Your observations

ZanatuBelmont · Jul 11, 2009

Hello Nursing students,
During Nursing school, what observations have you made about the students in class who did not make it through the Nursing program?
Where they not hardworking? did they show any effort or initiative in completing the program? what did you notice about those "select few" who just did not quite cut it?
Your responses are appreciated!

Most of them just did not study enough. From day one I was always helping other students with their studying - explaining ways to "learn smarter" and helping to understand concepts better. When they asked me how I knew so much (and let's be honest, I don't know a whole lot!) I told them I studied directly out of the book and did not depend on my instructor-provided "notes" or "blueprints." Most were in awe - they wanted an easier way, but guess what, there are no shortcuts in NS. You either know the material or you don't. The end.

And of course, there were those around my age (18-24) who were not quite ready to put their "social life" on hold. They would go out on weekends, carry on with "friends" during the week, and wonder why when an exam came they made a 50.

Nursey103, ADN, RN · Jul 11, 2009

I know a few of people who were dropped. One was b/c my instructor said she was "too slow". I thought she was fine. I had clinicals with her and she was a bit slow but not enough to be kicked out...especially in first semester. The other girl made it all the way to the last week. My instructor (same one) told her she was passing her but on the second to the last day she pulled her in the office & told her she didn't feel "comfortable" passing her to second. She didn't think she could handle second semester. I thought she could and she's now re-entering first semester this fall. The last person I knew that was dropped was b/c of grades. He didn't pass the final. He studied so hard but was just not that good of a test taker. Of course, you need to study to do well but I also think it has a lot to do with the instructor!!

SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2009

The ones that fail at my school seem to have the same issues ZanatuBelmont mentioned. They want the easy way. The do the bare minimum to pass, then when something gets difficult, they don't have enough of a pad to help pass them. They want to know only enough to pass the tests, or assignment, and don't do anything "extra" that would help them, such as actually come to every class and lab, read the chapters, do all the assignments, even the ones that aren't being graded. Lots of the students I know failed never took notes in class, or even really paid attention, especially if they were taping the lecture. I think instructors should ban tape recorders. That would bring up class averages 10 points I bet.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2009

They didn't follow the rules in clinical.
They took risks with patients in clinical without care or concern for the safety of their patients.
They only studied and learned the material that was easy enough for them and they didn't apply themselves to the subjects that were more difficult.
Learning nursing requires understanding the material as well. Some weren't able to grasp that concept of learning.
They did not take or seek the advice of the instructors when they begin doing poorly or else they just ignored it. Some saw the instructors as authoritarian figures rather than as facilitators and, thus, a conflict between them was born and nourished making any learning all the more difficult.

Valasca · Jul 12, 2009

Just curious why you are asking this question????

....The students that I have seen struggle and/or fail seem to have one thing in common, they do not study or they study very little. However, the reason why they don't study/study very little has many causes. Most of the people in my school that this applies to usually don't have the time to devote to studying. Typically these are people that have to work full time and/or are single mom's. Do I think less of them? Heck no! I try my best to help them out as much as I can. The students that just don't study because they are lazy I stay far away from. But more often than not the former is the most common scenario. Everyone has different life circumstances going into nursing school...please always remember that.

8jimi8ICURN · Jul 12, 2009

One that didn't make it was just too young and immature and probably didn't study. I felt bad that he didn't have the self discipline.

One that didn't make it was a shady, dishonest person and I actually prayed that he wouldn't make it. He failed out of semester 1.

One who failed 3rd semester and repeated (not sure if he made it through the 2nd time, if you fail twice you are done forever, our program will never readmit you). I pray that he does not make it either. I also pray that he won't be able to pass NCLEX-PN either, if he does fail out. He was fired from a PCT position for leaving a patient lying in his feces at shift change. He is someone who wants to be an RN because of the social status and doesn't quite have the integrity or intelligence to care for people safely, obviously.

One failed out for too many med errors at clinical. She was VERY socially ackward, a nice lady, but she should probably stay in the computer industry, where she was before nursing school.

