Do you think the Boards really mean your competent?

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2002

I took the NCLEX via computer. Gave me 75 questions and took me 50 minutes.

EVERY one of the questions was hard and I found myself guessing for several. I walked out wondering if I passed or failed. I was always an A student (that could easily cram last minute) and would leave tests pretty much KNOWING (and being right) what my score was. Not a clue walking out from that one. I think a 50 mintues test is less taxing on you than a 2 or 3 day ordeal, but I just can't seem to figure out how it "decides" if you pass or not. I've heard the whole explanation and rationale as to why the test is reliable, but it still doesn't make sense somehow.

And yes, I think true competency comes only from experience. A "good understanding of things" CAN be taught, but only experience gives you a "FEEL" for things

One good thing about the computerized NCLEX-- got my results in the mail in 9 days (passed)

4XNURSE · Feb 23, 2002

Originally posted by bedazzled

Keep Going!!! Tell us how you walked 4 miles to school in the winter and that it was uphill both ways.

bedazzled,

Nurse Williams can and will always be able to work nursing circles around you.

If you want to be respected, you better show some!

ken:devil:

mamabear · Feb 23, 2002

All the Boards prove is whether or not you are adept at taking multiple-guess exams.

bedazzled · Feb 23, 2002

Originally posted by 4XNURSE

bedazzled,

Nurse Williams can and will always be able to work nursing circles around you.

If you want to be respected, you better show some!

ken:devil:

I can tell by the way you spout off about individuals working circles around me without any evidence about my clinical or theoretical skills; there is something amiss with your assessment skills . I didn't come to this board for respect (I have that at work). I came here to voice my opinion, if you don't like my opinion, tuff sh$#. It's still my opinion.

OBNURSEHEATHER · Feb 23, 2002

originally posted by cen35
"competence cannot be taught, only learned through experience" - me :)

i thought this deserved saying again.

as for bedazzled, i always cringe when i see a brand new member with a whopping 3 posts come in and start insulting our regulars. i think it speaks volumes about their confinence and power issues.

but ya know, i just came to voice my opinion... :rolleyes:

heather

Teshiee · Feb 23, 2002

dstout.rn

I can relate what you mean. When I was LVN school we had an instructor that was biased and unfair. She would give students she liked an opportunity to make up a test when she clearly stated no make up test would be given. I was pissed because people who didn't passed should not have unless she gave everyone the same opportunity. She has told students that they were not nursing material, like they are Goddess or something! Well needless to say I passed my LVN and RN first time. Nursing school needs to be revamp not so much the boards. In time some of us will be competent some will not. That is what is cool about nursing. You have great clinicians and you have nurses that are great in management or writing policies. I never been in a program where a bunch of women are not supportive and telling you to choose between your family and the nursing program. I think it is sickening and you wonder why there is shortage of students wanting to become nurses. I understand that nursing school is hard enough why make it insufferable for enthusiastic students who want to be nurses!

I am not an honor roll student but I know that the boards are not judging competence by hypothetical situations that you would do.

4XNURSE · Feb 23, 2002

OBNURSEHEATHER,

You were right, CEN35s post does bear repeating.

I've read all 3 of bedazzled's posts.

I've read about 200 +/_ of ReneeWilliams' posts.

Renee Williams was a superb nurse when bedazzled was still in diapers.

I readily admit however my assessment skills need working on. I've only been around for 15 years, and I've got a whole lot to learn. I'm quite sure that the little I've seen in 12 years of ER and 3 years of teaching, leave me far short of bedazzled's vast knowledge. I must bow! Wish I knew it all.

ken

RoaminHankRN · Feb 23, 2002

Wow.. It's like being at work.. all the griping amongst us!!!

First, when you pass boards does it mean your a RN? By that state standards.. sure. Does it mean you know what your doing? No. I think we all have run into new grads. We were there ourselves and just happy to have past. Clinical and theory.. lots of differences.

My biggest complaint with the profession is there should be mandated CE's in every state. Paramedics have to maintain X amount of hours each year for CE I believe. And if I am correct MD's retest every certain number of years.

Pretty said here in Illinois.. as long as I my check clears every two years, I get a license to practice.

Have mandated CE's will keep us abreast on new things and the old ones we forgot in school. I wish more of us would push for this. Let's act like professionals!

