accepts_nested_attributes_for to update another table

Question

Is there a way to use accepts_nested_attributes_for to update another table from within a controller. For example, I have this in my students controller:

def student_fail
 @student = Subject.find(params[:id]) if params[:id]
@student.build_student_fail
end

def student_fail_finalize
if @student.update_attributes params[:student]
 @subject.save
 end
 end

I have this model relationship:

Student
has_one :student_fail
accepts_nested_attributes_for :student_fail, :allow_destroy => true

 StudentFail
belongs_to :student_fail_state
belongs_to :student

StudentFailState
has_many :students, :through => :student_fail
has_many :student_fails

From the students controller, when the user fills out a form, I just want to update that information to the student_fail table. Can I achieve this through the controller using accepts_nested_attributes_for?