[NRSKarenRN]

NVC nursing students draw crowd as they protest mandatory exam
Napa Valley Register - Napa,CA,USA

About 100 Napa Valley College nursing students filled the college board room Thursday night in support of two students threatening to sue their school over nursing exams.

In a special meeting with the college board of trustees, Ashley McManus and Christeta Amoren-Gonzalez voiced their frustration with the way the nursing program uses the Assessment Technologies Institute test, or ATI.

In order for an NVC student to earn an associate degree in nursing, she must achieve a score within the 50th percentile nationally on the ATI -- meaning she must perform as well as or better than half of those who take the test across the country.

McManus and Amoren-Gonzalez, both in their last semester of the program, did not achieve the score needed and have been disqualified from the program.....

[NRSKarenRN]

In order for an NVC student to earn an associate degree in nursing, she must achieve a score within the 50th percentile nationally on the ATI -- meaning she must perform as well as or better than half of those who take the test across the country.

Purpose of this test per ATI:

The heart of ATI’s Assessment Driven and Review program is the Content Mastery Series. This program aids students in the review and remediation process for the state licensing exam in nursing

http://www.atitesting.com/ProductInfo/CARP.aspx

Sounds like impropper use of test here.

[sunnyjohn]

Originally Posted by NRSKarenRN

Purpose of this test per ATI:

The heart of ATI’s Assessment Driven and Review program is the Content Mastery Series. This program aids students in the review and remediation process for the state licensing exam in nursing

http://www.atitesting.com/ProductInfo/CARP.aspx

Sounds like impropper use of test here.

Sure does.

Amoren-Gonzalez said that she spoke with a representative at the state Chancellor of Community Colleges' office, who said that the ATI is not on the list of approved assessment tools, and that the test may not be used as a requirement.

[dazey71]

We had to take a similar test, the HESI, and pass in order to graduate. We didn't have any people fail because of it, but previous years did. I think there was too much importance placed on just one test.

[Sheri257]

Well ... I'm about to take the ATI tomorrow so ...

I guess I'll sue if I don't like the outcome.

They curve it, and it counts for the same amount of points as our final exam did so, I guess we don't have much to complain about.

They are going to switch to HESI though, we're the last class to take the ATI.

Just going through the ATI practice tests it does seem to stray quite a bit from what we've been taught in my program. We also took HESI just for feedback for the next class and it did seem to be lot closer to our cirriculum.

[cardiacRN2006]

Originally Posted by dazey71

I think there was too much importance placed on just one test.

Uh, our whole career is based on the importance of just one test...

[Sheri257]

Originally Posted by cardiacRN2006

Uh, our whole career is based on the importance of just one test...

Good point.

[Jolie]

After reading the story, I assume that the students knew all along that they had to pass this exam in order to graduate. Even so, I hope they prevail in their appeal.

Tying graduation to improperly chosen and over-used standardized exams is wrong. These students have maintained "B" averages while successfully completing the clinical and classroom portions of their academic program. The university happily took their tuition money, and the university's staff awarded academic grades that indicate satisfactory mastery of the curriculum.

The only justification for the use of this "capstone" exam is to prevent students who the university believes are likely to fail NCLEX from being able to sit for the exam. They require this test not as a benefit to their students, but as a means of protecting their own pass rates. Which, if the university has done its job of weeding out unqualified students and properly educating the rest, should be well within the acceptable range regardless of student performance on any preliminary assessment test.

[pickledpepperRN]

Grading on the curve has nothing to do with passing. If all schools used it like this 50% of those who attended nursing school could not graduate. If 50% got 100% on this test then a 99% would prevent them from graduating, taking boards, and becoming much needed nurses.
I am glad they are fighting this'

...In order for an NVC student to earn an associate degree in nursing, she must achieve a score within the 50th percentile nationally on the ATI -- meaning she must perform as well as or better than half of those who take the test across the country...

Napa Valley Register Online | Local Top StoryNews

[BSNtobe2009]

I read that article, and that is the DUMBEST thing I have ever heard of a college doing...what in the world does that test have to do with graduation?

Give the test at the beginning or don't give it at all!

I hope those girls take that college to the cleaners.

I'll tell everyone something funny...I was concerned what would be on the test "TEAS" for admissions, and went to by the simulated test on the ATI website (which is a total ripoff, and doesn't mimic the test at all)...anyway...I originally accidently purchased the mock test that you take when you finish nursing school.

I was sitting there going through the questions, thinking, "Damn this is hard for an admissions test..." as the questions got RIDICULOUSLY hard. I got to question 34 when I called ATI to find out what the deal was and realized I had bought the wrong one...but the strangest part...is I only missed two of the questions and I've never been to nursing school.

Evidently, all of the reading I've been doing my entire life with medical journals, etc that were always at my parent's and my 10 year obsession with Discovery Health, I must have picked up something.