Asking this question for a family member. I used to be a nurse, no longer working as a nurse but is still in health care so I am very unfamiliar with the current process. My family member just found out he failed the clinical portion of nursing school. I remember back then, I really did not learn much from nursing school clinically. I learned a bit from my externship and the majority on the job. With this COVID pandemic, classes including clinical experience are converted to online. How is it possible for the school to fail someone who never sees a patient, receives the 1:1 preceptorship with a nurse, and learns the nursing skill?
What exactly did your family member state the reason was for his failure of the course? Clinicals, whether online or in-person, will typically have a Midterm Evaluation and a Final Evaluation. It's quite possible he was given items which needed to be corrected after the Midterm Eval and he didn't do it.
Also if he failed Clinical, many schools will not pass you or give you credit for taking the actual lecture portion of the class also. He more than likely will have to repeat both lecture and lab again.
And there definitely is a way to fail an online clinical. Perhaps he did all his assignments but didn't get the minimum score required? That's one way a student can fail.
My family member just found out he failed the clinical portion of nursing school.
My reply is given in a constructive manner to help you and your family member negotiate this difficult decision re. his nursing education path right now. I hope you receive it in which the spirit it is given.
First of all, I do want to recognize that this is, I am sure, a big disappointment to your family member, in a year that is already full of disappointments and missed opportunities. Providing that clarity to the nursing student may help them recognize their feelings of sadness and dispiritedness are real. Also, it may help you recognize the disgruntlement you have at the whole institution of nursing education. Doesn't minimizing what the clinical activities were, in effect, say he failed nothing worthwhile? In other words, he couldn't even pass virtual exercises.
18 hours ago, candicenguyen said:
Even medical school is not doing something as stupid and non-sense like this.
You have been in healthcare long enough to recognize that medical students get first preference in all clinical experiences. When hospital education liasons had to identify how clinical practicums would be handled in the age of Covid (-at first with supply questions of PPE and then an overwhelming of the hospital resources-) nursing student clinicals were put on hold. Perhaps your medical school clinics continued.
Schools of nursing had to make some decisions - should the school close or just offer lectures or try to do some semblance of concurrent clinical education with the lectures. Most schools chose the latter. It was in this environment you family member began nursing school. No one is saying it is the best -- but it was the best possible. Some schools did it better than others as in all things education.
On 12/16/2020 at 10:09 PM, candicenguyen said:
I remember back then, I really did not learn much from nursing school clinically. I learned a bit from my externship and the majority on the job.
What you did and didn't learn is irrelevant. But since you are changing roles in health care, you must desire a different position and education.
On 12/16/2020 at 10:09 PM, candicenguyen said:
TIA for any advice we can appeal to this result.
The appeal process would be outlined in the school's materials. It surely is time limited so any action/notice/letter needs to be attended to now. After that collect the information on performance that was provided throughout the semester. Have the student gather all materials that were graded or commented on, including emails. If a midterm evaluation was issued, what was written, said or encouraged for the student's improvement? Did the student receive any weekly feedback in writing? Follow the school's appeal process to its conclusion and provide well intentioned support and encouragement for the student's next step in nursing education.
Yes, it is quite possible that there was a gross miscarriage in the way the family member was treated and that, in fact, they should have passed the course. Those things do happen, although rarely. Even if that were the case, they still face the necessary steps to move forward with the appeal process and/or finding another school to complete. We can only be hopeful that they are successful. Best to focus on moving forward instead of lamenting on the failings of the school. Best wishes.
We have virtual clinical. some reasons students can fail clinical...not being in class and responding when called on (many students work but not in clinical. A students not completing the virtual case(s), most virtual clinical experiences allow the instructor to review student progress (how long did the student take, were all sections completed, etc.). Not doing the assigned assignments, papers, reports, and of course nursing care plans. I still do midterm evaluation and then it is up to the student to either make the necessary changes or agree to failure as the course competencies were not met.
Nursing school online is difficult for many students. Hospitals in my area do not yet allow nursing students back. Then again, covid is not suitable to a human. Erring on the side of caution on either of these issues necessitates a change in the "usual". I tell my students, while virtual clinical is not the best, getting covid is definitely worst.
Possibly a meet for the student and (a trusted friend, family member, or other faculty member) with the instructor would give the information needed, as well as specifics to why the student failed. I suggest student not meet with instructor alone, as there may not be a complete memory of what was said. Then there always a grievance process to challenge grades.
My point is I learned nothing as in person. I can’t imagine anyone will learn much virtually let alone fail it. If a student sleep in, then yes he/she deserves to fail. But this are two different things. Let be honest: in person learning is not the same as virtual especially when you try to learn clinical skill. How do they fail a student based on clinical portion if they never get one especially even as in person, the quality is already questionable?
If you truly learned nothing, either the university you attended was inept, or the teachers were incompetent, or you did not have the receptiveness to learn. I suspect the latter. Quite unsurprising that you are no longer a nurse.
If you truly learned nothing, either the university you attended was inept, or the teachers were incompetent, or you did not have the receptiveness to learn. I suspect the latter. Quite unsurprising that you are no longer a nurse.
Lmao...I was a ICU nurse before I decided to go back to medical school to become a surgeon.
Let's get passed your experience and judgement of nursing education.
On 12/17/2020 at 7:31 PM, candicenguyen said:
His nursing school pass rate is not that great...so I am pretty sure he is not the only one.
What's done is done. Have you made any inroads on the appeal or discussed further options for your relative? Nursing school is hard enough (my opinion -- maybe not yours) without a strong supporter.Please be that support. You will both benefit from it.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
On 12/17/2020 at 7:31 PM, candicenguyen said:
I graduated from nursing school in 2011...about to finish medical school. His nursing school pass rate is not that great...so I am pretty sure he is not the only one. Nursing school clinical is very mediocre in my opinion...and I went to a school which pretty much requires 4.0 GPA...so yes, I don't know how a nursing instructor can fail someone with virtual online. Even medical school is not doing something as stupid and non-sense like this.
I'm not sure why you are viewing it this way instead of asking yourself how can a student fail something as "easy" as virtual online. The blame lies with him. I realize you likely don't want to hear that.
A friend who is a college professor puts it this way. “School is not the place to f...k around and you are not the one with power.” There’s your answer.
Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.
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What exactly did your family member state the reason was for his failure of the course? Clinicals, whether online or in-person, will typically have a Midterm Evaluation and a Final Evaluation. It's quite possible he was given items which needed to be corrected after the Midterm Eval and he didn't do it.
Also if he failed Clinical, many schools will not pass you or give you credit for taking the actual lecture portion of the class also. He more than likely will have to repeat both lecture and lab again.
And there definitely is a way to fail an online clinical. Perhaps he did all his assignments but didn't get the minimum score required? That's one way a student can fail.