Clinicals pass/fail

SusanRN2004, RN · Nov 16, 2002

We get grades....For the clinical class, first semester, 60% of the total grade comes from our clinical work and 40% from our lab check offs, CD ROM quizes and a math exam. There is a very long form the clinical instructor uses to rate us on different things to come up with a percentage grade. I sometimes wish it were pass/fail because the grade is based on someones opinion....

nrselisa · Nov 16, 2002

Clinical is worth 30% of our grade, but you must pass both clinical & theory to move ahead.

Lisa

AppyHorseFan · Nov 16, 2002

our clinicals are considered a class/course by itself each semester. you do have to pass clinical and theory before moving to the next semester. in our clinical, we have a tremendous amount of paperwork to complete (not just care plans). we get points for each of our clinical assignments, they add all of these points up and come up with a percentage of the possible points to determine grade. like our theory class we must pass clinicals with a 75 in order to have a c and pass the class.

shonda

globalRN · Nov 16, 2002

i'm for pass/fail clinicals. It is a learning experience where students get to integrate theory and clinical practice. We all know that the majority of real learning takes place after graduation.

I think if clinicals were graded....I probably would not have had a GPA high enough to make it to graduate school. I was mediocre at best in undergraduate clinicals but had brilliant reviews in my final graduate school practicums, which incidentally were also pass/fail. So from a student point of view and also from a former nursing instructor point of view, I am for pass/fail gradings.

emily_mom · Nov 16, 2002

We have pass/fail clinicals, and I believe they are more fair than a grade. We also have a long form the instructor fills out, can make comments and then reviews it with us. It is always subject to change once they speak with us. There is also a section that has items (patient safety) that if we miss one part, we don't pass. Our instructors are supposed to let us know if we are in the danger area of not passing, though.

Vsummer1 · Nov 16, 2002

We have pass / fail clinicals, but in order to even GET to the patients we must pass graded tests. But the actual patient care is on a pass/fail basis, as was the proficiency exam.

For example, the clinical quiz worth 25 pts towards our overall grade, the med dosage calc which was 30 pts (must have 90% to move on to patients). Our careplans are graded also.

kittyw · Nov 16, 2002

In all of our classes that have a clinical component, we must pass the class with a B. C is not considered passing. We also must maintain a 3.0 average in order to continue with the program.

kimmicoobug · Nov 17, 2002

Ours is graded. It is worth 6 credits and is worth more than theory. In our first year, it was more graded on care plans. This year we have one major, major care plan, speeches, volunteer work and competencies that we have to do every week. It is actually nicer in my opinion. We have more bigger assignments, but not a whole lot of busywork like in the first year. So, far I am doing great with my grades. I have a B+ in theory and an A in clinical.

babynursewannab · Nov 17, 2002

We have pass/fail grading for our clinicals. I think that is the more fair way to do it. One never knows what they are going to approach when you come on-board the day of clinical. Also, everybody's experience there is so totally different. How can a standard grading scale possibly be applied in a fair manner?

A student can either meet the challenges of the day or they can not. Pass/Fail.

IMHO.

-Alyssa

Mkue · Nov 17, 2002

I'm for pass/fail also. My program is talking about changing it to a grade.

Most ppl pass clinicals anyway so why change it? The only reason I can think of is that it may help students with their GPA. Maybe they don't feel enough students are maintaining an adequate GPA, I have no idea why the sudden change.

:stone

peaceful2100, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2002

My school does pass/fail and I am all for that. If we don't pass on tests then we will get kicked out so eventually the clincals won't matter. On the other side if we are doing bad in clinicals and we are not being safe then we will fail and students have failed clinicals and got kicked out even though they had A's in the classroom setting.