SENIOR IN NURSING SCHOOL FACING HUGE PROBLEM...please help

[JNogueira95]

Hi folks, Im here for a bit of advice, I hope someone can help.

Long story short....

Im a senior nursing student (4 yr program), single mom, working 2 jobs to get through school. The passing grade for as long as Ive been there has been 75 for all nursing courses. Over last summer they changed it to 77 and did not grandfather the senior class in. Unfortunately, I ended up with a final course grade of 75 and they have failed me for the semester. This means no grauation in May, no classes to start in 2 weeks and I would need to retake the entire class all over again in the fall with no financial aid....$6,000.00. If I was 18 still living with my folks to help, it might not be so bad but this isnt the situation. I have a child who depends on me and I need to start working immediately.

I met with the chairperson of the nursing dept and got nowhere. I was told they do not grandfather seniors because if they did, they would have to do the jrs and sophmores as well and new policies would never get implemented. I spoke to a student advocate who basically guides me to the next step (Im trying to follow protocol). She works under the Dean. She brought up the problem to him and he directed it back to the chairperson of the nursing dept...in which I got no where the first time. I was also told by another classmate that the Dean will be resigning after this semster to go right to the president of the college (talk about intimidating !!).

I am emotionally, physically and financially exhauted at this point and I need some direction. I have 2 state reps offering to help me. Should I have them contact the President or should I do it on my own basically waste my time. Or should I make arrnagements to meet with my 2 professors to go over my exams to look for extea points that could be brought into the mix. Can someone please advise? I know there are very well educated and professional nurses on this site and I would apprecaite any advice you can throw my way. Thanks so much!!!! future RN....soooo confused

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

I think the OP needs to clarify if this policy was implemented at the beginning of the semester or if it was done mid semester.

If done mid semester, then I don't agree with it.

But if done at the beginning, then I don't see a problem.

[RN BSN 2009]

What did the syllabus say at the beginning of the semester?

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

The passing grade for as long as Ive been there has been 75 for all nursing courses. Over last summer they changed it to 77 and did not grandfather the senior class in. Unfortunately, I ended up with a final course grade of 75 and they have failed me for the semester.

You say over the summer, so that means the past Fall semester you had to make a 77 too, right? Were you upset then that it was a 77 to pass?

I don't think your argument will fly, but I do wish you luck.

[Cattitude]

or should i make arrnagements to meet with my 2 professors to go over my exams to look for extea points that could be brought into the mix.

yes, i think this is your best bet. from your post, it does seem that you did know about the new policy at the beginning of the fall semester. therefore, it was fair for all students as far as i see. it still stinks to fail no matter what. we lost a few in 3rd semester and i felt horrible for them.

but i do remember earning a few points back on exams when challenging questions so it doesn't hurt to try. good luck and keep us updated.

[dragonflyRN]

I failed the lecture part of a 6 week course. I was a B student, but I didn't study as I should have. The A students were lucky to make a B. The instructor was part at fault, questions on tests that didn't involve what was in lecture notes or readings. Put me a year behind in graduating. I retook the class with a different instructor and made an A with minimal effort. My school had an 80 to pass.

On another note, my school also went by the rules set when we started the nursing program. For example, they changed a few class requirements after my first semester. I did not have to take those classes. I was "grandfathered." They should have done this for you.

[caliotter3]

Something similar happened to me and others at my school. However, rules were interpreted differently for different individuals. Some people were able to complete b/c they were treated one way, while others were gone. Some people went the lawyer route and prevailed. Others went the lawyer route and were gone. The school was arbitrary on how they applied the new rules. School administration people are quite aware of their power and the fact that most students are not in financial, emotional positions to be able to fight and win. In other cases, timing is not such that certain people could wait out certain people (and it is not known to common students that the Dean is almost gone, etc.). Hope all turns out well for you. Don't let this situation put you out of being able to care for yourself and your family. Know when to fight and when to call it a day.

[MS._Jen_RN, ASN, RN]

On another note, my school also went by the rules set when we started the nursing program. For example, they changed a few class requirements after my first semester. I did not have to take those classes. I was "grandfathered." They should have done this for you.

The classes required to complete the program are different to being told, I assume at the begining of a semester, that you have to have a certian grade in the class and then not making the grade.

