My school Sucks!

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2007

Many great nurses failed the NCLEX on their first or even 2nd try. Some people can be very smart but not be great test takers. Sometimes people get test anxiety that can hender their test taking abilities. Doesn't mean they aren't smart. And doesn't mean they won't be a great nurse.

chuck1234 · Jun 4, 2007

:angryfire Well,
I graduate in a couple weeks and my school sucks. We took the comprehensive HESI a few weeks ago and I scored over 900. About half the class scored below 800. Instead of failing, they had to retake it today. If they still have below 850, they still get to walk in graduate but have to come back to remediate in the summer before they get their degree. I think they should just be thrown out. How many free lunches should a peraon get anyway. It seems to me it just cheapens our degree to keep giving people second and third chances. I need someones unbiased opinion here?
Medic

One of my classmates failed HESI, but got her degree in 11/2003(it was not the required to pass it)...4 months later, she took the NCLEX-RN. She passed it the 1st time she took the exam....BINGO.

fultzymom · Jun 4, 2007

Just because you do not pass that test does not mean that they are not smart. Many people have to re-take the NCLEX. You get to take that up to three times before you have to do remedial/review work. Should those nurses not get to re-take the NCLEX?

caliotter3 · Jun 4, 2007

If their paperwork to take the NCLEX is held up by the school due to having to remediate in the summer, then I would think they are being sufficiently punished for having failed. That would put this group of people behind their competition in getting their first jobs.

suzy253, RN · Jun 4, 2007

it took me 3 tries to pass the HESI exit and I passed the first time with my NCLEX RN.

What if you didn't pass the HESI the first time...would you mind being thrown out of the program and not given a chance to remediate after all that hard work?

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 4, 2007

Time to leave school behind. Reunite the class after one year of work, then see how everyone does. Consider the first year of work the last year of nursing school. The truly unfit will fail(hopefully for the patients' sake) there.

angel75 · Jun 4, 2007

Our school uses the HESI every semester and it counts. I just finished my 3rd semester and we had to score at least an 850, if not you had one more chance to retake it this summer. If you do not pass on the second attempt you fail whether you had an "A" in the class or not. Our last semester which will be this fall we must score a 900 and on the comprehensive as well. Yes I do feel that everyone deserves a second chance. Test anxiety plays a big part in testing. Knowing you only have one chance to pass would be very stressfull!! Thank God I have passed all of my HESI exams so far. I did have a friend who did not pass on the second attempt. This person failed pediatrics (had a C in the class now he has an F due to the HESI) and has to wait to repeat the class this Jan and will not graduate with us in the fall. I have mixed emotions about the HESI. I can see why the school values it so much. The HESI is a good indicator on how well you would do on the NCLEX, but then again I have had some friends who have graduated already and have done great on the HESI but failed NCLEX on first attempt.

Be thankful that you did pass. I am sure that if you had not passed you would have been thankful for one more chance. Take care and good luck!

Danish, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 4, 2007

My school is very similar with ATI tests. We were told that we had to pass them at or above the national average by the 2nd try or we were out. Now that a ton of people are failing both times, the rule is changing.

At first I was upsed, I mean I studied my butt off to pass and they get to fail and its fine...then, I realized that the probability that they will not pass the NCLEX doesnt really change because they failed the nutrition, or OB ATI test. Also, no matter how many people failed it, the fact stands that I PASSED on the first try. Who cares what they did or didnt do! Im still passing and going to be a great nurse.

Its hard, but you just have to get over being affected by that others do. It doesnt change you or your grade, so dont sweat it.

TrudyRN · Jun 4, 2007

Consider the first year of work the last year of nursing school. The truly unfit will fail (hopefully, for the patients' sake) there.

I must disagree with this view. I don't think patients should have to be exposed to any more dangers than they already are.

I think a lot of students are passed up to the next level by instructors and deans are afraid to confront them, for whatever reasons, like making the school look bad, reluctance to make enemies or offend big donors, etc. So instead of the schools biting the bullet, we now are supposed to make employers do it? And patients??? Wrong, dead wrong.

TrudyRN · Jun 4, 2007

I understand the OP's frustration but I wonder - if she were the one who failed, would she agree to be thrown out and not given yet another chance, and maybe even another and another, to remediate?

OP, understand that the schools do this so their statistics look good to their accrediting body.

Congrats on your achievement and don't let this drag you down.

Remember: We do need nurses.

MelodyRNurse · Jun 4, 2007

They made it through the entire program and you think they should be thrown out because they failed one test! I don't think thats fair at all. That test probably causes people a lot of stress and anxiety and some are not successful, but that doesn't make them incompetent. Some of those people may turn out to be excellent nurses and we need them. Less competition-more teamwork and support. Just my opinion. Goodluck in your career.