2btmanrn

Welp...here we go again. Every year its the same thing over and over and over again. No one will LISTEN. No one will step up to the plate until it effects them - personally. You CANNOT win this battle ..... BECAUSE the city colleges of chicago know that every year that students will NOT STICKE TOGETHER and fight them. Every year, only a few students will fight them whether be in court on some other way. NO MATTER what in the long run, the school is very AWARE that the students DO NOT stick together. THE ONLY WAY... to stop this malicious, apprehensible tactics from re occurring is to protest in front of district with everyone! Get the media involve. I cant stress this enough. Find ALL the students successful or unsuccessful with HESI and protest. Stick together until EVERYONE gets what is right. You completed the program, your student handbook said to give you an exit exam after completion, but the exit exam you are being was never covered in your classess. NO Brainer... if the students fail that means the teacher... the program failed. BUT its only the students who are being punished. STICK TOGETHER and fight if you want to WIN. Otherwise, don't bother.

LOOKING FOR.. STUDENTS who have attended any of the seven city colleges of chicago nursing program to come and support our mission to utilize HESI accordingly. We completed the program, therefore, we deserve to be given the opportunity to take NCLEX RN Exam. Please attend the meeting on May 7 at 800am at the District Office. Past, and current students and instructors are MOST welcome! Its time that we all unite as one. Please e mail or contact everyone.

LOOKING FOR.. STUDENTS who have attended any of the seven city colleges of chicago nursing program to come and support our mission to utilize HESI accordingly. We completed the program, therefore, we deserve to be given the opportunity to take NCLEX RN Exam. Please attend the meeting on May 7 at 800am at the District Office. Past, and current students and instructors are MOST welcome! Its time that we all unite as one. Please e mail or contact everyone.

Well, if it took Mayor Daley twice to pass his BAR exam, the school would not count him. If his school had HESI he woudln't of been able to take his BAR exam, anyway. The HESI is a predictor. According to our school, you must pass it by 87% or higher. Meaning, you have an 87% or higher chance of passing NCLEX exam the first time. Remember, the school receives more money, funding if the NCLEX pass rate is high for "first time test takers," ONLY. The second time test takers are NOT counted. I am familiar with all the debates of HESI. The TRUTH is, it is the duty of the faculty/program to assess each student. If the teacher passed you for whatever reason, it is NOT the students fault. Is it? If you completed the program, you deserve the opportunity to take the NCLEX. Correct? If the program is so worried about closing, than they should do their jobs. Correct? Instead, they take a shortcut and use the HESI exit exam. Right? You can re take NCLEX up to 12 times, but HESI once or twice? NCLEX is the state mandated exam, HESI is a predictor exam. The State only recognzes first time test test takers, not second or third, yet again, you can take NCLEX up to 12 times? So, its the student's fault that they passed each nurisng courses, provided safe care to patients for free for two to three years, and complied with the student policy handbook??????? Wow!

Well, if it took Mayor Daley twice to pass his BAR exam, the school would not count him. If his school had HESI he woudln't of been able to take his BAR exam, anyway. The HESI is a predictor. According to our school, you must pass it by 87% or higher. Meaning, you have an 87% or higher chance of passing NCLEX exam the first time. Remember, the school receives more money, funding if the NCLEX pass rate is high for "first time test takers," ONLY. The second time test takers are NOT counted.

TRUE. "Throughout history, schools have included "comprehensive final exams" as part of their graduation requirements." That part is true, I know. But, all throughout the nursing curriculum your passing score is 78%. Why is than the "comprehensive final exam," should be 87%? With our case, we received our final grades, than were told we need to take another exam. We had our graduation ceremony. Thanks everyone for beindg courteous to my friend yesterday. It is a sensitive crisis. No, we did not sign any contract regarding the change.

as months pass by, i have come to realize that there are more than just my classmates out there within the city colleges of chicago whose lives have been damaged severly by the lack of accountability. how many more students, how many more? in my opinion, making a whole degree hinge on a single test is wrong, and using that to artificially inflate a college's pass rate is truly dishonest, rather deceptive. why not just give the degree if earned and permission to test and let nclex do the test? that is what medical schools and law schools do. passing the exam is up to the students. if the college does this, then why not put up the honest statistics and let the consumer decide where to spend their dollars? where is the consumer protection here? it's absent, i'd say. researched has been done and the psychological consequences and they are more disturbing. using a qualitative design, 10 nursing graduates who had failed the nclex-rn were interviewed to gain an understanding of this experience. several themes emerged including: carrying failure as a daily burden; losing the of identity of being a nurse; doubting past accomplishments; seeing self as damaged goods; wanting support; and daring to hope. the authors described the experience of nclex-rn failure resulting in feelings of abandonment. in addition, graduates who failed the nclex-rn stated they felt cut off from the community of faculty and students who had been important to their learning experience while in a nursing program. this is how what we are experiencing. we were qualified to enter the nursing program, passed each nursing courses, paid our tuitions, and completed the program. approximately, 50% of my classmates who completed the program are without a degree and cannot sit for the nclex examination. please attend the meeting and support the students who deserves the opportunity to take the nclex rn exam.

