Just finished my 2nd semester and failed along with many others. There were many discrepancies in my program that are listed in my letter to the chairperson of the Nursing department. Since our professors set us up for failure through BS education and lies I decided to throw them both under the bus. Do we stand a chance for our grade to be appealed? Most of us are 1-4 points within a passing grade. Those that did pass were just over that line. Professor X is notorious for listed reasons around our program (even those who have not had her as a professor) and outside of the school from nurses we have run into on clinical sites. And Professor Y lied to us to hurt our grades. 12 students agreed to allow me to CC them to state the facts are true, 3 students BCC’d, and a few others to remain anonymous. Thoughts?
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Professor E (chairperson),
I recently finished the 2nd semester (Maternity and Psychiatric Nursing Care - Nur 212) and have some deep concerns about the fairness of the program. I, and the students CC’d in this email* (as well as additional unnamed students who fear retaliation if they participate) feel it is important to raise certain concerns for the sake of our careers, our experience in (school name here), and the experience of future students. Included in this group are students who passed the course, as well as students who did not pass. All of us have the same concerns regardless of the outcome of our grades.
Overall, we believe that the class was not set up to allow students to succeed in a meaningful way due to the way the coursework was presented, taught, and tested. In addition, we don’t feel that we have been prepared to pass the course exams, as the course strategy was often “off-book,” non-linear, and often incomprehensible. This was not the experience of other students who were taught by other professors, as we learned after speaking with evening class students who do not report experiencing the same level of challenge with their professor. Additionally, to our knowledge, they had a much higher pass-rate than our class. We would thus request your review of the following points:
- We were underprepared and immediately behind the curve at the beginning of the semester because we were told we would be given an intense reading assignment over the Summer of 2021 that would prepare us for the Maternal and Newborn Nursing course. This reading was never distributed to the class.
- Professor X’ exams were on an advanced level of Nursing that was unrealistic, considering both our current level of critical knowledge and the mandatory (and expensive) prep material we purchased, which inadequately prepared us to pass these exams regardless of the time and effort spent in study.
- Professor X taught on the assumption that we were already educated in certain areas of Fundamentals of Nursing--information that we had never learned in the previous semester.
- Professor X stated she disagreed with the material in the required textbook. As dense as our coursework already is, this only made the experience more confusing, forced us to pursue further research for information she considered accurate, and unnecessarily complicated our curriculum.
- Professor X was either late to respond to student emails, or they were ignored. Personally, I asked for help on study strategy for success on the final exam 9 days in advance, and received a reply 48 hours before finals—far too late to be of any help.
- Professor Y, prior to her exams, inaccurately told us that we should focus on medication classes--not medication names. In fact, we were questioned on the exam for medication names. This cost us further points and significantly impacted our grade in the course. Upon confrontation with this discrepancy, Professor Y agreed that she had given us a false study tip, but was unwilling to remediate the situation, either by allowing us to retake the exam or to remediate that particular grade.
• - Prior to the final exam, Professor Y downplayed the difficulty of her exam, stating that her portion was ‘mild’ and that she recycles her questions from previous exams. Upon sitting for the test, we found it to be challenging and that the basic review of former material and questions that we had done in preparation left us unprepared. A far more in- depth focus on the material would have been required in order to successfully pass the test.
In sum, we believe your review of the course and our grades is in order. We invite you to have a conversation with us to discuss this experience, and to figure out the best way to move forward in a fair and equitable way. We strongly believe that many students who did not pass this course have fairly earned the right to move on to their next semester without repeating this set of classes – especially given the high costs (finances, time, personal sacrifice) associated with taking the class again.
Considering this experience, you can understand how dispirited many of us are—some even to the point of rethinking their future in this school, if not this career. Given that we were only allowed two on-site clinical experiences due to the pandemic, we also believe that consideration should be made for the lack of on-site educational benefits of an applied science.
We are eager to hear your thoughts on these matters. Please let us know your
availability to speak with us as a group. Since the next semester begins on January 28th, and we must have our plans in order well before then, we would appreciate an honest reply as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We would not have come forward if we didn’t truly believe we had a case.
Best regards,
My Name | Phone Number
*Please note: CC’d students have given me permission to include them in this letter with agreeance that the follow facts stated are true.
o matter how small the number of people.....whose opinions should be looked into seriously. As he/she or they did not get the support needed when problems occured.
I agree, every student should have their opinions respected.
But the opinion needs to be voiced as the problems occur. Not after the failing grade is given. Difficulty with an instructor's teaching style cannot be rectified when the course is over.
