How could she! Please read, need advice

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · May 12, 2007

We lost over 50% of my Practical Nursing Class within the first two weeks of the program, because none of them could pass any of the objective tests in a course called "Professional Orientation". I honestly believe to this day that this course was deliberately designed to separate those candidates who had the potential to pass the State Board Exam from those who couldn't. Like the OP, I felt angry and helpless as I watched one classmate after the other flunk out. I remember one middle-aged woman, who, like many others in my class was a single Mom, impoverished and was attending school under the Manpower program. She wanted more than anything to become a nurse, and studied her heart out. She still failed. "I guess it wasn't meant to be", she told me, teary-eyed before leaving class for the last time. Our instructor wasn't the least bit sympathetic and seemed almost hell-bent on failing as many people as possible. :madface:

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 12, 2007

You can be supportive but this is not your battle since you passed, even if this means leaving the good students behind. You have to watch your own butt, and don't risk failing for a this cause. Selfish as that may be that's what you should do.

Recently over 20 people failed a final and failed a course. The school decided to allow them a special semester FOR FREE and let them take an accellerated final semester with another exam. People still failed, but that was how they dealt with it........with the advice of their lawyers. The instructor quit her job, but rumor was she was forced to leave. What I found interesting was they went to all the trouble of having a special session for those that failed rather than give another, more fair test. What's also interesting is that several of the students who failed this "unfair" test, but passed the special session also went on to fail NCLEX.

puggymae · May 12, 2007

Did your instructor announce that to the class? How do you know it was done to get rid of students?

In my experience students flunk theirselves, the intstructor does not have to play an active part in it.

It is normal to be upset because people in your class did not pass - but one of my instructors told me once - "if you just worry about yourself passing and keep your own nose clean you will do yourself a great service." Over the years I have found that to be true.

kgkarma · May 13, 2007

Did your instructor announce that to the class? How do you know it was done to get rid of students?
In my experience students flunk theirselves, the intstructor does not have to play an active part in it.
It is normal to be upset because people in your class did not pass - but one of my instructors told me once - "if you just worry about yourself passing and keep your own nose clean you will do yourself a great service." Over the years I have found that to be true.

Instructors can and do play an active role in flunking particular students. Especially if one of the instructors decide they don't like you for a particular reason. There is no doubt in my mind that instructors in some schools will do whatever they deem necessary to get rid of borderline students before it's time to take the NCLEX. I had the choice of going to two schools and picked the one that had the highest NCLEX ranking. I now know that those rankings don't necessarily tell the whole story when the school does whatever it deems necessary to flunk out borderline students each semester. This past semester we lost a quarter of our class because of the final from hell that had stuff on it that we hadn't even covered. Not only that, the last exam was on Friday and the final was that Monday.

There is only one instructor in my school that gives a damn about the students and will do whatever she can to help you. The other instructors could care less. No matter how many complaints these instructors have as long as the state board grades look good, nothing will happen to them. I've go one more semester and then I'm done. :monkeydance::balloons:

Psychtrish39, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2008

I once had a high school english teacher that gave 3 boys "D"'s on a test and marked the same answers correct for the girls and they got "A"'s. When the students compared and complained she fixed this, but she routinely graded the boys lower than the girls. I always try to just give people the benefit of the doubt, but I have had nursing instructors flat out tell the class (XYZ) will NOT be on the test, you do not need to know this right now and low and behold it is on the test multiple times. Or the reading for the next unit contained the information we needed for the test we just took etc... In any case it is a rare situation when you can do anything about this so just be happy that you passed the class and can move on. I think students do have to take responsibility for their own learning, but the teacher shares some of that responsibility when more than half of the students apparently aren't grasping the material sufficiently to pass the class.

I agree when I was in college doing pre reqs for nursing I honestly had a A and P professor who changed assignment dates due and also did a really awful thing.. graded everyone hard all semster, changed material didn't finish lectures and the final insult told everyone the final would be essay it wasn't and it was multiple choice (guess) and he made the student's final grade in the course what they got on their final . This helped a couple of nursing majors that had graded low all semester as they got a copy of the final before hand . But most of us studied hard and were cheated by this... the moral of the story is those 2 students flunked out of nursing school the 2nd semester of 4 and the professor didn't get tenure but that made me realize teachers don't always grade fair and they may have ulterior motives unfortunately it got me ready for what it is like with people and their actions...

Kasia3 · Aug 20, 2008

Okay, without going into a long explanation........
I am in nursing school, 2nd level, LVN. Our Gerontology instructor purposefully made the final so difficult that she could fail out the students that she wanted. I myself passed the class, barely. However, there are several students that are now out of the program b/c of this class. Now, not to belittle the course, because it is just as important as the others, but it should be an easy class.
I am distraught for these people, and I don't know what to do. Everyone is up in arms about this, signing petitions, going to the director about it, etc.
Has anyone ever had a situation like this? I know you don't know me, but if you can just have some faith and believe me when I tell you that this is true, that instructor was wrong to do what she did. It was vindictive and mean, and I feel sooo bad inside. Furthermore, do I stand up for what I believe and risk her re-grading my test and failing me? (yes, she did that to someone)
anyone have advice?