Although I think that the OP's situation is a bummer, if she knew from the begining of the semester that the expectation had changed then she should have changed her study habits/actions to ensure that she made the grade expectation. I'm not trying to be harsh. In the "real world" expectations change all the time. If one is given fair notice (ie, told at the begining of the semester) there should be nothing to challange. If this was implemented in the middle of the semester that is a whole different story.

Just my

~Jen

[KellieNurse06]

You bet your butt I would fight this one.....they CANNOT impose the new rule onto your class if you started BEFORE it went into effect.....we just went through this with our math test the beginning of this past (our last & final ) semester. The math grade now for passing is 90%....for students starting now......we still had the 85% rule...so 90% did not apply to us........one instructor actually said to us we need to get 90% or higher....and my clinical instructor was the one who said it was not right to say we need 90% if the new rule(90%) went into effect AFTER we had already been in the nursing program I lucked out & got 100% so I even shocked myself because I am horrid at math.................so I would be right in the deans office or whomever I had to go to to get this taken care of.....why should you fail because of a new grading policy that went into effect after you have already been there BEFORE it began???? That makes absolutely no sense!!!!!! Please go argue this point!!! Take your student policy handbook with you too .....the one they give you with the rules and such for your program........I hope you still have it! That's also what my instructor used to prove her point as well.......and they DID listen to her....

[KellieNurse06]

The classes required to complete the program are different to being told, I assume at the begining of a semester, that you have to have a certian grade in the class and then not making the grade.

Although I think that the OP's situation is a bummer, if she knew from the begining of the semester that the expectation had changed then she should have changed her study habits/actions to ensure that she made the grade expectation. I'm not trying to be harsh. In the "real world" expectations change all the time. If one is given fair notice (ie, told at the begining of the semester) there should be nothing to challange. If this was implemented in the middle of the semester that is a whole different story.

Just my

~Jen

I just have to say that just because someone doesn't do well DOES NOT mean they didn't study or didn't study enough.............some people are just bad testers.......or have test anxiety....I am one that gets test anxiety and will go blank the minute that test is in front of me.......so please don't say she should of studied better........also you CANNOT tell a class that their grade has to be higher to pass if they already started their program BEFORE the rule went into effect......that only should apply to the new students just starting the program......I just saw this happen at my program with us who were graduating.......it was the math test scoring........90% or higher applies to the new incoming students...not to those who have already been there....

[chase4myheart]

Please check the handbook for the year that you first entered the program. At my school, we are held to the policies in the handbook for the year that we first registered for the program. Any policy changes after that don't pertain to us, and we are grandfathered in. If this wasn't the case, then the college could decide to add additional classes or decide that certain classes wouldn't transfer to a 4 year college. There has to be a system for checks and balances. Please let us know how this works out. It's a shame to get that far through the program & fail due to a policy change.

[nitewarrior]

When I started nursing school, we had to take a college orientation class. The professor in that class told me that the college handbook that you start your program with, is considered a contract. They should have grandfathered all students sophomores, juniors and seniors based on what he said. I would ask your state reps if that is a point you could push. Good Luck.

[KellieNurse06]

I just thought of something else too.....check with the nurses association for your state as well, also.......I know that may be far fetched seeing they usually are for nurses working and already out of school....but graduating students are coming into the field and if you can't graduate then that affects the "nursing shortage" also...kind of like a domino effect. I don't know, something about this new grade change for students who started already before seems fishy to me...whomever decided this obviously made a very hasty decision, and was not familiar with how new grade rules do not apply to students who have already been there......

I look at it like this...say you went out & bought this brand new beautiful car...and it was a mustang...just a plain old mustang and you went & registered it & everything ..and a month later down the line you get told...well..we only recognize mustang GT's so it is illegal for you to have this car so you have to get a GT or else......you'd be pretty angry, right????? ( not to compare nursing to cars) but to put it in perspective......I bet then you'd go to any length to get your car recognized where you already bought it before this change went into effect...I know I'd be flipping believe me!

I would cut to the chase & go to the top dog..who ever is in charge of the entire school you go to.....the president...... and if that gets you nowhere....go to the board of higher education every state has one..........don't just take this lying down....they want you to be quiet & go away.........& if you don't come forth you are letting them do this to others as well........and also remember...power comes in numbers.......if other students can sign a petition over this unfair move you may have the ball in your court for certain! Goos luck & please let us know how it goes!!!