Understanding pre-entry baccalaureate nursing students' academic failure: Applying Kübler-Ross's stages of grief

"Just because I failed, does not mean I am a failure": an action research approach to exploring and supporting the needs of repeating nursing students

“…Student email addresses were collected between the summer months of AY 2022-2023and AY 2023-2024. The timing of the action step was deliberately planned to coincide with the period when students were getting ready to resume their classes and retake their courses in the upcoming semester.…”

“…Compounding the emotional impact of failure are the social concerns, feelings of grief associated with peer groups progressing in the program, embarrassment, and financial concerns (Lewis, 2018). Mingo (2023) applied the Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief model to the experience of course failure concluding that nurse educators need to be prepared to identify the stages associated with course failure to assist students in developing coping mechanisms as they prepare to return to repeat coursework. A student's course failure can result in feelings of despair and a reported sense of being so overwhelmed that they cannot effectively complete the program even if given the opportunity to repeat the course.…”

“…Feelings of grief associated with course failure is an individual experience, however, there is an opportunity for repeating students who have a shared experience to find strength in their community to help with grief procession. Acknowledging their grief and supporting the process can assist students in moving forward after experiencing academic failure (Mingo, 2023).…”