How are your clinicals graded?

[gabriella86]

I start class tomorrow and am extremely nervous. I was looking over some of the papers I received at orientation and noticed that my clinicals are graded Pass/Fail. Is that common?

[unseen]

No....I find that ridiculous. Its bad enought trying to remember all the checks of the skill. That really doesn't make sense to me.

[trustbirth]

Our clinicals are also pass/fail.

We have a skills check-off list each semester. All skills are done in lab at school first and then in clinical setting. We just check off that we did the skills and turn it in at the end of the semester. Most things we can do on our own and sign off ourselves but things like injections, foleys, and such have to be done once in front of the instructor then we are on our own. The only skill that is mandatory for the first semester is a head-to-toe assessment but the instructor helps you along with it. The rest of the skills are worth 1 point each so they help out your grade. You cant fail because you dont complete the list. It just may mean a difference in a B or an A in the Nursing Theory class ((the clinical grade is paired with the lecture grade and skills lab grade)).

Hopefully that makes sense.

[trustbirth]

We do have paperwork...our own version of a patient chart..that we turn in at the end of the day but it is not graded. We go in, and have one patient. Each of us have one. That is what we do during the day...take care of our patient. That is why the list doesnt have to be completed..because or patients during the semester may not need all of those things done.

[gabriella86]

I thought it was silly too. I can't comprehend how nerve racking it must be to have to do a skill and do it fast enough in front of a clinical instructor. It also seems a little unsafe to rush things like that.

[emmy27]

Our are pass/fail, but it's kind of complicates.

It's determined on the basis of a checklist of 40 things (being on time, being in uniform, reporting errors promptly to the teacher, respecting patient confidentiality, performing skills in a manner which does not increase pt. anxiety, etc). The various items are divided into seven areas according to what they represent- "Implements nursing care plan in an organized and safe manner", "functions in a middle-management position to ensure safe patient care", "Applies the principles of communication", "Demonstrates

behavior consistent with occupational expectations", "Demonstrates accountability for educational performance I", Demonstrates accountability for educational performance II", and "Care Map". We rate ourselves, but the items are pretty cut-and-dried- if you lie, your instructor is going to call you on it.

If we get an unsatisfactory rating in any of the items in a subcategory, we get a U for that entire category. Three unsatisfactory clinical days in the same category in the same course in the same semester and you fail the course.

So basically you have a very good idea of where you messed up in clinical if you did, but you really have to WORK to fail.

Oh, and our care maps have to average at least 75% over the semester to pass. We don't get actual class points for them, except for two which are done under timed circumstances at the end of the semester.

[Divemaster]

Our biggest grade factor is how well the teach likes ya.. Sounds like I may be bitter but, its true here.

[jeepgrl944]

Wow Gabriella! We're not even taught how to start IV lines! But ours were pass/fail also.

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

Ours are pass/fail also on everything including paperwork, but on care plans we do get one chance to fix it before it is a fail. We have evals at the end where the teacher talks to us about our strengths and weaknesses, and we get to eval them too...which is really sweet! Makes for better CI's I think. Our main points during clinical where skills are graded is a complete pt assessment, med info knowledge, and pt care and rapport. Basically, if you show up prepared and keep busy all shift you will pass.

[JBudd, MSN]

Pass/fail. Think about how subjective trying to give you a letter grade would be, since instructors are spread so thin. What I consider really important may not be what the next instructor is looking for. We rely on the staff nurses to help you out as well. If you show up prepared and willing to learn, whether the grade is P/F or not, instructors notice and pass that attitude along when we turn over each group to the next instructor.

As for the paperwork, its a teaching tool. Not counting it for large percents of your grade lets you relax about it, and lets me give you plenty of correction/coaching/ direction without "failing" you on the stuff.

Studies have also shown greater retention, high levels of critical thinking, and better experiences with journaling and reflecting on your clinical day. But hey, you'll only get out of it what you are willing to put into it. If you consider it silly, then you won't get the best benefit from it that you could. Nursing is all about thinking, all the time, before during and after everything you do.