as months pass by, i have come to realize that there are more than just my classmates out there within the city colleges of chicago whose lives have been damaged severly by the lack of accountability. how many more students, how many more? yes, i agree. making a whole degree hinge on a single test is wrong, and using that to artificially inflate a college's pass rate is truly dishonest, rather deceptive. why not just give the degree if earned and permission to test and let nclex do the test? that is what medical schools and law schools do. passing the exam is up to the students. if the college does this, then why not put up the honest statistics and let the consumer decide where to spend their dollars? where is the consumer protection here? it's absent, i'd say. researched has been done and the psychological consequences and they are more disturbing. using a qualitative design, 10 nursing graduates who had failed the nclex-rn were interviewed to gain an understanding of this experience. several themes emerged including: carrying failure as a daily burden; losing the of identity of being a nurse; doubting past accomplishments; seeing self as damaged goods; wanting support; and daring to hope. the authors described the experience of nclex-rn failure resulting in feelings of abandonment. in addition, graduates who failed the nclex-rn stated they felt cut off from the community of faculty and students who had been important to their learning experience while in a nursing program. this is how what we are experiencing. we were qualified to enter the nursing program, passed each nursing courses, paid our tuitions, and completed the program. approximately, 50% of my classmates who completed the program are without a degree and cannot sit for the nclex examination. please attend the meeting and support the students who deserves the opportunity to take the nclex rn exam.

hello, everyone! good morning. i have a classmate here with me and she would like to make several comments based on her experience with our school and the hesi exam. please, be kind with your replies. please. note, this is her opinion and her experiences! lets respect that. thank you! [color=#333333]the academic staff at one of the city colleges of chicago awarded me my grades, which indicates mastery of their nursing program. [color=#333333]i was unsuccessful with the hesi exit exam, an exam that was utilized to protect their own pass rates two months before my graduation. the city colleges of chicago is implementing this exam only as an obstacle to prevent myself and other qualified classmates from taking the nclex rn exam. this strategy shows only one design, and that is only to give an artificially inflated pass rate for the school. which indicates that the city colleges of chicago lacks concern of the success of their students, but is only concern in protecting their own pass rates. i am not arguing the importance of appropriate and relevant testings. but the city colleges of chicago is using this exam to deny me and other classmates who have successfully completed the academic program the opportunity to graduate and sit for boards. it all boils down to the city colleges of chicago not having confidence in their own academic program. they are trying to bolster their nclex pass rates by eliminating me and other classmates from the test pool. if they have legitimate reason to question me and other students' ability to pass nclex, then why have i passed all of their nursing classes? if i had any unsatisfactory performance i should have been weeded out of the program long before completing the program! i provided above standard care of my patients and received excellent evaluations/competency from my instructors for the two years that i was in the program. my family and i sacrificed a lot. i completed the program, and paid my tuitions. my score was 85%, which indicates the probability by percentage of passing the state boards exam (nclex rn). olive harvey college stated they will not allow me to sit for boards or give me my nursing degree unless i scored 87% or above. the hesi exam is not a competency exam. only the nclex rn is the nationally recognized competency exam. i have accumulated over 100 college credit hours and most are nursing. nursing courses are not transferable. there over 1 ½ yr. long waiting list in other nursing programs. i am in debt from college loans and with no degree to show for it. does this sound fair to you? in simple terms what am i talking about? what is the hesi exit exam? its an exam that determines the probability by percentage if you will pass the nclex rn exam. it is also used for both the faculty and students, to determine the student and nursing curriculum of their areas of weakness. in other words, it's a probability and assessment exam. for example, there are 43 students who completed the nursing program. out of the 43 students only three passed the hesi exit exam. out the three who passed the hesi exit exam, only two passed the nclex rn exam. now, the school can state that they have 99% nclex pass rate. according to the state requirement, if nursing programs can show they have above 87% nclex first time test taker pass rate (i think that the%) they can attain more money from the state and it will bait more investors. but, what nobody knows is that, the 40 students who completed the program, cannot attain their nursing degree or take the nclex rn exam. those 40 students are left with nothing but a student loan, low self esteem, and humiliation. four years of nursing school down the drain. one more thing, there are seven colleges within the city colleges of chicago. therefore, if there are 40 students who were unsuccessful, that would not include all the other six colleges. you can assume, 40 students times 6 colleges. plus, students graduate in december and may. that's 240 students times 2. you do the math. my classmates have been without their earned degree since 2006. i can assure you, currently, this sort of deceptive practice is still occurring city college wide. those students who were not successful, were abandoned by the school. another thing, the city college policy is so subjective. they chose who can and cannot re-take the hesi exam. nobody knows how and why, but its true. here is the kicker. you can take the nclex rn exam, according to the state licensing board up to twelve times within three years. but, the city colleges of chicago only counts those students who will pass nclex rn exam the first time. the second time test takers don't count. i wonder how many excellent doctors, and lawyers passed their boards the first time? i would like to hear from other city colleges of chicago nursing students who are going through this. we need to get together democratically and voice our concerns. this sort of diagnostic test is not being utilized in medical school. mayor daley i hope you will read this. how many times did it take you to pass your bar exam? there are a lot of issues and concerns regarding the punitive uses of this exam. the creator of hesi, susan morrison has stated herself that she did not create these exams for punitive reasons, but as a learning tool. i hope i have a few supporters regarding this issue. if the city colleges of chicago truly wanted their students to be successful, they should have utilized the hesi exam throughout the curriculum and not just at the end. it should have been implemented after each nursing course, which will give the student familiarity base, and used accordingly as an assessment tool for both the faculty and student. why did they have to wait until we have completed the program? can you imagine? you received you final grades, than for the school to tell you, "oh by the way, you have to take another test, if you don't pass this one, you will not get your nursing degree and you won't be able sit for your licensing board?" i would like nothing more than your support. help my classmates, please. if you have any question please ask away. you can research this issue, there are a lot of students who have voiced their concerns. i am afraid this sort of deceptive practice is becoming a trend with most nursing programs. other programs, have taken accountability and fixed their mistakes. unfortunately, the city colleges of chicago have not. i doubt that they will. contact mayor daley, senator dick durbin, reporters, past, current students, nurses and anyone else you can think of to attend and advocate us. please! the next board meeting will be held thursday, may 7, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. room 300 district office, 226 west jackson boulevard, chicago, il 60606. my classmates and i do not have anymore money to take them to court and we don't have the resources. telling our story is all i, we have. i pray a savior will come. i have faith in the lord in the people. mind you, we are not asking for a free-ride. we asking for what we worked hard for - the opportunity to take the nclex rn exam. i am sorry if this is so lengthy. i am sure that some of you can understand how much pain i am in. i and my classmates are suffering fiancially. please, help us.