Words of advice:
If you cannot understand the professor, find the pertinent readings, understand what is expected in clinical, make an appointment with the professor right away. If you don't feel your concerns are heard/respected go to the Dean. Also, seek out nursing college tutors (if your school has them). Do everything that shows YOU are seeking out support.
Sun1: I wish you a better semester and more assistance with your course work from the professors and (if any) nursing tutors.
I agree, every student should have their opinions respected.
But the opinion needs to be voiced as the problems occur. Not after the failing grade is given. Difficulty with an instructor's teaching style cannot be rectified when the course is over.
Words of advice:
If you cannot understand the professor, find the pertinent readings, understand what is expected in clinical, make an appointment with the professor right away. If you don't feel your concerns are heard/respected go to the Dean. Also, seek out nursing college tutors (if your school has them). Do everything that shows YOU are seeking out support.
Sun1: I wish you a better semester and more assistance with your course work from the professors and (if any) nursing tutors.
Thanks....unfortunately....the professors just want to get rid of you. And one hopes that more will join the movement. But fear of being written up, and then thrown out of the program (retaliation) is common which one learns overtime....no matter how strong a case you may have.
So it is the teacher's mood one has to try to guestimate always....they are mostly all very moody and tricky and don't' want to work or think outside the box.
I’ve learned around an estimated 20 students have failed.
Also I don’t think I’ve mentioned this but I’m in an ADN program at a CC in New York City.
Irrelevant to my situation, but relevant - I recently received my booster in Brooklyn at a church next door to me and was talking to the nurses - told them I’m in Nursing school. Turns out the girl collecting paperwork is having the same problem at her school. She said she filed for an appeal. And then another Nurse told me in her school only 9/55 passed and they were seeking out a lawyer. I asked it this was normal for the fail rate to be so high all around and they said absolutely not.
So I wonder if it is this pandemic and online learning we’re all doing that’s causing so many to be behind?
It appears the Nursing shortage is only going to get worse.
So I wonder if it is this pandemic and online learning we’re all doing that’s causing so many to be behind?
What an interesting and important question! I suspect that the answer is multi-factorial:
1. It is quite clear to me that the pandemic has impaired the learning experience for many students. However... I don't think that is a complete explanation.
2. Some schools are seeing a rapid loss of senior faculty members. While there are both good and bad faculty members leaving... The loss of the good ones and the loss of their ability to mentor the newer faculty is significant. In good schools, the more senior faculty play a HUGE role in developing new faculty (especially new faculty whose graduate education was exclusively clinical and lacked "how to teach" content). One of the faculty activities where senior faculty often help junior faculty the most is with developing fair and effective examinations. Building fair and effective exams is NOT easy!
3. Nursing schools have been pushed to increase enrollment to adapt to the coming demographic nursing manpower crisis. This demographic crisis existed LONG before this pandemic. The boomers are retiring and becoming patients... and the number of new nurses has been insufficient for a long time. The result of this increased enrollment is that students who previously could not compete effectively for admission are now in nursing school. In the last few years, my peers and I have been shocked to discover how many students lack fundamental learning skills necessary for success in school. The most glaring example is the MANY students whose reading skills are weak. If you are interested in reading more about this reading issue... see this article about the SATIN project.
Donnell, W. M., Walker, G. C., & Miller, G. (2018). Statewide At-Risk Tracking and Intervention for Nurses: Identifying and Intervening With Nursing Students at Risk of Attrition in Texas. Nursing Education Perspectives, 39(3), 145–150.
There are likely other contributing causes too. While any ONE of the three that I have listed could create a difficult situation... the combination of all three can result in REALLY, REALLY poor student performance.
. I asked it this was normal for the fail rate to be so high all around and they said absolutely not.
Just this year or a continual slide?
2 hours ago, StudentGamerAthlete said:
And then another Nurse told me in her school only 9/55 passed and they were seeking out a lawyer.
another Nurse told me in her school
a school cannot to continue to exist with these stats. A community college will not get further funding as a school that is not a benefit of the community's health care.
Thank you for answering my questions. it seems (because of your statements, it may be time to move on from your initial program).
Did you resend it (as I advised) via the USPS mail? You have no proof when it was received/ read although you sent it. Send it again via a Registered Letter and your will have proof when it is received.
The last college I worked for had a 'student success plan' that required we meet with any student who failed an exam and what their plans were for doing better and writing out that plan. On the most part, students came after the email but there were a couple who never showed up. One student came the after the 6th exam with a personal invitation when I requested she attend a session (remediation-- although you can't use those words) on pharmacology and dosage and calculations. She showed up but did not do anything I recommended. (worksheets which I gave her)
I put post-it notes on her desk to contact me for further test failures (there were several) at the end of class but she was the fastest at getting out of the door. Our classroom was very small and hard to exit if you were at the front.
