Moberly Area Community College Practical Nursing Program Handbook 2026-2027

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Evaluation Methods and Grading Criteria

Theory Courses

A grade of 78% must be earned in each theory course to be considered passing. The grading breakdown is as follows:

Unit Exams 65%
Quizzes, Homework, etc. 10%
Final 25%
Total 100%

Courses with a Lab and/or Clinical Component

Clinical performance and clinical paperwork will be evaluated as follows:

Clinical/Lab/Simulation Pass/Fail
Clinical Grades: Performance Evaluations 78%
Paperwork/Digital Assignments 78%

Clinical is graded on a pass/fail basis and must be passed to receive a grade in the course. In order to pass clinical, a student must have a score of 78% of the total clinical points possible in both clinical performance and in written clinical assignments. NOTE: These two grades will not be averaged to achieve a total and will not be added to the overall classroom grade. Clinical performance is evaluated daily during lab, clinical, and simulation experiences. In order to pass clinical performance, each student must accumulate an average score of 78% from the various performance areas. Completion of the clinical component is a requirement for successful completion of the Practical Nursing program.

Students must receive a "P" (pass) in clinical in addition to a 78% of the points possible in the theory portion of the course to pass the nursing course. Clinical grades and theory grades are independent of one another. In the case of clinical failure, the theory grade will be assigned as no credit (N/C). In the case of a grade less than 78% in theory, the grade earned will be assigned and a grade of no credit (N/C) will be assigned for the clinical portion of the course.

Extenuating Circumstances
Extenuating circumstances will be evaluated by the PN Faculty, PN Coordinator, and the Director of Nursing.

Grading Scale

A 90-100%
B  83-89%
C 78-82%
D 66-77%
F 65% and below

Exams/Presentations

All Exams
All exams will be scheduled and announced at least two (2) days prior to the examination.

All students are expected to take any and all scheduled exams on the day and time they are administered. If a student's absence/tardiness occurs at the scheduled time of the exam, there will be an up-front deduction of 10 percent from the total points possible on the exam unless extenuating circumstances prevail. An additional 10 percent of the total points possible will be deducted for each additional business day the exam is not completed. If the exam is not taken within one business week of the original scheduled exam date, the student will earn a zero (0) for the exam. If the student is requesting a waiver of the deduction, it is the student's responsibility to complete the petition form (see Appendix M) requesting a waiver on the date the student takes the exam. The student will submit it to the Practical Nursing instructor whose exam was missed. The waiver form will be shared with faculty and Director of Nursing for discussion and will be voted on for approval/denial.

Classroom Presentations
Classroom presentations for a major grade must be presented at the scheduled time unless there are extenuating circumstances. No alternate assignment will be given instead of the presentation. The presentation will be made up on a date determined by the instructor. The student must complete the petition form (see Appendix M) and submit to the instructor to communicate the reason for the absence.

Exam Remediation

  1. If a student receives less than a 78% for a unit exam in any nursing course, the student will be encouraged to schedule a meeting with the PN faculty member of the related course.
  2. The student will be encouraged to complete remediation activities.
  3. The remediation assignment will be determined by the individual Practical Nursing faculty member or their designee.
  4. If the student elects not to complete recommended remediation activity, the student will sign the “Against Academic Advice” (AAA) form.
  5. Remediation and exam review need to be completed prior to the next nursing exam in that course or per instructor discretion.

Clinical Remediation

  1. When a student obtains a "Needs Improvement" (NI) on any of the indicators used on the "Clinical Performance Evaluation" form they will be required to complete remediation.
  2. This remediation will be determined by the designated Practical Nursing faculty member.
  3. The student must complete the remediation form before the next clinical day.

Test Question Challenge
If an exam question is challenged by the student, it will only be considered if presented in the following format:

  1. The student's request for review must be in writing and submitted to the instructor within two (2) business days of the exam review or upon receiving the exam grade.
  2. The student must explain why the exam answer is not the best choice.
  3. The student must provide a rationale on why they think their answer is the best option.
  4. Relevant sources within our curriculum material must be cited.

If a written request is submitted to challenge an exam question, this does not guarantee that the faculty will change the answer, throw the question out, or accept multiple answers. This decision will be made within the domain of the faculty member's academic freedom.

Exams, Projects, Clinical Paperwork, and Homework

  1. The student will have one week from the date the grade is received to challenge the points earned.
  2. Grades for assignments that are worth exam points and clinical paperwork can be challenged within the context of these guidelines.
  3. The challenge must be submitted in a written form.
  4. The faculty reserves the right to determine if points will or will not be awarded.
  5. If the student waits beyond one (1) week time frame, the challenge to the grade will not be accepted unless under extenuating circumstances.

Quizzes
A quiz may be given at any time. It may be announced or unannounced. Quizzes that are missed may not be made up and a grade of "0" will be recorded. If the student is absent or late for class and a quiz has already been initiated by all members present, the student will receive a grade of "0" for that quiz. Challenges to quiz questions must occur within one (1) week of the date the grade was received.

Homework, Lab, or Clinical Written Assignments
All assignments are due in their entirety on the assigned date and time. No late homework assignments will be accepted.