Dissertation failed & removed from course - Advice Please

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone can help.

I am a 3rd year student nurse. I completed all 3 years with no problem. I didn't fly academically but I passed everything. I failed a single essay which was the first essay in the first year after writing it on completely the wrong subject and on resit passed it. Thereafter everything has been passed and my ability as a nurse has been marked exceptionally high and have been signed fit to join the nursing register in January 2015.

Sadly in July 14 there was a problem with a tutor and when I made the university aware despite me asking for no action to be taken it was clear something had been said. Tutors attitudes changed towards and I was made to feel uncomfortable. I have since been advised the Dean did take action despite me specifically requesting that she did not do this and the person involved had a formal investigation carried out. The investigation stated the lecturer admitted her actions were wrong and the lecturer has been made to carry out activities to ensure the same mistake doesn't happen again.

However, during this time I have been doing my dissertation. They have given me four attempts. These attempts have been given as I have been unwell however the support on each attempt has been poor.

1st attempt - I was in hospital
2nd attempt - the academic supervisor failed to come back to me to provide me with supervision until the day my work was handed in as she had her dates mixed up. She also stated in an email, 'she was hesitant to advise as she was always concerned she would interpret the markers comments incorrectly.'
3rd attempt - Academic supervisor met me for one and half hours. When I asked for further support she advised she was at a loss as to how to help me any further.
4th attempt - When I met with the Dean to discuss ongoing issues relating to all of this I raised my concerns regarding my academic. I was advised to contact the academic supervisor and if she wouldn't help the Dean would arrange someone else. I contact me academic supervisor and she refused to help. I made the Dean aware but am still awaiting a response. This meant I had no supervision for my fourth and ultimately last attempt.

My first three attempts were marked by the same person hence each attempt I concentrated on where I was marked down. My marks were 20/100, 30/100 and 33/100. On my fourth attempt I received support from the disability team. I have confirmed disabilities which the university were made aware of prior to me starting the course and I am now aware I should have had support throughout the course, I only had this support on my 4th dissertation attempt. However, on my 4th attempt it was marked by somebody else and my mark DROPPED to 24/100. I looked at the comments and I was marked down on elements that had previously been marked as okay and had no negative comments on by the other marker.

The university sent an email advising me they were removing me from the course. I had placed mitigating circumstances as during a meeting with the Dean she had continuously discussed a 5th attempt as if it was a forgone conclusion. This upset me at the time as I felt the Dean spoke so confidently about me having a 5th attempt prior to me submitting the 4th it felt as though they were certain they were going to fail me.

Well, my mitigating circumstances were declined. I have tried to email both the Dean and my personal tutor since I received the information advising me I would be removed from the course with just a Diploma in Higher Education but neither have replied to my emails. I had my transcript through and for each module you need 40/100. My dissertation module was 39/100 and they have removed from the course preventing me from fulfilling my dream.

I have spoken to the NMC and they have confirmed you do not need the honours element to join the register. However, my university refuses to offer a degree without the honours. I have spoken to the RCN but they advised they cannot help as it was decided the RCN would only assist students with placement related issues as a union.

I have put in an appeal and am putting in a formal complaint but I am looking for any advice.

I am putting in complaints regarding the following :

a) the initial complaint regarding the tutor
b) complaint regarding academic supervisor
c) complaint against the Dean for acting on a complaint that I specifically requested wasn't acted upon for fear of repercussion
d) feeling of victimisation as a result of C
e) disability & discrimination - not being offered the support throughout the course in particular recently despite being continually open and honest with the uni.

I have been invited to graduation. Initially I was invited to graduation with my fellow students where I was advised I would be the only one to go up and receive a diploma. I didn't want to go and be further humiliated. On Friday I received my invited - however this invitation was to the Medical School Graduation. I've again been advised nobody else will be receiving a diploma but I can't understand why I've been invited to a graduation ceremony completely different to my fellow pupils.

To date I have lost five jobs as a qualified nurse. I have cried myself to sleep so many times I've lost count. If anybody has experienced anything similar I would be most grateful. If I wasn't capable and had failed consistently I wouldn't have a problem however these problems have only occurred since I made the uni aware of an issue with a member of staff (I only made them aware as this member of staff was going to marking me on a assignment) My own academic supervisor stated in an email dissertations were open to the interpretation of a marker and this was confirmed when my 4th attempt was marked by a different person and elements that were previously deemed as okay are now deemed as problematic and marked down - how can I win?

Any help or advice would be mostly appreciated.

Best Wishes

xxxx

Hi there can't help you really in exactly the same situation as you. My results are in on Wednesday. I have taken the legal route though and would say that its not for the faint hearted. It costs a fortune and as you have had four attempts I don't know what they could do for you. I am dyslexic and despite having an LPC "t was never implemented" I made a complaint against the treatment in Uni through internal measures and filed a case in the courts against the university, which I dropped because I was given another attempt with new topic and supervisor via the internal complaints path, the result of which I am waiting for!!!!!! I feel for you I really do this has taken over my life for so long now I just want to get it over with one way or another and move on with my life. The trouble is they all hide behind saying you can't appeal academic judgment but can you ask maybe that they check your marks if the are only off 1 percent!!! then make a complaint against the uni for not implementing your LPC, Disability discrimination is a serious breach of your human rights. I truly believe that if you have a problem with a tutor as I did in the first year. you a destined no matter how hard you work to fail. There is no rights anywhere for students the OIA were set up for students to have a right to complain and even they are funded by the universities and it is meant to be an impartial board its a joke. There is a group on fb students against OAI they might have some good advise for you hun. x

Have you considered that maybe nursing isn't for you?
You have kept trying at it, which is very honorable. But if you have not succeeded generally academically over the 3 years, and can't pass your dissertation with 4 tries. That would ring bells for me personally.
You can still get a job in health care, if you want to do something similar like clinical healthcare assistant.
Sorry the comment isn't in support, but I feel you should view it objectively. The university system isn't out to get you, most likely - and they are within their reason (I would imagine) after all those attempts. You have had quite a fair bit of support and chances by the sounds of it.

Hi Gem120,

I'm in the same situation as you. I was wondering how it all went, if you have any suggestions.

Thanks

Hi Chris, I have recently found out that I passed my degree, if you let me know your exact situation, I will offer you my best advice and the exact situation of what I went through. Nursing isn't about being academically clever, it's about whether you can nurse and have the right skills. I personally would avoid any negative comments. You can't teach someone how to nurse by writing an essay, I will get this message across to everyone someday

Did you pass without or with honors? Congratulations by the way! I'm glad your situation is sorted!

Sorry to hear your predicament and I agree that you don't need to pass the dissertation in order to receive your pin. You do say though that you've lost five jobs as a registered nurse. That makes it sound like you are registered, so why have you been through five jobs? Bit confused!