denied BSN degree

[mary422]

I am wondering if anyone has advice for me. My daughter's final grade in Acute Care was 72.5 when she needed a 75 to pass the course. She did extremely well in her clinical and was told by her clinical instructor that she would make a great nurse. We met with her professor and were told that she would not allow her to make up the 2 1/2 points by writing a paper or case study since she only grades on the four quizzes and mid-term and final exam. The dean of nursing advised us she would adhere to the professor's decisions since it was their policy that a BSN student be allowed to repeat only one course during the four year program. My daughter had failed Pharmacology by one point in her Souphmore year (took it over that summer and got a B) and that their policy states that BSN students cannot fail more than one course during the four years. Her GPA for the four years is 2.90. We are writing an appeal of the grade since the professor did curve one of the quizzes and the mid-term but will not curve the final. We're not holding out much hope. If they stick to their policy, this means that after spending over $120,000 my daughter will not get her BSN degree and was advised that she could take two courses in the Spring semester and get a degree in Health Sciences instead of her BSN. Our only other choice is to transfer to another college and start all over again, retaking all her nursing courses since these courses don't transfer! Any advice or hope from anyone?

[happynewLPN]

Mary, I'm so sorry about this. I wish I could help, but I just wanted to say that I applaud your standing by your daughter through this. It's great that you are there for her. I hope the appeal ends in a positive manner.

Can they also apply other things besides academics into the decision-making process? Did she do any extracurricular activities that would help the cause (volunteering, etc)? I just think it's a little ridiculous that they won't look at the BIG picture before making such an important decision.

Good luck and keep us posted,

Lisa

[ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN]

I''m sorry you're going through this, however as devil's advocate here, not trying to be mean, BUT the grading policies were clearly stated when your daughter started this program, after she had to retake pharmacology she knew that was her one time to mess up, not to mention the 75% pass grade is quite lenient, I'm in a small CC and we must maintain a minimum grade of 80%, several higher degree programs around us reguire a B average as well BUT their B is 86-93% which sets the bar even higher, hopefully your daughter can transfer most of her gen ed credits, however either the material isn't sticking or she hasn't applied herself to best of her abilities, whichever one it is she needs to figure it out and make it right so that this doesn't happen again should she re-enter this program or another program, as for the curving, we had several science instructors that would curve grades, a student went through an appeal process similar to yours and now they are no longer allowed to curve, if they want to drop a question, they drop it across the board which might make some grades go down rather than up,

[MiaKeaRN]

Most colleges (or any school for that matter) will state the grading guidelines for pass/fail in their course material. Although I don't agree with a lot of the things that my school does, I have to admit that they make it very clear from the day we register for classes and orientation, that they will not bend these rules. We had a few people in my class this past semester who were within a half of point and did not pass.

It's a very heartbreaking situation and I wish your daughter well, no matter what the school decides to do. I can only imagine the stress this is putting you under.

[NaomieRN]

I am sorry to hear what your daughter is going through. The college I am attending is the same way. You can only repeat one nursing course and you are gone. The passing grade at my school is an 80. Please keep us posted to the college final decision since you are planning to appeal. Good luck!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

i think the title of the post is disengenuous/...she is not being denied the degree....she did nt earn it.....the fact that you are here posting and not her....has me concerned that you are too close and involved....she needs to take responsibility for herself and her goals...is this her goal or yours? perhaps she doesnt want to be a nurse? may she find something that she wants enough to put the work into, to achieve....

[llg, PhD, RN]

Assuming that your daughter is not successful in her attempts to get the school to change her grade ... and IF her heart is set on a nursing career ...

Her "best" pathway might be to get an Associate's Degree at local community college. She would probably only have to take the bare minimum required courses as most of her other credits should transfer. Once she has her ADN, she would probably be able to enter a BSN completion program -- again with a lot of her previous credits transferring successfully, leaving her the minimum number of courses to repeat.

