Letter Grades for Clinical?

JenNJFLCA · May 6, 2005

But, bonemarrowrn, I feel I was much better than a couple of people who were always doing things last minute and coming in late, yet still got higher grades than me......The exceptional students can be exceptional in the classroom--I just think clinical should be pass fail.

YoungWiseWoman · May 6, 2005

I thought that everyone got letter grades for clinical. We get grades and they are based on the last 2 of the 7 careplans that we have to turn in. I got a B in clinical too, but I was ok with it. This was my first semester and some of my careplans sucked. I like it that we get a grade b/c it helps with the gpa....that's when you get a good one...

LeesieBug · May 6, 2005

We also do Pass/Fail. I really don't think letter grades are a good idea....the grading would be too subjective. The only clinical paperwork we receive grades on are the formal papers we write each rotation that are centered around a particular patient, but the grade is averaged into our lecture grade. I like i that way.

OP, Im' sorry. I, too, would be very frustrated over B based on the fact that I needed to be "more assertive".

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · May 6, 2005

but, bonemarrowrn, i feel i was much better than a couple of people who were always doing things last minute and coming in late, yet still got higher grades than me......the exceptional students can be exceptional in the classroom--i just think clinical should be pass fail.

it sounds to me that you were graded unfairly. however, if you feel you were much better than some others, (and had you gotten the grade you deserved), wouldn't it bother you that you and they were getting the same grade of 'pass'? did you ask the instructor how she determined your grade (based on what elements)? if they are using a letter grade, i would think they would have to have very clear guidelines as to their expectations, and what seperates an a from a b, and so on.

what if an 'exceptional' student does poorly in clinical? unfortunately it is only one person (the instructor) making that determination. unless they are downright 'dangerous' or abusive/innapropriate to their patients, the instructor kind of goves the students the benefit of the doubt, thus the 'pass' grade.

in our program, the entire faculty sat together and discussed each student one by one. being new, i said what was on my mind about each student, and, believe it or not, anyone who had the students last semester basically agreed with what i had to say, which made me feel better about my impression of the student. this is a team teaching method, which is not as common anymore. the coordinator (the 'head' instructor) asked us to rate them as above average, average, or below average, so she could place them accordingly for next semester (and to inform the next level's instructor of the students' strenghts and weaknesses).

Nalini · May 7, 2005

Ours are grading from 1-5 1 and 2 fail 3 passes. The instructor said you would have to go above and beyond to get anything above a 3. So pretty much pass or fail....

Nalini

HappyNurse2005, RN · May 7, 2005

Our clinicals are also Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. We are evaluated on several things, get an evaluation sheet each clinical week, then at the end of each clinical rotation. Also, our paperwork is given satisfactory/unsatisfactory each week (careplans/databases). WE have to get a certain number of S careplans and databases each semester to get a S clinical grade.

I've known a few people who should have failed clinical, but didn't.

I can see how Pass/Fail works, putting aletter grade on things would be hard to do, but it has been expressed in my class that a student can be on the borderline of passing the class, but be excellent in clinical-and shouldn't the clinical factor in somehow?

Again, its not a perfect system. THey do what they can.

JenNJFLCA · May 7, 2005

I wouldn't mind being graded on my careplans......how can you grade the way someone cares for a patient? I have had several pts in med surg and a couple parents in peds tell me how caring I am, and I got a 4/5 on that on my eval. You just can't tell 2 people the same thing and give them 2 different grades! Arg!

jenna_rn · May 7, 2005

Okay, I really need to vent about something. I just finished my Pediatrics clinical and really enjoyed it. I had a great clinical instructor, and had no problems with her. Until she gave me a 'B' in clinical. The reason: I need to be more assertive. Yes, yes, my paperwork is excellent, I am a caring person, hardworking, etc, but I need to be more assertive. She told one of my friends the same exact thing and she ended up with an 'A'. Huh?? Which leads me to my point......how the heck can you put a letter grade on clinical? Especially when you have 5 days on the actual floor and your instructor is with you maybe 30 minutes of that time. :angryfire
Does anyone else get letter grades for clinical, and if so, what do you think about that?

We had letter grades.... a B is still respectable. You can't really compare yourself with someone else...we all have our "unique gifts" and " areas to grow".

moonbunnie · May 8, 2005

I wish ours were pass fail...we get letter grades, and 30% is our paperwork, but the other 70% is absolutely up to the instructor's discretion. that isnt always how it works, each instructor makes up their own rules for grading, but that is how it is for this semester. and, she thinks a B is for someone who is doing fine, and A's are only for people who are doing exceptional. but how can i know if im doing exceptional when its completely up to her to decide? i just wish it was pass/fail, cause i would definitely pass.