Why did I fail?

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I was half finished with my LPN program and came across a obstacle. My clinical instructor my second semester wanted me to go back to the lab and practice a head to toe assessment. So, she went up to the school and got me out of my lab in front of the whole class. Then, she started handing out what she wanted me to improve on to every lab assistant around. I was so emberassed. The next week at clinical, she told me to retest out on physical assessments. I told her that we do not test out on them. So, she told me "They need to do something"

I needed to retest out on Trach care this one Saturday after clinicals. I stayed with my clinical instructor 30 min over. I had to be at test out at 1:05. I didnt get there until 1:15. The guy that was retesting me was testing out someone else. After he was finished I said Would you please test me out? He said"no". I am not suppose to take anyone that is over 10 min late. He was not doing anything. So, I had to retest out the 3rd time and the lab lady failed me. So, I failed LPN school. Also, I also failed the RN program for similiar reasons. What do you think I should do? Should I go back again?

Hey, Kaplan ADN student,

In the nursing program as you now realize, this is not a prorgram to take likely. This nursing program is very seriously, and important. You need to realize that too many student out there wish for this opportunity and they will take it seriously. You really is not game for it, because if you were, you would of came 15 minute before time, Got

you practice in order, your skills, etc.,,,, Don't you realize that you will be dealing with people lives, and you can't take it so likely. Either you flight or fight. I see that you mind, heart, soul and determination is not there. This is not some little practice, little studying. No this is people lives you will be dealing with, helping, and it going to take 110% of you time because nurses are professional in anything they do. And it going to take all of that to become that nurse. My adivce is ask yourself is this the career you wont to be in, because it going to take all of that and more. And it will show, if you realize that or not!

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I tried to ask them to give me a outline of things to improve on and they wont. They just said I failed.

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I dont know what it is, but I have failed clinicals 2x and test out once. One of the instructors mentioned to me once that I seemed unsure and said I was "childlike". Also, one instructor hated me and failed me for reasons like " talked aggressively at lunch table" The lunch table was on the first floor. Are clinicals were on the 5th floor. It was only with other people in my clinical.

Also, when I ask them for details on what I need to improve on they say" You just failed" I cant get anything else from them. Also, I think maybe nursing isnt for me.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I dont know what it is, but I have failed clinicals 2x and test out once. One of the instructors mentioned to me once that I seemed unsure and said I was "childlike". Also, one instructor hated me and failed me for reasons like " talked aggressively at lunch table" The lunch table was on the first floor. Are clinicals were on the 5th floor. It was only with other people in my clinical.

Also, when I ask them for details on what I need to improve on they say" You just failed" I cant get anything else from them. Also, I think maybe nursing isnt for me.

Why do you think that nursing isn't for you? Is it the criticism you've been receiving or lack of constructive criticism or do you actually not like the field? As for them not giving details on why you failed, why do you think you failed?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

You failed clinicals twice and skills once. Was all of this in the same school or are you including LPN? Were they all the same instructors? As an educator, I often here that 'the instructor is out to get me'. But three separate instructors, with no explanation of why? As an instructor, I know there is no way I can fail someone for 'no reason', or 'because I hate the student'. In the litigious society we live in today, it's become that we almost have to videotape a student to prove that they are unsatisfactory.

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.
I dont know what it is, but I have failed clinicals 2x and test out once. One of the instructors mentioned to me once that I seemed unsure and said I was "childlike". Also, one instructor hated me and failed me for reasons like " talked aggressively at lunch table" The lunch table was on the first floor. Are clinicals were on the 5th floor. It was only with other people in my clinical.

Also, when I ask them for details on what I need to improve on they say" You just failed" I cant get anything else from them. Also, I think maybe nursing isnt for me.

It seems like maybe you're doing some self-sabotage- it might be worthwhile to examine why you're in nursing school and what it is about nursing that you do like, as well as why you think it isn't for you. NS is hard, but it doesn't seem like it's the academics that are tripping you up, it's clinical performance, which is more subjective and therefore easier to delude yourself about your own performance, or disagree with the instructor's evaluation. Maybe you're subconciously damaging yourself because some part of you is afraid of passing, which brings so much scary responsibility?