As for working with the school ... I used to sit on a student appeals committee and make judgements about cases such as your daughters. We were much more likely to grant someone "another chance to demonstrate their abilities" than we were to change a grade or system of scoring. Go through the school's established grievance procedure and focus on asking them for a chance to repeat the course rather than change the grade she received the first time. They might be more amenable to that. That would cause a major delay in her graduation, but she could probably use the time to mature and further develop her knowledge and skills.

Also, SHE needs to take the lead on the process -- not you. If she wants to be seen as a competent professional, she needs to take responsibility for her mistakes and step up to the plate to correct them. Mommy and Daddy have to stay in the background. After all, she is asking that she be entrusted with other people's lives -- a huge responsibility she will have to bear all by herself. Mommy and Daddy won't be there taking that responsibility for the patients -- it will be her and her alone.

One last thing ... another poster was right. You need to stop thinking (and talking) as if she has been "denied a BSN" that she should be given. In reality, your daughter "failed to earn" a BSN by failing to meet the standards of 2 separate courses presumably taught by 2 different professors. There's a big difference there and her/your language reflects an attitude that will not help her/your case.

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi,

I have to agree that lobbying to let her take the course over would be more likely to result in success than fighting to have her grade changed. Its been my experience that nursing schools are very up front about their grading policies. They simply do not offer extra credit or grant special circumstances. Its all about passing the tests. I know quite a few students that did well in clinicals but weren't successful because of their exam grades.

Don't discount looking at other schools because its possible they would take many of her credits if she really wants to be a nurse. I do understand your concern as her Mom but also think if she is adult enough to become a nurse she needs to advocate for herself and take responsibility of her education. Good luck to her.

[Italia13 RN]

My school is the same way. You can fail only 1 course and if you fail another one then you are out of the program and have to appeal in front of the board and more than likely they dont let you back into that school which sucks because the schools around me none of the nursing classes you take at the one school will transfer, only the pre reqs will. Not to be mean and I know this is def a rough time of her life right now but the passing grade was a 75, its not like she got a 74.4 she got a 72.5, 2 points is alot, and if they bend the rules for her they will have to bend them for everyone, there has to be a cut off somewhere otherwise people wouldnt care about nursing school knowing the school will let them slide. I think if she wants to be a nurse that bad she will take this with a grain of salt and keep moving towards her goal. Nursing school is very stressful, and I feel only the strong survive. But good luck with everything and if a nurse is really what she wants to be then tell her to never give up! Good Luck!

[User123456]

Your daughter should be a big girl and fight this battle on her own. and you need to let her. its great to be supportive but she needs to do this on her own. shes the one taking care of patients not you. maybe this will give her the ambition to work harder with her next opportunity insted of maybe taking the easy road hopig mommy will make it better if she fails. she knew she had to work harder to pass yet she didnt. she failed to get the degree no one is denyed it. its kind of rude to think you can bully the standards to accommidate your daughter. I missed getting a b this past semester by 1.5 points but no-ones bending rules for me or anyone else. the standards are set for a reason. Sorry if this post seemed harsh but you cant fix everything and your daughter needs to think for herself and fix her own mistakes esp. if shes going to be a nurse. so let her start now.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

My school is the same way. Our passing is a 76 and you can fail one course and that is it, no second chances. That is nursing school and it is like that for a reason, and I agree with the schools standards. Unfortunately not everyone who wants to be an RN or an MD is going to make it.

Your daughter should have taken a more proactive approach to her education and made sure that she didn't fail that class---all this was in her power. I have children myself and I know the pain to see your children not live up to their potential, but it's really on her at this point.

She wasn't denied a degree, she simply didn't earn it. It doesn't matter how much you pay, a degree has to be earned, it isn't bought.

[TazziRN, RN]

I'm sorry for the heartbreak your daughter is going through, but the bottom line is that she failed to successfully pass her courses as laid out in the policy. If it's true that some tests were graded on a curve by the same instructor, then maybe your daughter has legitimate argument on her hands, BUT IT'S HER ARGUMENT TO MAKE, NOT YOURS!

I agree with the others that your daughter was not denied a degree, she simply hasn't earned it.