Dismissal

I was in the final stretch of my Accelerated BSN program, just 5 days away from finishing my last class and graduating this May, when I was suddenly dismissed from the program on April 15. The school claims I falsified my clinical hours log for practices and didn’t complete the required 120 hours, based on a statement from my preceptor who now says I only attended three shifts. This shocked me because I actually completed ten 12-hour shifts.

I’ve submitted extensive evidence to prove I completed my hours: time-stamped patient reports printed by my preceptor and another nurse, text messages from my preceptor telling me to bring everything so she could sign it all at once, a detailed reflection timeline for each shift, time-stamped photos taken at the hospital, and written witness statements from two nurses and two friends who saw me at clinical. I also submitted a psychiatrist’s note confirming I attended virtual sessions on two separate days while at clinical.

Despite all of this, my appeal was denied. They said my documentation wasn’t credible and that the signatures on my log didn’t match the preceptor’s initials. They accused me of dishonesty and unprofessional conduct. I was never told in advance that the meeting would be disciplinary, nor was I allowed to bring representation or record it, it was presented as a meeting about my “progress.” I was later told the dismissal was final with no further appeals.

I then met with the university Provost and gave her the printed patient reports, which clearly show my preceptor’s name and the time and date they were printed on days she claimed I wasn’t present. She made copies and said she would follow up with the nursing department and contact me this week.

I’ve looked into hiring a forensic document examiner to prove I didn’t forge anything, but the cost is between $1,500–$2,000, and I’ve already spent over $3,800 on an education attorney. I don’t know if the school would even accept the forensic analysis as valid evidence.

This entire experience has been devastating. I’ve been on the Dean’s List, inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, had all As this semester, and accepted a post-graduation RN position in the Emergency Department starting in July. I never intended to falsify anything.I was following my preceptor’s instructions. Now my future, career, and everything I worked for are on the line.

I’m asking for advice. Has anyone been through something similar? Is it worth continuing to fight this? Should I try to transfer, even though I’ve completed 99% of the program? I just want to graduate and move forward with my life.

My preceptor didn’t keep log of my hours, and are taking her word over all the evidence I’ve produced. They haven’t refuted any of my evidence just dismissed it in the appeal.