My first post...sorry for the venting.

Hi all! I'm new to this board and I wanted to take my first post and talk about a big time issue we're having at our nursing school. There is a computer program that our school has been using that is meant to provide NCLEX style questions as a way to prepare us for the test. Sounds like a good idea, right?

As a term 1 student, there are MANY MANY things I have yet to learn. As of now, we have been taught the fundamentals of all nursing...just not in depth. The school has scheduled exams on this computer program every week. The first test was challenging and gave our class a view of what the year ahead of us had in store. We were told by our DON that these "exams" were not meant for Term 1 students and most of the material covered on the exam we wouldnt know yet but it was a good way to see what the NCLEX was like and a good way to assess where we are mentally. Thats all gravy but apparently the school decided to start grading these tests and actually counting them as a part of our exam scores. Most of us got through the first 2 exams but by the 3rd, some of us didn't pass. A few of us had raised eyebrows as to why we were told we wouldnt know this but we are graded on it. So, many of the students went to our instructor with our concerns and she scheduled a class meeting with the DON. The DON came in and basically reinstated the fact that we were Term 1 students and are not expected to know the material yet which was why she wasn't going to "drop" any of the students who failed the test. She then continued on to say that she would, however, "hold back" any student who is unable to pass any of these computer exams after 3 attempts. Aside from that crazy notion....the exam itself doesnt show you which questions you missed nor does it give you any reccommended study material to help you pass the exam when you re-take it.

The definition of insanity is performing the same act and expecting a different result. I have no problem taking exams, but not exams that even our own DON said we wouldnt know about yet MUCH LESS getting held back for.

Is there something I'm missing here? Am I making any sense? *banging head against wall*