Nursing education

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been reading the posts about ADN vs BSN and it got me to thinking about situations I see at my school. Putting aside which degree is "better" than another, why are there not more stringent criteria in place for classes themselves? A lot of my classmates that are going for nursing, rad tech, pharm tech, etc have taken and failed certain classes up to three times and when they finally do pass it is scrapping by with a C.

There are tudors available for classes that are not utilized by people that need them. I feel that failing and retaking a class so many times shows a lack of effort, focus, and determination to reach the desired goal.

I am not even talking about core classes, these are just prereqs to get into a program. If someone does not have a basic grasp on basic skills (math, English, science) why are they being allowed into programs that take it for granted that you can utilize basic knowledge to apply to a specific skill set?

Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

I highly doubt Tudors are available. Tutors, yes, but Tudors, no.

Joking aside many programs have a one science class (or core "major" class be it Nursing, Rad Tech ect) may be repeated once to improve a grade below a C or else you are out of the program for 7 years rule. Unfortunately not all programs have such a rule and you end up with people that repeat courses over and over trying to "pass."

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Even intensive "tutoring" won't help if the problem is of a more fundamental nature, having to do with innate ability. Nothing short of recombinant DNA or transmogriphication would fix that situation . . . brain transplant anyone?

The issue of declining scholastic ability is well documented - and not confined to health careers. Community Colleges are desperately trying to cope with the skyrocketing number of students that have to take remedial courses (no credit) -- and the school does not get state funding for these classes. At the same time, teachers are coping with unbelievably disrespectful / hostile students who are in their faces if they dare to give them a poor grade. Solutions??? I certainly don't have any - just boatloads of respect & gratitude for our colleagues who teach in these environments. They're heros.

Why is this being allowed??

$$$$

Every time they re-take a course, they pay more tuition.

If the school enforces more stringent standards, then there goes more profit.... walking right out the door.

It's that simple.

Specializes in Med-surg, ICU.

Lazy people+enrollment in whatever class=money.

Administrators+school=costs

Lazy people failing+enrolling again and again=more money

High standards= less people enrolling

School - high standards= easier for lazy people to pass

School - high standards + lazy people enrolling again and again= money to pay for costs.

Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I totally agree with you about people don't have it in them the first time to pass those classes and re-taking them as a red alert that these people should not be nurses or rad techs, etc. However, I think those people who do retake because of circumstances like death in the family, financial troubles, or commitments to other things should be able to retake the class once.

It is a concern for me in general that there are people who retake the classes multiple times but hey, if they are paying for it themselves who cares? More money to the school equals more resources for successful students like me :]

There are so many nursing schools they are like puppy mills imo. You don't see PA or MD schools lowering standards still hard as hell to get into either!!

So where does the problem lie?

Well In my defense, I failed one of my pre-reqs. I actually just talked about this in another thread but anyway, I failed algebra my very first semester of college when I was 17 when I wasn't taking life too seriously. I retook it, passed, and worked very hard the rest of my college years and now I have my BSN. Yeah sure when I was 17 I didn't have the focus, but people do change and grow up. It definitely took alot of effort and determination to make it through nursing school! Took NCLEX with 75 questions and passed.

I'm sure there are people who made straight A's through school and failed that test. Just like there are people who make it through school with straight A's but don't work hard to care for their patients like they did for those grades. I know this may sound cheesy but nursing is not only about using your head it's about using your heart too. Maybe the people that fail have more of the heart instead of the head lol

what wookie said.

much better than my initial impulsive answer, which was :::mmmmmmmppphhhhh::: (hands pressed firmly over my mouth). (you really want to discuss english skills? oh, somebody stop me before i edit again....... diazepam, i need diazepam.....)

To wookie and rest, I don't mean if you fail and retake and actually TRY harder. What I mean is people that are failing over and over and over. And even still that is not exactly what I am talking about... If employers are making such a big deal over ADN vs BSN, Why is the profession itself not holding individuals to a higher standard? Of course schools who seek to gain profit are not going to do it. Maybe if the standards were higher there would not be so many ADNs complaining about how they are not chosen because the company hired a BSN. Maybe as a profession we should not allow people that scrap by with a 2.0 into a program. I do not believe that a lot of these gpas are because the person is not "smart" enough. I believe that it is lack of dedication and focus, as previously stated. Dedication and focus are important characteristics for professionals to succeed.

Wookie, I understand completely what you mean. I am 27 and have never attended college. Why? Because as a new high school grad by head was not in a place to make the commitment. I always thought I could do it later. Well it is later, and it is much later than I would of liked, but life stepped in and gave me a huge smack on the butt. I am now married and have a child, but I'm going through a divorce. When I was younger I could never have dealt with the amount of stress I am going through now with school added on top. The difference is now, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have to stay focused to do what is right for my life.

Grntea, we can talk about whatever you would like! Including English skills. I will not, however, play into snarky and unnecessary comments.

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