Freaking out!!!!!!

[CNL2B]

I am a BSN student taking a required health assessment class. We have to do four timed physical assessment exams throughout the course that you must pass to pass the class. They are low points (10 each, with the course total being 225-250 or so.) So, 40 points total. They focus on specific body systems (HEENT, CV/respiratory, etc.)

Well, I just found out that I failed my first one (HEENT.) I had to tape it and send it in. They told me it was too long and the camera angle was bad, so they couldn't see what I was doing. They also said that I had "insufficient practice" -- probably because it was too long. I thought I was being thorough.

I am at my wit's end. They are offering me an opportunity to retest, but what if I don't pass again? I am going to do this one face to face, which was not their preferred method of examination. I am just freaking out. What if I can't demonstrate my skills?

I'm not dumb. My GPA is in the mid-high 3's. I have 10 years of clinical practice in as an ADN and have a previous Bachelor's to boot. I am planning on going on for my MSN as soon as I can finish this up (have 5-6 classes left.) I am considered a clinical expert at my job (ICU) - recently validated by a coworker working on her DNP that needs a benchmark for expert-level practice for her research project. I do detailed physical assessments regularly.

I am beyond shocked, and now, apprehensive over my retest. What am I going to do? What if I can't jump through the hoops they want me to?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[CoffeemateCNA]

Did they say "how" it was too long -- i.e. you did too many tests overall, or you took too long to do the tests that you did perform?

I was taking too long to do my assessments, too, and my instructor told me that while all of that information was good to know in real life, they weren't looking for me to perform every single test and skill for the checkoffs.

She showed me the grading rubric, which had a list of the necessary tests they wanted us to be doing. Seeing it allowed me to omit what I didn't need which in turn sped me up overall. Do you have a grading rubric available to you to view?

[JBudd, MSN]

I tell my students to be very systematic, not hesitate but keep moving. The camera angle and their not being able to see what you did is more likely to be the problem than just time. In depth focused assessments are done if you find an abnormal that requires further investigation, so if the basic finding is within normal limits, move to the next assessment. For instance, on neuro, if the pt can differentiate dull/sharp sensations on the feet, you expect the sensations to be intact for the whole leg, as neuropathies tend to start distally. So, you don't have to test the entire leg for sensations, because they are intact distally. See what I mean?