Evaluations

Cali2015 · Oct 20, 2014

We did skills labs in our first and second semesters where we were graded and had to pass or not be able to continue in school. Then in our last semester we had a skills lab for putting in an airway, administering blood products, trauma triage, and IV starts but we were not graded on those labs. We also had a lab available for us to practice anything we felt we were weak in.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 20, 2014

We must pass our skill lab evaluations or we fail the entire course. Even if you have an A average on all your other coursework, failing skills lab (or any other pass/fail evaluation) knocks you out of the course. You are given the chance of repeating the class the next semester, if there are open seats available. Some students have had to wait 2 semesters to get back in to repeat the course because no seats were open in the classes behind them.

We did have a student who failed skills in fundamentals, repeated fundamentals and then subsequently failed skills in Med Surg. This student was eliminated from the program after failing twice in skills. Makes us all stay on our toes when it's time for evals, that's for sure!!!

Jenngirl34RN · Oct 20, 2014

We have to pass every skill. If we pass on the first try we get 2 points, second try 1 point, and all subsequent tries 0 points, but every single skill has to be passed. We also have a "final" where we have to be able to perform any skills that come up in a sim-lab scenario. Skills lab is a pass/fail course worth 3 credits and 80% is passing.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Oct 20, 2014

We get three attempts at each skill. If you fail a skill the first time then you can't get an A, if you fail it the second time, then it is not possible to get a B. If you fail the third you fail the semester. Once we are checked off on these skills then we are allowed to perform them in clinical. I have only had a second attempt twice. All of the rest I passed on first attempt. We do have one guy who is on his last leg in the program already. I have a feeling he won't be around in a couple of weeks.

I think that if you can't give a bed bath properly then there is a fundamental issue there. Checking off on PO meds is an important skill to know. If you can't do that, then you shouldn't be passing meds in clinicals. I like our check off system.

KStudentNurse70 · Oct 20, 2014

We have to pass every skill. If we pass on the first try we get 2 points, second try 1 point, and all subsequent tries 0 points, but every single skill has to be passed. We also have a "final" where we have to be able to perform any skills that come up in a sim-lab scenario. Skills lab is a pass/fail course worth 3 credits and 80% is passing.

Omg yours sounds just like mine, the whole nursing program is a point system first try 2 points, second try 1 point, and 3rd and final try u have to have a one on one practice session and sign a contract stating if you fail you are kicked out of the entire program, then you have to be able to perform them in clinical and if you are unsuccessful they send you back to the evaluation lab

KStudentNurse70 · Oct 20, 2014

We get three attempts at each skill. If you fail a skill the first time then you can't get an A, if you fail it the second time, then it is not possible to get a B. If you fail the third you fail the semester. Once we are checked off on these skills then we are allowed to perform them in clinical. I have only had a second attempt twice. All of the rest I passed on first attempt. We do have one guy who is on his last leg in the program already. I have a feeling he won't be around in a couple of weeks.
I think that if you can't give a bed bath properly then there is a fundamental issue there. Checking off on PO meds is an important skill to know. If you can't do that, then you shouldn't be passing meds in clinicals. I like our check off system.

Yes same as my program!! We just did ng meds/Feeds. I'm at nccc in sanborn

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 20, 2014

Wow, you guys are lucky! We get one chance to pass. If you don't pass, you have to remediate and you're placed on clinical probation. Then you re-evaluate with the lead instructor (instead of lab instructor). If you don't pass the second time, it's a failure and you're out for the remainder of the semester. We get no grade, just pass/fail. It's nerve wracking!!!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 20, 2014

There were some skills stations that we had to pass in order to progress through to the next semester but that was mostly in the 1st semester. After that, we usually had skills check-offs and we'd have to pass a lab session on any skills we hadn't managed to get checked off during the semester. Those check offs had to be done with an instructor present. I believe we had to do one supervised med-pass with an instructor at the beginning of 2nd and 3rd semesters to make sure that we were doing the rights and checks, and once we were checked off, we could do that on our own. Anything going in the IV had to be observed by an RN or the instructor. After the 1st semester, the check offs weren't all that nerve-wracking because we basically had all semester to get them all done and we did a few lab days anyway so sometimes we could end up getting checked off on a particular skill that way. I don't think we've had anyone fail out for a "skills" reason in quite a while.

RunBabyRN · Oct 20, 2014

I think most programs require something along these lines. Ours were pass/fail, but they were pretty lenient about it in skills lab. It was more about being checked off in clinicals that was more stringent, and we couldn't do ANYTHING without having been checked off in clinicals.