Pathophysiology

subec · Oct 23, 2002

We only have 3 exams in my class this semester. But, that is pretty standard for all of my classes.

Good luck to you.

Mkue · Oct 23, 2002

Originally posted by nursing 101
I haven't started my nursing classes yet, but will start in 2003. But I have a friend in that class right now and they are about to start a big petition in my school. Do any of you guys have only 2 exams in that class? Just the midterm and final... Apparently out of 50 students that took the midterm 37 failed... They said that they think the school is trying to "weed" out students because they enrolled too many this year and that they are making the test EXTRA hard... This is freaking me out now!

I mean really such a difficult subject and only 2 exams that is really harsh!
Let me know how it's set up in your schools!

That is kinda of harsh if 37 failed. Do your best to study ahead on the subject, if you can link up with a previous student who passed try to get some insight and get the book early.

Marie:)

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2002

In my masters program I have only one or two tests and a final. No midterms. It is tough. I think for my ADN program we had more tests than a midterm and final. Makes alot ride on your grades.................creates alot of pressure doesnt' it?

renerian

colleen10 · Oct 23, 2002

Hi 101,

I have an undergrad in Science from Penn State. When I was there about 90% of my classes were 1 mid term and 1 final. You might have had an opportunity to do well in a lab and raise your grade but for humanitites and classes that did not offer a lab you were pretty much stuck with only 2 opportunities to achieve a good grade.

Now that I look back upon that time I understand that it is sheer laziness or lack of staff/time that professors design their courses like this. They are either too lazy to spend an extra class or two testing students or they do not have the staff or time to grade papers and mark down grades.

Knowing what I know now I would not attend a school that follows that policy. Tests are a two way street. It gives the student the opportunity to show that they have mastered an understanding of the material but it is also a gage for the teacher to know that their students have or have not mastered the material and also gives the teacher an idea of exactly what type of teacher they are.

I am now in an RN program at a very small Community College and so far each pre-req. class that I have taken consists of at least 4 exams through out the semester. I would not have it any other way. Especially when it comes time for me to take my clinicals. I do not think that you can effectively judge who is a good nurse by only testing them twice a semester. I also don't think you can in good conscious grant a degree to a nursing student whom has only been tested a total 8 times throughout their career as a student (that would be for a 2 year program).

Which would you rather have? A nurse, doctor, or pilot who has been tested after learning a new skill or one that was only tested 2 times in a 5 month period on all skills?

I think two exams are ok if there are other opportunities to test students knowledge like "Skills Check" etc. But otherwise I would not feel comfortable going through a program like that.

Good Luck in your endeavors,

Col

Mito · Oct 24, 2002

Hello All,

We have 3 term tests and one final exam worth 40% of our final mark. We have had students in previous years fail bio tests on mass and they too thought the college was "weeding them out". But, as I have said before it is the students themselves who do the weeding. Either by:

1. not asking for help soon enough and then have a big suprise when test time comes. most of our tests are aimed at understanding vs. memorization so alot of people fail based on trying to memorize the material .

2. It has been my experience that failing students will often blame everyone else except the person who is really to blame (you guessed it).

I am currently a 3rd year student , but my first time in the program (14 years ago) I only lasted 7 weeks, I have been on both sides of the fence on this issue.

Mito

PowercarveJen · Oct 24, 2002

Hi I am in my 1st semster of a 4 sem. BSN program and we have Pathophysiology and Pharmacology as one class. We have 4 exams and a cumulative final( worth 30% of our total grade). We have lecture for that class 4hr week and she expects that we will be spending 8hr outside of class. so far I think about 15% of class is failing...But most likely the ones that don't ask for help.