Accommodations in nursing school- are they good?

[JBMmom]

I know that school has changed quite a bit over the years. The numbers of kids with designated special needs seems astronomical compared with when I was younger. I didn't realize until recently that our nursing program also has things set up to accommodate students that have certain issues. I'm not discounting the validity of an issue and maybe it really doesn't matter, but the point of school is to prepare people for the real world, correct? We have students that get extra time for the exam because they don't work well under time pressure, and students that take tests in a room by themselves because the distraction of students around them getting up when they're finished is unbearable for them. Now, I would think that in a nursing career at some point you may have to make very important decisions, and quick actions, without a nice quiet place and extra time to think. So, are these school accomodations really doing anything other than giving them extra time and their own space? And if you can't handle a multiple choice exam in school, are you really going to be ready for a life or death crisis when you're practicing? The reason I'm posting this for nurses and not in just the student forum- does it really make any difference in the real world what you do in school? Just wondering.

[danh3190]

I think the OP raises some valid points. If distractions and noise are a problem for you, you definitely shouldn't work on my floor. I was just wondering though whether the people with these problems might not be able to find some niche in the nursing world where they could function effectively.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

Yes about NCLEX , time and a half I believe it is. I'm a 2nd year A.D.N. student with ADHD and agraphia. When I take tests with class and not at testing center, I am always the last one out.

I too believe O.P. asked a fair question. Here are things for O.P. to consider.

In the real world, I don't have to do dimensional analysis on my math. In nursing school, I can't just list the answer which I can solve in my head almost instantly, but in nursing school, I have to show my work. It takes me forever to figure out how to set those things up, and I already have the problem solved.

In the real world, I know what to do for conditions, but in nursing school on multiple choice tests I have to sit and think about what could be 4 right answers but have to think about which one is most right for the test.

I am a very robotic and black and white person. I recently took a test in Mother-Baby where there were 2 very right answers. I took the test with my class, I didn't use special accommodations testing center.

I went up to teacher and said elevated estrogen is right answer, it can make hands itch, I said but so is protein loss in blood. Protein pulls fluid from extracellular space so without it, hands can get swollen and itch too.

She said, "Oh you are WAY overthinking that. Choose the simple answer."

So the right answer was estrogen, but a robotic person like me could look at that question for hours.

On another note:

I think a problem we are facing in this country is labeling and judging people for asking questions.

If a person publicly questions for instance about the welfare of children being adopted into gay families, that doesn't make that person a homophobe full of hate.

I applaud the O.P. for asking the question.

What a refreshing change. A student that is well spoken, not arrogant and demonstrates style and grace instead of defensiveness. I understand your position perfectly after your explanation and I want to wish you the best.

[beckster_01, BSN, RN]

I appreciate this question as well. I think that the "tests" we face in real life are completely different than paper tests we must take in school. There was one student in my class who was TERRIBLE at taking tests. Even when she went to the learning center, she could never manage to get the best grades. However when it came to class projects and group presentations, I loved having her in my group. Even though she didn't process information from her head to a piece of paper as well others, she was the most creative and intelligent people in the class. In contrast, I have always been better at transcribing my thoughts to paper. I like to be able to see my words and make sure that they are organized. I have a hard time verbalizing my thoughts, so even if I have the correct rationale, I had a difficult time talking to doctors/providers once I started working because I lacked that skill. As long as a person knows their weaknesses and figures out a way to improve or work around it, I don't see any issues.

I agree that in the "real world" we cannot expect accommodations to be made for us. But I do think that students who do get testing accommodations can be just as successful as the "average learner."

[MagsMom]

FWIW, med students also get accommodations if they qualify. They also get accommodations on the MCAT and USMLE. So do PA students, OT students, PT students, law student, etc.

The idea is to level the playing field - not give an advantage. Eventually, if a student is not suited for nursing they will have to deal with it.

To be fair, I never felt this way until my daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia. She went through extensive remediation and OT and compensates very well. She does not need accommodations now in 7th grade -but she has had advantages of specialized tutoring, OT and a mother who never let her use her diagnosis as a crutch; many people often just given accommodations and not taught how to cope/compensate for their disability.