ONE POINT from passing Pharmacology first term : (

AOx1 · Aug 26, 2010

Pharm is everywhere. You mentioned you also squeaked by in your other classes and didn't retain the information from pharm. With this being the case, it is only fair that future patients have a nurse that really knows the basics. Frustrating, I'm sure, but not as bad as constantly feeling unsafe would be.

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Aug 26, 2010

Better you let down those parents, friends and family than a patient who is counting on you to know what you are doing and what you are administering to them. Re-read you're posting and look into your heart to know what the right thing is for you to do.

bonn_bai · Aug 26, 2010

Yikes. Maybe you should take a breather. Revamp. You're going to do the same thing next semester if you are overwhelmed and not mentally prepared. This is your career and your life - just be open and honest with those who care about you and do what you know is right for you.

ohcomeon · Aug 26, 2010

I'm sorry, there is nothing I cannot stand more in school than people asking for grades/points that they didn't earn. You said that you haven't retained any of the information. That is your answer right there. You need to retake the class.

anonymousstudent · Aug 26, 2010

I'm sorry, there is nothing I cannot stand more in school than people asking for grades/points that they didn't earn. You said that you haven't retained any of the information. That is your answer right there. You need to retake the class.

OK, lets think about this a minute. She needed 800 points to pass the class and got 799. I've NEVER seen a nursing class with that many points. I've never had one with more than 160, actually. But here's the question: Can her teacher assure that EVERY one of her points were graded correctly? Every one of 799...where are all of the stats people...I don't think that's likely. My husband teaches at another university here and his take on it is that if the margin of error is that slim, the teacher needs to either re-grade the entire content of the student's work for the semester, or cough up the point. So yes, whining and crying for points you didn't "earn" is one thing, but this is not exactly that case.

However OP, if you didn't retain that information you are going to be in a very bad position for a long time. If you have an exit exam it's going to be heavily weighted in pharm. If you really didn't learn it, take it again. Do YOURSELF a favor, not to mention every patient you will ever come in contact with. And learn prototypes this time. JMO

latebloomer74, LPN · Aug 27, 2010

You can certainly try to get that extra point, however she probably won't give it to you. A classmate of mine failed 2nd semester of the LPN program by 1/2 a point. And she could not take the semester over, she would have to reapply to the program if she chose to. Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

healthstar, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2010

That is a hard class. It is very interesting and you will need to know and learn pharmacology for the rest of your life. I feel sorry that you did not pass the class. Don't fight and be angry over 1 point, they won't give it to you. Nursing school or any medical school is not only about passing the class you need to learn the material so you can be successful in the future.If you failed by a point, it means that you did not understand the content, you did not know how to study for the test, or you decided to study 1-2 days before the test. Take the class again, see the instructor for extra help, focus on your weaknesses and learn instead of memorizing. Memorizing can get you to pass the test but it does not help you in the long run. The only way you can remember things longer is by learning/understanding.If you are not getting pharmacology now you are most likely going to struggle later on.

I am not being a negative person....I am speaking from experience. I was a terrible student in chemistry and now I am very good.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2010

OK, lets think about this a minute. She needed 800 points to pass the class and got 799. I've NEVER seen a nursing class with that many points. I've never had one with more than 160, actually. But here's the question: Can her teacher assure that EVERY one of her points were graded correctly? Every one of 799...where are all of the stats people...I don't think that's likely. My husband teaches at another university here and his take on it is that if the margin of error is that slim, the teacher needs to either re-grade the entire content of the student's work for the semester, or cough up the point. So yes, whining and crying for points you didn't "earn" is one thing, but this is not exactly that case.
However OP, if you didn't retain that information you are going to be in a very bad position for a long time. If you have an exit exam it's going to be heavily weighted in pharm. If you really didn't learn it, take it again. Do YOURSELF a favor, not to mention every patient you will ever come in contact with. And learn prototypes this time. JMO

How is this not the case? The student barely squeaked by their other classes and didn't get the points needed for this class. In fact in this sentence the OP wrote write here "but in her emails, it sounds like she's already exhausted all the extra points to give me." it seems that the instructor has already tried to "help" as much as she can. We have lost MANY students by 1 point. But if the instructor gives into one than where does it end. The grades and point systems are in place before the class starts. The students know the expectations. In my program you have to bring up any test issues before the next test. We are given a chance to review our tests and bring up problems than. Once the next test is done that's it. That way all these students aren't bombarding the teachers at the end of the semester trying to find extra points.

