LPN School grading system

[Torchwood]

On clinical grading we are not allowed to make higher then a B most times. Its a grading system that takes points off during performing skills when you have to have assistance from the clinical instructor. The policy also requires that you have assistance from the instructor when performing skills. So you are limited in the grade you can earn. Is this normal practice for clinical grading? Just wondering.

Thanks

Let me try to make this unmuddy. Our first two weeks of clinicals, we are only allowed to make a max of a B no matter how we perform. Any time in the clinicals in the future, any time we perform a new skill, dressing change, feeding, transfer to W/C, our grade is again maxed to a possible of a B. The reasoning given was, if we let you get to high a grade, you have nothing to work at.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

It makes sense to me. As a student, you DON'T yet have any skills, so how could you get "A" or "excellent"?

[Sensoria17]

It makes sense to me. As a student, you DON'T yet have any skills, so how could you get "A" or "excellent"?

It doesn't make sense to me. You could receive an A for initiative, picking up on things faster than others, etc. I don't think it is common to catch on super quick in nursing but certainly possible if you go above and beyond what is expected of you as far as your studies (and no, I am not one of those people:lol2:).

[Torchwood]

It makes sense to me. As a student, you DON'T yet have any skills, so how could you get "A" or "excellent"?

As you say, students. So should the grading not be based on that fact? Based on what you are expected to be able to do at that point? If not, then why should you get an A on a chapter test, when you have not had a final yet? You cannot know all of A&P so we can only give you a B on chapter one. You will have a chance at an A once you do chapters 1-10?

If I am only expected and allowed to do it at a certain level, that is the level I should be graded on I would think. Not what I should be able to do 6 months from now?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

My school used a point system for grading clinical skills, ranging from 1 to 4. 4 was considered 'excellent,' 3 was 'good,' 2 was 'satisfactory,' and 1 was 'failing.'

The instructors were under intense pressure from the school's administration to not give out too many 4 grades. I personally did not care whether I received a 2 or a 4, because no employer has ever asked me about my clinical performance. The bottom line is that your future bosses will not care whether you received 'A' grades or 'C' grades in clinical rotations.

Also, clinical rotations are totally not reflective of real nursing because you won't be caring for only 1 or 2 patients ever in your nursing career, unless you work in ICU. The real learning experience occurs when you start working as a nurse.