I think every nursing school has a weed out semester.In my program it was semester 2.Almost half of the group failed pharmacology and couple of them med-surg.It was smartly planned.Pharmacology I was hard and Med-surgical I was fairly easy.Then Pharmacology II was hard and Med-surgical was hard as well,so many people have fallen into this trap.I dont know the motive behind it maybe I think maybe the nursing program is trying to retain the hardworking and smart students and get rid of all the one that are not serious about becoming a nurse.Then I hear our fourth semester is kind of a weed out semester too because it includes ICU,ER,high-risk OB and a leadership/managment class.But I definitely understand where you coming from and be happy that you passed.But I dont think that geriatric should be an easy class,taking into consideration the fact that majority of the patients in the hospitals are in this group age.

RN1121 · Aug 20, 2008

Harsh words ahead: Don't worry about anyone else. You were fortunate enough to pass with the knowledge and skills you have. Keep focused and move ahead.

You should be #1 priority. Congratulations!

missjennmb · Aug 20, 2008

you were very vague and did not reveal that you were one of the students who failed this final in your original post. you spoke about those who failed as if you were not part of that group and you were separate from them. seeing your latest post, i see that is not the case at all. why did you hide that fact then only to reveal it now? seems deceptive and manipulative to me. i originally told you to be grateful you passed. i'm now amending that. study harder. try to anticipate what the instructor is going to ask on an exam. exams are subjective and are affected by the personality and experiences of the person who writes them, so you have to consider that when preparing for a test.

she did not lie or be vague. she said she passed the class but that not everyone did. i got the impression that it affected her because she was so stressed about it (i guess she could have been just feeling sorry for others...but thats not nearly as stressful as these posts sounded to me)

missjennmb · Aug 20, 2008

FWIW, my teachers and related administrators were very up front in telling us that anyone they did not think would pass the NCLEX would be weeded out before even getting the chance to take the NCLEX because the school does not have enough students to keep their status if any of them fail. They flat out told us that they would fail us out of the program way before NCLEX time. They were up front about it. Its not fair, but atleast they're honest. I do think that schools and classes can be arranged so that its easier or harder to pass. Some classes tell you exactly what will be on a test while some make you fish for it and think outside the box in order to take what you read and turn it into whats on the test questions. Its unfortunate, but I think that if you buckle down and study your butt off, you can get through.

You should expect that anything less than your very best will make you fail the semester and plan accordingly. Worst case, you study too much and get straight A's. Best case, you just saved your behind. Count your blessings that you can fail the final and still pass the class, because in some classes, that is not the case.

Acosmo27 · Aug 20, 2008

I don't understand why "it should be an easy class." Gerontology is as complex as pediatrics or any other specialty.

gero was one of our easiest classes.....

chevyv, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2008

I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. I'm happy though, that you made it. When you first start seeing students fail, it's hard, but after awhile you realize that although you still care, you now in the "thank God I made it boat.". It's so hard, but you have to try to look at it as sort of a birthing thing. You went through that alone and your going through this essentially alone. Sure you might have friends, but in the end, you need to worry about yourself. Cangrats on passing what sounds as if it was a rather horrible class.

In our school we had a 95% fail rate for the 3rd semester (thank goodness I was in the semester below) and they grouped together and were told nothing would be done. They took their complaint all the way to state level and the school was put on probation. They changed the way the tests were done (instead of two it was broken down into 5) and now the passing rate is much better. But, those 95% got nothing. They only helped the future people coming in. I'm grateful to them, but still feel a bit sad. Many had to either change schools, pursue a different career, or retake if they could. Many felt they could not stay and still be treated fairly.

Good luck and hang in there :heartbeat

callrn172 · Aug 20, 2008

I do not mean to come off as insensitive however, i have heard this cry many times when I was in school " the professor made the test too hard"

Well, my nursing classmates including myself; were a bunch of obsessive,analytic, competitive bunch of overacheivers. after each exam or test we would analyze every question (left, right and center). I say this to say; a professor cannot cover anything on a test that was not covered in lecture or chapters that your where responsible for reading. Congratulations, on passing however, I would like for you to approach your lectures with this in mind. The professor sites many sources in addition to the chosen course book. Listen well, try to read before each lecture and take good notes.

P.S.

If you think that your professor has developed a process of elimination. MY Dear! wait until you sit for the boards.

Good Luck and focus on you and your studies. :nurse: