inconsistent policies

[2bRN2016]

The University I'm at suddenly changed their exam policy from an individual based exams to now a group exams, where the students take tests together with their assigned groups. Since I and few other class mates missed the passing grades by a fraction of a point and were dismissed from the program we feel it's unfair to bring such stark changes. Was wondering can a nursing school implement changes in the second semester? Is it fair to those who did not benefit from these changes? Either they should have done right from the start of the semester or could have implemented such changes starting with a fresh batch.

Another changes they brought again which wasn't there in the first semester - is that now all clinical instructors are told to first edit the assignments submitted by the students before a final assignment is submitted.

Has anyone of you in your respective programs experienced such changes? Shall I bring this to the attention of the provost? Or to the CCNE?

Any advice, suggestions or feedbacks would be appreciated.Thx in advance.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

So let me get the timeline straight. You (and others) failed out of the program. AFTER you failed they made changes which you THINK might have benefited you. Is this what you are saying?

[mrsboots87]

This is ridiculous. You failed. That sucks and I get feeling upset about it. But, you still failed. The school can make changes whenever they want as long as it is presented to the students before the changes take affect. There is usually something about that in the syllabus. The changes they make can be due to too many failures, or curriculum changes, or a whole slew of reasons.

As far as having group exams be what makes up most of the grade, I wouldn't want to be part of that school anyway. I find that absurd and unfair, but not in the way you are thinking. You feel it is unfair purely because you could have benefited had this change been made while you were in school and need to get over that. What I find unfair about it is for the students who study hard and do very well on these exams, the grade they earn can easily be made from others who pretty much leach right answers off of them or other students.

If I had to take exams like this, I would intentionally stay away from students like you and make groups with other A/B students. I don't say this to be mean to you. I say this because if I earn my grade then I want to be in a group with others who also earn theirs and can contribute.

Reporting this to accrediting bodies will go nowhere. You will appear to be sour grapes and the school has not broken any rules or regulations by changing things around. Your efforts would be better spent appealing the dismissal or attempt readmission and do better next time.

[RescueNinjaKy]

If you failed, you failed. What do you want them to do, change the rules till you pass?

[elkpark]

You want to complain about changes that were made when you were no longer a student there? That's going to be a hard case to make.

In any case, in case any of the current students want to complain, the place to start would be the program's student handbook and what it says about changes being made to the curriculum or school policies. If they violated their own policies, that's something that can be pursued. If it was explained to students up front that the school reserves the right to make changes at the administration's discretion (or however the statement would be worded), not much anyone can say.

What makes you think the CCNE would be interested? They are interested in whether the program meets their overall standards/expectations (and I assume you mention the CCNE because the school has CCNE accreditation, which means the program meets the standards), but they don't get involved in the day-to-day operation of programs. They tell the schools what standards they have to meet, not how they have to do that.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

Changes happen all the time. We provide student evals after each class, and sometimes our program makes changes based on our feedback. It clearly states in our handbook that they may make changes throughout the program at their discretion.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

Yet another example of what happens when the "Everyone who shows up gets a trophy, there are no grades so no one feels inferior, anyone can be whatever they want as long as they really really want it" generation grows up and discovers that the real world doesn't care how special their parents told them they are.

Life is sometimes disappointing. You can't always have what you want, no matter how badly you want it.

You can either have a temper tantrum and complain that the program isn't fair, or you can take a step back, reflect on why you failed and see what changes YOU have to make to either achieve success, or to change your focus to something else.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

So you are a borderline student that didn't make the cut because you're responsible for your own grade rather than having your fellow students push you through with their superior grade. That only makes sense with a group project where each person contributes to the final project and thus shares the final grade.

You can't benefit from what another student learns. You have to learn the material for yourself. I'm with mrsboots who doesn't want a leech getting a grade I worked hard for. Unless you plan on staying with that group for the rest of your nursing career you should worry about your own study habits and make sure you know your stuff.

They didn't change rules in the middle of a semester (though they probably could have). They are starting with a fresh batch. You're just not in it.

Maybe you could sue them until they provide sufficient assistance that you can pass. Oh wait, some slacker student has already tried that.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/from-abc-news-988404.html