Two things about the NCLEX that I don't understand.

Nurses General Nursing

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1. Why don't they give you your preliminary results as soon as the test is over? Certainly, the computer "knows" whether or not you have passed or failed as soon as the test is over. So many people that I know have endured tremendous unecessary stress waiting for the results.

2. Why, have questions that are harder than the minimum passing standard? Since you don't get "extra credit" for being able to answer the "top tier" questions why even ask them? Why, should certain canidates have to answer questions that are harder than passing level simply because they can?

Hey Suzanne, I hoped you'd respond to this thread :)

Here's another question. If you're not doing so good on a certain area, say pharm, would the computer stay on that subject until it's satified (or not) that you are competent in that area?

Thanks,

Tina

The test does not concentrate its area based on whether you got certain questions right or wrong. The questions get harder/easier, but the subject areas are random. That is... random up to a point: Different areas must have a minimum/maximum percentage of representation.

Of course... with "random" selection, someone is bound to think there is a pattern. If you get a question on opioid administration... there's a slight chance that the next question might randomly be on pain control... and if it is... you'll be 100% sure that it wasn't random. =)

Tina,

Don't worry about this. I promised to help you.............

To answer the question about what would happen if someone answered every question correctly they would still have to answer 75 questions (15 of which would not count since they are "sample" questions). I think that a few people probably do answer most or all of the questions correctly. Just as there are a few people who score perfect SAT's, MCAT's ect. there are probably those few who score near perfect on the NCLEX (even when the machine is asking its most difficult questions).

I can see the point that by giving harder questions certain people are afforded the opportunity to be exposed to less questions. However, I think that this approach also causes more stress since many people do not comprehend that they will miss about 50% percent. I think that many would prefer to take the full number of questions, but only have to be exposed to the passing level difficulty. My wife who passed with 75 questions says she feels like a fraud to this day because she felt like she did so poorly on the NCLEX. Another person I know who passed just this week (also with 75 questions) was virtually suicidal because she felt like she did so poorly (and failing would have meant a 50% cut in her pay, the loss of her home, and possibly her kids since she is in a custody dispute with an abusive spouse).

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Because they don't want you to make a scene, harass the proctors unnecessarily or shoot up the place. Witness the behavior of your classmates after crucial tests and you know that these things might happen.

Because they may end up throwing out some questions and need to monitor the results against how others did.

Please also remember that many of us have had to wait 10-12 weeks, until our license showed up in the mail. No internet access to results, no results within 10 days. And the testing required us take a trip to a far location, with limited sites and limited test dates, where we had to stay in a motel and test for two days, 4-6 hours each day.

As such, why are y'all complaining?

To answer the question about what would happen if someone answered every question correctly they would still have to answer 75 questions (15 of which would not count since they are "sample" questions). I think that a few people probably do answer most or all of the questions correctly. Just as there are a few people who score perfect SAT's, MCAT's ect. there are probably those few who score near perfect on the NCLEX (even when the machine is asking its most difficult questions).

I can see the point that by giving harder questions certain people are afforded the opportunity to be exposed to less questions. However, I think that this approach also causes more stress since many people do not comprehend that they will miss about 50% percent. I think that many would prefer to take the full number of questions, but only have to be exposed to the passing level difficulty. My wife who passed with 75 questions says she feels like a fraud to this day because she felt like she did so poorly on the NCLEX. Another person I know who passed just this week (also with 75 questions) was virtually suicidal because she felt like she did so poorly (and failing would have meant a 50% cut in her pay, the loss of her home, and possibly her kids since she is in a custody dispute with an abusive spouse).

Roland, stress is a part of life, how you, your wife, or your friends chooses to deal with that stress is within your control. Instant gradification is for infants not adults. Anyone taking the NCLEX has the resources to ask questions before hand about how the test is administered and how the test is scored. Suicidal about test results???? HMMM, seems as if there were other issues going on in that person's life if the results of the NCLEX brought on that much stress. As far as suing? Shouldnt you be studying for NCLEX instead of wasting time developing such ludicrous plans? :chuckle

As stated before, all nurses answer 50% correct and 50% incorrect. NCLEX then decides if you fall within what is deemed a minimal standard for practice. There is no such thing as some nurses answering all of the questions correctly, this is not how the exam is set up.

As stated before, all nurses answer 50% correct and 50% incorrect. NCLEX then decides if you fall within what is deemed a minimal standard for practice. There is no such thing as some nurses answering all of the questions correctly, this is not how the exam is set up.

I realize that the vast majority of test takers answer about 50% of the questions correctly. However, my point was that there is nothing intrinsic in the examination that requires this be the case (all of the questions do have correct answers don't they?). Yes, if you answer correctly the questions get harder. However, one might imagine a "Ken Jennings" of nursing who could answer even the most difficult questions perfectly or at least much higher than fifty percent. Indeed, I would wager my life against a dollar that there have in the history of the NCLEX been more than one "perfect" tester. Indeed, even with random guessing there is a very small (but still definitive) chance of getting every question correct.

