Nursing School Forces Retake of Passed Courses

[malenurseNTX2019]

In an unexpected ending to the entirety of the LVN/RN bridge program, I passed the clinical portion, but failed the HESI exit exam. This causes me a repeat of the academic, and clinical courses for the last semester. These are both time consuming, and expensive courses, and each is separate of the other as emphasized strongly by the staff. So I sought to be relieved of the clinical repeat course based on having successfully passed in the last semester. Denied with administration claiming these must be taken again in full by State Statute. Not so. I got documentation from the statutory body, and the schools representative, it is NOT statutory. In closed appeal conferences (3) of (4), the department chair continued to declare the retake as a mandatory, statutory requirement, leaving them no power to rule. NOT SO. They have been faced with the evidence, and with no plausible comeback, stated "our curriculum is approved" an obfuscation from the misrepresentation of past hearings. Having examined their entire curriculum sent for board approval, no mention is ever made of forced recursive classes when already passed. Now a final, and last appeal remains to the college board itself. It must be said this school is smaller, with limited enrollments, and nursing revenues are critical in their budget. Should I feel that fairness, and equity is being delivered here, or are they just exploiting this opportunity for financial gain? Days away from final appeal, and the board can simply make no decision, which sends the ruling back from the last appeal. How is that for fair play.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Schools are judged based on how many people who graduate the curriculum go on to pass the licensing exam. The HESI is considered by many to be a reasonable approximation of the NCLEX and pass/fail rates seem to correlate reasonably closely with one another. Because of this, there are a number of schools that require a passing score on exit examinations in order to be granted graduation status. If you don't actually graduate, you don't take the NCLEX yet and your score doesn't bring down their pass/fail stats.

[malenurseNTX2019]

Your point is correct as to passing rates for schools, but the key to the question related to the forced repeat of an already passed clinical.

[caliotter3]

You are dealing with the power structure of a nursing school. You can provide the evidence that the requirement is not statutory a million times and they will continue to set your argument aside as long as it is in their interest to obtain money from you and to show you who owns the power in this situation.

[malenurseNTX2019]

I have to say that your answer describes exactly what has happened through 3, of 4 appeals. That power structure may be immutable to all opposing reason.

[caliotter3]

I have actually had instructors and the administrators of the nursing program tell me in physically threatening manners (in person and on the phone) where I stood in the power organization table. For want of a good attorney along with witnesses. The student can't win unless the school wants the student to win.

[malenurseNTX2019]

Point well taken, and its true of nursing schools at large. I know the only chance I have is should members of the board want for me to prevail. I also fear this could cause a retaliation effect on the part of the instructor staff.

[Seaofclouds, BSN, RN]

Have you reached out to anyone at your state BON to discuss this situation with them? I have heard of similar happening to others and some have had positive outcomes by getting the BON involved.

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

If you're going to have to pay to redo the entirety of nursing school in order to graduate, instead of battling the administration pointlessly, why not just pay to attend a DIFFERENT nursing school?

You could also attempt to retake the exit-HESI to see if you pass.

But the fact of the matter is, the school is allowed to make its own rules as to what constitutes graduation from their particular school. If you don't meet the graduation requirements that they set, then they are within their rights to say that you don't get to graduate from their school.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

17 hours ago, malenurseNTX2019 said:

Your point is correct as to passing rates for schools, but the key to the question related to the forced repeat of an already passed clinical.

I suspect their argument will be that if you cannot pass the HESI, you didn't retain enough from those courses and need to retake them so that you can get the info needed to pass. Not saying it is right or even accurate, but that is likely the ground on which they will dig in their heels. I am sorry this is happening to you.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I agree with not.done.yet about trying to retake the courses at a different school. I don't know how feasible that would be for you. If your school is pulling shenanigans, then they won't profit financially. But if you actually passed their courses and can't pass an exit exam, that doesn't say much for the quality of their education.

[rnhopeful82, ASN, RN]

But it doesn't look like the OP has to retake the whole program, just the last semester. For that reason, transferring schools and starting from zero doesn't seem like the best idea. It sounds like, if it has taken 3 attempts so far and the school isn't budging (even with proof and logic), you're going to be retaking the last semester. Or, like brillohead said, see if you can re-take the exit exam?That sucks, I'm sorry