Test- Class average 72%

Sounds a little low from the information provided.

We have a 'test review' and occassionally when the class as a whole finds one question to be poorly written, the instructor may or may not decide to throw it out. This has happened maybe 4-5 times in the past two years. I don't believe in a grading curve generally, especially in nursing. Our class averages were sometimes in the 60s...but keep in mind that is an AVG...so if someone made a 50 and someone else made a 90...then giving the person with the 50 ten extra points is not fair to those who studied and earned their higher grade. And the person who made the 90 didn't necessarily miss those 10 pts because the material wasn't covered, because other students may not have missed those questions. So a grading curve, to me, is absolutely unacceptable in nursing. No curve on the Nclex so don't expect it in school.

These students aren't studying hard enough. I think I can make an argument reasoning that for nursing to become a real "profession," a significant level of academic preparation should be required... and if nursing students are not doing enough studying, they're preventing nursing from developing into a "high status" field. 72% is too low, no matter what.

Compared to other academic majors such as engineering, history, chemistry, we don't measure up in terms of quantity of information and difficulty of subject material. Nursing students should work harder because this is how to become competent in the delivery of care we provide. Working harder would give us more responsibility, and accountability. Remember, if we want to be considered as professional equals in the hospital alongside physicians, advanced practice nurses, and administrators, then we need similar academic backgrounds.

While it is possible everyone needs to improve their study, when an entire class fails it is almost always as much the fault of the teacher as the student. She needs to evaluate her instruction. It isn't independent study. We all need guidance.

~Mel'

That may be true, but no one wants to be the patient of a nurse who gets by and "depends" on a curve. We have a lot we are expected to know. If we don't, it may have implications for the care of patients. If a question is worded unfairly, or if the entire class got it wrong due to an error in the question, our instructors will generally throw it out. However, you cannot depend on that.

You have to know what you need to know to get the grade to pass the test. If you have a bad one or two, so be it. Then you have to find a new way to study and just do it.

I don't want to be the one who gets the C by the curve or the one who gets a 95 and finds out that my 95 does not get improved as much as the student who got a 65. That would leave me a little PO'd!

Curves are for those who depend on them. Don't depend, be the curve-wrecker!

I don't think the tests should be curved. It's actually against policy at most schools out here. I think that her instructor needs to improve her teaching skills so her students absorb more of the material on the test. We are paying a lot of money to learn how to be competent health professionals. We deserve good instruction. After all, these students aren't stupid, or they never would have made into the program.

~Mel'

Our class average for almost every test has been in the 60's but its because of the same people doing poorly on every test.

While it is possible everyone needs to improve their study, when an entire class fails it is almost always as much the fault of the teacher as the student. She needs to evaluate her instruction. It isn't independent study. We all need guidance.

~Mel'

Think it all you want, there are harder classes out there with people doing a lot better on the exams.

Think it all you want, there are harder classes out there with people doing a lot better on the exams.

Harder than what? What class is she taking? I didn't think she mentioned the class. More power to you if you are getting through school without "help" from a decent instructor. I'll leave you to it.

~Mel'

On a curve? No. I disagree with curves.

We have, however, had points added to our tests from time to time when questions were successfully debated. I wouldn't say this has ever gained me more than 4 points, max.

Our class average from the last test was a failure. However there were 3 A's that were offset by some very bad failures. This shows that achieving an A is not impossible. I was one of the A's. I studied my tail end off. The test was brutal- but it was fair. There wasn't anything on it that was off the wall. Critical thinking questions did a lot of people in. On thos particular test I believe some students gained either 1.5- 3 extra points- again from successfully arguing an answer. There are never ever any curves, though.

This is for promotions class, the test was Newborn, L/D, postpartum. Mind you, I got an 85% so I am not talking about myself. I am just curious as others said, if the whole class fails, isn't it part the teachers fault as well for not teaching what we need to know?

This is for promotions class, the test was Newborn, L/D, postpartum. Mind you, I got an 85% so I am not talking about myself. I am just curious as others said, if the whole class fails, isn't it part the teachers fault as well for not teaching what we need to know?

If the WHOLE class failed, I would be suspicious of the instructor. Not saying they are a bad intructor, but maybe the information to be tested on wasn't relayed to the students somehow.

Not that either of you might care what I think, but.....

I don't believe curving is appropriate for NS either...it's not a true indication of the knowledge or testing skills of the students involved....

That being said, I totally agree that when the bulk of a class can't pass a test successfully, and knowing the many of the students in that class, I think the onus is back on the instructor....we had a test recently where 3/4 of the class was at or below the "C" level....and we got a lecture from this instructor about how we need to study harder....I take offense on two levels --

-first, I did study the material (oh, I passed, by the way)

-second, from comments made in the hall, a lot of the students who DID pass happened to make some lucky guesses (not all, I'm sure)

How's THAT supposed to show how much more knowledgable they are than the rest of the class?!?!

Tests aren't always indicative of the knowledge one has learned....particularly when the instructor goes off on some tangent that's not what you were told to concentrate on, while you're trying to learn/read/do 3,000 other new things....I think NS is a combination of repetitive learning/doing, and ability to think fast on your feet -- whether it's knowing where to get the information or how to apply it.

I have to agree with the OP...