There are many people that failed Adults II this past term... We started out with 138 and 42 of those failed. You have to have a 75% or better and some people failed by 1 point, 2 points (me), some people failed by a fraction!!! The had a 74.49 and they wouldn't round it... Many of us went to the department head with our concerns and she just kept saying don't worry about it.
Let me throw this in there... they made everyone sign an adendium that is to go in our file. The whole class had to sign it. They never explained it, they just told us that we had to sign it or we couldn't move on in the program. The paper stated that if you fail, you have to reapply to the program, and before they accept you, you MUST take ALL finals and make a 75 or better, redo ALL of your skills tests, ALL dosage and solutions test (that one has to score a 90), pay for your own background check and drug test.
I am not working right now because this school is so hard... with this being my second time around, if I fail, I can't go back. I will have to apply to the LPN program and then go from there. I have lost ALL of my funding... my PELL grant, my scholarships, my student loans... my mother had to pay for this term. I am on an appeal and because I failed, I lost everything.
Now... this is my problem... The department head opened a class just for those of us who failed. There was enough of us to make 2 classes. There were a few in the class behind us that was able to move forward to graduate early just to fill the classes. This first time I went through this class it was easier. You would think that it would be easier the second time around.
My grades were better last time... these tests are on a master's level, and the material that is being presented in class doesn't match up with what is on the test. The insructor is pulling information out of books that we don't have and that are not required by the college. Now, I am not saying that EVERY question is like that... There are just enough on there to make sure that everyone fails.
Our class average for ALL tests have NEVER been over a 70%. Now we have one more test and the final... I personally have to make a 90% on the next test to walk into the final with a 75 and then make a 75 on the test to pass the class.
EVERYONE is freaking out about this. If I don't pass this, I can't sit for my LPN boards, and the last 2 1/2 years of my life have been a total waste of time. All the sacrifices have been for nothing.
There are some students that are getting together and they are going to write the accredation board and tell them what is going on so that they can investigate. The department head won't do anything about it, and we are at a point where we are just desperate. I don't know what else to do!
The grades are NOT reflecting the dedication of the students. I personally spend anywhere from 40-60 hours a week studying, but to look at my grades, you would think that I am a slacker.
I just don't know what to do... Does anyone have any other suggestions???
I am a Senior in a BSN program. I have a great friend who is also in the program. She studies just about 24 hours a day. She has hundreds of notecards....different diagrams....anything you can imagine. She can spout off information on any subject we cover. BUT....she does not do well on tests and has almost failed a few courses. She studies TOO much. She does not study the correct stuff, and she looks too deep into a theory. I know it sounds odd, but if you know too much about something, you can easily confuse yourself on a lot of the questions.
I've read the whole thread, and I'm sorry to hear about your experience, Light. It sounds like you're doing a good job studying, using the NCLEX books and such. Unfortunately, sometimes what happens in nursing school just isn't fair.
My only suggestion to you is when taking tests, always go with the answer that first seems right to you, and move on. Don't second guess yourself and don't change your answer.
I am not working right now because this school is so hard... with this being my second time around, if I fail, I can't go back. I will have to apply to the LPN program and then go from there. I have lost ALL of my funding... my PELL grant, my scholarships, my student loans... my mother had to pay for this term. I am on an appeal and because I failed, I lost everything.
What do you mean by "this is my second time around?" Have you already failed out of nursing school once? I agree with the previous posters that said overstudying can be detrimental to your grades. I have a husband and four kids and certainly did not study 6-8 hours a day. I studied an hour or so a day the week before a test, and the weekend before a test (exams were on Mondays) I would study with a partner for 4-5 hours on Saturdays, maybe an hour or two on Sundays alone. How far have you gotten in your program (how much time left?)?
my school is 80% minimum to pass and they don't overlook tenths of a point either like a lot of other posters have said.
i have tests also with very complex questions: knowing the material in a 'black-and-white' factual way is never enough is this kind of field. critical thinking means you have to be able to understand facts enough to apply them to other facts etc. that's what some think makes it seem like material "isn't covered". the nclex will be the same way.
as for material not in the books: nursing school is preparation for nclex. the study guide for your text book is nice but its still the same material. if you're in a tough class you should always have atleast one other book on the subject: from a different publisher- not necessarily a different textbook but some kind of study/review book.
maybe your school is doing something intentionally to improve their post-grad pass rate on the nclex. it is a major factor in their ranking and totally justified.
Mia123
15 Posts
I am a Senior in a BSN program. I have a great friend who is also in the program. She studies just about 24 hours a day. She has hundreds of notecards....different diagrams....anything you can imagine. She can spout off information on any subject we cover. BUT....she does not do well on tests and has almost failed a few courses. She studies TOO much. She does not study the correct stuff, and she looks too deep into a theory. I know it sounds odd, but if you know too much about something, you can easily confuse yourself on a lot of the questions.
Good Luck!