Final... Basically a test that is a final to end you

Nursing Students General Students

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Not sure how many of you feel. Just had the final from hell at my school. It was like a final insult for the summer from the nursing professors. I am not the only one who feels that way either.

Studied for weeks for this. And come in today and get our butts kicked. I am not sure what kind of message they were trying to portray. Again the book smart people win. And those with common sense are going to lose out, kicked to the curb.

Amazing relief! So far from what I truly believed was the outcome!

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hmm Ive never heard an older nurse say thier schooling was easy, or easier. Usually its "Oh, we had to learn all that too-yeah its a PITA but once you get through it...." And all my instructors have masters degrees so for them our tests and material is pretty simple.

Seems like a lot of people have the wrong attitude, if I got less than an A I would be mad at myself not the test or teacher.

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Well thats a typical A response. So I guess when test material isn't covered in lecture or books its my fault. Or when the instructor says "I know nothing about this material but this is what I found on the web" and you get tested on it, I guess its my fault. Or when the person making the exams doesn't teach anything and disreguards those instructors questions for that particular exam its all my fault. What makes a good nurse?..good test taking skills!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I honestly think that schools need to be more rigorous in their admission policies rather than brutally "weed out" students who have already started.
Yes, I think the admissions process is far too lax at some schools and is reflected in the performance of the students.

I'm a big believer in standardized testing because it levels the playing field

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Well thats a typical A response. So I guess when test material isn't covered in lecture or books its my fault. Or when the instructor says "I know nothing about this material but this is what I found on the web" and you get tested on it, I guess its my fault. Or when the person making the exams doesn't teach anything and disreguards those instructors questions for that particular exam its all my fault. What makes a good nurse?..good test taking skills!

some test questions arent covered but can be answered correctly by using critical thinking,(or really just common sense) no surprise there although lots of students get those wrong and then complain, 'we didnt cover that!'...the other things you mentioned is just crappy teaching/schools. My school/teachers are all excellent.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I have heard older nurses, i.e. my professors, say things like "What I had to know to graduate from nursing school is less than what CNA's need to know today". This is an ever-changing field we are all going into, and to save money, more complex skills are being taught to workers that can be paid less. I don't think it was easier to run around manually counting IV drip rates back in the day, but the skills we are expected to master today are more complex.

And to the OP, yes, I completely understand. My professor has said verbatim (and I have it on recordings) "I've told you everything you need to know for this test". Then at test time, there was a question about a drug that she never mentioned, but was in our notes. I found this out the hard way when I decided to take her at her word, as she declared, and only studied the topics she had mentioned in class. Was it my fault for not reading all of the material? Of course. It was there and I should have at least looked at it. But should she have made that statement in lecture? :mad:

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"I always wonder why the folks who struggle with the "book learning" want to portray it as an either/or situation. Many of us "book-smart" folks also have a ton of common sense and practical wisdom, too."

Thank you for that!

I have both common sense and an excellent average in Nursing school. I bust my butt studying 2-4 hours every single day, even on weekends, while foregoing parties and dinners out with friends.

I study so much because each time I re read a chapter it sinks in that much more. I also highlight key points brought up in lecture and ensure that I take extra looks at these topics.

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i have noticed that some students do not take nursing school as seriously as they should. they try and last minute cram for these tests, and you cannot really last minute cram for nursing tests, they are not that 'type' of test. you really need to understand the info to have the ability to use it when you critically think.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
So I guess when test material isn't covered in lecture or books its my fault.
Well, I suppose that - as with anything - it depends on each case. However, I found that as I navigated through my first year on the floor or as I progress as an ER nurse that I'm often faced with situations which were not covered in my books or lectures and yet I still need to formulate answers. I don't really see why there should not be some element of that on tests.
What makes a good nurse?..good test taking skills!
Not at all. On the other hand, the best nurses that I've worked with have also been very "book smart" in addition to having good clinical judgment.

I consider "that wasn't in the book or covered in lecture" to be a cop-out.

JMO.

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If its in the notes Id expect it to be fair game for a test. We had questions that were not in the notes, or the book, or in lecture.

We had a question that was a 'check all that apply' yet there was only 1 right answer, one student asked before the test if any of the 'check all that apply' were ever 1 answer and she said 'no'. Luckily I didnt know this so I got that question right.

I have heard older nurses, i.e. my professors, say things like "What I had to know to graduate from nursing school is less than what CNA's need to know today". This is an ever-changing field we are all going into, and to save money, more complex skills are being taught to workers that can be paid less. I don't think it was easier to run around manually counting IV drip rates back in the day, but the skills we are expected to master today are more complex.

And to the OP, yes, I completely understand. My professor has said verbatim (and I have it on recordings) "I've told you everything you need to know for this test". Then at test time, there was a question about a drug that she never mentioned, but was in our notes. I found this out the hard way when I decided to take her at her word, as she declared, and only studied the topics she had mentioned in class. Was it my fault for not reading all of the material? Of course. It was there and I should have at least looked at it. But should she have made that statement in lecture? :mad:

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some questions are given for purposes of critical thinking. the idea is to use the knowledge you have gained in answering questions. in a way, the answers are in the book, it is just not spoon fed to you as "1+1=2".

they ask you to take what you know and critically think about it.

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According to many of my classmates, our final was unfair and arbitrary.

I only skimmed the chapters/intentionally paid attention in class and knew where the instructors pulled their information from for the final.

Not to hijack your thread, but as I have progressed through school, I have noticed that some students have developed a sense of responsibility that appears to drive them to understand material, whether we be tested on it or not, whether an instructor can competently lecture on it or not. I anticipate that in the real world, I will have to jump into situations that weren't covered in the textbook or NCLEX review and try to use that thing taking up space between my ears to have a good outcome.

Good luck.

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