The goal of Nursing School

From what I have read on these boards, I am getting concerned that Nursing School may not be interested in preparing the students to sit the NCLEX exam and to be competent nurses. It sounds like most nursing instructors enjoy intimidation and power. My own interaction with the head of my program at group registration was awful and I am afraid that I am already marked as a difficult student due to having a small scheduling concern due to one class ending at 1:00 and another class beginning at 1:00. I have also contacted the department head in the past year while I was choosing what career path to take. I am terrified that passing nursing school will be impossible for me due to the subjective nature of the courses. I already have a science degree and I do very well in school. Unfortunately, from what I have been reading here, nursing school is a totally different animal. Grades based on how well you get along with others(instructors and classmates) instead of accurately and compassionately performing tasks and understanding concepts in order to pass the NCLEX exam. I am willing to work hard, be prompt and give nursing school my all. I also would like to learn how to deal with patients in a caring and non threatening way, but kissing up to instructors is not what I have in mind. Can I fail nursing school just because the head of the department finds me difficult? Isn't intelligence and competence more important then having the professors like you? Is the goal of most nursing school to turn out excellent nurses who can pass the NCLEX or how much you can make the students sweat?