Received an "F" for a "B"!

Hoozdo, ADN · Aug 18, 2005

At my school it is one or two (can't remember it was first semester) attempts to get 100%.

My school is also 100% and you take it every semester before clinicals. If you fail 3 attempts you need to repeat the WHOLE previous semester. I just took the test today - thank God I got 100%

Lu Ann

DKM_RN · Aug 18, 2005

When I was in nursing school, we were given nursing calculation exams every quarter. We were allowed two attempts to pass the exam at 100%--if you did not pass the nursing calculation exam, you did not proceed with the nursing program.....and my instructors were not kidding around.. i know of at least two people that did not finish in my program due to not passing the nursing calculation exam at 100%.

youknowho · Aug 18, 2005

Gotta side with the school on this one. At my school we get 2 chances to get a 90% or higher or you redo the class. I think that is VERY lenient since other places you must score 100%. I sure wouldn't want a nurse taking care of my kids if they can't pass a dosage test. I really really dont say that to be mean but its that important. Please get some math help instead of "rocking the boat" as you say so hopefully you can continue with your nursing education.

mysticalwaters1 · Aug 18, 2005

Did the teachers explain the calculations at least? That would be unfair if they didn't. We didn't have a whole class on it but the first semester in my schooling took several hours to go over calculations then practice problems. I think that would be fair to teach students than no direction at all. Then if one needs further study get a math tutor. My school also did the 3x 90% or greater each semester before going to clinicals. Yes it is very important but the teachers should give a little feedback. Sometimes I noticed if someone needed help it was not offered. I had a classmate main lanuguage spanish. She spoke english very well but had issues with the wording on test questions. She went to the chair of nursing enforcing she needed help. All she got from the professor was "oh don't worry I'm sure you will do fine." Well, she got lower than a c in class and had to take an extra year to finally graduate and pass boards but she did it. Of course she needs to be totally fluent in english but my point is I did see instances where I feel the professors failed to provide help to students. Even if the teacher couldn't do it herself she could have investigated into it to see if there was any service to her even if she had to pay for it. Some may say it's the student's responsibility but teachers are there to guide and teach you so they should comply.

epiphany · Aug 18, 2005

My school's policy was 100% pass on the drug calculation, and I must say I agree with the policy. The math is very basic, and meds dosage is so important. If you want a book suggestion, get:

Calculate with Confidence - by Gray Morris

KristinWW · Aug 18, 2005

If anyone out there can offer me some advice, I'd be so grateful. I am in an accelerated second degree AAS program at a University in VA which I will not name.
I and 3 other students are currently battling the nursing department over "F" grades we received in Health Assessment Lab and Lecture, despite the fact that no on got less than a C+ in a class that ended July 31st. The reason for this is because the 4 of us did not obtain a 90% or higher by the third attempt at a 10 question dosage calculations quiz. Mind you the calculation of dosages is not taught at our school, it is considered the students responsibility to learn it themselves.
I don't understand how my overall grade of 85% can be reflected on my transcript as a "F" because of one dosage calculations quiz, which I got an 80% on. The four of us tried reasoning with the nursing staff and they basically told us tough cookies and see you next semester at a private Catholic school that costs $600 per credit! Additionally, our school has a policy where you get kicked out if you have to repeat more than 8 nursing credits.
Am I wrong to believe that this action taken was harsh and unfair? Is this just the nature of the nursing beast, or do I have a legitimate right to fight this. I sent emails to the dean and the grievance committee, but no one has responded. It has been 3 weeks. I am afraid to rock the boat TOO much, as these ladies are pretty pompous and power obsessed, and not the kind of people you want to get on the bad side of.
Please help. I am ready to break down and quit, as I can't cry anymore than I already have. The callousness and cold-hearted nastiness of these ladies is absolutely mind-boggling to me.
Can anyone help?

This is one in a long line of "unfairs" that you will encounter in nursing school. We had to take a calc test before each semester began and receive 90%, on 2 tries. We were also on our own to learn drug calcs. This is the norm at probably every school. However, our clinical advisors were more than willing to review anything, at any time. Best of luck to you.....

