Drexel University ACE Spring 2010

Nursing Students School Programs

Published

Hello all,

I just received a letter from saying that my application for the ACE program is now complete and I'm waiting for a response. I was wondering if anyone else here is applying for the same program and received an acceptance letter already?:uhoh3: I'm trying to be patient but I wish I knew how long it will take...

Although Drexel boasts 100% pass rates on their boards, they neglect to tell you that if you do not get the required exit

score they can legally withhold your diploma and the right to sit for the state boards.

Ok, I think you just have a bone to pick with because you didn't pass the HESI on your first try. They are very clear about the HESI exit test requirement and what it means in terms of graduation and being allowed to take the NCLEX.

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While I do see the argument some have against the use of HESI, I also have to wonder if we get the entire picture when students are unsuccessful at the final attempt. The faculty tells us that if we're constantly scraping by with C's, it's likely we'll have difficulty passing the exit HESI. How have these students' HESI scores been throughout the program? Did they try a different study approach, get tutoring, etc?

Sometimes I think we forget that just because we were accepted to nursing school, it doesn't mean that we will automatically graduate - we still have to do the work and meet the standards. When I did my first degree, I had several classes that were based on one or two grades, and I needed them to graduate. You can be sure that I complained to my friends over drinks, but I still had to do it.

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Hiddencat,

I am a graduate and you will also be a Drexel graduate. I do not have a bone to pick with my university, I thought this site was to share valuable information with others. It is one thing to read and sign a paper on the progression policy, but another to live it. Were you aware of the additional charge for the remediation course? I was not and would have no idea where I would get additional funds. At that point you have exhausted all student loans and must get a personal loan. Who will give you a loan without a job? Did you know according to HESI itself, an acceptable pass rate is 850, with most schools requiring an 850 to 900. Drexel's standards are very high, probably one of the highest in the nation. Did you know if you accept a position you could possibly lose your job if you do not pass the exit HESI? These are important facts you should be aware of.

AugustRain,

Congratulations on passing the HESI on first try, but as you know, there are many of us who do not. I failed the first HESI by less than one point and you know on any given day your score can fluctuate between 5 points. There were several students who

even scored lower on the second attempt. We know the information - we have successfully completed all coursework - we are very smart people -but some of us deal with stress differently, and it can affect the outcome. There is not one nursing student who does not give 110% in this program, after all, this is your dream, although some are luckier than others to pass on the first try. There were quite a few from my class who were enrolled in 492B last year (including my very good friend who worked very, very hard and was not a slacker like you are insinuating). Do you know how many from your class did not pass the second attempt?

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curlyhair - I certainly never insinuated that someone who doesn't pass the HESI on the first try is a slacker. While I understand that you and I have different experiences with the program, there is no need to insert subtext where there was none. You are correct, test anxiety and bad days happen - we've all had them. This is why there are subject-specific HESIs given that only count as quiz grades, as well as a second opportunity to take the exit HESI. These gave all of us a chance to make mistakes and adjust accordingly, which I appreciated after not doing well on the first quarter HESI.

I think everyone here agrees that it's essential to do your resarch before entering a program and choose the one that's the best fit for you. As I said before, I can see both sides of the HESI issue, but I think that instead of just scaring people with the horror stories, it's also valuable to offer another perspective. Something that may have felt like a huge roadblock to me may have been not even registered as an issue for you (for instance, I've always struggled with math and was extremely nervous about the multiple dosage clac tests we need to take, while most of my friends never thought twice about them).

As much as it helps to know what you're getting into, it also helps to know that there are tools and resources available to help you, both for the difficulties you anticipate and the ones that you don't.

At any rate, congratulations on graduating and best of luck with your job search.

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Were you aware of the additional charge for the remediation course?

Yes. It was spelled out in the letter we signed that for subsequent attempts, you are retaking the senior seminar course. I'm not aware of any school that lets you retake a class for free.

I was not and would have no idea where I would get additional funds. At that point you have exhausted all student loans and must get a personal loan. Who will give you a loan without a job?

That is hard, I know. I'm a second degree student, so I came in to with $60K in student loans already. That means absolutely no aid from Drexel, just federal and private loans. But if you don't graduate on time for whatever reason, it costs you more to finish.

