What is considered a failing grade in Practical Nursing school?

[linzipinzi]

I asked a friend of mine (who is a Practical nurse here in Ontario) what grade you need in order to pass each semester in Nursing school. She said that you just need to pass with 50% in order to keep going. Is this true? I thought you need at least 75% in order to not fail a class.

[AnnaPat]

1. Depends on a school (college for practical nursing). Note!: even if one school has 51% passing grade and another 75+% all of them cover the same curriculum (as required by Regulatory body) and all new grads are writing the same registration exam with CNO. (Heard many students are freaking out about receiving "sub-par" instruction in less demanding school). If one has plans for entering BSN after getting a diploma, then that person would need to watch their GPA and not go for "passing grade".

2. Specifically, in the past 3 years, my part-time PN program had 60% passing grade. For some courses it's a cumulative mark, for others (like Pathophysiology) it has to be 60% on all tests/assignments (so if you fail one test and pass all others you fail the course anyway). Before each Clinical placement, you are required to pass Math test with like 85-90% passing grade and 100% for consolidation (there is also an in-class component to consolidation that is very strict, don't know passing grade though).

I hear they want to put the overall bar up to 75%, since their main competition has 75%+ cut off. I, personally, don't approve of this, because it's mostly pointless (though I understand the reasoning). They are forgetting, that their main competition is booting potentially great Nurses out of the program in favour of "students with good marks". Oh well.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Usually, if a student is averaging 60 percent that indicates that they have not mastered the subject material.

This later becomes problematic in the workplace when it is evident that the new grad is struggling with knowledge and knowledge application. I precept many new grads and it's painfully obvious who applied themselves. Grades are not everything, but they are significant.

[linzipinzi]

Thank you for your reply! :) So far I am working on my prereqs and I am averaging 80% in each course. So I am hoping that means I will do well in nursing school. :)

[linzipinzi]

Thanks for your reply! I will obviously try my hardest. I am taking my prereqs right now and am averaging 80% in each course. So am hoping this means I will do well in nursing school. :) I agree with you about how they may be booting out potentially greats nurses all in favor of students with good marks…marks aren't everything.