Just my luck...

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · May 1, 2009

Cliffs notes of my rant in both of the more recent grading scale threads in the main nursing student boards:

It's just a number. The instructors, if they don't completely suck, will know how to structure their exams, assignments, and grading policies so that they get the same grade-letter spread, and all will be well. Either that, or more people will fail out and the first-time pass rate for the NCLEX for your school will go up, which might be the intended effect.

Also, I'm allowed only one course grade between 80 and 85, and none below 80, in my two years in the program under pain of instant dismissal.

AragornSkywalker · May 1, 2009

See, thats what I dont get. If they are just going to curve up to make sure enough people can pass anyways, whats the point of raising the bar besides to add more stress? I dont think its to tighten the NCLEX pass rate either since my program enjoys a high first time pass %.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · May 1, 2009

See, thats what I dont get. If they are just going to curve up to make sure enough people can pass anyways, whats the point of raising the bar besides to add more stress? I dont think its to tighten the NCLEX pass rate either since my program enjoys a high first time pass %.

The best I can figure, it's to raise the self-esteem of the faculty and to make the school/departmental administrators look better when they go to conferences with their colleagues from other programs. I'd love to hear the opinion from the faculty side, though.

groovy jeff, RN · May 2, 2009

I just learned today that they are raising the minimum pass bar for nursing classes to 80% starting with my class. It is currently at 75, but starting fall, its going to be 80. I know its typical to have a tighter grading bracket for nursing programs, but a full 10 pts seems pretty harsh. Anyone else have similar or worse standards? Worse as in higher.

You might really be in trouble; especially on the math; "full 10 pts"?

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.............

I wish my school had instituted that from the get go. My school is new; there have only been 6-7 classes graduate (3 times a yr) and we have a terrible reputation. They accepted anyone and everyone, they passed people along that couldn't pass the NCLEX after 3 tries, and worst of all some folks got out into the workforce that couldn't do basic skills, had no critical thinking skills, were incompetent and inept. Now because of that I will have trouble getting a job.

Tougher standards might work in your favor............

AragornSkywalker · May 2, 2009

haha, I meant a full 10 pts from 70 (where Ive been conditioned to think is the norm for grading).

I suppose you have a point, but our program is already extremely competative. Almost everyone had mostly As in prereqs and 85+ on the TEAS. Although I heard this year, the grading actually leveled off. Its has been steadily increasing for the last few years so I guess people finally started cracking.

itsbuzzy · May 9, 2009

We have to keep our grades above 77% in order to stay in the programs. It sucks! We have lost about 15 people because of it.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · May 10, 2009

We have to keep our grades above 77% in order to stay in the programs. It sucks! We have lost about 15 people because of it.

I think that whether the passing grade for your program was 85% or 50%, you still would've lost about that many people to poor grades. The number is just a number.

ZanatuBelmont · May 10, 2009

I just learned today that they are raising the minimum pass bar for nursing classes to 80% starting with my class. It is currently at 75, but starting fall, its going to be 80. I know its typical to have a tighter grading bracket for nursing programs, but a full 10 pts seems pretty harsh. Anyone else have similar or worse standards? Worse as in higher.

As some have already mentioned, the "higher standards" is probably just to make the program faculty and administrators look good. Keep in mind, though, sometimes those standards make it easier for you to get a job. I do think more nursing programs should boost their levels of pass/fail to at least 80 percent. We are, after all, learning how to deal with lives - that's a huge responsibility, and I don't want someone taking care of me that knew just enough to "get by" with a 70 average.

AragornSkywalker · May 10, 2009

Thats assuming the grading system is a reliable way of gauging one's competency. What if I have a problem that depends on the 20% my nurse failed on? Furthermore, as I have said: they just curve up anyways. It just seems to be artificial reputation padding at the expense of student stress.