As to the girl who was "virtually suicidal" I pointed out what her unique circumstances were. I would submit that most people facing the possible loss of their home and children depending on how they do on a test would also be on the edge of sanity. I know that when my wife took the NCLEX we were in much the same situation. She was making $20.00 per hour and we were so broke (after paying the mortgage and mandatory bills) that we couldn't afford to even fix our broken furnace or our broken water pipes (we were bathing with water in gallon jugs taken from a MC D's down the road). Had she failed that test we WOULD have lost our home, and or I would have had to drop out of school since my forty hours per week as a home health aide wouldn't have been nearly enough.

I still think a good deal of the reason that we must wait comes down to the $9.00 fee they charge for early results.

As stated before, all nurses answer 50% correct and 50% incorrect. NCLEX then decides if you fall within what is deemed a minimal standard for practice. There is no such thing as some nurses answering all of the questions correctly, this is not how the exam is set up.

Actually, most students that only answer 75 questios probably answer well above 50% right. If you consider that 15 questions are test questions... some people only answer 60 questions, while others can answer 250. It could certainly be imagined that it takes a good 15-20 correctly answered questions in-a-row before you reached the absolute hardest questions. Even if you only get 50% of the hardest ones.. you've still gotten 15-20 straight right answers.

As for practical experience... let me explain one story. I have a work-mate that graduated Cal State LA, a well thought of nursing program, and took the NCLEX. I've known her for two years, and I'd consider her one of the smartest students I've ever met... even after attending UC Berkeley. Immediately after taking the NCLEX, I asked her how she did. "I don't think I did so well... maybe I didn't pass." How many questions I asked. "75". Well.... I then asked if she thought she did super-good, or super-bad. Her answer, "There were two answers that I was unsure about." I laughed so hard... she had obviously passed...

My two points:

1) People have the amazing ability to doubt themselves in nursing school. I know... my last Med/Surg grade I ended up getting an A, but was sure that I had flunked the class. Silly!

2) She probably did miss only a handful of questions at most... She's that smart and prepared. The NLCEX just didn't present any surprises or hard enough questions. I also forgot to mention that she was an LVN for a few years, then started all over and finished a BSN program from scratch. She probably answered 90% right.

I understand the 50% theory... you're right... but this only applies as the number of questions approaches 265. Just as someone could answer 75 questions with 0 right... they could also have 75 right. =)

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

As to the girl who was "virtually suicidal" I pointed out what her unique circumstances were. I would submit that most people facing the possible loss of their home and children depending on how they do on a test would also be on the edge of sanity. I know that when my wife took the NCLEX we were in much the same situation.

I still think a good deal of the reason that we must wait comes down to the $9.00 fee they charge for early results.

It is truly sad that someone has such poor values in life that it comes down to believing that. People need to recognize that there are no guarantees in life and that they must be prepared to roll with what life deals them, fair or otherwise. Contingency plans are essential to everyone.

It also reinforces the point that I have made. People that found out that they failed at the test site would be screaming at proctors, complaining about unfairness of certain questions, crying, asking inappropriate questions of the monitors and making an unnecessary scene. And I would not be surprised that if someone has the poor judgement to be suicidal over NCLEX results, if they might not also shoot up the place or do violence to others. (Witness the case of the Nursing student that killed people a few years ago).

And part of being a nurse is also being patient. Your career will require ALOT of waiting. You need to learn to deal with it.

I have no problem with waiting or having patience however I content that the powerful often tend to disregard or ignore the feelings of the less powerful. I view much of the bureaucratic infrastructure that surrounds State Boards of Nursing and indeed the NCLEX as corrupt and of not being particularly sensitive to the needs of their constituents. Of course this is true of much of government and similiar organizations in my opinion.

It is truly sad that someone has such poor values in life that it comes down to believing that. People need to recognize that there are no guarantees in life and that they must be prepared to roll with what life deals them, fair or otherwise. Contingency plans are essential to everyone.

It also reinforces the point that I have made. People that found out that they failed at the test site would be screaming at proctors, complaining about unfairness of certain questions, crying, asking inappropriate questions of the monitors and making an unnecessary scene. And I would not be surprised that if someone has the poor judgement to be suicidal over NCLEX results, if they might not also shoot up the place or do violence to others. (Witness the case of the Nursing student that killed people a few years ago).

And part of being a nurse is also being patient. Your career will require ALOT of waiting. You need to learn to deal with it.

I have no problem with waiting or having patience however I content that the powerful often tend to disregard or ignore the feelings of the less powerful. I view much of the bureaucratic infrastructure that surrounds State Boards of Nursing and indeed the NCLEX as corrupt and of not being particularly sensitive to the needs of their constituents. Of course this is true of much of government and similiar organizations in my opinion.

Then, you are going to be onehelluva frustrated nurse!

Again, no one answers 100% correctly, as you answer the questions in the specific area and get them correct, the computer offers questions that are harder and harder............50% correct and 50% incorrect....this is how the exm is created. It is only designed to attempt to make sure that the nurse is safe to practice. Nothing more.

So to be safe to practice I only need to be right 50% of the time. Kind of makes one feel safe in a healthcare environment :) j/k

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