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

If anyone out there can offer me some advice, I'd be so grateful. I am in an accelerated second degree AAS program at a University in VA which I will not name.
I and 3 other students are currently battling the nursing department over "F" grades we received in Health Assessment Lab and Lecture, despite the fact that no on got less than a C+ in a class that ended July 31st. The reason for this is because the 4 of us did not obtain a 90% or higher by the third attempt at a 10 question dosage calculations quiz. Mind you the calculation of dosages is not taught at our school, it is considered the students responsibility to learn it themselves.
Am I wrong to believe that this action taken was harsh and unfair? Is this just the nature of the nursing beast, or do I have a legitimate right to fight this. I sent emails to the dean and the grievance committee, but no one has responded. It has been 3 weeks. I am afraid to rock the boat TOO much, as these ladies are pretty pompous and power obsessed, and not the kind of people you want to get on the bad side of.
Please help. I am ready to break down and quit, as I can't cry anymore than I already have. The callousness and cold-hearted nastiness of these ladies is absolutely mind-boggling

I know that you do not want to hear this but...

That policy is actually much more liberal than the policies in place at many schools of nursing. Most require 95-100%. And we would have only been able to repeat one nursing course and only once or we would have been booted.

In most nursing schools, each major course has several components: clinical, practical exams and course work. It does not matter how high your overall average is, you must pass each separate section with a C or higher (85% or higher) or you will receive an F for the whole course.

In nursing, you may hold life in the balance, so you must prove to be pretty accurate at all times.

It does not matter that you were not taught the calculations...most nursing math is very basic and you knew that you were expected to know them. You are also in an accelerated degree program...and with that comes the expectation that you will have to work harder and faster. Otherwise, you should have taken the standard course.

And please do not refer to your instructors as "callous", "pompous", "power obsessed", or "coldhearted nasty", just because you are not happy with their holding you to routine nursing school standards. Use of those terms demeans you, not them.

KristinWW · Aug 18, 2005

I wanted to add that I was in an accelerated program as well, and there is a lot that you'll be learning on your own. I hope this isn't harsh - that's the lay of the land. Complaining up the ladder won't do any good, as there likely is a line of students ready to take your place. Wish you well!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

Most schools, and employers, have gotten very strict about drug dosage calculations. I saw people terminated from their brand new hospital job because they couldn't pass a drug calculation test after 3 tries. Didn't they tell you how much weight the drug test affected your final grade on the syllabus? You can attempt to fight this all you want, but in the end the nursing school has their policy on their side. I doubt very much that you will win this fight. I'd put a lot of my energy into studying up on the drug calculations because you are going to have to face this again. Check the old posts for ideas on supplemental texts on drug calculations that might be helful to you. I would also approach one of the nursing instructors and ask for some direction on how to study this subject. It may be possible that one of them offers help to students who are struggling with this. One final thought(and, I'm not being mean here). . .perhaps the accelerated program just isn't for you.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

I have to agree with the school and the other responders to this. Drug/dosage calculation is VITAL-life and death sort of thing. It is nothing but ratio and proportion .Usually that is learned in 8th grade algebra.

In addition I believe that e-mails are too casual a format for an appeal that is this important.

Written correspondence followed by a telephone call is the usual procedure in everything academic.

Good luck next semester.

CNMtobe2012 · Aug 18, 2005

I second all the previous replys. I am currently enrolled in a BSN program and last semester we had to take a one credit clinical computation course. The grading scale was as follows:

100-98% = A, 97-94% = B, 93-90% = C, and anything below a 90% was failing.

After completing this course nursing students are required to take and pass (with a 90% or higher) a dosage calculation exam each semester prior to going to clinicals.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

We had to take a calc test before each semester began and receive 90%, on 2 tries. We were also on our own to learn drug calcs. .....

Yep, this is exactly how it is at our school. Our tests are the first day of the semester, so that if you fail, you can at least get your money back. But once you fail, you fail. Also, if you get