hello, everyone! good morning. i have a classmate here with me and she would like to make several comments based on her experience with our school and the hesi exam. please, be kind with your replies. please. note, this is her opinion and her experiences! lets respect that. thank you! [color=#333333]the academic staff at one of the city colleges of chicago awarded me my grades, which indicates mastery of their nursing program. [color=#333333]i was unsuccessful with the hesi exit exam, an exam that was utilized to protect their own pass rates two months before my graduation. the city colleges of chicago is implementing this exam only as an obstacle to prevent myself and other qualified classmates from taking the nclex rn exam. this strategy shows only one design, and that is only to give an artificially inflated pass rate for the school. which indicates that the city colleges of chicago lacks concern of the success of their students, but is only concern in protecting their own pass rates. i am not arguing the importance of appropriate and relevant testings. but the city colleges of chicago is using this exam to deny me and other classmates who have successfully completed the academic program the opportunity to graduate and sit for boards. it all boils down to the city colleges of chicago not having confidence in their own academic program. they are trying to bolster their nclex pass rates by eliminating me and other classmates from the test pool. if they have legitimate reason to question me and other students' ability to pass nclex, then why have i passed all of their nursing classes? if i had any unsatisfactory performance i should have been weeded out of the program long before completing the program! i provided above standard care of my patients and received excellent evaluations/competency from my instructors for the two years that i was in the program. my family and i sacrificed a lot. i completed the program, and paid my tuitions. my score was 85%, which indicates the probability by percentage of passing the state boards exam (nclex rn). olive harvey college stated they will not allow me to sit for boards or give me my nursing degree unless i scored 87% or above. the hesi exam is not a competency exam. only the nclex rn is the nationally recognized competency exam. i have accumulated over 100 college credit hours and most are nursing. nursing courses are not transferable. there over 1 ½ yr. long waiting list in other nursing programs. i am in debt from college loans and with no degree to show for it. does this sound fair to you? in simple terms what am i talking about? what is the hesi exit exam? its an exam that determines the probability by percentage if you will pass the nclex rn exam. it is also used for both the faculty and students, to determine the student and nursing curriculum of their areas of weakness. in other words, it's a probability and assessment exam. for example, there are 43 students who completed the nursing program. out of the 43 students only three passed the hesi exit exam. out the three who passed the hesi exit exam, only two passed the nclex rn exam. now, the school can state that they have 99% nclex pass rate. according to the state requirement, if nursing programs can show they have above 87% nclex first time test taker pass rate (i think that the%) they can attain more money from the state and it will bait more investors. but, what nobody knows is that, the 40 students who completed the program, cannot attain their nursing degree or take the nclex rn exam. those 40 students are left with nothing but a student loan, low self esteem, and humiliation. four years of nursing school down the drain. one more thing, there are seven colleges within the city colleges of chicago. therefore, if there are 40 students who were unsuccessful, that would not include all the other six colleges. you can assume, 40 students times 6 colleges. plus, students graduate in december and may. that's 240 students times 2. you do the math. my classmates have been without their earned degree since 2006. i can assure you, currently, this sort of deceptive practice is still occurring city college wide. those students who were not successful, were abandoned by the school. another thing, the city college policy is so subjective. they chose who can and cannot re-take the hesi exam. nobody knows how and why, but its true. here is the kicker. you can take the nclex rn exam, according to the state licensing board up to twelve times within three years. but, the city colleges of chicago only counts those students who will pass nclex rn exam the first time. the second time test takers don't count. i wonder how many excellent doctors, and lawyers passed their boards the first time? i would like to hear from other city colleges of chicago nursing students who are going through this. we need to get together democratically and voice our concerns. this sort of diagnostic test is not being utilized in medical school. mayor daley i hope you will read this. how many times did it take you to pass your bar exam? there are a lot of issues and concerns regarding the punitive uses of this exam. the creator of hesi, susan morrison has stated herself that she did not create these exams for punitive reasons, but as a learning tool. i hope i have a few supporters regarding this issue. if the city colleges of chicago truly wanted their students to be successful, they should have utilized the hesi exam throughout the curriculum and not just at the end. it should have been implemented after each nursing course, which will give the student familiarity base, and used accordingly as an assessment tool for both the faculty and student. why did they have to wait until we have completed the program? can you imagine? you received you final grades, than for the school to tell you, "oh by the way, you have to take another test, if you don't pass this one, you will not get your nursing degree and you won't be able sit for your licensing board?" i would like nothing more than your support. help my classmates, please. if you have any question please ask away. you can research this issue, there are a lot of students who have voiced their concerns. i am afraid this sort of deceptive practice is becoming a trend with most nursing programs. other programs, have taken accountability and fixed their mistakes. unfortunately, the city colleges of chicago have not. i doubt that they will. contact mayor daley, senator dick durbin, reporters, past, current students, nurses and anyone else you can think of to attend and advocate us. please! the next board meeting will be held thursday, may 7, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. room 300 district office, 226 west jackson boulevard, chicago, il 60606. my classmates and i do not have anymore money to take them to court and we don't have the resources. telling our story is all i, we have. i pray a savior will come. i have faith in the lord in the people. mind you, we are not asking for a free-ride. we asking for what we worked hard for - the opportunity to take the nclex rn exam. i am sorry if this is so lengthy. i am sure that some of you can understand how much pain i am in. i and my classmates are suffering fiancially. please, help us.