One had MS and a failing marriage, altogether a good guy, but he had too much on his plate.

One of my dear, good friends just couldn't make the grades she wanted in our last semester and elected to drop and try again. I wish her luck and if she does not make it for the fourth semester again, I hope she is eligible to take NCLEX-PN. She is older and just needs a little more time to absorb the material.

And there is one who got through. She had so many clinical absences, according to our syllabus, she should have been failed based on attendance alone. She failed our mandatory check-off twice (3rd time is out of the program). She has a lack of integrity and a horrible problem with authority. A horrible complainer and i am still in shock that she passed. She made an A in a class off of my back on a group project and completely did ZERO work for it. I think she has a good chance of not passing NCLEX and I hope for the public's sake that she does not.

For those of you who may be judging me for my blunt candidness, please give me the benefit of the doubt. I am only after all, giving my secret opinion. To the people i'v spoken negatively about, I would not hold my tongue to their faces and I purposefully avoided these people during the entire 2 years.

ZanatuBelmont · Jul 12, 2009

one that didn't make it was just too young and immature and probably didn't study. i felt bad that he didn't have the self discipline.
for those of you who may be judging me for my blunt candidness, please give me the benefit of the doubt. i am only after all, giving my secret opinion. to the people i'v spoken negatively about, i would not hold my tongue to their faces and i purposefully avoided these people during the entire 2 years.

that was the only part that offended me! what is "too young" for nursing school? not all of us wait until we have 10 million babies at 40 to start our careers. sheesh!

8jimi8ICURN · Jul 12, 2009

How about too young minded? It wasn't chronological age I was talking about.

suanna · Jul 12, 2009

It's been a while since I was in school but the few that left my class were simply being pulled in too many directions at once. They were parents, spouses, homemakers, breadwinners, and still trying to become nurses. If you have too many irons in the fire it's best to put off nursing school until you can make it your priority. It is way too expensive, and way too demanding to have "the kids", "my spouse", "my job" or even "my other personal needs" share top billing with the CoN. On top of what you stand to lose if you drop/fail out of nursing, you are taking the place of another student that has the ability to make the Col. of Nursing thier top priority. If you can't deligate whatever else may be distracting you from (at least most of the time) making nursing school job #1, then you may not want to start right now. That is what I saw 25 years ago- I would bet the same is true today.

pharmgirl · Jul 12, 2009

Several that failed out of our program got involved with the wrong study group. There is one student who feels compelled to "teach" the rest of the class all of her wrong information. Out of the group of students that fell under her spell (and yes, it was kinda like a cult following), 6 out of 8 either failed or made it by the skin of their teeth (as did she). So watch who you are studying with and do your OWN studying before you sacrafice your precious time to someone who really doesn't know all the answers.

We lost 14 out of 40 the first year and most of the others were because of grades as well. Of course you have the select few that shouldve been dropped d/t attendance or incompletion of projects but they were special.

Nursing school is a horse of a different color. Its a lot of self-teaching (at least our program) and then you have to know how to apply what you taught yourself. Some people can't grasp that concept and are still studying and learning like they did during pre-reqs.

Good Luck to you!!

illuminiti · Jul 12, 2009

Just curious why you are asking this question????
....The students that I have seen struggle and/or fail seem to have one thing in common, they do not study or they study very little. However, the reason why they don't study/study very little has many causes. Most of the people in my school that this applies to usually don't have the time to devote to studying. Typically these are people that have to work full time and/or are single mom's. Do I think less of them? Heck no! I try my best to help them out as much as I can. The students that just don't study because they are lazy I stay far away from. But more often than not the former is the most common scenario. Everyone has different life circumstances going into nursing school...please always remember that.

I was just curious as to why students failed/repeated the program so I posted here to see the responses.

I've heard of student's being "weeded" out of the program because of whatever circumstance(s) they were involved in and wanted to know if there were any bigger reasons aside from the obvious ones such as not studying.

Thanks for the responses :specs: .