SENIOR IN NURSING SCHOOL FACING HUGE PROBLEM...please help

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Hi folks, Im here for a bit of advice, I hope someone can help.

Long story short....

Im a senior nursing student (4 yr program), single mom, working 2 jobs to get through school. The passing grade for as long as Ive been there has been 75 for all nursing courses. Over last summer they changed it to 77 and did not grandfather the senior class in. Unfortunately, I ended up with a final course grade of 75 and they have failed me for the semester. This means no grauation in May, no classes to start in 2 weeks and I would need to retake the entire class all over again in the fall with no financial aid....$6,000.00. If I was 18 still living with my folks to help, it might not be so bad but this isnt the situation. I have a child who depends on me and I need to start working immediately.

I met with the chairperson of the nursing dept and got nowhere. I was told they do not grandfather seniors because if they did, they would have to do the jrs and sophmores as well and new policies would never get implemented. I spoke to a student advocate who basically guides me to the next step (Im trying to follow protocol). She works under the Dean. She brought up the problem to him and he directed it back to the chairperson of the nursing dept...in which I got no where the first time. I was also told by another classmate that the Dean will be resigning after this semster to go right to the president of the college (talk about intimidating !!).

I am emotionally, physically and financially exhauted at this point and I need some direction. I have 2 state reps offering to help me. Should I have them contact the President or should I do it on my own basically waste my time. Or should I make arrnagements to meet with my 2 professors to go over my exams to look for extea points that could be brought into the mix. Can someone please advise? I know there are very well educated and professional nurses on this site and I would apprecaite any advice you can throw my way. Thanks so much!!!! future RN....soooo confused

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I think it is a good idea to review exams to see if you can argue your

answers to get more points that way, if possible.

As to the politics, I am not the best to answer that one.

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My intention is to review htem. The problem is that both professors wont be on campus until the weeks classes start. Its all about time at this point.

It is a private college so I dont know if the politics will help, but it certainly cant hurt....where do they think financial aid comes from???

Thanks for your input.

"extremely frutrated"

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Specializes in Case Management.

I am surprised that the cutoff is/was as low as 75 and now 77. My nursing school was cutoff at 80% (meaning 79% was failing)

I think if you have 2 state representatives willing to help, I would take them up on it and do it asap.

Good luck to you.

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How about asking folks in your class for ideas/networking help in

problem solving this? The officers in the nursing student organization

could be a resource for you. It couldn't hurt to ask.

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Get as many people/ideas/approaches as you can and go at it full steam.

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Thank you. There are schools in this area with a passing grade of 70. I respect the decision to change the grade but I think at 40,000 a yr and all the time we have spent in school, the seniors should have been grandfathered in.

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Ive gotten a ton of emails from students offering support and stating that the grandather clause is unfair. I am holding on to them for a meeting...with someone lol

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Check out your student handbook and the catalog you were admitted under to see if there is any help there. Is there any kind of appeals process in place? If so, use it!

I don't know how successful you will be fighting this, but you won't succeed if you don't try. If other students are in the same boat, banding together would be helpful too.

I've never heard of a school doing this- the norm I've seen is that new policies on grades, requirements, etc. are implemented as students are admitted. So yes, they would have to "grandfather" in other classes too, but that doesn't mean the changes would never be implemented.

What would they do if the suddenly decided that Underwater Basketweaving was going to be a requirement for graduation? Would students in their last semester have to delay graduation to take Underwater Basketweaving?

Be firm that you don't think this is right, but be calm, polite, and respectful. I'm sure you feel very hostile, but letting it show won't help your cause any.

Good luck!!

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

Did they tell you about the '77 is passing policy' at the beginning of the semester where you made a 75? If not, then it seems like they should have to use the policy that was in place at the start of the semester.

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

What was the grading policy at the beginning of the semester in which you made the 75%?

The faculty not being there should not be a problem. The division chair can call them to come into a meeting about the grade.

When our school changed the grading scale we did not "grandfather" any body - the new grading scale applied to all students. We had a couple of students who challenged that but they were unsuccessful as the announcement for the grade change was made the first day of classes and it was in the handbook.

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Specializes in Peds, GI, Home Health, Risk Mgmt.
Hi folks, Im here for a bit of advice, I hope someone can help.

Long story short....

Im a senior nursing student (4 yr program), single mom, working 2 jobs to get through school. The passing grade for as long as Ive been there has been 75 for all nursing courses. Over last summer they changed it to 77 and did not grandfather the senior class in. Unfortunately, I ended up with a final course grade of 75 and they have failed me for the semester. This means no grauation in May, no classes to start in 2 weeks and I would need to retake the entire class all over again in the fall with no financial aid....$6,000.00. If I was 18 still living with my folks to help, it might not be so bad but this isnt the situation. I have a child who depends on me and I need to start working immediately.

I met with the chairperson of the nursing dept and got nowhere. I was told they do not grandfather seniors because if they did, they would have to do the jrs and sophmores as well and new policies would never get implemented. I spoke to a student advocate who basically guides me to the next step (Im trying to follow protocol). She works under the Dean. She brought up the problem to him and he directed it back to the chairperson of the nursing dept...in which I got no where the first time. I was also told by another classmate that the Dean will be resigning after this semster to go right to the president of the college (talk about intimidating !!).

I am emotionally, physically and financially exhauted at this point and I need some direction. I have 2 state reps offering to help me. Should I have them contact the President or should I do it on my own basically waste my time. Or should I make arrnagements to meet with my 2 professors to go over my exams to look for extea points that could be brought into the mix. Can someone please advise? I know there are very well educated and professional nurses on this site and I would apprecaite any advice you can throw my way. Thanks so much!!!! future RN....soooo confused

It appears to me that there may be some legal issues with how your school has handled this. I suggest you contact an attorney to discuss the situation. And certainly it wouldn't hurt to see if the state reps could help (even though it's a private college). The school would probably not want to see publicity about your situation . . .

I hope you can get something worked out.

HollyVK, RN, BSN, JD

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