Today I'm bringing back one of the most popular episodes from the podcast - how to pass your nursing school exams. Nursing school exams are unlike anything you've ever seen before and learning how to master these tricky tests takes skill.

Today I'm bringing back one of the most downloaded episodes from the podcast - 28 supplies you must have to succeed in nursing school.

There is so much to do, and remember, and take care of in nursing school, that spending any time dealing with finding the best this or that can leave you completely exhausted. So here's the replay.

Episode Replay: Why I Quit Nursing School

Jon shares his personal story of leaving nursing school - the toxic culture, institutional failures, and the moment he realized the system was broken. If you're struggling in your program and questioning whether it's you or the environment, this episode validates what you already know: sometimes the problem isn't the student.

Originally one of our most downloaded episodes, this replay is a reminder that speaking up about what's broken in nursing education is the first step toward change.

Resources: NURSING.com/podcast

Get your free personalized NCLEX study plan at: NCLEXgenie.com

Your advisor looks at you and says it:

"Have you considered that maybe nursing isn't for you?"

Or the variation: "Not everyone is cut out for this profession."

They say it like they're being kind. Like they're doing you a favor.

They're not.

In this fired-up episode, Jon Haws exposes the most weaponized phrase in nursing education—and teaches you exactly how to fight back. You'll learn:

→ What "not cut out for nursing" ACTUALLY means (spoiler: it's not about you) → Who gets told this (hint: students who ask questions, need accommodations, or don't fit the mold) → Why this phrase is designed to make you quit before they have to document failure → How to respond in the moment without burning bridges → The exact questions to ask that expose their bias → Why documenting everything protects you later → How to find allies who will actually help you succeed

Visit NCLEXgenie.com to create a personalized NCLEX study plan in just 30 seconds: NCLEXgenie.com

If you're processing your first patient death right now, or if you're scared about when it's going to happen, we've got resources at NURSING.com that can help.

We've got articles on grief processing for nurses, videos on coping with loss, and a community of nursing students who've been exactly where you are.

Head to NURSING.com/griefandloss and find the support you need.

And if this episode helped you, share it with a classmate who might need it. Because nobody should have to process their first patient death alone.

Get a personalized NCLEX study plan in just 30 seconds at: NCLEXgenie.com

I can still remember my first shift. . .

I arrived to the Neuro ICU about 5 minutes late, sweating, out of breath, and flustered . . . not to mention nervous, scared out of my mind, and excited!

What a way to start my career as a nurse, right?

My initial plan was to arrive 30 minutes early, look up my patients, and try to feel prepared for the shift . . . things didn't work out that way and I ended up stuck in traffic for nearly two hours.

We can help if you decide to return or need help making the decision. Visit us at https://NURSING.com

You were so close. One semester left. And then you failed. Your whole life plan just collapsed. I'm going to tell you what nobody else will: what actually happens next, how to handle student loans, and whether you should go back or walk away.

We'll cover: • What happens to your student loans when you fail out • Your transcript and readmission options • The sunk cost fallacy (and why it's okay to quit) • How to decide if you should reapply or pivot to something else • What to do differently if you go back • How to deal with the shame and judgment • Why failing out doesn't make you a failure

If you just failed out, are failing right now, or are terrified it might happen - this episode gives you the real talk you need to make your next decision.

Resources mentioned: • Readmission strategy guides: NURSING.com/failed-out • Study strategy overhaul templates • Student loan management resources • Community of students who've been exactly where you are

VISIT NURSING.com for help with communication with preceptors: https://nursing.com

Being called stupid by your preceptor isn't "tough love" - it's verbal abuse. In this episode, I break down the exact difference between constructive criticism and verbal abuse so you know when to document and report.

We'll cover: • The real difference between tough feedback and abuse • What verbal abuse actually looks like in clinical (eye rolls, public humiliation, constant criticism) • How to document every incident (and why this matters) • When and how to report to your clinical instructor • How to request a different preceptor • Why this damages your mental health and what to do about it

If your preceptor is making you dread clinical, question your abilities, or avoid asking questions because you're afraid of being humiliated - this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned: • Verbal abuse documentation templates: NURSING.com/verbal-abuse • How to report an abusive preceptor guide • Community support for students dealing with toxic preceptors

A Black student mistaken for housekeeping. A disabled student told to "reconsider her career choice." A trans student deliberately misgendered daily. When students report discrimination in nursing school, they're told they're "too sensitive" or "misinterpreting" the situation. Jon breaks down what discrimination actually looks like in nursing education, why it persists in a profession built on hierarchy and conformity, and exactly what to do if you're experiencing it. Includes specific steps for documenting incidents, understanding your legal rights under Title VI, Title IX, and ADA, and navigating a system that wasn't built to protect you. This episode covers racial discrimination, disability discrimination, LGBTQ discrimination in clinical settings, how to use legal language in reporting, federal protections for nursing students, and why nursing's "eat your young" culture enables discrimination to continue. Resources mentioned: Documentation templates and reporting guides available at NURSING.com

Keywords: nursing school discrimination, racial discrimination nursing, disability discrimination nursing students, LGBTQ discrimination healthcare, Title IX nursing school, nursing student rights, reporting discrimination nursing, toxic nursing culture, nursing diversity problem, nursing school retaliation

Get help at: https://nursing.com

Episode 3: When Your Instructor Wants You to Fail

You're prepared. You know your meds. You practice your skills. You do everything right.

And somehow, you're still getting destroyed in evaluations.

Your instructor tells you you're "not ready for this." That you're "not cut out for nursing." They find fault with everything you do. And you're starting to believe them.

This isn't about having high standards. This is about an instructor who has decided you won't make it—and who is actively working to prove themselves right.

In this episode, I'm giving you the exact strategy for surviving (and fighting back against) an instructor who's targeting you.

You'll Learn:

• How to tell the difference between a tough instructor and one who's targeting you
• The 5 twisted reasons instructors target specific students
• The 8-step survival strategy that protects your grade and your future
• How to document bias in a way that actually holds up in appeals
• When to go to the program director vs. when you need a lawyer
• What to do if you're actually at risk of failing out
• Why instructor bias has nothing to do with your ability to be a nurse

The reality: Sometimes the instructor has more power. Sometimes the program protects faculty over students. But you can survive this. You can fight back. And you WILL become a nurse.

Resources mentioned: Visit NURSING.com for documentation templates, communication scripts for difficult instructors, grade appeal processes, and a community of students who've been through this and came out the other side.

We tell you the truth about nursing education—including the ugly parts nobody else wants to talk about.

Keywords: nursing instructor problems, nursing school failure, clinical instructor bias, grade appeal, nursing student rights, toxic nursing instructor, nursing education bias, student nurse, nursing school survival, academic discrimination

Connect with NURSING.com: 🌐 NURSING.com 📋 Download documentation templates 💬 Join the community of students who survived this

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