Program Director doesn't care about the students

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

I'm 6 months in to my 24 month LPN program. It is part time. From the beginning, my class has had issues with the Program Director. My class President presents the class issues (wrong final given for Nutrition class, half of 3 tests containing stuff we were never lectured on, students having trouble with Anatomy, etc.) In every instance, the answer is "Read the book, too bad, yes, we made a mistake, but the final sccores will stand, we're not giving a retest. Read the book... " Endless loop.

These are legitimate concerns that are getting blown off. The general consensus of the class is that since we're part time, the Director doesn't care about us except for the money we bring into the school. Personally, I'd love to see this one get walking papers, but everyone else believes this person is so absolutely wonderful, so the chances of reprimand are very slim. Any suggestions? The board won't even grant us time at their meeting to discuss this. :angryfire

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Sorry but I have to agree with the director. Read the book. You were assigned those pages and are therefore responsible for the material. Nursing school is tough.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

I'm carrying a 4.0. I put in at least 2 hours of study time daily. The Nutrition final had half of questions on Diabetes, none of which was covered in lecture, and nothing covered in the book diet wise, meds wise, etc. The first Pharmacology test was the same thing. Hello.. this is MY GPA that's getting screwed with because of the Director's changing the program, but not changing the tests. When my GPA gets affected, you're darn right I get mad. I never said nursing school was easy, in fact, I expected it to be tough.

I chose this school because I know a lot of graduates that had high praise for the program. Of course, they all went full time instead of part time. There definitely seems to be a high level of "Well, you're only part time, so we don't care what you think" type of attitude from Administration on down.

I also did some research and I found out that this school's NCLEX-PN pass rate on first try is only 62%. Makes me very sorry I didn't apply to the hospital's LPN program. Their pass rate is 90%. Sad thing is, I have to finish with this program because the hospital program won't transfer anything. :trout:

Very sorry I chose this program. I'm obviously not respected as a student. Sad.

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So the information wasnt anywhere in the book? Or any of the books for that class?

I totally understand if all material is not covered in class. You usually only have 3 hours of class a week plus clinical time and they cant possible tell you everything in all the chapters. Know what I mean?

If the material is not in any of your books for the class and was never mentioned in class how can they hold you responsible for it?

Is it information that you could figure out from the information you were given? You know what I mean? Like you may have a question about how to give a certain drug and what it does. Maybe that exact drug wasnt in the book but several just like it were? Probably not the best example. are those the type of questions that you are being asked?

I dont think its fair to test you on material that either wasnt in the book or you couldnt arrive at the correct answer though info that was in the book.

Did the entire class do poorly or was it a select group? What was the highest grade on the test?

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btw thats a pretty low pass rate for nclex. Ours is in the upper 90's and was 100% for 6 years in a row.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

On the Pharmacology test, I know of at least 4 that did not pass the test. Most classmates came to me and asked what I got (85%, which is very low for me). One of them even said "If you got an 85, then there's a problem with the test). And that test and the Nutrition final lost me my Valedictorian status, and yes, I'm p****d off about that. What was on the test was not in the book... either one of them Last year, the Vo Tech changed the PN part time program, changed books (ok, that's fine), but never changed the tests. Our Nutrition final was last year's PN class final, before they changed the program. And they admitted they screwed up, but weren't going to change grades. At the very least, they should have thrown those test questions out. This kind of stuff occurs on a regular basis, and we're told to just deal with it. Well, we shouldn't have to deal with it. There has to be some responsibility on the part of the Vo Tech, too. I can honestly say that I passed both of these tests by reading each answer carefully, and using logic and really thinking the answer out before filling in the answer. (You know "It can't be this because this isn't a side effect. It can't be that because it's not that drug class, etc.) I guess I"m just not used to Educators taking class and student concerns so casually.

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That does sound messed up when you further explain the situation. Is there a higher up you can go to? Are you talking to the dean of the nursing program? How about the dean of the school. I would keep going up the ladder. I would be thankful though that your passing unlike some of the people. Wish I could offer better advise.

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Hi, you state you are only 6 mos. into a 24 mo. program so how can you have had 'valedictorian' status?

If being valedictorian is important to you (and I can understand it being so, as I was val. of my class), then the best advice I can give you is to not worry about anyone else's grades, attitude, child care/spousal issues, employment issues. etc., except your own. You are the one paying for and working for this tough goal. Don't make it any harder than it needs to be. That means no complaining to the director, no sigining "petitions" that this or that test was unfair, don't be a thorn in anyone's side, because while they may have to give you what you earned on exams/papers, if you are known as a whiner you will most certainly be criticized in your clinical evaluation, whether you deserve it or not. You are there to receive an authorization to test for the NCLEX-PN, that is your ultimate goal, NOT to make friends.

If someone comments on your grade, simply smile and agree the test was hard (even if it was easy). Explain you had to study very hard for your grade and leave it at that.

Finally, who knocked you out of first place? What is that person doing differently? Most likely studying more than the assigned texts, i.e. NCLEX study guides and maybe he or she even got their hands on some of the texts from last year. There is a LOT that needs to be self-taught in nursing school, not to just barely pass but to be #1, if it is that important to you.

Also, if you intend to pursue an RN, you may be able to check the NCLEX pass rates of the schools on your state's BON website.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

When I go for my RN, it will be through the hospital where I work's RN program which has a very high NCLEX pass rate. A lot of the RN's that I work with have graduated from this school. It is Diploma instead of BSN. In addition, I know the Admissions Director and she's very actively recruiting me for the next class (which isn't going to happen, obviously). I only took this route because I couldn't get an RN program to work with my work schedule (daylights) when I applied. At that time, I was in a dead end, go nowhere job, but then this Nursing Assistant position became available and I took it. Mostly I took it for the clinical experience and the free tuition, but I really am enjoying the job. The sad thing is, I am learning more at work about nursing than I am in school.

There is no Dean of nursing where I attend. It's just the Director, secretaries, instructors, and a financial aid person. I know there is a Board of sorts, but have no idea how to reach them. I guess I'll just have to investigate. I really am having serious doubts that once I graduate, I will know enough to work on a floor as a nurse because of the lack of education.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

If you expect school to teach you how to be a nurse, well......

Nursing school teaches you basic information to draw from to number 1, pass NCLEX, and number 2, how not to kill anyone.

I have long ago taken full responsibilty for me and me alone. You want to pass these courses to be an LPN, right? Well forget about the other people in your class and focus on your learning. Believe me, you are learning what you need and if you disagre, just look at outside sources for the info you feel you should be learning.

There are endless websites, books, and resources to go to and learn. You say you have a 4.0, so I don't think you have that problem. Like the other poster said, how do you know you are the valadictorian so early? Isn't 4.0 the highest you can have, so how did the other person kick you out? Just curious.

School has never been fair in my opinion and I have just learned to accept that and do what I have to do to get through it.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Gee, silly me... I thought the whole point of going to Nursing School was to learn how to become a Nurse. I guess I was wrong.

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I'm new to to the site and I now appreciate my school so much more. If there is ever a problem with our tests our teachers are always (with exception of one so far) willing to reconsider and in some cases have thrown out questions. So it sounds like you picked a crappy program, sucks for you. Hang in there, our motto at Middle Tenn State University is C equalls RN or in your case LPN. I deffinately now realize that grades are not that important as long as you learn the material.

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