Nursing and Pre Med

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 14, 2009

I'm wondering if you have taken any NCLEX-style tests? Even more specifically, taken any nursing school NCLEX-style test? Unlike actual NCLEX test bank questions, nursing school NCLEX-style test questions may not have been through a rigorous control process before being put on a test. There is often very little background info given so you must make assumptions and it can at times be rather vague even what the question is *really* asking. Sometimes, the right answer has more to do with matching the question stem and answer (You are assessing Pt Smith who has condition A, B & C; what do you do first? a. instruct X b. look at Y c. administer Z; correct answer b. b/c answers a. and c. aren't assessing) than about whether or not you know how to properly assess something. I find those types of questions annoying.
I'll admit to not having taken MCAT style questions but I sure hope they are nothing like NCLEX style questions!

I think an important part of nursing IS learning to read carefully and follow instructions. If you're supposed to be assessing and you do something else... well, you haven't done your job. You need to be able to carefully read and interpret notes, instructions, orders, prescriptions, diagnoses... Reading comprehension and critical thinking are essential!

jjjoy, LPN · May 14, 2009

I agree that careful reading IS important. And so is knowledge and comprehension. It just seems that sometimes, some instructors end up focusing more on constructing questions that are difficult due to vagueness and lack of clarity as opposed to questions that will show concretely whether or not the students know and have retained concrete facts. I've seen too many examples of questions where strong students, good instructors and experienced nurses disagree over what the best answer is. It's great food for thought and discussion but it seems like a lousy way to test, especially when missing just one or two questions makes such a big difference between grades as it does in many programs.

I think part of the problem is that in trying to mimic NCLEX CAT style testing, most schools only include a small number of test questions per unit, even if that unit covers hundreds of pages of content.

I personally think it's a disservice to design all coursework tests to mimic the NCLEX. Could you imagine going through high school with only SAT-style questions on every test? Instead, I think a content test should be administered alongside a set of NCLEX style questions, so students are exposed to NCLEX style questions throughout but that that's not the only way they are tested in every class outside of projects and case studies.

Fermin Hernandez, ADN, ASN, RN · May 15, 2009

Your handicapping yourself by taking nursing classes. The grading scale is much tougher and you will be competing against students that don't need a 96% for an A.

Decide what you really want to do and go for it...but have a backup plan.

Williamsl88 · May 17, 2009

I think this was my worse decision, I took ochem2 with nursing courses and now Im faiing nursing and getting a A- in organo 2. Had I known earlier, I would have drop of these 2 classes.

Take Ochem if you want to be pre med.

polka-dot, RN · May 17, 2009

If you want to be a doc, be a doc. If you want to be a nurse, be a nurse. I've never understood the "become a nurse as the pathway to becoming a doc" thing..."PA to doc" would make more sense to me since they are both medical.

With that said, I can't imagine tackling any additional classes right now, but I suppose you could take your other pre-med sciences during summers and winter intercession.