Hello everyone! Before I start, I would like to say that I would appreciate any comment or thought that will be posted. I am sincerely asking for an honest advice- whether it is something I would or wouldn't want to hear.
I'll give you a little bit of background. I am a first year student in a 4 yr BSN program. I am currently just in my first semester and clinical starts in the 2nd term. Here's why I am here:
For us to be able to go to clinical, we must achieve a total of 70% in our program AND must pass our skills check-off which includes taking accurate vital signs (which is worth 25% of our final mark). I had been doing well in all of my classes this term, mostly As and a few Bs for my lowest marks. Unfortunately, for one of our class, we have to pass our skills check-off for us to pass the class and I didn't pass that.
What happened was, we were given 2 chances to try- I failed the first one because I had trouble counting the pulse rate of my partner and was not able to properly perform BP due to a very stupid error on my part- I used the diaphragm to listen, while having the bell turned on the whole time. I kept doing it until I was out of time and was not able to figure out what was happening until then. I knew when I went out of that room that I had failed my first time and it was confirmed by my instructor when she discussed it with me how I missed BP and pulse rate.
What I did after that was I practiced taking BP and pulse rate A LOT until I felt like I got it and still continued to practice even after that since I knew that those areas were my weak points.
So, time for the 2nd try. Part of me was scared when I went into the testing room, but part of me was also confident that I'll get my vital signs right this time. I was lucky to have a partner that had a clear radial pulse for taking her pulse rate and I heard the thuds clearly when I took her BP. Again, being naturally pessimistic, part of me was very scared that I might've made an error again, but I was mostly, confidently feeling like I got it right. That was until I was contacted by my instructor, telling me I did not pass, meaning that I automatically will fail the class.
They wouldn't discuss any feedback regarding the testing on the same day which was on Friday. I was told to meet with them to discuss the feedback on Friday next week. Our final exam for that course would happen before that Friday, and again, I am ineligible to write this exam due to failing my check-off.
I mentioned earlier that I felt confident that I passed my 2nd try when I got out of that room. I am thinking of filing an appeal to maybe get the outcome reviewed again. We were videotaped for all of our skills check-off, btw. I am very worried though that if it is in fact the vital signs on which I screwed up, it would be very hard to prove them where I am coming from since they can't review how fast my partner's pulse was during that time. They can't review BP either, since a steth is used to check that and the video can't show when exactly the systolic and diastolic thuds were heard. In short, it would be really hard for me to get them to see why I was confident with my findings.
In my school, students should be allowed to continue on (including taking an exam) the class while the appeal is being reviewed. I am thinking of filing an academic appeal before the final exam happens and seeing if it's possible for me to take the final exam. My dilemma is that, I have yet to discuss with my instructors why I have failed my 2nd check-off and so if I file an appeal, I wouldn't know exactly what I want to be specifically reviewed. But if I wait until friday next week to see them before I file for an appeal, I would miss the final exam and I am not sure if I'll be allowed to still take it if I were to win my appeal. So, should I file an appeal before meeting with my instructors?Or should I wait, even if it means missing my final exam?
I know that this post is too long, but I really wanted to give as much info as I can. Please, any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