Finally I went to another campus ( where I wasn't teaching) to meet her at another class for a discussion and deliver her homework that was subpar. . At break I went to her and said 'you have to meet with me'. After class she said 'I don't check my test grades or my grades on line.' I replied 'well that is too bad since you are failing at this point.' (BTW her written work for the pharmacology course I taught was missing a lot of required elements) I worked with her for an hour showing what she needed to pass the course. The next day she went into the Associate Dean's office to say she had never been alerted by me for her grades. The Dean sided with her until she found the paperwork.
Sad..she had the ability but just though she could skate through a program. Her final exam did not save her.
I retired at the end of this semester because I couldn't stand (in my 40 plus years of teaching) to chase after students who couldn't care less to open the college internet program to see their grades and most of all, an Associate Dean (who had never taught) believing I should chase after students who actively avoided facing the reality of their grades.
Did you resend it (as I advised) via the USPS mail? You have no proof when it was received/ read although you sent it. Send it again via a Registered Letter and your will have proof when it is received.
It was first sent to the Dean via email and he reconnected me to the board of nursing department, and CC’d the chairperson. I then resent my letter with all students attached to the chairperson. Therefor the date is there. Would I really need to go through the trouble of sending it usps?
It was first sent to the Dean via email and he reconnected me to the board of nursing department, and CC’d the chairperson. I then resent my letter with all students attached to the chairperson. Therefor the date is there. Would I really need to go through the trouble of sending it usps?
So you had a reply and they acknowledge they received it, that is great...the wheels are in motion.
Did you resend it (as I advised) via the USPS mail? You have no proof when it was received/ read although you sent it. Send it again via a Registered Letter and your will have proof when it is received.
It was first sent to the Dean via email and he reconnected me to the board of nursing department, and CC’d the chairperson. I then resent my letter with all students attached to the chairperson. Therefor the date is there. Would I really need to go through the trouble of sending it usps?
Yes; unless you requested and received delivery and read notification when you sent your email. And if you do send it, it should be sent certified with return receipt as this provides you confirmation of who signed for it, and when.
The last college I worked for had a 'student success plan' that required we meet with any student who failed an exam and what their plans were for doing better and writing out that plan. On the most part, students came after the email but there were a couple who never showed up. One student came the after the 6th exam with a personal invitation when I requested she attend a session (remediation-- although you can't use those words) on pharmacology and dosage and calculations. She showed up but did not do anything I recommended. (worksheets which I gave her)
I put post-it notes on her desk to contact me for further test failures (there were several) at the end of class but she was the fastest at getting out of the door. Our classroom was very small and hard to exit if you were at the front.
Finally I went to another campus ( where I wasn't teaching) to meet her at another class for a discussion and deliver her homework that was subpar. . At break I went to her and said 'you have to meet with me'. After class she said 'I don't check my test grades or my grades on line.' I replied 'well that is too bad since you are failing at this point.' (BTW her written work for the pharmacology course I taught was missing a lot of required elements) I worked with her for an hour showing what she needed to pass the course. The next day she went into the Associate Dean's office to say she had never been alerted by me for her grades. The Dean sided with her until she found the paperwork.
Sad..she had the ability but just though she could skate through a program. Her final exam did not save her.
I retired at the end of this semester because I couldn't stand (in my 40 plus years of teaching) to chase after students who couldn't care less to open the college internet program to see their grades and most of all, an Associate Dean (who had never taught) believing I should chase after students who actively avoided facing the reality of their grades.
I really wish this were the case for me where my professor came after me. I approached her after exam 2 asking what more can I do to succeed and her advice was “you need to connect the dots”. At that point I just figured I didn’t have the skill to think the way she wanted us to - nor were we provided with any practice material to prepare us for that type of thinking. Even the mandatory software (Evolve) didn’t help. Hell I wish YOU were my professor. I’m a disciplined 36 y/o adult who is serious about his success. I’ve trained years in martial arts if that tells you anything about my drive. I’m not a kid. So I don’t really know what else to say other than to vent here (thanks for listening).
londonflo
3,002 Posts
I agree, every student should have their opinions respected.
But the opinion needs to be voiced as the problems occur. Not after the failing grade is given. Difficulty with an instructor's teaching style cannot be rectified when the course is over.
Words of advice:
If you cannot understand the professor, find the pertinent readings, understand what is expected in clinical, make an appointment with the professor right away. If you don't feel your concerns are heard/respected go to the Dean. Also, seek out nursing college tutors (if your school has them). Do everything that shows YOU are seeking out support.
Sun1: I wish you a better semester and more assistance with your course work from the professors and (if any) nursing tutors.