hello and good morning everyone. my classmate is requesting for everyone to read her story. its about her experience and opinions regarding our school and hesi. please be kind to her with your replies. remember, this is a very delicate subject. thanks you guys. [color=#333333]the academic staff at one of the city colleges of chicago awarded me my grades, which indicates mastery of their nursing program. [color=#333333]i was unsuccessful with the hesi exit exam, an exam that was utilized to protect their own pass rates two months before my graduation. the city colleges of chicago is implementing this exam only as an obstacle to prevent myself and other qualified classmates from taking the nclex rn exam. this strategy shows only one design, and that is only to give an artificially inflated pass rate for the school. which indicates that the city colleges of chicago lacks concern of the success of their students, but is only concern in protecting their own pass rates. i am not arguing the importance of appropriate and relevant testings. but the city colleges of chicago is using this exam to deny me and other classmates who have successfully completed the academic program the opportunity to graduate and sit for boards. it all boils down to the city colleges of chicago not having confidence in their own academic program. they are trying to bolster their nclex pass rates by eliminating me and other classmates from the test pool. if they have legitimate reason to question me and other students' ability to pass nclex, then why have i passed all of their nursing classes? if i had any unsatisfactory performance i should have been weeded out of the program long before completing the program! i provided above standard care of my patients and received excellent evaluations/competency from my instructors for the two years that i was in the program. my family and i sacrificed a lot. i completed the program, and paid my tuitions. my score was 85%, which indicates the probability by percentage of passing the state boards exam (nclex rn). olive harvey college stated they will not allow me to sit for boards or give me my nursing degree unless i scored 87% or above. the hesi exam is not a competency exam. only the nclex rn is the nationally recognized competency exam. i have accumulated over 100 college credit hours and most are nursing. nursing courses are not transferable. there over 1 ½ yr. long waiting list in other nursing programs. i am in debt from college loans and with no degree to show for it. does this sound fair to you? in simple terms what am i talking about? what is the hesi exit exam? its an exam that determines the probability by percentage if you will pass the nclex rn exam. it is also used for both the faculty and students, to determine the student and nursing curriculum of their areas of weakness. in other words, it’s a probability and assessment exam. for example, there are 43 students who completed the nursing program. out of the 43 students only three passed the hesi exit exam. out the three who passed the hesi exit exam, only two passed the nclex rn exam. now, the school can state that they have 99% nclex pass rate. according to the state requirement, if nursing programs can show they have above 87% nclex first time test taker pass rate (i think that the%) they can attain more money from the state and it will bait more investors. but, what nobody knows is that, the 40 students who completed the program, cannot attain their nursing degree or take the nclex rn exam. those 40 students are left with nothing but a student loan, low self esteem, and humiliation. four years of nursing school down the drain. one more thing, there are seven colleges within the city colleges of chicago. therefore, if there are 40 students who were unsuccessful, that would not include all the other six colleges. you can assume, 40 students times 6 colleges. plus, students graduate in december and may. that’s 240 students times 2. you do the math. my classmates have been without their earned degree since 2006. i can assure you, currently, this sort of deceptive practice is still occurring city college wide. those students who were not successful, were abandoned by the school. another thing, the city college policy is so subjective. they chose who can and cannot re-take the hesi exam. nobody knows how and why, but its true. here is the kicker. you can take the nclex rn exam, according to the state licensing board up to twelve times within three years. but, the city colleges of chicago only counts those students who will pass nclex rn exam the first time. the second time test takers don’t count. i wonder how many excellent doctors, and lawyers passed their boards the first time? i would like to hear from other city colleges of chicago nursing students who are going through this. we need to get together democratically and voice our concerns. this sort of diagnostic test is not being utilized in medical school. mayor daley i hope you will read this. how many times did it take you to pass your bar exam? there are a lot of issues and concerns regarding the punitive uses of this exam. the creator of hesi, susan morrison has stated herself that she did not create these exams for punitive reasons, but as a learning tool. i hope i have a few supporters regarding this issue. if the city colleges of chicago truly wanted their students to be successful, they should have utilized the hesi exam throughout the curriculum and not just at the end. it should have been implemented after each nursing course, which will give the student familiarity base, and used accordingly as an assessment tool for both the faculty and student. why did they have to wait until we have completed the program? can you imagine? you received you final grades, than for the school to tell you, “oh by the way, you have to take another test, if you don’t pass this one, you will not get your nursing degree and you won’t be able sit for your licensing board?” i would like nothing more than your support. help my classmates, please. if you have any question please ask away. you can research this issue, there are a lot of students who have voiced their concerns. i am afraid this sort of deceptive practice is becoming a trend with most nursing programs. other programs, have taken accountability and fixed their mistakes. unfortunately, the city colleges of chicago have not. i doubt that they will. contact mayor daley, senator dick durbin, reporters, past, current students, nurses and anyone else you can think of to attend and advocate us. please! the next board meeting will be held thursday, may 7, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. room 300 district office, 226 west jackson boulevard, chicago, il 60606. my classmates and i do not have anymore money to take them to court and we don’t have the resources. telling our story is all i, we have. i pray a savior will come. i have faith in the lord in the people. mind you, we are not asking for a free-ride. we asking for what we worked hard for – the opportunity to take the nclex rn exam. i am sorry if my story if so lengthy. its been a very difficult road for me and my family, my classmates too. i, we need your help.

