Anyone ever been in this situation

Nursing Students NP Students

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It pains me to even write that I am in this situation at all, but the LAST semester before our practicum I find myself needing to make an 85 on my final to pass my peds class. I am sooooooooo nervous. It sickens me that I was 3 points away from not having to take this test (if we were satisfied with our test scores we could exempt). I knew attending this school which labels a "B" as being a 83-90 was going to bite me in the butt. Test avg was 81. I'm studying everyday but the teacher is so unpredictable with her test. I studied my butt off for the last one learning foundational concepts thinking this would help me on the test. Well turns out if I had just listened to her lectures instead of buying a $90 review book for PNP (I'm going for FNP) then I would've gotten those little 3 pts I needed. I'm trying to look past that and do good on this test. She's surprisingly giving a study guide for this final, but sometimes those really are no help for her test. I take full responsibility for my part in this mess. I was the same way in nursing school, the closer it got to the end the more burnt out and "over it" I got. I've been listening to lectures EVERYDAY, taking notes upon notes. I've never studied for a test so hard in my life. Her last final (in Adult 2) I thought I had straight bombed and made a 90 (still a B grrrr). That was probably the most nerve wrecking test in my life and I had only needed to make a 70 on it. But, alas, let me stop the debbie downer party. If anyone has ever been in this situation please offer advice. I think knowing that if I don't make this grade that I won't graduate has me more torn up inside than anything. My classmates are no help, most are like "you know you are going to ace that final" and just blow me off. Even one of my overhouse supervisors (who is in the cohort behind me) said the same thing when I questioned him. They don't realize that there is no GUARANTEE that I will blow this out of the water. I've prayed and I'm studying. Is there anything else I could do or any study strategies anybody knows that might help. I've decided to relisten to lectures and re-look at the self-study material. Don't think the book will help much seeing as she lectured almost verbatim from the review book I purchased (which led me to the purchase). This is the 5th semester of my 6 semester full time program which has been pure HELL. I hate to think I wasted the last 18 months of my life just to have to retake this course and graduate a year late. I don't think I would even attempt to finish this degree up if I don't graduate this May. Its been just that STRESSFUL.

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I think you will be best off getting a good night's sleep and relaxing. An 85 sounds very do-able given your past history with this class, and it seems even the professor has realized that the class should have a higher average. If you fail, whatever dude. You did not waste the last 18 months of your life or any part of your life. If you have to retake the class, then you will. You wouldn't be the only person. The school does not want that to happen, I am sure that things will work out.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Just as a side note, your school's grading policy sounds bizarre. What a wide range. I C&P'd the grading scale from my old electronic handbook, just for comparison.

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD]A 95 - 100

A- 92 - 94

B+ 89 – 91

B 86 - 88

B- 83 – 85

C+ 80 – 82

C 76 - 79

C- 73 - 75

D 70 - 72

F 69 and below

[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

In any event, if you don't make your desired score, my recommendation is to take the course someplace else and transfer it in rather than wait a year. Good luck!

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Specializes in Acute care pediatrics, mother/Baby.

How did it go? Well I hope.

My school has a similar grade policy A = 94 and up, B = 85-93, C=77-84, anything lower is fail--there are no A-, B+ etc. Also we're required to maintain a 3.0 and only allowed 2 Cs throughout the program. It's nerve wracking to think about!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
How did it go? Well I hope. My school has a similar grade policy A = 94 and up B = 85-93, C=77-84, anything lower is fail--there are no A-, B+ etc. Also we're required to maintain a 3.0 and only allowed 2 Cs throughout the program. It's nerve wracking to think about![/quote']

My school had a similar set up but we aren't allowed anything below an 84 in our core classes and 83 in supporting classes. So once really into the program...an 83 is a fail. Ouch.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

I'm with the others here. I'd LOVE for my program to give me a B for an 83-90. Instead, it's 85-92 is a B, and 93+ is an A. 77-84 is a C, but we can only get two C's in the whole program.

I think we'll all agree with you that your situation is stressful. But, as you can see from our grading scales, it could be a LOT worse. ;)

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Specializes in Trauma 4yr Flight 8mn.

Only two c allowed. Anything under 84 is a c

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Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

If I were you I would not worry about the score you receive (A, B, C) etc. As long as you retain the info and pass the class. Dont fixate on the 85% you need. You will get it! Just be positive and try not to overwhelm yourself. Let us know how you did :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

Damn I'm seeing a few are allowed to have a C or 2. My program...a C is a fail. Period. Always.

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for someone who always believed that anything below 80 is a C, this comes to a shock for me...

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Just finished my pre req's today!! My school is like some of the others we need a b- (83)!or better to move on. Your allowed one retake and if you fail again your gone.

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*****UPDATE******

Well I ended up making a 90 on the final ("B" yet again lol) which brought my overall grade to an 85. I'm glad to see we aren't the only school with a skewed grading scale. Many of the people I know attending other programs have the traditional grading scale. We are only allowed two Cs in the program as well. In a core class we can make a C and move on but in a clinical class a C is failing. I was so excited to receive my score today even though the professor waited a whole 12 hours before releasing it. Needless to say it was the most nerve-wrecking 12 hours of my life. The test was fair and the majority of the questions were straight from her notes. She made the comment that I must like the pressure (LOL). But now on to my last semester which encompasses our practicum and "mock" state board test which generally everyone does great at. So hopefully my next post will be graduation in May 2014. Thanks for the words of encouragement guys!!!!!

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