I flunked my lasr section of med surg by 1 point.  Out of 16 students 7 failed and the teacher made a big thing about us sucking it up and she wasn't going to be adjusting any of her teaching responsibilities.

We appealed the decision just asking if we could finish out our preceptorship and ob/gyn classes.  We were told no, and completely humiliated.  We thenhad to reapply.

The process consisted of retaking the 3rd semester test (that we hadn't failed), making a skills video and written application.  Because of the bad feelings in the department e-mails were not answered, time was not made available to students to explain problems.  I turned in my video and with one of the instructors was told what was wrong, I could not get in with the other instructor so I read through the material and returned in the video.  I turned it in on the 10th it was due the 15th durning spring break.

I was the only one to pass my retake on first try out of 7 .  So the I get another call and am told I am permanently out of the program because I was only allowed to turn in my video twice.  Again I have e-mailed instructors to find out what the problems are, I am not apparently where I should be for a last semester nurse.  Had I passes the test this would have been a none issue.   They are upset thar=t I didn't meet with the other instructor before the video, but she was having a hard time getting back to me.

So now I am out of school, I am an LPN not fit to be an RN.  I disagree with their tactics and feel as if I have just gone into major debt with limited ability to pay it back.  I almost lost my job because of the reduced hours in order to go to school.

It is not about  making it or not making it, it is about instructors who are not or are not able to do their jobs..  They blame it on the accredidation policies.  If federal money was handed out to successful programs or if 20 out of 40 students are flunked out and the staff is cut to minimum hours, I believe we would see more instructors helping students be successful.  I wonder as women are we afraid so of the new nurses that we are unwilling to teach adequately.

     There were 80 Rn students in my class the first 6 weeks of school. They call the first 6 weeks bootcamp, if you don't make it you're out. No talking will get you back in. They pat themselves on the back for having one of the highest pass ratings for NCLEX in this part of illinois and how they achieve that is   "Let those less likely to pass, go early!"  By making it so hard the first 6 weeks only half the class passes. This is rediculous and a lot of good students and RN's to be do not make it when they should. If the testing you take to get into the program doesn't show your ability to make it, then why test? Just let anyone into the program who decides this is their new major. I can't tell you how many students i saw being pushed out by instructors who didn't " think they fit the bill". It's all a big game. I was lucky enough to make it through. Those 3 years of my life were indeed the hardest. There was a girl in my lpn class who had to sue  the college in order to go back second semester because she was out for 3 weeks with gallbladder surgery. She got back in, but they made it hard as hell on her and even though she tested high on the RN Pre entrance exam. ( Higher than Me ) They did not let her into the RN program. It's a sad thing, but those instructors can be brutal.... Don't give up Hikaru, pick yourself up and have another go at it. It's all worth it in the end......

Dear david_7: 

So sorry to hear this! I am a nursing tutor at a local college, and I try to help students stay in the program.

Our instructors there all work hard and are very open; they help students stay in, not try to flunk them! In my program we started with 90 students and they expanded it to 195 students because the demand was so high. It's a tough program, but students that hang in there get tutoring and work with instructors in smaller class sizes to help them do well.

I have tutored students from other nursing schools. It seems like some other schools have instructors that are either not trained in teaching or the program is not well designed, and as a result students have a high rate of dropping out or flunking.

It takes a special person to teach students. When you apply to other programs, think about meeting with the faculty ahead of time if possible, and choose a school with a faculty that is passionate about both teaching and their students' success.

Best of luck to you,

nebula