[fiestynurse]

The California Board of Registered Nursing established a Task Force in February 1999 to study the decline in pass rates for first-time test takers. (Latest pass rate was 67%)The Task Force has identified factors that resulted in lower pass rates for nursing students. 1) Students for whom English is a second language 2) Students who worked 20 hours a week or more 3) Students who have family responsibilities at home 4) Academic policies that permit students to withdraw from prerequisite science courses when they are failing so they can retake them multiple times 5) Students who delay taking the exam by five or more months after graduation 6) Limited knowledge by nursing faculty about the current RN test plan. Bold action is being taken to address this multidimensional problem, since California needs these nurses now. The principle recommendations were to encourage nursing students to take the licensing exam within three months from graduation; participate in assessment tests to identify areas needing review; take at least one preparedness exam. It was also important to strengthen English language proficiency if English was a second language.
Recommendations are also being made to nursing faculty, such as identifying at-risk students early in the program.

[ShannonB25]

Interesting post, feistynurse, particularly since I am going to be taking the big test in the next month. Here's to hoping that I'm in that passing group on the first try

[jamistlc]

Originally posted by feistynurse:
The California Board of Registered Nursing established a Task Force in February 1999 to study the decline in pass rates for first-time test takers. (Latest pass rate was 67%)The Task Force has identified factors that resulted in lower pass rates for nursing students. 1) Students for whom English is a second language 2) Students who worked 20 hours a week or more 3) Students who have family responsibilities at home 4) Academic policies that permit students to withdraw from prerequisite science courses when they are failing so they can retake them multiple times 5) Students who delay taking the exam by five or more months after graduation 6) Limited knowledge by nursing faculty about the current RN test plan. Bold action is being taken to address this multidimensional problem, since California needs these nurses now. The principle recommendations were to encourage nursing students to take the licensing exam within three months from graduation; participate in assessment tests to identify areas needing review; take at least one preparedness exam. It was also important to strengthen English language proficiency if English was a second language.
Recommendations are also being made to nursing faculty, such as identifying at-risk students early in the program.

Maybe I have a dry sense of humor but I find nothing funny in this post? It is sad and shows just how dfficult the boards can be!

[fiestynurse]

I agree Jami, I find nothing funny about this situation either. Not only do we have individuals leaving nursing, but we have people who want to be nurses having trouble getting into programs, and now I see that students are having difficulty passing the boards! We are in deep s--t!!

P.S. I am sorry Shannon, i didn't mean to
worry you. I am sure you will do fine!

[oramar]

I think Cindy is right because I read this post without realizing that The General Nursing Issues had moved.

[GInurse]

Me too! What's the deal with moving things around on us anyway?!? Oh well.

I too am a "New grad" although I have been practicing as an LPN for the past 7 years. I am competent, bright, and insightful, but never the less worried about passing the boards. I know what to do practically and have the critical thinking skills required of a nurse, but my fear is that I will not be able to answer the questions in the way that is required. I make hospital rounds, treat patients over the phone, and make lots of independant decisions on a daily basis. I don't usually have to ask for guidance or direction unless I am stumped. I worry that my line of thinking and problem solving abilities are not geared toward what will be asked on the boards. Any suggestions?

[Cindy_A]

I think why this got posted on the humor board is because the general nursing discussion board used to be first, and now it's 4th! I wonder what happened?

[fiestynurse]

[kennedyj]

Heard the one bout the Californian who flunked their boards??

Just trying to make some related humor and the only funny part is Shannon is preparing for Boards..LoL....sorry bad post....I should get a life!!

[ June 01, 2001: Message edited by: kennedyj ]