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.
On 1/6/2022 at 12:28 PM, StudentGamerAthlete said:
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?
The schools have to comply with the Board of Education's requirements and standards. Unfortunately, those students failed to meet them. And the schools can't stay open if they produce "mediocre," students. As a student, which I am, I do my best to study and learn. If I don't understand the materials, I learn them. If I still struggle, I ask my teachers. In general, I don't wait for my teachers to teach me. I read ahead of time.
If they are complying....they should be able to make changes, so that things are objectively and rationally looked into.
Well, there are some classes that are problematic - due to the teaching style. About 6-7 classes for sure. Unfortunately, it is the teacher's mood that heavily play's into how a class will be taught.
Well, there are some classes that are problematic - due to the teaching style. About 6-7 classes for sure. Unfortunately, it is the teacher's mood that heavily play's into how a class will be taught.
Others seem somewhat OK to some degree....
Sorry to hear that. I hope that you do have a good case. For "moodiness," if you think that your professor was worse, wait until you become a nurse.
19 hours ago, Sun1 said:
Well, there are some classes that are problematic - due to the teaching style. About 6-7 classes for sure. Unfortunately, it is the teacher's mood that heavily play's into how a class will be taught.
Sorry to hear that. I hope that you do have a good case. For "moodiness," if you think that your professor was worse, wait until you become a nurse.
Absolutely nobody got As and Bs?
A small tiny percentage - dependent on the class from what I have learn't. Majority would be get b or b+. Because say you 1 class 35 / 50 questions (topics) are covered in the class. The rest 15 is you don't know how to answer it? So if you get say 32 questions right, the rest is like a poker game. Then they curve a bit and just will try to pass you.
Another class 2.....it seems as if they are using a recycled course. Now, if I want to get an understanding why some of these questions may have multiple answers. The teacher will try to avoid you and say you are doing OK. Don't worry about it. I would like to get properly graded for my efforts, and if there are questions that have multiple answers please do firstly, try to explain why your answer is the only possible answer, and then I can tell you why I thought something else was a possible answer also (if your keyed in question is right). No you are bullying me and runs off to the higher up in the administration to complain about me and they call my behavior as being uncivilized, and a bully.
So lost as to what I can, should do?
What chances will I have to go through a review process higher up....if they are already acting so immaturely. These teachers just don't seem to care. And they award themselves with plaques of excellence in teaching.
The rest 15 is you don't know how to answer it? So if you get say 32 questions right, the rest is like a poker game.
If those questions are covered in the chapters in the class, they can ask questions. I too have been having these questions where I'd pause and reread. Sometimes, I covered the questions and dissect each choice.
I was curious if you received a college degree or some college degrees in the past.
If those questions are covered in the chapters in the class, they can ask questions. I too have been having these questions where I'd pause and reread. Sometimes, I covered the questions and dissect each choice.
I was curious if you received a college degree or some college degrees in the past.
Unfortunately, neither chapter readings or any supplemental material did not cover them in any adequate manner, hence more than 50% of the class would miss it many times. The curve was still not good enough to get a good grade, just pass with a B or B+....this is for one of the classes. Now, how does one learn the topic if it is not going to be covered and then answer a question related to it.
Unfortunately, neither chapter readings or any supplemental material did not cover them in any adequate manner, hence more than 50% of the class would miss it many times. The curve was still not good enough to get a good grade, just pass with a B or B+....this is for one of the classes. Now, how does one learn the topic if it is not going to be covered and then answer a question related to it.
I do have a previous bachelors degree.
Definitely jealous of you guys having a curve.. Our scores are firm and there is no rounding.
We need a 76 overall average on the exams to pass the class. If you ended up with a 75.999999, you still fail.
Unfortunately, neither chapter readings or any supplemental material did not cover them in any adequate manner, hence more than 50% of the class would miss it many times. The curve was still not good enough to get a good grade, just pass with a B or B+....this is for one of the classes. Now, how does one learn the topic if it is not going to be covered and then answer a question related to it.
I do have a previous bachelors degree.
In some nursing schools, below 92%, 93%, or 94% is a B. This grading system is not unconventional. It has been practiced in non-nursing majors and nursing majors. However, I noticed that some questions aren't black and white. I think they're gauging our aptitude to think and apply our knowledge.
1 hour ago, FiremedicMike said:
Definitely jealous of you guys having a curve.. Our scores are firm and there is no rounding.
We need a 76 overall average on the exams to pass the class. If you ended up with a 75.999999, you still fail.
In some nursing schools, below 92%, 93%, or 94% is a B.
At the last CC I taught, this was a bone of contention for some of us. Our nursing students were not getting our community college scholarships based on GPA because they did not have a GPA that was equal or higher than those students in other disciplines.
Our nursing BON would not okay our 'C' level to go down to 70% as in other majors (the BON thought that would lean towards more students failing NCLEX). But we managed to get the 'A' lowered to 91% with a lot of discussion (faculty were split on this). Small achievement but still some grade movement.
londonflo
3,002 Posts
Did they get your email OP?