Dog and Pony Show --A Nursing School Rant!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

incomplete...i can deal with having an "i" on my transcript ---until the "incredible disappearing hesi scores" can be located. i know that i passed with or without that grade. i was prepared for that to happen.....but i was not prepared for what happened next...i got home yesterday from a wonderful family get-together, i opened the letter and carefully read---it appears that you did not complete any of the courses you were registered for during the fall 2006 semester---yadda yadda--- the policies of department of education and x-community college states that an "i" is considered an "f" failure---(what the heck) --- and because you failed you are not eligible to receive any financial aid (grants,or loans)so we have cancelled your financial aid for the spring semester!!!

okay so this is the deal -- school is closed--until january 3rd --tuition is due january 4th --no financial aid means i cannot register --cannot pay tuition-- and the last time i checked it was impossible to pull money out of my a$$.

why didn't someone in the nursing department contact someone-anyone in financial aid and tell them -students x,y and z --did not fail - they are receiving incompletes because, the stupid hesi test that we require them to pay for and take every semester has "lost" there scores--so we cannot complete their grades --but they still passed --do not cancel their financial aid!!!?? this would have been sooooo very simple. but not at x-community college --nothing is simple, its like a dog and pony show -- and dang-it i am tired of jumping through the flaming hoops.

this school is the most unprofessional, inconsiderate institution i have ever dealt with. if we "the nursing students" were at a clincal facility and acted in the manner that the school does toward us --we would be kicked out of the program soooo fast! :nono: why are the students held to a higher standard than the college itself is??

i have to keep thinking ---only 4 more months--only 4 more months --but at the rate things are going now--it will be much longer than that---because i have no money to pay tuition !!

and i guess the thing that really burned my buns was "incomplete" is considered "failure" ---i did not fail nor did i fail to complete anything --the school failed to retreive my grades from hesi who failed to generate the scores!!!devious.gif

thanks for listening!

HESI'S OWN DEFINITION: HESI is the Health Education Systems Incorporated standardized test that Students take at the end of each course in preparation for the Licensing Exam.

MY DEFINITION: really hard test(s), costs lots of money and you get less than adequate service.

What is the Hesi? Is it similar to the ATI? We have to take those each semester but we don't pay for them...

I have no idea what ATI is either

Dog and Pony show update:

I did some checking on my own and apparently there are many many more students affected by this situation than I was orginally lead to believe.

Looks like about 45 students where sent the same letter. A few of them are even more angry than I ever was.

This situation "bites" for all of us --but atleast I don't feel like the Lone Ranger anymore.

We have all decided to be at the school on the 3rd--waiting for the doors to open---ready to do battle if necessary:smiley_ab

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Evolve

These tests and HESI are now run by Elsevier as of Jan 2006. I wager you are not the only students to get shafted. Do you have a credit card you could put your tuition on? Contact the school and I'd contact the University's highest financial officer and the state secretary of state. You are caught between a very hard place and a very expensive rock. Rock their boat and don't let them win.

Specializes in Rotor EMS, Ped's ICU, CT-ICU,.

Academic malpractice.

Get a lawyer...get the other students involved. Not sure what it takes to constitute a class-action, but no school wants that kind of litigation and publicity.

Good luck.

the good news ~~ when this kinda thing (irrational, infuriating, life-changing) happens when you are a nurse, you'll be emotionally prepped for it.

Hang in there. This is out of line.

Ok Ohmygosh take a breath....Say it with me...Woosah, Woosah. Feel better now? No? I don't blame you. I am furious for you!! Don't let your anger get the better of you and jeopardize your future. You have hope because there is no way that a school can drop 45 students out of a program because they cannot find their test scores.

Please draft a letter explaining the events of your situation. It is very important that you only state facts and not point the blame. For example, I would state that I spoke with the dean of the nursing department who stated that she could not do anything about the situation. I would not state that she sounded very cold or refused to help. Please, please, please stress that you could not have avoided the situation due to the fact that this test was administered by the school and you were not permitted to print your test scores. Get proof of payment and include a copy of it in your letter. Remember to state that you will be one year behind if you are not allowed to stay enrolled in class. Also state that your family is dependent on you financially and needs for you to start working after you graduate.

Mail a copy to the President, dean of academic affairs, dean of nursing department, director of financial aid, registrar, bursar, and anyone else you can think of. Yes this may seem dramatic, but I'm sorry this is very negligent behavior from the school. Even if the nursing department resolves this, others need to be involved to ensure that this does not happen again. Get the letter in the mail tomorrow!!

Thanks for all the responses...and I will definitely persue some of the suggestions. However, I feel that because of "other circumstances" that occured at my school a few semesters back-(I was not involved)- it pays to stay far below the radar aeb: the students who made waves are no longer a part of my class. Because of these "other circumstances" my class as a whole has been affected - we are considered "trouble makers" and as one of the administrators told us one day --"Your class has been delightfully challenging." --Just in case you didn't break the code --that means my class is veiwed as being a pain in the orifice. ---Everyone chant with me---4 more months --4 more months!!

Specializes in Emergency.
It pays to stay far below the radar

I agree 100%! There have been several times during school when I have wanted to say something, but have known that its better for my own good to keep my mouth shut. Profs talk, and no one wants to be labeled by the staff as the student who caused waves for their co-workers. Plus, you just know that for profs/instructors who have been working at the school forever (10-20 yrs) nothing is going to change.

I'm with you: 4 more months, 4 more months, 4 MORE MONTHS!!!

thanks for all the responses...and i will definitely persue some of the suggestions. however, i feel that because of "other circumstances" that occured at my school a few semesters back-(i was not involved)- it pays to stay far below the radar aeb: the students who made waves are no longer a part of my class. because of these "other circumstances" my class as a whole has been affected - we are considered "trouble makers" and as one of the administrators told us one day --"your class has been delightfully challenging." --just in case you didn't break the code --that means my class is veiwed as being a pain in the orifice. ---everyone chant with me---4 more months --4 more months!!

you said that you do not have financial aid according to the letter you received so you will not be able to attend school. what do you have to lose by fighting for right to stay in class? i honestly don't understand.

What do I have to lose...It is my belief (hopes/dreams/prayers) that since this situation involves the majority rather than the minority-- something will be done to grant an extension of some kind until this mess is straightened out. If things do get straightened out and I have overstepped my boundaries --then I could be flunked in my last semester. I know this sounds paranoid--but I tell you --I have seen some strange things happen. I would not have believed it myself if I had not witnessed it.

Don't let the faculty/administrators discourage you. You make your own destiny in nursing school. A group of us were looked at as big time trouble makers because we wanted to participate in a medical mission trip. Granted on our own time with our own money! The college told us "No! No!". We went anyway. Come to find out they college was setting up the same type of deal and were frustrated that we got things in order and working long before they could. Putting that experience on my resume, and having that time to be part of a healthcare team before working has opened my eyes and doors.

Specializes in Research, ED, Critical Care.

4 more months, 4 more months, 4 more months....

Trust your instincts. Drama by you or your classmates will not help. Threats will hurt you.

Calmly work with financial aid and whoever to straighten this out, they will, just be patient. You will get your classes and finish on schedule.

4 more months, 4 more months, 4 more months......

When asked in the future (and you will be) about good schools, smile slightly and do not recommend your school. When the alumni come looking for a donation, do not respond. Karma is a ........

4 more months, 4 more months, 4 more months.............

+ Add a Comment