I think I got an unfair grade in clinicals

[nurse12b]

I know there is nothing I can do to change it but it still frustrates me that I got a grade that was barely passing. Ok, when I started clinicals I was super excited because the hospital is where I feel most confident and being around pts. Everytime we got checked of on a skill I made sure to have a pt that I could practice on. Most of my pts were total care so I was always in their room providing care. I always did my documentation and I knew I got better with it the more I did it. My clinical instructor never came around and when she did she was usually looking for someone or helping us to log on to the computer. She never asked me anything about my pt, but I did ask her if she wanted to see my pt and to see if I was doing things right, and she refused to go into any pts rooms, she said "i've seen plenty of pt, and I don't need to see anymore", I was flat out shocked by that comment. She did have an assistant RN that worked at the hospital to help her with the clinical group, she would come and ask us question about our pt and what care we were providing. I answered correct mostly every question, I knew everything about my pt and their chart, and she was clearly impressed with me because she offered me a job after I graduate. But I guess she did not tell my teacher of my progress. I'm not saying I was perfect, but I know I clearly did not deserve the lowest score in my whole clinical group. Come on, I was even helping other people in my group, there was one girl that would not go into a pts room until the last minute and one time she did her pt was getting a breathing treatment and she came running to me say "there is smoke coming from my pts mask". Come on, she got an A in clinicals but she did fail out of the program, poor thing. Anyway I'm just venting now, it still bothers me as you can see. What do ya'll think?

[blessedbelle]

Low grades canot be compared on how you clearly proved to yourself that you are a qualified nurse. That is why sometimes grades does'nt seem to matter, because we cannot avoid the fact that we can be graded unfairly just because of ill reasons..

Still be proud that of all your hardworks, you are hired in an instant!

God bless=)

[caliotter3]

Sounds like the instructor is off her mark. Keep that in mind for future clinical assignments should you have the ability to pick and choose your placements. Avoid her if possible.

[nurse12b]

the grade does not define me and I still will do my best in the clinical setting, as if I were already a nurse. I will be avoiding her, luckly she only does 1st semester clinicals, so I will no longer have her for any class.

[Music in My Heart]

A few random thoughts:

1) You don't know if that student really did get an A. Just because she said she did doesn't mean that that was the truth. She was disenrolled, after all.

2) How do you know that you received the lowest grade of your whole clinical group? Do you guys really sit around and compare grades? Even if you do, same thing as #1... you don't know.

3) Didn't you ever receive any evaluations from your instructor? We received two written evaluations prior to the end of the term. Did your instructor not tell you why you were given the grade that you were?

4) Do you have any ideas as to why you might have received lower marks than you expected?

5) If you really received a job offer in your first semester of nursing school then you have nothing much to worry about 'cuz you must be on your game.

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

A few random thoughts:

1) You don't know if that student really did get an A. Just because she said she did doesn't mean that that was the truth. She was disenrolled, after all.

2) How do you know that you received the lowest grade of your whole clinical group? Do you guys really sit around and compare grades? Even if you do, same thing as #1... you don't know.

3) Didn't you ever receive any evaluations from your instructor? We received two written evaluations prior to the end of the term. Did your instructor not tell you why you were given the grade that you were?

4) Do you have any ideas as to why you might have received lower marks than you expected?

5) If you really received a job offer in your first semester of nursing school then you have nothing much to worry about 'cuz you must be on your game.

I completely agree. There are a lot of A's in my class and I don't believe that 85% of the class is getting an A. Also, I do not know why people do randomly share their grades. There is one student who I am close with and we share grades sometimes, maybe after a nasty test. You may not be able to change your grade but I think it is important to sit down with this instructor and get feedback. If he/she thinks you were barely passing it is essential that you learn why. Our instructors give us a written evaluation after each semester -- very useful. Approach her with an open mind and not as someone who is sure they deserved an A.

Rule no. 1 of learning... you do not know what you do not know. So perhaps there is something you don't know.

Also, not to diminish any achievement, a job offer given on the fly is not to be counted on.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think I got 4 unfair grades in clinical in my undergraduate days. But that was long time ago. I graduated and have had a successful career.

In other words, it won't matter much in the long run. Find out what grading criteria you did badly on so that you don't repeat the same mistakes. Learn from it. Move on.

llg, PhD, RN-BC

[ORRocksRN]

don't ever compare grades. if someone asks you to share your grade, just say, "I am happy with how I did" and avoid listening if they tell you theirs. this is the quickest trip to feeling like a failure. Your grade should reflect the best YOU can do, and you shouldn't compare yourself to others. there are so many variables to grades anyway. subjective opinions by instructors who aren't even paying attention is a dangerous thing to challenge. just accept it as a part of the joy of the nx school experience and kiss butt all you can next term. good luck.

[keithjones]

For those of you who said grades don't matter, I can only assume none of you have applied to competitive graduate programs. I'm not sure about other programs but I believe that most average your clinical grade into your nursing class and a letter grade difference in a 9-10 credit hour class can drop your GPA significantly! Like the OP said though, not much you can do about it. In the future just find out what your clinical instructor wants and do it. Unfortunately, in clinicals (as in life) fitting the mold often beats out excellence in terms of reward.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I never meant to imply that grades don't matter at all ... just that once they happen, it doesn't help to invest a lot of time worrying about them. Before they happen, then definitely one should strive to get the best grade possible.

[nurse12b]

Thanks for all of the advise. I know we should'nt share grade but sometimes you just can't help it when some one asks how you did. I know that if I have a bad grade it just make me feel worse.

No, I did not ask her why I was just upset and walked away at least it was still passing.

Oh, and as for the job offer, I didn't take it seriously, I just thought it was nice.

the good thing is that for the fall we can registar for the instructors I want.

again thanks for the advise...