Escalate to Dean ?

[Theone40]

Need some advice…I'll try and keep this short. My school requires 100% of dosage test to enter 4^th semester, you get 2 chances. The first test was given three weeks prior to 3rd semester ended. I did not pass the first attempt by 3. For the second attempt I became sick and had a fever, but still went to take the test. I missed one question; my mind was in such a fog that I misread a roman numeral. I met with the chair and she explained that it is policy that after the second attempt you have to sit out the semester. I did not fight and accepted the fact that this is policy and producer and I screwed up.

Later on in the week I took the student handbook out and decided to look up the policy. The policy states Students entering 4^th semester will take the first dosage calculation test at the end of the previous semester. There will be an exam for med/surg and one for pediatrics. The passing scores are 100%. In the case of failure(less than 100%) the student will be given an opportunity to review the exam, remediate and take exam #2 no later than the first week of the new semester.

Ok my argument is that they did not follow their own procedure of giving us the exam at the end of the semester, which would have given us time to study. Our student rep asked for us to take it after the semester had ended per policy and they said no. (all the other semesters got to take the 1st test after the semester was over)

Also policy states that Students in the RN program must pass a dosage calculation medication administration test every semester. (see course syllabus for date ).

We were never given the syllabus for 4^th semester, the instructor just emailed us and told us the day of the test.

The final reason I believe I should be fighting to take the test over again is that about 3 semester's ago a student was allowed to take the test for a 3^rd time. This student was a favorite of theirs. I spoke with this student who told me how they worked with him to work around the policy and have him take it again. This to me was and is not fair.

Today I met with the department chair again and brought up above mentioned points. She still did not budge so I asked to escalate to the Dean. Should I keep going or just give up?

[mrsboots87]

You should just stop before you paint a target on your back. You failed. Study up to pass next time and move on. What happened with another student does not pertain to you so you shouldn't try comparing yourself to them. The "end" of the semester does not necessarily mean it has to be after the semester was over. Just at the end. Since a regular semester is 16 weeks long, the 3rd to last week is the end to me. Also, did the majority of the class fail the first time around? Was there any new math taught at the end of the semester that would have helped? If the answer to either of those questions is no, then you have no reason to complain and no leg to stand on. You failed by 3. Not 1 but 3. You weren't ready for it. You were then able to study and prepare for the exam at the beginning of the next semester and failed again. If you were so sick and foggy, you should have notified the instructor and made it up in the net day or two. You chose to go in foggy. Had you gone into work and messed up math because you were too sick to focus, you could kill somebody. Is that drastic? Yes. But its the reason that 100% is required in few tries.

The only way this would work out for you is if almost everyone failed the first attempt because there were some questions on the first test that had not been taught yet. Another way would be if a question was ambiguous and shown to be a bad question. But to have failed twice and attempt to get readmitted because of a vague policy is not a good enough reason to get a third test. And bringing up the other student will either get them in trouble for discussing an exception made for them for whatever reason. You don't know that students back story. She could have an ADA accommodation that wasn't met for one of the tests or a death in the family or some other reason for why a 3rd attempt was granted. And none of that others students reason for getting another attempt pertain to you.

[johsonmichelle]

Your case is baseless since you agreed to their terms and conditions. You failed a test that you had the capability of passing, just sit out the semester and come back prepared when readmitted. Playing the blame game will only hurt yourself in the long run.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

I'm really sorry you have to sit out. I know that it must be so frustrating to put off graduation.

That said, I don't think you should escalate this to the dean. I guarantee there is wording in their policy that they can change things as they like or need to better fit the curriculum. And even if they didn't follow policy, it doesn't change the fact that you failed the test twice. Don't look for something to blame. Just take this time to figure out what your weakness was and correct it.

Good luck!

[FlyingScot, RN]

Is this the hill you want to die on?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Didn't get a syllabus for a med math test? Do you think it's different from semester to semester? Newsflash: No.​