Published Dec 15, 2017
FutureNurse0201
92 Posts
I just ended up with 91.3% and B in class which caused me to lose scholarship. 92% is an A. I got 4 questions wrong on the final, each was 0.5% of the grade.
I would accept the fact that 91.3 is not the same as 91.5, however, I don't think I got the question wrong because there was no right answer. And few questions got dropped (the ones I actually got right) but this one prof said she was not going to drop it.
I want to hear your insight if this is a fair question. So, we are talking about fractures and the book says "paresthesia is an early finding in ischemia, paralysis and pulslesness are late."
On the exam question is; What is the late, omnious sign of ischemia?
a. Petaling
b. Paresthesia
c. Posturing
d. Profofol
So, I did pick paresthesia but then I thought, wait it is early finding, so that is not an answer for sure. I thought posturing is not really related to ischemia but again... At the end, I just randomly picked petaling (wasnt sure what it meant) even though I knew it has nothing to do with ischemia. As soon as I submitted the test, I brought this up to my prof and showed her the book and she agreed that it wasnt a good question. However, the course coordinator absolutely was mean about it and refused to drop it, accusing me of not knowing what petaling was (yes, I wasnt sure what it meant but that wasn't even a question). She also said that it was the least WRONG answer. I do not think it is fair. Another student complained about another question that was little confusing and it got dropped immediately.
I am thinking of filing a complaint since I lost so much money, but not sure if the coordinator's argument is actually valid and how dean or someone else would see the question.
I do not want to make anyone angry but I dont think it is fair to lose scholarship over something I knew. I showed the professor right away what the book said. Also, they told us that NCLEX world is perfect and while in real life signs and symptoms might not exactly present as we are taught, NCLEX is all about black and white.
emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN
830 Posts
We went through this a lot during our program, going up against test questions that we thought were poorly written and let me tell you, we rarely won. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I would not file a complaint over this. While I understand that you have lost money (and I certainly would be devastated) here is what the admin will say: There were x amount of tests, quizzes, homework, etc.... that factored into your final grade not just this test.... not just this question.
I know it probably isn't what you want to hear.... Wishing you the best
meanmaryjean, DNP, RN
7,899 Posts
Students often want to argue and appeal over that ONE question that 'caused them to fail'. What that one question was the tipping point. Multiple missed questions were opportunities for you to pass.
i understand. I am just worried that if I bring this up, professors would think I have no valid excuse. While I understand the point of view where "this was the least wrong answer" and that I should have known better than to pick something unrelated to ischemia, I still believe it is not fair. But, I also know what you are saying. It is devastating and it is 5 credits class. What is worse, I had the best scores on all three tests and ended up in the same category with people who barely got a B.
I was thinking of meeting with the dean, but again i am afraid she would take it wrong way.
That is true, but again, I argued this question even before the final exam. The requirement for an A is 92% and it is not fair that i have to score 92.5% to have an A, only because one question was impossible to answer and was marked wrong.
203bravo, MSN, APRN
1,211 Posts
Wow -- you have a scholarship that mandates that you maintain a 4.0 average or you lose the scholarship??? harshest stipulation that I've ever heard of and I wouldn't want to because of the extra stress that it causes knowing that you have no room for any error.
Also, I would love to be in a program that rounds up... This semester I ended up with a B in a course because my final average was 91.8.. and yes a 92 is an A.. there is NO rounding... 91.99999 = B
Best of luck.