Ok, so here's my question/concern: What reason(s) would a nursing program have for no longer supporting their own policies contained within their nursing handbook? In the time that I have been in this program, I have seen a lot of changes.
1. Policy states that a student is allowed two appeals in the program and if not successful after second appeal, student would be dismissed from program. However, we currently have at least one student that's on his third appeal.
2. Policy states that a student is allowed two attempts on dosage calculations tests (one given at beginning of each semester) with a 90% requirement to pass. If a student is unsuccessful after second attempt, student is to be dismissed from program. We currently had at least 8 students that were not successful, yet they are still in the program.
In the past couple of years, our program has gone through some additional changes with losing/gaining of faculty and we are now on our third program director. I do not understand why it would be in a school's best interest to retain or inflate grades of students that are performing poorly, not to mention that they could be a danger to caring for patients. Our school is not currently in jeopardy of losing its program and has at least 90% NCLEX pass rates on first attempt. My instincts tell me something is not right, but I just cannot put my finger on it. The rules have gotten more lenient and seem to be non-existent.
Can someone please offer some potential insight as to why the school would be appearing to lower the standards by allowing students to continue in program despite not being successful according to specific policy, inflating grades for students that have technically failed, and how these decisions affect the program and myself as a current student? What's going on at my school? Should I be concerned??
Compared to things I've seen/heard of at other places, you're fine. Don't worry about it. Just get through and graduate -- that is your only concern right now.
No, it's a state school. So I am sure that the school is aware of the inherent danger in allowing this to happen. Why in the world would they take the chance? I would be worried about losing my job if I were an instructor. By this going on they are basically saying that grades do not matter!
Oh the stories I could tell about my own program....
Your school's NCLEX pass rate is higher than mine. Don't worry about these things. At the end, it doesn't really reflect on you because it's up to you to take charge and be responsible for what you learned and to be on your game when you start working.
Perhaps the policy states that they "can" or "may" be dismissed for these reasons, not that they automatically and necessarily "will." Have you checked the exact wording of the policies?
Today I was in the "10 items or less" line. I realized that the lady who was at the counter when I walked up had at least 30 or 40 items. At first, I was annoyed. Then I remembered a time when I had many items, and the lady at the express counter waved me over and said, "I can take you. We're not busy." I replied, "Oh-are you sure that's okay?" She said, "yeah, no problem." Of course, at that time a few people came into the line and I could feel their eyes burning holes into me. They didn't and couldn't have known what had taken place before they arrived. So today I got over myself, realized I didn't necessarily know why she was in that line, and just went happily about my day.
You need to do the same. You don't know the circumstances, it doesn't affect you at all, and you'd still want to try your best and do your best no matter what others are doing.
My mom always used to say "You just worry about you and that will keep you plenty busy." Good advice.
Today I was in the "10 items or less" line. I realized that the lady who was at the counter when I walked up had at least 30 or 40 items. At first, I was annoyed. Then I remembered a time when I had many items, and the lady at the express counter waved me over and said, "I can take you. We're not busy." I replied, "Oh-are you sure that's okay?" She said, "yeah, no problem." Of course, at that time a few people came into the line and I could feel their eyes burning holes into me. They didn't and couldn't have known what had taken place before they arrived. So today I got over myself, realized I didn't necessarily know why she was in that line, and just went happily about my day.
You need to do the same. You don't know the circumstances, it doesn't affect you at all, and you'd still want to try your best and do your best no matter what others are doing.
My mom always used to say "You just worry about you and that will keep you plenty busy." Good advice.
i love this!! That exact thing has happened to me and I could feel the looks. I kind of fumbled with embarrassment and said, there wasn't anybody here and she said it was ok. But I also now always let somebody in front of me in a regular line if they only have a couple of items and my cart is full. kind of the karma thing.
In my nursing program in Canada, I failed the math call test both times, why easy; I got cocky,. The practice questions never reflected the actual tests. But In my case the policy stated one would be closely monitored during consolidation.
As for the triple fail. I have had 3 students in 4th year final lab exam for skills fail 4 times and yet still on the 5th get to redo and pass. These students were the weakest of our class both theory and clinical. Yet were allowed to continue on to consolidate.
Fight the program and you'll find yourself fighting all your labs and exams. Good luck. NS
I am in the last few weeks of an RN to BSN program that has a detailed handbook full of stringent policies. Prior to beginning the program, all students had to sign a document verifying that they read, understood, and agreed to abide by these policies. Over and over and over again, a number of my classmates have blatantly broken these policies, yet the infractions are overlooked and they are given undeserved grades allowing them to move on to the next course. I am certain that these students would gladly join in with the "mind your own business" chorus being sung on this thread. When we receive our degrees next month, only half of my class will have truly earned theirs. The issue is that it looks bad on the program to fail so many students, so they let way too much slide. As one of the few that has worked their butts off and followed the policies we agreed to abide by, I find it offensive to stand next to those who did not, receiving the same honor as if we were equally deserving. That IS my business. Nearly every single one of these undeserving students plan to go on to become nurse practitioners. When these under-educated slackers become NPs and care for your family members, it will become your business as well. There is a time and place for minding one's own business. The grocery store example given above is one of those and not at all comparable to this situation. While there should always be room to give grace to those with extenuating circumstances, repeatedly ignoring the violation of policies just makes the program look like a joke.
I happen to have done well in my program and followed all policies, passed all checks off and math quizzes on the first attempt, and was not given any special treatment. Yet, I am still in the "mind your own business" choir.
As stated multiple times, it literally doesnt effect you, and nursing school grades do not mean that someone will be a bad nurse. There are many people who are smart but don't do well on NCLEX style exams. There are people with test anxiety. And yes, that can play into doing bad on checkoffs or with instructors watching in clinical. Sure there are some people who will get floated through who would makes bad nurses, and they will be weeded out pretty quick in the real world.
On the other side of that, I happen to have graduated with a student who would make an absolute terrible nurse. Yet she is good at NCLEX style tests. I wouldnt let this person care for my dog, let alone me. However, by some peoples view she deserves to be a nurse purely because she was able to pass without any exceptions being made for her.
So, again, mind your own business. You don't know the whole story. Nursing school grades do not make a nurse. Being a priss about grades does not make a good nurse either. Learn to be humble. Learn that everything in life isnt fair. Learn that when working in the real world, you will see a lot of things that aren't done exactly by the books because then everything wouldn't get done. Leanr that the only time it actually matters is if a patient is being harmed or will potentially be harmed by another nurses actions. That is the only time it will become your business.
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la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN
1,260 Posts
Compared to things I've seen/heard of at other places, you're fine. Don't worry about it. Just get through and graduate -- that is your only concern right now.