What I've learned while studying for NCLEX

Nursing Students NCLEX

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NCLEX style questions are crap.

These application/analysis questions are retarded and any answer is easily justified by writing a short rationale for it.

Anybody of Native American descent will never be on time for their appointment because they live "in the present"... well I live in the 21st century and the Native Americans I've known have watches and cell phones.

Kaplan's decision tree does not always work, and the way I use it on one question might be completely different than the next person.

Cut the perfect world/perfect patient crap, this is not a perfect world and there are no perfect patients.

There is no way that this test can accurately measure one's competency to be a nurse- it measures your competency to write checks and take tests.

Vent over..... for now

Specializes in ortho, med/surg.

hilarious.

Specializes in Rehab, Geriatrics.

Totally understand what you mean! Nothing is perfect. IMO except GOD

Your views are shared by many. NCLEX is a frustrating rite of passage and proves little to nothing.

Your views are shared by many. NCLEX is a frustrating rite of passage and proves little to nothing.

i understand that but there has to be a way to make sure nurses have minimum competency to practice as all schools are different.....NCLEX is a way to simply protect the public and thats how i approached it when i started studying....

Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Hemodialysis.

Turd, I can so feel your pain. I'm so ready to have the NCLEX in my rear view mirror and my license in hand.

I have met too many incompetent, even dangerous, nurses who managed to pass NCLEX, to believe that it shows minimum competency. It may show competency at test taking skills or, in times past, the ability to pay someone to take the test. I once was told by an individual in the know, that it was quite common for people to send ringers to take the test for them. While that is no longer an easy matter today, one still sees the nurse who doesn't have clue, and wonders why this person wasn't caught in a quality control check somewhere along the line. Not fair to the public or the coworkers who have to worry about working alongside someone who doesn't know what they are doing.

Turd, are you suffering from a 'disturbed energy field'?;)

Turd, are you suffering from a 'disturbed energy field'?;)

Very much so.

Recently, I have learned that:

-Anxiety is a sign of hypoxia

-Demerol is ok to be given during a sickle cell crisis (I was always taught this was a definite no-no)

-Anxiety is not a sign of hypoxia

-Elevate all of the side rails when you have a confused client (Was taught this was more of a risk)

-Nurses can change the timing and dosage of medications

-Wearing a mask is the only necessary PPE when caring for a patient on droplet precautions

-Abstinence does not prevent the spread of STD's

*sigh* Time marches on... as does my studying.

Oh, do I feel your pain!

I do between 100 and 300 practice question a day with rationals. I'll bet that with 5 to10% of the questions I'm yelling at my computer screen about how convoluted the rationals are. Sometimes it feels like being married again i.e., never mind what the question says, I should be able to read the mind of the question maker.

Specializes in SICU.

Agreed! total waste of time.... i think its very true that 90% of what you learn is once you begin practicing as a Nurse.. so one can pass NCLEX and be a HORRIBLE nurse... but i agree with the poster who said that its a rite of passage... and think of the uproar from our predecessors if they did away with the NCLEX ;)

Ughh...I feel your pain. I just finished a question and spouted every expletive I know when I read the ridiculous rationale. The question was about a client with liver cancer and decreased LOC. Then it gave seven (yes, SEVEN) assessment items/interventions and asked you to put them in order of priority. I actually followed and agreed with the first four. After that, two of the choices were "check electrolyte levels" and "check serum ammonia levels." (Needless to say, I put them in the wrong order.) So what was the rationale for one being more important than the other?

And I quote..."Electrolyte and ammonia levels are relevant data for this patient, and abnormalities in these parameters may be contributing to change in mental status."

THAT STILL DOESN'T TELL ME WHY ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT!!!!! :banghead:

Argh. Vent over; back to studying. T-minus 3 days until NCLEX. *sigh*

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