Please share your experience regarding your nursing program. Describe the likes and dislikes. Describe the teacher's teaching methodologies. How was your theory instructor? How was your clinical instructor? How was your nursing tutor? How was your mock lab rooms and your nursing resource center? Did you have up to date equipments? How many graduated from your class? Did you have any sort of diagnostic exit exam? If so, which one? How was it utilized? What was the passing score? What happens if you are not successful? What sort of preparation was given to you regarding the exit exam. How many students passed it? How many passed NCLEX the first time? What are you most memorable moments? Which teacher influenced you the most and why? Share your experiences with other students. What would you do over differently if given the opportunity? Would you do it over again at the same school? I think this will be a fun thread. And it provides the real truth about how nursing programs are operating. With the stimulus package soon coming into play. I think its important that our future nurses are provided with passionate teachers and up to date equipments in order to enhance learning and the path to their success.

I need to know that there are more good people like this man in our field. I still have hope. Someday, people will realized that its hardwork and most of all teamwork that gets the job done. We are suppose to be in a compassionate field. How I dream that someday, we can come together and become loyal colleagues. This man, this hospital gives me some hope. What a great hospital.

I used Suzanne's plan. She is pretty much on the money with her plan. Its great plus its free. Good Luck!

Just stay away from the city colleges. Politically corrupted and money hungry, based on my experience. Google city colleges of chicago and read threads on this site. I still have friends who completed their nurisng programs - successfully and the college won't give them their earned degrees. I wish you luck and keep studying. PEACE

I moved out of my country, tip of the US and moved to a friends' family's house just to go to nursing school. It was rough. Met great classmates. The teachers, and vice chancellor were horrible. Very politically motivated, corrupted. I just found out that chicago is voted one of the most misereable places to live by Forbes magazine. Forbes based it on the political corruption. Thats so true. I didn't learn nursing in nursing school, I learned politics, what authortative power and money can do.

I heard through colleagues that it was an excellent program. After I told them my experience at one of the city colleges of chicago, they were shock. Its full of Rod Blagoveich politicians. I am glad yet sadden when I am told that someone had a wonderful nursing school experience. Mine was extreme NIGHTMARE. I have PTSD --- truely.

I suggest you type in city colleges of chicago and see what other students have to say about it. Thats all I have to say. Google it and search it on allnurses. Its all pretty much true.

I am sure that you don't need to be a paid member to PM suzanne. She does this on her own time and her own terms. She wants to see you be successful. But, you have to do her work. Just like you had to work hard to complete your nursing program... you are not finish yet. At least, you won't thrown a curve ball like my class were. Good Luck. Remember one thing, well a few things. Get plenty of sleep, don't spend more than 45 minutes studying without taking a ten minute break. Spend some time with family and friends. MOST of ALL; YOU KNOW THIS! PEACE!