If that's not it, though, if you DO really want to be a nurse, things like being late to tests and restests and passing skills tests are entirely within your control. I'm a chronically late person with an extremely poor sense of the passage of time, so I feel your pain, but that's what alarms are for. Lots of alarms. Everywhere. I have two to wake up in the morning and another that goes off 15 minutes before I have to leave for clinicals and tests so I know it's time to start grabbing my stuff and leaving. And I always schedule ample time to get where I'm going at least 15 minutes early, to account for bad traffic and allow me time to park and walk in without being frazzled and sweaty.

I'm not saying I do this because I'm a perfect goody two-shoes, but just the opposite- I do it because I'm awful at being on time, but being on time is a non-negotiable thing in nursing school, so I do what it takes to change my bad habits.

I mean, you know why you failed- you failed because you failed skills testing and were late to retests. The question is, why did you let it get to the point where being on time on one occasion was all that stood between you and failing, and then show up late? Why were you arguing with your instructors about inarguable things like the importance of assessment skills? What really happened at the lunch table- if your instructor wasn't there, what did you say or do that made such a negative impact on others that she heard about it? How are you approaching your instructors with your questions about performance? Did you ask these questions immediately after the tests you failed, or only later once you had failed out completely? Are you in fact childlike and unsure in clinicals? When your instructors tell you that you need to work on skills and you argue with them, do you then go and work on the skills anyway, or do you just figure they're wrong?

Only you know these answers.

I don't think it's ever too late to accomplish a dream, but it does seem like you need to figure out whether or not nursing actually IS your dream before you start the same pattern of behavior. Success is possible, but it will require you to act differently. If you don't recognize that part of the problem is your behavior, not just your instructors' opinion of you, then the same thing will just keep happening.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but I wish someone had said this to me five years ago, when I was sabotaging myself and miserable every day in a different (non-nursing) academic program that I hated but believe I had to pursue because everyone ELSE thought it was perfect for me and hey, I'd already made it this far... maybe I would have found my real calling of nursing earlier.

Best of luck in whatever you decide to pursue.

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Well, I failed in the RN program 2x. The LPN twice. I know the teacher failed me in the RN program didnt like me because she said to one of my friends "Why do u talk to her.".

I really want to become a nurse. But, everytime, the instructor finds something. It is all different what they pick on. I just kind of am used to it.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Now Jules, you make it seem like the OP is old. If she is old, I must be a dinosaur. :wink2:

Lol, I'm definitely a dinosaur! :)

I guess my point was that by 33 especially if she had the same problems in the past there is something else going on if she can't make it to class on time especially since she knew they were gunning for her. I hope it works out because self-sabatoge is very unfortunate, if that is what is happening.

FWIW I really admire the late teens/early 20s students that get through school because no way did I have the maturity right out of high school.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

You have 2 options. Try for the 5th time or switch majors. Well I guess you have 3 options. Stop going to school.

I wish you luck in your decision.

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If it is what you really want to do then keep trying and trying.

It may require you to give more effort then everyone else to prove yourself, both to yourself and your instructors. Figure out what it is you are missing and work on it or if you can not figure it out work on everything that is relavant untill you are the best student in the class.

You might also make sure you are 10-15 mins early for everything from now on. Being ontime is a major factor to a lot of people.

Good luck with it.

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Specializes in Case management, occupational health.

I cannot imagine showing up late for a check off, something that your whole future is riding on. It sounds to me that maybe you are setting yourself up for failure and then not taking full resposibility for your own actions. Showing up late just proves to your professors that you are not ready for the responsibility of being a nurse.

I think you really need to do some soul searching before trying again, so that you know if you are really ready to do this the right way

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You need to take responsibility for failing those classes and skills. A teacher cannot fail you because they do not like you. I have had several teachers who may not have liked me, but I did the work and completed the skill, so there was no way they could fail me. You have failed RN school twice and LPN school twice? And it was always the teachers out to get you? I think you have some soul searching to do before you try for a 5th time. Nursing is full of responsibility and accountability. It does not sound like you have learned to accept either of those.

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