How could she! Please read, need advice

[lilypad2424]

Okay, without going into a long explanation........

I am in nursing school, 2nd level, LVN. Our Gerontology instructor purposefully made the final so difficult that she could fail out the students that she wanted. I myself passed the class, barely. However, there are several students that are now out of the program b/c of this class. Now, not to belittle the course, because it is just as important as the others, but it should be an easy class.

I am distraught for these people, and I don't know what to do. Everyone is up in arms about this, signing petitions, going to the director about it, etc.

Has anyone ever had a situation like this? I know you don't know me, but if you can just have some faith and believe me when I tell you that this is true, that instructor was wrong to do what she did. It was vindictive and mean, and I feel sooo bad inside. Furthermore, do I stand up for what I believe and risk her re-grading my test and failing me? (yes, she did that to someone)

anyone have advice?

[Atheos]

No one can 'get, receive or be given a C.' They earned the C. The same goes for failing. If the the instructor can ratchet up the test 1 degree of difficulty then those students probably need to try again anyways.

I am pretty sure the trauma coming in the ER door is not going to make it easier for a borderline nurse.

I'd take my grade and let others deal with their own failing grades. If you get A's you can't be 'failed' out on a test. IMHO...

[nursegottabe]

Hi

Im trying to get through nursing school also. Some tests are easier for some folks than others. What you thought was simple was dog gone hard for others and maybe they didn't put the study effort forth like you did. Maybe it's their own fault they didn't do well. Move on the next thing to study and keep out of that stuff. Be glad things are going well for you.

[lemonaidangel]

It really irks me when people say that just because someone failed a test, it obviously means it was their own fault and that they must have not prepared enough for it or that they didn't put enough effort into studying. I have known several extremely bright, deserving students who failed out of nursing school and it wasn't from lack of studying on their part. There was a guy in my class who actually tutored for the nursing department, and he led a study group complete with diagrams and note cards and practice questions. He could rattle off patho and drugs and rationales like no other man I have ever seen in my life, and he was stunning in clinical, yet he failed the spring semester by 3 points. I passed. But I still feel like he knew waaay more than me. A good many of those test questions I eenie-meenie-minie-moed and by pure luck I got them right. I don't think NCLEX exams are necessarily good reflections on a person's ability as a nurse. Some people just aren't as talented in test taking as others.

[justme1972]

I hate to say, I don't feel sorry for the students.

If they knew that they had this type of instructor, they should have prepared accordingly.

There is no way an instructor can write a test to flunk CERTAIN students...I mean seriously...think about that.

[CuriousMe]

I don't think NCLEX exams are necessarily good reflections on a person's ability as a nurse. Some people just aren't as talented in test taking as others.

But the reality is that someone who does well at NCLEX exams will make a better nurse, because they will be a nurse. If someone's great at everything but taking NCLEX exams...well, they're a great nursing student. There's no way to get a license without passing the NCLEX.

Peace,

CuriousMe

[aparsonsmomof3]

Interesting posts here. In our school, each of our exams cover a number or topics. We have certain instructors that teach certain topics and they are responsible for that particular topic on the exam. No one instructor is responsible for the whole thing. I like it like that. We also have an anynomous challenge form we can fill out and turn in if we want to challenge a certain exam question.

I also saw alot of posts stating that the original poster should just leave well enough alone and not stand up for her fellow classmates. Really? What happened to standing up for what's right? I'm not talking about this particular situation either. If you don't stand up for other people when they are being mistreated, what does that say about you?

Sometimes doing the right thing has consequences. If I stand up for a classmate who is being treated unfairly and I end up catching problems from the instructors for it, so be it. At least I can go to bed knowing I did the right thing.

No wonder some people say nurses eat their own. I've never personally seen it. But by some of your answers, I can see it happening.

[amlopez]

The old and the young are very vulnerable and complex populations. Gerontology shouldn't be an easy class. Be glad you passed :-)

[beginning]

I need to share this with you and it's something that happened in my office which is not a nursing office.

Once there was a bully in my office that for years tormented everyone at some given point or time. I watched her do this time and time again and get the best of whomever she could. Many were afraid of her. Once she talked about a good, nice co-worker who had been splendid to her like an animal behind her back. I resented her for doing so and one day when she bothered me I fought back verbally (yelling at her) in the office for not just myself but for others I have seen her do mean stuff too. I actually told her she bothers everyone. However, I got in trouble she didn't even though my boss knew she had been bothering me because I told her. No one, not even management do anything to her. They let her go free. To top it off, shortly thereafter, the same people I stood up for loved her even more and she underhandedly controlled them continuously. They even had lunch with her and took her for the office mother. This same person who loves confusion and that had caused that in their lives as well as mine in the office.

I am saying this to get my point across. I know you are concerned but would they stick their necks out on the chopping block for you like that? Unfortunately, NO. God blessed you so don't get into chaos for others like that. Maybe they failed for a reason or it was not their season yet. MOVE ON and be of help in listening. Sometimes we help people a little too much causing unnecessary grief in our own lives. We love people but but we can't be their everything.

No, I don't know this instructor and yes I failed my senior semester in nursing due to someone who lied about my evaluation. I am taking it to the chairperson and to the president of the college. I am quite sure if some of my peers were asked questions they would not want to vouch because they are thinking of themselves and not me. It's sad but it is true. Don't feel guilty because you passed and they didn't.

[Kasia3]

gero was one of our easiest classes.....

But I dont understand why it would be so,isnt the majority of population in hospital in the older age group anyway?.Lets face it,young adults barely ever get sick,teenagers are usually pretty healthy.The middle age group in average is also in fairly well health.So that leaves us with small children and elderly so I'm assuming it should be one hard class.From day one our nursing instructor told us if we dont like working with elderly population we may as well think about nursing major twice...