Faculty providing questions and answers to med math test

[Theresasnakeinmyboot]

Does this seem like an ethical dilemma to you?

Nursing school faculty providing the exact questions and answers for med math tests in review sessions held days before the test.

I am thinking these tests are designed to assess students' ability to perform calculations, thereby reducing the potential for medication errors. Providing the test questions and answers before hand defeats this purpose and is a patient safety risk.

Are these tests not as important as I'm making them out to be?

[caliotter3]

Fail the wrong med calculations test at the wrong school and you will find yourself out of school. I would treat the tests as important whether or not the faculty goes over the test beforehand.

[Theresasnakeinmyboot]

Thanks for the response. I think my last statement gave you the wrong impression of what my question was about.

I am more concerned about this being an ethical concern as it relates to patient safety.

Do you think that the faculty actions are ethical or are they perhaps indirectly exposing patients to extra risk by failing to accurately assess a students med math ability.

[caliotter3]

I do not think that they should state any dire circumstances for not passing (like many schools have in place) as long as they are going to teach to the test. It should just be another test. Yes, I do think there is an ethical problem if they don't follow through as they should. At some point in the program, the student should be expected to show competence in this area or they should be failed. Just like with other competencies and knowledge. Students are to be assessed along the way. I have seen the result of passing along at least one incompetent person. The patient did not fare well and the patient's family was not happy when forced to receive services from someone unable to do the job.

[dianah, ASN]

Moved to General Student area