Did you know according to HESI itself, an acceptable pass rate is 850, with most schools requiring an 850 to 900. Drexel's standards are very high, probably one of the highest in the nation.

This probably a major factor in Drexel nursing grads being so highly regarded. When I tell out-of-state health care people that I am going to Drexel, they comment on the quality of the graduates and the school's reputation for being vigorous..

Did you know if you accept a position you could possibly lose your job if you do not pass the exit HESI?

Yes. I am aware of that. Not graduating any program could mean losing a job you have lined up pregraduation. This is kind of common sense, isn't it?

These are important facts you should be aware of.

That is true. I'm sorry you didn't find this all out until the end of your program.

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curlyhair, i just wanted to thank you for posting this info because i am a prospective nursing student so this info is invaluable to me. i search these boards because i want to know as much information about nursing schools as possible so i can compare and contrast to find the best fit for me. i do not want to have to wait until orientation to find this out. although i do not plain on failing nursing school or the hesi exam i would still want to know this info because you never know what situation you might find yourself in. i am not sure if every accelerated program uses the hesi as a graduation requirement, but i would rather go to a school that uses the hesi as a practice exam and not a graduation requirement. i would think that as long as you pass your classes then you should be able to get your degree. i not sure i understand why there needs to be an exit exam...isn't that what the nclex is for??? i agree that it is a marketing tool so they can keep their first time pass rate high.

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It just occurred to me that none of us have actually mentioned the context of the exit HESI. This exam is a part of our Senior Seminar class. The class meets twice a week during our final quarter - once a week for lecture & once for lab.

The lecture portion consists of subject-specific content review. We have various faculty members "guest lecture" on the topics they teach. PowerPoints are posted for us, and the professor usually gives a quick lecture accompanied by NCLEX questions.

Our lab schedules alternate every other week - one week we practice a skill, the next week we check out on it. Most of these skills are ones we've already learned in the previous quarters, we just have to prove our competency. Though we must pass every skill to pass the course, there are multiple attempts offered.

There is also a Simulated Patient Experience, very similar to the one completed during second quarter of ACE, though a little more comprehensive. Again, you must pass this to pass the class, but if you aren't successful the first time, you have another chance.

We also have to pass a dosage calculation test - you guessed it, two attempts on this one, as well.

During finals week, we take the comprehensive "exit" HESI. If you're not successful on the first try, there's another one scheduled about two weeks later.

So, you have to complete all of these requirements in order to pass senior seminar. If you've been successful at everything but the HESI, you are required to re-take the course the following quarter, with one modification - you don't have to do all the skills/dosage calculation test again.

Throughout the quarter, the lab provides "skills blitzes" during the week to review the skills, we can use the lab to practice on our own, and we can purchase access to the HESI Practest questions, in addition to our regualr studying.

Basically, the final HESI is one part of senior seminar, and I think that everyone is aware that if you fail a class, you don't graduate.

I know this was long, but I hope it helps to give a better picture of the situation.

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Yes, it did help to give us a better picture. Thank you for that! Did you feel that the siminar and everything else from that point adequately prepared you for the Hesi exam?

I just want to say thank you to all the current and fomer students that posted because I feel like I am getting inside info!:yeah:

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AugustRain,

After reading your posts, I don't believe you are or have been in the program. :angryfire At first, I thought your writing style was due to the fact that you are older, but after that last post about senior seminar, I believe you might be a professor. There was no mention of sitting with your friends when the HESI scores are posted and having half of your friends cry in disappointment, you did not mention your hands sweating and heart pounding before you do your SPL knowing you may fail, no mention of the stress of trying to keep up with Senior seminar along with your other classes, no mention of attending graduation and finding out you really did not graduate, no mention of administration telling students they are not smart enough, no mention of getting a "second chance" but having so much self-doubt at that point that you may fail again. I don't know if it's any better or any worse than other programs - just reporting my experience. If you had truly been in the program you would have seen this around you and your posts would have been written with more compassion - not like a textbook. -

I was giving honest information on this site to help others make important decisions before they enroll in a nursing program.

And, by the way, I do have a job at HUP- orientation starting soon- and I will not post again on this thread -

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Originally Posted by rld44 viewpost.gif

I am a student. I have taken the HESI 4 times. My scores have been 895-915 (approximately & consistently). Our school requires a score of 950. Approximately 35-40% of the students never achieve this score until they spend an additional $2400 and 2 months in remediation to pass the 950 requirements.

