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Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew if any nursing program has the right to determine a semesters grade solely on examinations (in this case 3 exams). I feel as this is unfair to my fellow classmates who have issues with test taking (anxiety and such) and do awful on them. However they do great in clinicals, and are very active in class. I don't know if these classmates have any ground to stand on about how the class is set up and the grading a students theory knowledge on exams only. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! I'm in FL

- Lyn

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Lyn -

While I admire your concern about your classmates, I think they are going to have an uphill battle at best. Was the grading system given to you either prior to or at the start of the course in question? If it was then your classmates knew how they were going to be graded (with examinations only) and therefore accepted this policy by continuing in the course and/or program.

Also, think about this - exactly who are they going to complain to when those same test taking issues (anxiety and such) causes them to fail the NCLEX and they are denied their nursing license based solely on the results of 1 written exam?

Now if their issues and anxiety are severe enough, they could possibly qualify for ADA special considerations such as additional testing time, a private room for testing, etc but this previsions must be established prior to the semester - not once completed and the results were not what was expected.

Best of luck

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Thank you for the reply!

My one classmate I'm most concerned about was diagnosed with severe anxiety mid-semester and was unable register for ADA accommodations. Had he been able to do so, he probably would be moving on with us. Professors comment about how he excels in class but makes the same mistakes during exams, despite seeing education specialists regarding these issues. Does he have any type of way to save his space? He failed by 0.02%.

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Another thing is that you can take the NCLEX more than once, and you have a longer time period in which you can take the NCLEX. These exams can only be done once. You also spend over a year preparing for the NCLEX, while there are instances where you have less than 3 weeks to memorize numerous chapters.

So while I understand knowing what your getting into and having the NCLEX being a high stakes exam, the circumstances (in my opinion) are different. As I'm sure you know there's different types of learners, so why not make these projects that are worth a grade. To help even out the playing field in a way. After all, nursing is about real life application, not answering multiple choice questions.

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11 hours ago, RedRocket said:

so why not make these projects that are worth a grade. To help even out the playing field in a way. After all, nursing is about real life application, not answering multiple choice questions.

For the record, I 100% agree with you. There are numerous stories on this site about students failing courses because grading policies in their programs required a certain exam average before any other course points would even be considered and I don't think this is fair. BUT I do not make the grading policies at these programs.

Your friend does have some options:

1) He appeals this - just follow the school's appeal policy and keep running it up the chain until all options are exhausted if necessary. However, if this grading policy was known to the students ahead of time, be prepared not to win this appeal.

2) What is the school's policy on repeating a nursing course? Many programs will allow 1 repeat and only truly expel you from the program at 2 failures. If allowed, he could get everything in order to handle his ADA accommodations, retake the course next term, and continue with the program.

3) He could find another program that will accept him with this on his transcript.

Just continue to be an encouraging and supportive friend.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.
On 4/27/2019 at 7:24 PM, RedRocket said:

Thank you for the reply!

My one classmate I'm most concerned about was diagnosed with severe anxiety mid-semester and was unable register for ADA accommodations. Had he been able to do so, he probably would be moving on with us. Professors comment about how he excels in class but makes the same mistakes during exams, despite seeing education specialists regarding these issues. Does he have any type of way to save his space? He failed by 0.02%.

Why are professors talking to you about your "classmate"?

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On 4/27/2019 at 6:24 PM, RedRocket said:

Thank you for the reply!

My one classmate I'm most concerned about was diagnosed with severe anxiety mid-semester and was unable register for ADA accommodations. Had he been able to do so, he probably would be moving on with us. Professors comment about how he excels in class but makes the same mistakes during exams, despite seeing education specialists regarding these issues. Does he have any type of way to save his space? He failed by 0.02%.

If his anxiety is a new diagnosis midway through the class why wasn't he able to receive ADA accommodations? Did he take documentation for the new diagnosis to the disability office in the school? Is he eligible to repeat the semester and continue through the program with newly registered accommodations moving forward? It may be hurtful but if it's an option go for it. He now knows what's expected and he's in a better position to get the help he needs.

By the way, kudos for being concerned about your classmates. I caution you to not be vocal about this at school because the instructors can make it really hard for you to progress through the rest of the program.

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Specializes in NICU.

Welcome to the real world,I have know many a wonderful loving kind clinical , and teachers pet(she would always bring the teacher coffee)that could not hack the written exams. Nursing is a tough profession,and the system is set to weed out those that can not hack it,for whatever reason.Some do great on written work and cant hack clinical s (ending up with anxiety attacks,sweating and having to be wheeled down to the emergency room).

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My school is graded based solely on exams the first semester (5 exams), all exams and maybe 2% for a cultural competency thing for the next 2 semesters I think (again 5 exams each), then semester 4 we have 2 papers worth 5% each but ONLY factor in if you have a 77% passing grade on quizzes and finals prior to them (1% math test, 2% cultural competency). Last semester it's quizzes and tests and capstone quizzes, etc. So, all in all, pretty test based for your grade. No rounding. All objective data. One of my friends missed the second semester by .02 points. She took it again and killed it and is moving on. It sucks, but they are trying to prepare us for the NCLEX.

Also, I know some people get horrible test anxiety, but I often wonder how they will react under pressure during an intense nursing situation. Will they freeze? Will they work through it? I know many who have had to figure out ways to test and get their anxiety under control during nursing school or during the NCLEX and have all seemed to rise above and handle situations better than before. I hope your friend can appeal and work through it. Though, appealing and having the same issues will possibly result in the same outcome.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
On 4/27/2019 at 7:24 PM, RedRocket said:

Thank you for the reply!

My one classmate I'm most concerned about was diagnosed with severe anxiety mid-semester and was unable register for ADA accommodations. Had he been able to do so, he probably would be moving on with us. Professors comment about how he excels in class but makes the same mistakes during exams, despite seeing education specialists regarding these issues. Does he have any type of way to save his space? He failed by 0.02%.

If your friend was diagnosed mid semester, this is a new diagnosis. He should have been able to bring the documentation to the disability office at that time and been granted the accommodations at that time. I am an instructor at a local community college and our disability office will start them mid semester with new diagnoses. Give it a shot!

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Specializes in Addictions, Psych.

I'm finishing my second semester ADN and my program is the same way -- all based on exam grades.

Why are professors commenting publicly about a classmate's performance, or is this hearsay? I'd be pretty angry if my teachers were talking about my grades or needs with other students.

Exams suck but your "classmate" needs to learn to manage his symptoms...accommodations are fine but there's a certain level of accountability to figure out strategies for yourself. I have anxiety and ADHD and my performance is still my responsibility.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Everyone has access to the syllabus and has the opportunity to review test grades with their advisors throughout the semester. I failed the first exam of 2nd semester and I swiftly dealt with it, talked to one of the professors about potential weak spots and I changed up my studying strategies and did tons of practice questions. The next exam after that I got an A. So it can be done.

My program's final grades are basically based on all exam grades too. We've lost classmates that were AMAZING on the floor but they just sucked at test taking. Unfortunately, that's the reality of these programs. If you're no good at taking tests it's not like you don't have time to fix your downfalls....your friend should have been doing this throughout the semester/program if he needed the help, not wait until the end to freak out about it. I know of people who were mediocre test takers at the beginning and are doing pretty well now, we're all graduating in less than a month.

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