Whenever you are looking for the NCLEX pass rate for a particular school investigate alittle deeper. If the schools pass rate is above 98% the next question must be what are the attrition rate. There have been many hundreds nationally known nursing students who completed their three year nursing course work only to be abandoned based on a sudden rule change of their exit exams. In other words, if you cannot pass their exit exam, you are not allowed to sit for boards. Those who do sit for boards maybe only five of the students who completed the program with you. From those five students who will take state boards and pass the first time, are the only ones acknoledged. If all five of students pass the state boards the first time, well the school can advertise 100% nclex passing rate. But what about the other students who finished the program with you all and didn't pass a HESI or ATI probability test. A test that determines by percentage if you will pass NCLEX exam the first time. Our state and the school receives their funding by having a high NCLEX first time test taker pass rate. But no body wonders about the students who passed each nursing courses, paid their tutitions. No one wants you to know that the school abandoned those students. If you probability is less than 87% that you pass NCLEX the first time, they don't want nothing to do with you. They want you to spend more of your hard end money and repeat second year. Ask questions. Ask what is the NCLEX pass rate? Ask how many students did you have? How many students took the NCLEX test? Ask for specific numbers. This is your future. Learn from our mistakes. I hope this helps,

At work. Need to vent. Exhausted. We have a difficult time retaining RNs here. My staff consists mostly of LPNs. I am usually the only RN. I have read a few posts and I want to say.. that everyone's experience with their nursing school is diffferent. The point is no matter whether your experience is good or bad, whether you passed HESI or any other form of standardized test is... that you support one another. Just because your experience is better than someone elses does not give you the right to discount someone elses whose experience is unfortunately like ours. Remember that out of 37 students who finished the program only 3 passed HESI. Out of the three who passed HESI two so far, including myslef passed NCLEX. I would give up my nursing license just to have my classmate back. She would of made an excellent nurse. Me, myself I am not sure if this career I have chose is the one for me. Afterall, the crap I was put through emotionally at school, I don't know if I am staying in this profession. The shortage of nurses is affecting both the patients and the nurses. We NEED more nurses. I guess my classmates wrote or spoke to someone at apringfield all they can tell them was that our school has high NCLEX pass rate and that they couldn't do anything for them. What about looking at the attrition rate versus the NCLEX pass rate? Can that number be posted? My classmates does not have enough money to repeat second year. They cant even get a loan due to the economy. The school will not make payment arrangements with them. All this is a bunch of ____ You are right my classmates family should file a civil lawsuit for wrongful death. All the mental abuse they put her through. The loss, shame, humilation she was feeling. Still, a few classmates tell me that they want to take their own lives. I get mad at them, but I don't know exactly what they are feeling. But I can't say it is unbearable. A couple of classmates have even told me specifics of how if they were to kill themselves. This HESI crap has to go. Its not fair for the vice chancellor to suddenly place this upon us. She knew that her faculty was not doing their jobs, instead she wanted the students to be accountable. If the vice chancellor wanted and instructors wanted us truly to be successful, than they would of provided an environement that was conducive to learning. Instead, we were provided with nothing but cat fights. Sorry, ladies, but.... women are the most caddy and jealous individuals. I like being a guy, its safer. The vice chancellor knows alot of people. She did not want to look bad. She is trying to work her way up in becoming the chancellor. Plus, she just recently married the president of the bar association. Odd. He advocates rights of the minority and did some pro bono work for minorities. I wonder if he would represent my classmates who were screwed by his now wife? I can't take losing another classmate. Just help the students. Instead, the instructors and vice chancellor ostersized them. No money for second year than no second year and no repeating HESI. I am trying so hard to forgive them. I am not a religious man. I know what GOD wants... for me to forgive them. I can only forgive them because I know the David and Goliath story.He will hold them accountable. It is GOD you answer too. Thanks for letting me vent. Please everyone just be supportive. Life as is hard enough. Everyones experiences are different. Respect that. PEACE

Mr. Spurlock I will contact you. I am a work right now. I just posted a few minutes ago. Its under graduated students. I wrote your e mail down and I will e mail you asap. I work the midnight shift and sleep most of the days. But, I will call. To all instructors. I know that all instructors are not like the instructors we had. Unfortunately, we have only experienced good clinical instructors. I hope that my classmates expirations will somehow make those particular instructors who lack the passion and care of teaching think twice. We were never bad students. We never had any prior incidents with any other instructors/professors until we entered the nursing program. Thank you for the instructors who continue to have the passion to inspire. To ensure that their students make the best nurses that they can be.

