SRNA with a problem, need some help fast!

[quailoh]

This is my first time posting so hello to everyone. As briefly as possible I want to explain my situation and hope I can receive some good advice. Here goes: I am a student in Phase I of a didactic program (state editted out to protect identity of program, edit by nilepoc). During the Fall and Spring semesters I had no problems passing the courses. We did, however lose 8 students due to being unable to end up with an overall 83% as a final grade. During Summer I we had a different instructor with different rules for testing and believe me when I say that there were numerous problems with the test questions. For example we were given questions on material that had never been covered in lectures or reading assigments, misnumbered test questions, ambiguous essay questions, the list goes on and on. Sadly, I was told I did not receive a passing grade (missed the 83% by just a few points) and that quickly was gone from the program. I am in a grade appeal process at this moment. My question is this: Is there anyone who may have experienced a similar situation and if so what did you do? Also, if I am not allowed to return is it possible to get into another program considering my situation? Thanks in advance for any responses.

[SorenDrake]

A friend and I were discussing something similar the other day; the nursing school we graduated from is in trouble because their grads passing NCLEX rate is dropping significantly. Everyone's seen it; there were people in your class you knew shouldn't have made it past the first semester, and yet somehow they ended up at graduation! And then they had such a hard time with NCLEX, and somehow after several tries they make it; and now you're scared to death that they are nurses in a position of caring for sick people. AACN has been saying it--nursing HAS to raise their standards! nurses generally have such a giving and generous spirit that they try to help people so much, or "let em by," only to the misfortune of the person and the profession.

I realize that this is different, but I agree with athomas. Standards for CRNAs are high for a good reason; the responsibility of the position has exponentially increased.

[Focker, CRNA]

my classmates as well as myself were made aware from the get go that we needed to know it all - and saying "i wasn't taught that...or it wasn't covered" is no excuse and will get you into trouble fast.

i hate to be hard-lined here - but it is an elite profession for a reason.

I totally agree with you that there should be high standards for CRNA students, however, I think that we need to be presented material or pointed in its general direction before we should be held responsible for it. Saying that the SRNA needs to be responsible for "knowing it all" is a gross oversimplification. This is grad school and there is a lot of self guided study involved, but if it were as simple as you stated, then there would be no need for class at all, they would just hand us a pile of books and say "see you in the OR!" In reality, there is a happy medium between being spoon-fed material and being self-taught, and it takes hard work from both the teacher and the student. One or both of those people failing to contribute their part results in the situation the OP is in. I dont think any of us are in the position to really make a qualified judgement on which part of that equation is lacking in this particular situation.

[PattyD404]

Our CRNA program requires all final grades in the class to be above a "C." We are only allowed to have one C and it must be in a course that is outside of the CRNA courses. We are not allowed any C in the core courses at all. This is right in the standards and the handbook. It is clearly stated. I have read some of the other postings and I must say that others make good points. If it is one grade, then maybe it is a class you can retake and get things straigtened out. I know how this feels. We have a professor who does not really teach us much of anything. We have a book to read and then when we have lecture, he will take one chapter and break it down into power point. If the power point were to have 18 slides, 15 of them would be pictures or graphs from the book while the other 3 would be title slides. He really doesn't do much for us other than read from the book & provide a sort of review. It is a review that's for sure but it sure makes it hard to take his tests. As much as I read the chapters, I cannot figure out what 5-10 questions he may choose to ask from the chapter & with so many chapters on one exam, it is a little difficult. I also agree with athomas that there is a problem with nursing schools in general. I hope that Anesthesia does not follow in those footsteps & "let them through" just to fix the numbers. Yes, there is a shortage but safety of patients is much more important. So, did you do all that you could to pass the class? There is a certain amount of self-learning at this level that must be utilized. They cannot teach it all and the majority must come from your years of critical care and your self guided learning. If you can honestly say this to yourself and it is a matter that others too have been facing, then you must find an avenue to pursue the problem areas. If you all stick together and the problem seems to be the same for all of you (just this one class or professor) then you have something. Find out the proper chain of command to pursue it and get everything you can in writing. Good luck.

[DreamMatrix]

TexasCCRN pretty much said it all...especially concerning this thread.

[Outdoor1]

TexasCCRN pretty much said it all...especially concerning this thread.

Ditto DreamMatrix.

[zzzno2]

I personaly know a student kicked out of the program in Tx shortage of one mark same time few other students in the same class got up to 5 grace marks ! CRNA director and the management is not fair to every one . we are talking about 1 mark vs investment of a student . Standards needs to be kept at the same time 70 % of CRNAs practicing are not masters qualified ! when you are in clinicals you will find out most of the things you learn in A&P is not that important in day to day work , many areas professor tought you old theories!

[FutrCRNA]

I really hope things work out for ya, quailoh!!! Hang in there...