Recently, Drexel, started allowing students who failed the tests to review the HESI questions, answers and rationales for missed test questions. Review of the HESI questions from the last test shows that HESI makes mistakes in scoring. So far 5 questions in the last test have been challenged as being incorrectly scored. We have some support from the faculty, but no support from administration as this poses significant implications to their graduation requirements of passing the HESI with a 950 if the test has errors.

There are 8-9 students who are pursuing legal actions at this time. Several have taken steps to join class action law suits being tried in other states. I am on the fence with my next step

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AugustRain,

After reading your posts, I don't believe you are or have been in the Drexel program. :angryfire At first, I thought your writing style was due to the fact that you are older, but after that last post about senior seminar, I believe you might be a professor. There was no mention of sitting with your friends when the HESI scores are posted and having half of your friends cry in disappointment, you did not mention your hands sweating and heart pounding before you do your SPL knowing you may fail, no mention of the stress of trying to keep up with Senior seminar along with your other classes, no mention of attending graduation and finding out you really did not graduate, no mention of administration telling students they are not smart enough, no mention of getting a "second chance" but having so much self-doubt at that point that you may fail again. I don't know if it's any better or any worse than other programs - just reporting my experience. If you had truly been in the program you would have seen this around you and your posts would have been written with more compassion - not like a textbook. -

I was giving honest information on this site to help others make important decisions before they enroll in a nursing program.

And, by the way, I do have a job at HUP- orientation starting soon- and I will not post again on this thread -

LOL.

And you say you have no bone to pick? That is exactly what you are doing, m'dear.

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AugustRain,

After reading your posts, I don't believe you are or have been in the Drexel program. :angryfire At first, I thought your writing style was due to the fact that you are older, but after that last post about senior seminar, I believe you might be a professor. There was no mention of sitting with your friends when the HESI scores are posted and having half of your friends cry in disappointment, you did not mention your hands sweating and heart pounding before you do your SPL knowing you may fail, no mention of the stress of trying to keep up with Senior seminar along with your other classes, no mention of attending graduation and finding out you really did not graduate, no mention of administration telling students they are not smart enough, no mention of getting a "second chance" but having so much self-doubt at that point that you may fail again. I don't know if it's any better or any worse than other programs - just reporting my experience. If you had truly been in the program you would have seen this around you and your posts would have been written with more compassion - not like a textbook. -

I was giving honest information on this site to help others make important decisions before they enroll in a nursing program.

And, by the way, I do have a job at HUP- orientation starting soon- and I will not post again on this thread -

LOL I can assure you that I am indeed an ACE grad as of several weeks ago. And my writing style is likely due to the fact that my first degree is in English. I'm not sure why proper use of grammar and the ability to coherently string a sentence together would make you think I'm not a grad.

If you read some of my other posts, I'm sure you'll see that I had just as much stress as everyone else, but that's not what we were discussing in this recent exchange.

Regarding my previous post, is there anything you think was inaccurate? I was simply stating facts, not giving my opinion.

Yes, I was with my friends when HESI grades were posted, camped out in my living room, drinking in the middle of the afternoon. There were phone calls, texts, Facebook messages, jumping up and down, screaming, and relief when one friend only passed by a few tenths of a point. There was major disappointment the next day when we found out that another friend failed by a few tenths of a point, then more texts and phone calls when she passed on her second try.

Sure, the second quarter SPE made us feel like we were going to vomit in the CLRC, and was preceeded by a week of pretending to be non-compliant diabetics with bipolar disorder, and hoping we wouldn't be thrown out of the coffee shop where we were studying/practicing. And of course my stomach was doing flips sitting in that holding room before the fourth quarter SPE, but I really believed I'd nail it.

Were check outs and research quizzes on the same day a pain in the neck? Sure. Did I make a stupid mistake on one of my check outs and have to do it over? Yup. I didn't write about the overwhelming self-doubt that I wouldn't pass on the second try because that's not how I felt. I didn't write about administration telling people they weren't smart enough because I never heard anyone say it. I don't know if Drexel's program is better or worse than others either, because this is the only one I went through. If I had to take a guess though, I'd say they would have their positive and negative comments, as well.

And congratulations on getting a job, that's not an easy task in this market! I hope you enjoy it.

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