I agree with the other poster. I can't stand people trying to get points they didn't deserve either. It's a value I am trying to pass down to my children as well. I have a kid that just started HS but in JHS he would skate by and than at the end try to get extra credits and stuff or retakes to bring up his grade. I started telling him he wasn't allowed to do that and he would need to accept the grade he EARNED.

To the OP. It sounds like you would truly benefit from retaking the class. I was just talking to a student that didn't pass Pharm our 1st semester by a few points. She struggled bad in that class. She just retook it and got an A. She said she absorbed and learned so much more from retaking it.

happy2learn · Aug 27, 2010

I just finished up my finals for first semester for my associates in nursing. I squeaked by in my other three classes, but in Pharm, my final grade at this point is a 799 and I need an 800 to pass. FML, right??
my professor emailed me to call her later on this evening to discuss my grade situation , but I honestly have no idea if she will pass me or require me to take pharm again. but in her emails, it sounds like she's already exhausted all the extra points to give me. Why can't she exhaust ONE MORE FREAKING LOUSY POINT??
i admit i struggled in pharm (the tests killed me) and i honestly feel like i haven't retained any of that information. there was just so much information to memorize and it was so overwhelming for me. maybe it would be best for me to take a break off this upcoming semester: re-take pharm, get all the basics down, and start preparing for the NCLEX.
but I don't want to let down my parents/friends/family by having to retake a class again. everyone has had so much faith in me, and i feel like a failure for flunking a class my very first term.
what do y'all suggest? should i fight for my teacher to give me that one extra point to move on to term 2? or should i agree with her and retake pharm if she suggests it?
~thanks everyone~

I can understand your frustrated. Obviously this is a difficult time for you. But take some time to think about what you are saying here.

First, you are squeaking by all of your classes. What have you done to try do better than squeaking by? Have you studied more? Have you tried different studying tactics? Have you asked from help from fellow students, your teacher, or even a tutor?

Second, your teacher was never required to give you any extra points EVER. You should be VERY grateful that she has been trying to help you out. But obviously she feels you are not ready to move forward, which is why you are not getting that point. You need to trust her. You admit you struggled and you haven't retained a thing. I'm sure the last thing you want is to have her let you give you an extra point (that you don't deserve), then you fail more classes because you didn't learn much from Pharm, or you can't pass the NCLEX, or you kill someone from a med error.

There is no need to blame your teacher for not passing the class. Your teacher seemed to be more than willing to help. But there comes a point when they can't help you anymore and I'm sure they would be help liable if they passed you through and you messed up later on.

You need to retake the class. You need to take your own advice on this. It will do you good to retake the class. You will be more confident in your other classes if you pass it. And you can be proud that you passed it without begging for more points.

Failing a class does not make you a failure. It is simply a lesson learned. Who cares what your family thinks? They don't know how hard Pharm is. You need to care about learning it so you can practice safely on your patients. That's ALL that matters.

You know what area you are struggling with. Now is your chance to buckle down and tackle it head on. Good luck to you.

cheezwhiz · Aug 27, 2010

step 1: go to atm

step 2: meet w/ teacher

step 3: do like this

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2010

I can feel your pain! Even though I did well in my other summer classes, I ended up with 78 in Pharm I....I needed 79. I knew I didn't really understand ABG's and fluid/base imbalances, but pride kept me from asking for help. Plus working full time. After a day of whining to my DH, I put my big girl panties on and enrolled in it again this semester The review is really helping! I cut my hours at work to 2 days/week and I raise my hand often in class. I'm not feeling overwhelmed anymore...busy, but not overwhelmed.

If I had failed a fluff class or something like that, I would have asked my teacher for the point, but pharm is something we NEED TO KNOW. Now, I need to get All Nurses and read some. Good luck!