RNCCHERYL; I passed the NCLEX the first time. There were only three of us who did pass HESI. The second classmate who did pass HESI passed NCLEX after the second attempt. The third classmate still has not passed her NCLEX after the second attempt. My point is... based on what we experienced in school, we were not provided the appropriate nursing tools, nor did our instructors care to assist us in any form. There were alot of chapters that we were told "don't bother reading that chapter, you don't need to know it." Our clinical instructors were awesome. But, what the problem was throughout the entire two years, were my classmates and I were verbally abused, a few teachers falsified certain classmate's grades. We were never properly prepared as far as test taking techniques. We did have excellent clinical instructors. Again, we were not aware about HESI until approx. 14 weeks before graduation. Plus, we did not know that if we did not pass this test that we would not graduate and unable to sit for boards until two weeks before graduation. Your daughter is blessed to have you to assist her in her studies. I was the only guy in my group. I can assure you the comments our instructors made with my classmates went from verbal racial abuse to pulling a classmates ears and dragging her into the office. I remember one instructor making a comment the reason why some of girls are single parents is because they don't have the brain and the men just wanted their (expletive) female body part. Yes, we complained as a group, grievances were filed. But, it only got worst for all of us. I know this may seem hard to believe, but it happened. After, the death of my classmate/friend, classmates meet with the president, vice chancellor and chancellor. Their response were "don't take this personal, its just business, its a business transaction." The school than added this part to their new school policy. ""The college may establish a higher minimum grade, if it is deemed necessary." Hows that for taking some accountability? I just strongly feel that if our program really truly wanted to see their students successful. The instructors should have been there for us when we begged them to teach us. They should have had some sort of after class tutoring, or hire a tutor, maybe gave any time to use the skills lab. I just wished that if we had any areas of weakness, we should of been told and remediated ASAP before matriculating onto the next course. To have dealt with the verbal abuses was difficult enough. But, to suddenly place an exam with an ultamatium such as no degree and no sitting for boards - hellish. Graduation invitations were already sent out before this. Familiesmembers already purchased tickets. I can honestly say, I will no longer attend any classroom setting due to the trauma. I have been traumatized. My passing of HESI was pure luck. In my opinon, HESI was difficult and NCLEX was a breeze. To pay over $9000 to repeat second year is alot and to have your grades audited as if you didn't earn your passing grade - totally sucks. For nursing courses to be non transferrable that they can't even chose another school to attend without having to start all over again. Having 97% failure of HESI says alot, especially when 37 completed the nursing program. My classmates are single parents who did not have a car, cell phone who took several trains and buses just to attend school. I do not have children. However, I moved from a neighboring country to live with my dad's friends family. Who I never met, until I moved in. Most of these women worked more than two jobs. I had one. I was the only one who had a computer. 90% of the time we access the computer at the library. No matter what, we all stuck together and studied. 98% of us have an average GPA 3.1. Most are LPNs, and Theta Phi Cum Laudes. We never had any problems/incidents with any other teachers. Don't forget, that the admission criteria for nursing programs are pretty tough, tough to get into. You have to be selected based on their critieria. Therefore, their were no dummies in our group. I know I am writing alot. I just wanted to let everyone know that to please remember that as nurses we must be compassionate, respectful, and unbias. Every situation is different. I know I will never see my classmate again. She would of made an excellent nurse, she was the type that if she didn't know an answer to her patients questions she looked it up, made a copy of the info, and sat next to her patient and read the answer together. They would learn together. Remember Maslow? Physiologic needs are met first, than love and belonging? I am estatic and envious of all of you who had a wonderflul nursing experience. But please, don't judge others who have not. Since the death of my classmates, a few classmates have confessed that they too have thought about attempting suicide. Some made statements on how they would do it. I was sick to my stomach. But yet, I felt, well, maybe, if I too did not pass HESI would my thoughts be the same as theirs? I don't know. This is very emotional. We worked hard and sacrificied so much to complete the nursing program. We endured more than most nursing students. I learned that instructors are very powerful and as one had told us several times before, "I determine whether or not you become a nurse." She showed us, just how powerful she was, powerful because she determined our grades, and overloaded us with helping her at her church. Anyway, my break is over. I have nine patients, total of 25, I am the only RN and the rest are LPNs. Which means, I have 25 patients. Ugh!!!! Thank you all for letting me vent. I appreciate you all. PEACE!

I am in mourning. One of my classmates after a second attempt, finally succeeded in killing herself. In her note, she said that she could no longer deal with the humilation, loss, and lies that the school had put her and her children through. She no longer had any money to repeat second year and have her grades audited as if she never earned them to begin with. Which were the only choice the school gave them. Its been so painful dealing with how our school used their students as escapegoats for their own curriculum's deficiencies. I feel if the students had any deficiencies that it would of been nipped in the bud to begin with. The school was wrong to wait until you completed the entire program, to have taken all of your money, to a use a diagnostic test to withold your degree, and holding only the students accountable and not the faculty. I am in so much pain on the loss of my beloved classmate. She would of made an excellent nurse. She stated in her note, that she wishes that faculty would of stood up for what is right. Faculty had told us many times that they do not believe in the exam. But, they also told us they were afraid to speak up against the vice chancellor in fear that they would lose their jobs. We had no advocacy. A few classmates have obtained an attorney regarding the matter. Others just gave up. I don't know what to do. Who do I write to? Who can help make this change? How can our story be known? I feel helpless and hopeless. This maybe the last time I write here. I am in too much pain and confused about this whole HESI vs. NCLEX conspiracy. I lost my friend because of it. I will never see her, again. I don't understand...

