Teacher uses a different textbook for tests

[smilemore78]

What are your thoughts on a teacher making their tests from a different textbook than assigned to the students for the class? We are assigned Taylor's Fundamentals of Nursing but the teacher makes tests using a test bank from Perry & Potter's Fundamentals of Nursing. Is this fair to student?

[CHESCCRP]

OP, I sent you a PM. Our school uses Potter & Perry, and there is an "Interactive review" website where you can practice NCLEX-style questions from the material in the book. I love this tool because it gives rationales as you answer practice questions. There is no login required for this service.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Our tests are a from several sources; practice pre and post test from the book's website, ATI book questions, NCLEX book questions. The instructors get an analysis from each question on the test. If most of students answer the question wrong then it is thrown out and scores are adjusted. Most nursing tests are application and as long as the content in the question was covered in class or book then what does it matter what source it came from. It would be a poor quality teacher if they randomly pick questions without looking at the correct answer to ensure that the correct answer would match what they taught.

I agree. Students pay a fortune for one text only to discover the teachers using another is wrong. Fundamentals can vary because nursing isn't cut and dry. That teacher needs to update her syllabus to the new text.

Would this be true also? Students pay a lot of money to take the NCLEX exam and discover that they don't take questions from the text books that the student used for their degree. Then NCLEX needs to customize each test to the school and the textbooks that those students used.

[klouis001]

I'm really at odds about this. I agree with some that the material should be the same so a different textbook shouldn't matter, but my current professor is doing this now. The new textbook that is assigned isn't meant for students new to nursing. It's really meant for those pursuing their masters or at a doctorate level. Plus the program is accelerated. I one time went to the professor for help when I saw a drop in my grade and she herself told me, "Forget reading the book. Just study my powerpoint slides and write down what I say." WHAT?!

I'm considering writing in a complaint... I'm retaking this class for this very reason.