Why can students re-sit math exams but not the others?

sneakymom2011 · Oct 31, 2009

At my NS we have several math competency exams each semester. I assume this is like other NS.
Our 1st semester lost several people but none of the students who had to retake their math exam three times. So why do students get a mulligan for math but not nursing theory tests?

You know, that boggles my mind too. I never really thought about it until you mentioned it. We have 3x each semester to pass math with a 90%.

Now we do have 8 tests, a cumulative final, and a paper. So you can do poorly on 1 or 2 of the tests and still wind up passing.

I would think it's the other way around. Theory is important to know- but many things in theory are NOT going to kill a patient. An incorrect dosage calculation could.

Cheryl

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2009

We have 3 tries to pass with 100%. I think it's different because with math, once you know how to do it the application of it doesn't change, but it does take practice. The stress of having to get 100% can cause a lot of anxiety and probably silly errors. It's not that the student didn't know how to do it. Our teachers said most people pass on the second try. She said that those that mess up on the first try made dumb mistakes due to stress and by the second try they weren't as stressed out and knew what to expect and passed with no problem. I would personally think the 3rd try would be the most stressful. Math is very black and white and fundamentals and nursing courses in general are not.

I dunno just my thoughts on it.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2009

You know, that boggles my mind too. I never really thought about it until you mentioned it. We have 3x each semester to pass math with a 90%.
Now we do have 8 tests, a cumulative final, and a paper. So you can do poorly on 1 or 2 of the tests and still wind up passing.
I would think it's the other way around. Theory is important to know- but many things in theory are NOT going to kill a patient. An incorrect dosage calculation could.
Cheryl

The thing is though, the calculation process isn't going to change, so once you get how to solve for x you got it, you just have to keep up on the practicing so you don't forget, which is why at my school at least every semester you have to retake the Dosage and Calculations again, that way we don't "forget" how to do it. I mean once you learned simple arithmetic you always know how to do it, other things you might need to brush up on it but the process never changes.

With theory or I am assuming that is the same as fundamentals in my school, their are always changing variables. If you don't learn how to prioritize you can absolutely kill your patient. If they are in distress and you can't critically think what to do first (which will not always be the same in every case) your patient can die.

Not sure if that made sense I am having trouble explaining it in words for what I am trying to get at LOL.

sneakymom2011 · Oct 31, 2009

>

Yeah, Fundamentals is what I was thinking- that's what I'm in at the moment.

I can see your point about prioritizing. Ex: If the pt is having airway problems and you don't do an airway assessment, you could hurt your patient.

I have my 1st try at math on Monday, that's why I was interested in this post. If I pass it with at least a 90%, I only have to go into the actual school building (we still have clinical and the paperwork that goes along with it) a handful of times between now and the end of the semester. It's a big motivator for me to pass;)

Cheryl

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Nov 1, 2009

We have two tries to get an 80 or above. Most people pass on the first, but I think they allow the second to give people a chance to prove that they just made silly mistakes out of nervousness, not inability.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2009

We have two tries to get an 80 or above. Most people pass on the first, but I think they allow the second to give people a chance to prove that they just made silly mistakes out of nervousness, not inability.

Except, if that is the case, then the same reasoning could apply to the tests on nursing theory.

I guess this bothers me because I ran into a woman being booted out of another 1st semester section. She missed the passing grade by 1 percent but did get 100% in all of her math.

I think it should be a bit more equitable -- maybe be allowed to re-sit ONE test of your choosing.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2009

In our case, we have to get 100% on the math tests (three tries) each rotation during the second year, but only need 75% to pass theory exams...

If we needed 100% to pass theory I'd hope for a couple extra tries there too...

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Nov 1, 2009

But we only have those two tries on that test to prove ourselves. On theory test, you can fail one, and still pass the class--you have three or even four more tests. You may even have a paper or some quizzes to help lessen the effect of that one failing tests. You don't get that with the math tests--I only have one per semester.