Thanks, everyone. It has been very difficult, I don't feel that the exam itself was at fault. Their were many variables. My classmate, my friend worked so hard to save money for college. She worked from 10 at night to 4 in the morning six days a week washing pots and pans at a fancy restaurant. She would take buses and or trains to get to work and school. She walked her children to and from school. She was a good christian woman. I alongside with all of my classmates blame our Nursing school. Our instructors humilated us. Very destructive comments, the falsification of our grades. Racial connotations. Our nursing instructors consistently provided a hostile environment. Verbal abuse after verbal abuse. The Vice chancellor did not care. She listened to her faculty. The vice chancellor along with faculty ostersized the students who did not pass HESI. Like, I said before. We did not know about HESI until about 12 weeks before graduation. We were not told about what the passing score was and if we did not pass it, that we would not graduate ,until two weeks prior to graduation. The instructors made sure we paid for the nursing pins, hats, and uniform and graduation registration. That seemed more important to them than the test. I really think the real reason the vice chancellor set up this HESI exit exam is because she knew that the instructors were not teaching correctly. We filed a grievance against one teacher, she kept changing the syllabus, couldn't answer our questions, and worst of all... wouldn't tell us our test results were. Therefore, in order to save the vice chancellor and her employees butt, she implemented the HESI exam. The vice chancellor was aware about the state requirements for NCLEX and that they do not look at the attrition rate. The state does not look at the fact that 97% of the students who completed the nursing program did not pass a HESI exit test. So were are those students now? Well, most will repeat second year for 9000.00, others got an attorney. One, killed herself because she had no money left and couldn't bear the humilation she endured throughout the program and the sudden implementation, and failure of HESI. The instrucots not being able to stand up to the vice chancellor in fear of losing their jobs. My classmates are NOT getting any help. They feel lost. I don't blame them. The exam was never stated in our handbook, we were never told we had any areas of weakness that need strengthening, if so why did we matriculate onto the next course? HESI is a probability exam. NCLEX RN adapts to your ability, HESI does not. HESI company states that faculty must be held accountable for what they teach. To ostersized the students who completed the program based on a probability test is NOT very professional. More like childish behavior. What happens with their nursing courses, which is NOT transferrable? I blame the faculty and more so the Vice Chancellor for their selfish acts. I shame on the faculty for being cowards. My classmates deserve much more. They have worked so hard and sacrficed so much for the program and their children. This is the return they get? I always know that the vice chancellor has a list of names who she feels would fail the second year. I was told the vice chancellor has alot of collegiate networks and that she has a list of the trouble making students. Well, we were NEVER troublemakers. We never had to be placed on discipline. I am sure our instructors have a long paper trail of greivances filed by former students. Let that speak for itself. So, now the vice chancellor is making a list and handing them out to other nursing programs. Who they should accept or not accept. Make sure you do your homework. Don't always take the vice chancellors side. Learn about KARMA. I agree that my classmate had other choices, and it was very selfish for her to leave her children. I also know that based on psych. "only you know the amount of pain you can handle." Failing HESI as described by classmates as, "I feel my heart was ripped out of me." "I lost my future," "I feel stupid, and lost." My classmates, after the test, were throwing up in the bathroom. Some were screaming so loud, as if someone they loved had just died. I heard a few classmates went down to Springfield, Illinois to talk. I am not sure how that turned out. I hope they can help them out. This is absolutely ridiculous. It it NOT fair to hold a student who successfully completed the nursing program based on probability test and its ranking score. Springfield requires that you can take NCLEX up to 12 times within three years. I hate to imply, but its possible that since the vice chancellor repeatdly has told us that "she knows alot of people, and that we can do her no harm." I take care of 8 patients, its hard out here. I am not the only newbie here. A few nurses have taken the HESI exit exam but it was never used against their graduation. Why is it that schools differ in that? What about the nurses who never heard of HESI and or took HESI? Does that mean that they are incompetent as nurses? No. Why? Because its not a competency test... its a probability test. I dare the vice chancellor to tell the nurses who have dedicated themselves to nursing for over 20 years that HESI determines if the student will be a safe and effective nurse. The nurses here will tell you, its not the HESI test, its experience and integreaty. Integreal? Thats a laugh. Thats something the school or the vice chancellor has. All I can say is, I am frustrated. I hope that everyone believes in KARMA. Someone needs to step up to the plate and do something about these ridiculous, selfish acts. In the same note, I want to thank you for all those great instructors. I am aware that you guys are out there and that being a nurse and teacher is your passion. There is always good and evil in this world. If by chance, you get an application from one of my classmates, please don't believe the nursing program. Believe in my classmates. We needed someone to believe in us, some validation, and most of all please teach us. We were so hungry to learn. Instead, the instructors had other agendas such as competing for higher up position that they forgot about us. We were in their way. We just wanted to learn. I lost my classmate, who I will NEVER see because my instructors had their own agendas, because the vice chancellor had vanity issues. What about the students???? What about the students' families???? They earned their degree and they have the right to sit for boards! I am so very hurt. I am in pain. Where are the morals, the principles?