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Need your help - trying to change school policy



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No. 10
Old Mar 29, 2009, 03:51 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
Some food for thought.

It may not help you to question what other school's pass % is.

My school actually has a very low fail (60%) compared to yours, however the school purposely curves marks so that the average student achieves about a high 60 low 70. Does this mean that my University is easier than yours?

I don't know. I know that in my last year of BSN (year 4) we officially have lost 50% of our graduating class. That is a lot of students. I think about it.

I know that our calculation med test is 100% to pass with 3 attempts. Does that make our test easier or harder than yours? Or just different?

I kinda like to think about it like sizes for pants in a store, one store tells me I'm a 3/4 another a 1. They are the same size pant though.

Obviously you are still in the program and that's good! Keep up the hard work, and try not to compare schools....it's apples and oranges. Even with an 80% equivalent to an A in my school, only 3 students out of 400 made Dean's list this year.

Hopefully you understand what I'm trying to say...
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No. 11
Old Mar 29, 2009, 05:45 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
Thanks everyone for your input. I'm still looking for some solid numbers but I appreciate everyone's input. Yes, all schools are different, we're trying to make ours better. The change we're trying to implement isn't to make school "easier" its to hold teachers accountable for teaching (not just weeding out students) and to give students who may not initially test well a chance. We have to pass our med calculations test with 100%, do clinical lab check offs perfectly, attain a level 2 on ATI evaluations (two of them were given even before we had the class!) and maintain a 2.5 gpa. Losing 50% of every class isn't an efficient use of resources. Clearly there are other issues such as shortages of qualified nursing instructors but to maintain the status quo really isn't getting anyone anywhere so we're trying to at least make some suggestions. To do that we'd like to know what other schools are doing. As I said, I appreciate everyone's input! Just for the record so you all don't think I'm a whiney slacker, I'm not in danger of failing out and never have been. Thanks for your time!
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No. 12
from itsmyturn
Old Mar 29, 2009, 06:49 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
I think that it should be higher than the percentages listed...I really don't want a nurse who only knew 81% of the material over someone who got in the 90 percentile. I do believe that you should have the option to retake the class at a later date.
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No. 13
Old Mar 29, 2009, 07:29 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
Md cc, both LPN and RN program requires a 75 %. Our cc has a 100 % nclex passing rate with first time takers.
- Good luck on your proposal.
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No. 14
Old Mar 29, 2009, 08:39 PM
Updated Mar 29, 2009 at 08:57 PM by Mariposa2009

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
I go to Orange County Community College in Middletown, NY (2 yr ADN) and our minimum grade requirement is 75% overall each semester. You also must maintain a 2.75 gpa or higher and pass the med exam in the 1st sem 80, 2nd sem 85, 3rd sem 90, and 4th sem 95 with 3 attempts. You also have to have a C or higher in all prereqs. If you fall below 75% or don't pass for some reason, you may repeat the semester that you failed and continue with the program. You have to reapply and take a bridge course before reentering. And, you can only repeat one semester 1x (ex. if you repeat nur 1 you can't repeat nur 2-4). I do believe that some people are not good "TEST TAKERS" and do poorly, but would definitely be great nurses. Just because someone can ace an exam doesn't mean they'll be a good nurse, IMO.
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No. 15
from jak2010
Old Mar 29, 2009, 10:18 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
I'm in an ADN program at Aiken Technical College. An 80% is required in all classes to pass...also we are given a pass/fail math exam at midterm with criteria as follows: 1st semester-80% to pass, 2nd semester-85%, 3rd-90%, 4th-95%...if you fail the math test 2 times you fail the entire class and are out of the program and must reapply...you are allowed to attempt a nursing class only once after failing...and that goes for the entire 2 years not per class...you are only allowed to fail once. We are not allowed ANY excused absences...you miss one day or have 2 tardies-PROBATION, another missed day or 2 tardies-OUT. I'm not sure that and 82% is really unfair...you don't want C students being responsible for lives. However, I do disagree like everyone else that the grading scale is COMPLETELY unfair (at my school its 80-85=C, 86-93=B, and 94-100=A...I am scared this may harm me when applying to a Master's program in the future. Also, my school has a 98% pass rate on NCLEX first attempt. HOPE THIS HELPS!!
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No. 16
from Equinox_93
Old Mar 29, 2009, 11:08 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
Originally Posted by itsmyturn View Post
I think that it should be higher than the percentages listed...I really don't want a nurse who only knew 81% of the material over someone who got in the 90 percentile. I do believe that you should have the option to retake the class at a later date.
Remember though that alot of mistakes aren't due to not knowing the material, but can be due to test pressure. Many great nurses perform wonderfully in the field, but just don't test well.
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No. 17
from New in NY
Old Mar 31, 2009, 02:52 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
Ulster BOCES requires a 75 to stay in the program but you can be kicked out for getting below an 85 on any math test or not passing the medication exam which is a clinical two hour test with all of the instructors and you alone. We started with 48 people in January and are down to 23 at March 31.,
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No. 18
from TheSquire
Old Mar 31, 2009, 03:49 PM
Updated Mar 31, 2009 at 04:13 PM by TheSquire

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
My previous experience, while admittedly with non-nursing education, is that instructors know what the grading scales are, know what grade distributions they want, and will tailor their exams and assignments accordingly. If your school has a 50% attrition rate, it's because they want to have a 50% attrition rate.

Also, in my school, an 86 is a B-, and an 80 is a C. We are allowed only one grade of a C or C+, and none below a C, else we are automatically booted from the program. Ergo, the OP, and most of the people in this thread, get no sympathy from me.
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No. 19
from truern
Old Mar 31, 2009, 04:09 PM

Default Re: Need your help - trying to change school policy
For those nurses that "don't test well", how do you propose they get tested on materials and concepts they've learned??
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