means weeding out those likely to drag the class down in terms of passing rates, so be it. Many CUNY programs in particular had a history of low board passing rates, and if one examines the standards for admission and retention, you could perhaps understand why.

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To DoGoodThenGo

My grades were all A's and B's, no C's until I reached the 3rd semester nursing class. I joined a study group for the first time which I think was a bad idea, my whole study group failed. Studied on my own when I repeated the class and received grade C which I guess was not high enough. I am not lazy, I attended school while working full time, sometimes getting as little as 3 hours sleep because of studying, sometimes no sleep at all during exams. I did a little research on Excelsior College and found good feedback, thinking about applying.

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I graduated from Excelsior. Look around the Distance Learning forum.

Hated nursing school. Loved the Excelsior LPN-RN program.

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To DoGoodThenGo

My grades were all A's and B's, no C's until I reached the 3rd semester nursing class. I joined a study group for the first time which I think was a bad idea, my whole study group failed. Studied on my own when I repeated the class and received grade C which I guess was not high enough. I am not lazy, I attended school while working full time, sometimes getting as little as 3 hours sleep because of studying, sometimes no sleep at all during exams. I did a little research on Excelsior College and found good feedback, thinking about applying.

Was never my intention to say you were "lazy" or some how slacked off, and thus failed. If that is what you tooko away from my post, am deeply sorry.

Nursing programs have a built in double whammy, so to speak. One has to maintain a certain GPA, and are restricted in how often or if a course can be failed/repeated. The problem comes from the fact that the failed,or class with a grade below passing standard), is caculated into one's GPA right along with any repeated class. So if one got a "D" or (god forbid), "F" in a class, depending upon your current GPA and other grades from that semeter, the hit in terms of lowerng your average can be great.

Repeating the class means you need to really pull an "A" or "B" in it, and probably several other classes that next semester to over come the damage from the previous failing class. This could be why your "C" grade didn't put you over.

What most students would do is try to have the grade entered as "Incomplete", instead of the low of failing grade, and see if extra course work could be done to boost the final grade. Again, because of the way nursing programs are run, this is next to impossible. Because of such rule, nursing students often cannot even withdraw and try again.

You seem like a bright person, and highly motivated. Am sure this will be only setback in your goal, and again wish you the best of luck.

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Just thought of something, and don't know where it fits in with your plans, but here it is:

Since you are nearly finished with college,why not simply get a BS in another major, then apply for an accelerated RN program.

While you may face some questions regarding previous nursing classes, you would have completed all the pre-reqs and probably much of the other electives and core work as well.

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I have spoken to an advisor in Excelsior and was informed that the failed nursing class is not a problem, I just have to have my transcript forwarded to them so that they can compare my completed classes to what they offer to see what classes I don't need to repeat. I think I will go with Excelsior.

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I would do some research before signing up for Excelsior. The clinical are hard to get into and the passing rate is not so good. I purchased the books and never used the program, big waste of money

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Specializes in Women's Surgical Oncology, MIU,MBU.

First, I am so sorry this has happened to you. Second, I can relate with you well because my situation is close to what you are going through. I attended a second year school in VA that had an excellent rate for passing boards. I had a 3.6 GPA when I failed my 1st med surg course by 0.5 pts. I then came back with a B+. Then I failed my last course which was med surg II by 1.0 pts. Technically I was supposed to be kicked out of the program.

I was told by my Peds instructor to write a letter to the school board. I was told that when they found out that it was me that failed and what my outcome was to be...no one in the room had a second thought about giving me the opportunity to continue. By the grace of God I again earned a B+ for that final course. My question is what did your grades look like. You are an LPN so you have the knowledge base...I am not sure as to where were you in your program to which they will not allow you to continue. Was there an issue with you clinicals?

My suggestion is to go to a 2 year school and speak with someone to see what your options are. When one door closes God can open another. I believe if this is what God has for you you will be the RN that you desire to be. Don't you dare give up until you have exhausted all of your options. I wish you the best!!! :)

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Med-Surg, Instructor.
To DoGoodThenGo

My grades were all A's and B's, no C's until I reached the 3rd semester nursing class. I joined a study group for the first time which I think was a bad idea, my whole study group failed. Studied on my own when I repeated the class and received grade C which I guess was not high enough. I am not lazy, I attended school while working full time, sometimes getting as little as 3 hours sleep because of studying, sometimes no sleep at all during exams. I did a little research on Excelsior College and found good feedback, thinking about applying.

In my experience as a nursing instructor I've found that the flunk-out rate among students who worked full time was very high. Every semester we warned students not to try to work full-time and go to school full-time and still they tried and most failed. I'd suggest that you attend a school part-time or try an online program where you can pace yourself without attempting to study without enough sleep. A lack of sleep combined with the distraction of a full-time job caught you in the end. I wish you good luck and success---don't give up your dream but don't make those mistakes again.

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Specializes in mental health.

I'd try a 2-year program in a good community college. It's so much less expensive, you might be able to work now, save up and then either not work or work only part-time when you're in school again.

I'm sorry about your situation. I know how bad it feels. I failed 3rd semester Med Surg clinical but my school (a 2-year program in a good community college!) is working with me.

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