Hank

betts · Feb 23, 2002

As a nursing student, you're no stranger to exams. Yet nursing school exams are significantly different from the NCLEX, or National Council Licensure Examination. In nursing school, exams are knowledge-based--you're tested on the facts that you know. The NCLEX is application-based--you're tested on how you take the facts that you know and use them in actual situations.

Why Must You Take the NCLEX?

This multiple-choice test has only one purpose: To determine if it's safe for you to begin practice as an entry-level nurse. The NCLEX is prepared by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Each state requires that you pass this exam to obtain a license to practice as a registered nurse. The designation registered nurse or R.N. indicates that you have proven to your state board of nursing that you can deliver safe and effective nursing care.

Purpose

1. To determine if you are a safe nurse.

2. To safeguard the public.

3. To test for minimum competency.

Test Content

4. Based on the knowledge and activities of an entry-level nurse.

5. Written by nursing faculty and clinical specialists.

6. Presented as multiple-choice questions with four possible answer choices.

7. Based on integrated nursing content - not on the medical model of medical, surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, and psychiatric nursing.

8. Includes 15 experimental questions.

Test Administration

9. The computer adaptive test adapts to your knowledge, skills, and ability level.

10. The question sequence is determined interactively.

11. Questions are selected based on the item difficulty and the test plan.

12. Test dates and times are individually scheduled through a Sylvan Learning Center.

13. Tests are administered at individual computer stations.

Taking the Exam

14. Computer knowledge is not required.

15. You will use a computer mouse to select your answers on the exam.

16. All computer keys will be disconnected.

17. You receive instructions and a practice exercise before beginning the exam.

18. Any necessary background information appears on the screen with the question.

19. The computer selects a relatively easy first question.

20. The next question is selected by the computer based on your response to the first question.

21. If your answer is correct, the next question is slightly more difficult.

22.If your answer is incorrect, the next question is slightly easier.

23. Questions are selected to precisely measure your ability in each area of the test plan.

Timing

24. There is no time limit for each individual question.

25. You will answer a minimum of 75 questions to a maximum of 265 questions.

26. The maximum time for the exam is 5 hours, including the practice exercise and all breaks.

27. There is a mandatory 10-minute break after 2 hours of testing.

28. There is an optional 10-minute break after 1 1/2 hours additional test time.

The Exam Will End...

29. When the computer has determined your ability, or

30. When a maximum of 5 hours of testing is reached, or

31. When a maximum of 265 questions have been answered.

Scoring

32. It is a pass/fail exam.

33. There is no penalty for guessing.

34. The 15 experimental questions are not counted.

Concerns

35. No answer changes. Questions are selected by the computer based on your previous responses.

36. No scrolling back.

37. No skipping questions. You must answer the question to go on.

Advantages

38. Testing is available year-round, 15 hours a day, six days a week, in five-hour time slots.

39. Results are released by individual state boards.

40. If you fail, you can retest in 3 months.

thisnurse · Feb 23, 2002

i had something like 184 questions. nclex took me hours to finish. it wasnt easy. i cried all of the way home, thinking i had failed because the test was so hard.

but i had passed.

no i didnt feel competent. not at all. i felt like i had passed the boards but still wasnt a nurse. it was like the state was saying...ok you can practice while i kept telling myself i didnt know what i was doing...and i didnt. it was a scary feeling.

but i trusted in my good judgement and common sense.

dont minimize the computerized nclex. its stressful and hard too.

just curious...if we did away with this kind of testing what would we replace it with?

anyone have any ideas?

Agnus · Feb 23, 2002

X4NURSE, she had been practicing fresh out of school for 2 years. Not a former nurse.

You know I was wondering. I must be weird, because I always hear people say that they did not know if they passed the boards. I understand they are hard. That is how it is designed. that is if you answere the first question right you get a harder question and if you don't, you get and easier question. Then if you get that right you get a harder question and if that is right a harder question until you miss one. You are not expected to get all questions right.

But somehow I knew after my LPN that I passed. and after my RN that I passed. Am I the only one?

Mary Dover · Feb 23, 2002

After sitting through 2 days (yes 'bedazzled!) of state boards. then going to work pretty soon afterwards with a 'temporary license', the only conclusion I could come to was that school might have prepared me for the boards, but experience taught me how to be a nurse.