You will fail the NCLEX

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Home Health.

I had a horrible experience with an instructor today which I am basically over, but I have to share this story with all of you to see what you think.

We just started class on Wed the 28th, which means we are finished week two today. My group (7 students) has been given the wrong information a few times and it is beginning to get on my nerves. We had a take home mastery due today which we went over as a large group (about 23 students) with 3 instructors present. One of the questions was a true or false:

When using a cane, a client should be instructed to place the cane directly to the side of the unaffected leg.

First the instructor said this was true, then she looked at her answer sheet and said no, it's false. Then she read the statement and said it was true. The whole class was in a whispered uproar by this time discussing whether it was true or false. My belief was that it could be answered either way. The cane does go on the unaffected side, but if it is being used (meaning the client is walking) then it is placed a step ahead of the unaffected side, not DIRECTLY beside the leg. It still has not been resolved as to whether the answer is true or false and we are to use this mastery sheet to study for our first exam. The class then broke up to go to individual groups. Since we were to stay in the same room my classmate and I were still discussing the true/false dilemma. I stated my opinion and he was rereading the question. The instructor for one of the other groups kind of nosed into our conversation. I thought she wanted to explain the mix up so I told her that I thought the statement was misleading because of the words "using" and "directly". She turned on me and in a very short and snotty tone said, "If you read into every question that deeply you WILL fail the NCLEX!" I was shocked. The way she turned on me I felt like I was being attacked. Eventually, I ended up crying. Which I am also very upset about. I don't like to lose control like that. (We all have other things going on besides the stress of nursing school and I am on overload right now.) My group instructor went with me to the bathroom and told me that the other instructor was way out of line and that she was going to talk to her about it.

My question: Did I overreact?

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no!!! being in nursing school is stressful enough and i think after that instructor said that to you you just felt very offended by what she said. i don't blame you for being upset because i know you have a lot in your mind right now and then there comes the instructor telling you that you will fail the nclex..you have every right to feel the way you felt... but don't let anyone discourage you!!! you know your self better than anyone and i'm sure you can do anything as long as you put your heart into it... good luck...

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

The instructor is the one who overreacted. Wish I could say that kind of behavior was an atypical experience for nursing school. It's not. Eventually your skin will grow much thicker. Which is sad really.

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I think you overreacted. I am also someone who tended to "read into" questions too much. It is entirely possible that this instructor meant the comment as a constructive criticism and not as an attack. I would have tried to phrase it better if I were her, but she didn't say "You will fail the NCLEX. Period", she said you would fail IF you read too much into each question because "using" may be used in a lot of NCLEX questions.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.

I am sorry for the way that your instructor replied to you. However, she is correct in the sense that if you read to much into a question you will greatly increase your chances for failure. This is true in all tests. I tend to read into questions and know this to be fact. Try to keep it simple and do not analyze to deeply.

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yes - you overreacted, but don't beat yourself up over it.

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Specializes in Neuro trauma ICU, Flight Nurse.

I wouldn't worry too much about this scene. Sounds like you're under alot of stress, and don't forget that the instructors are under stress too. Accreditation depends on the pass rates on the NCLEX. They definitely need you to pass. I found that the excessive pressure my instructors put on me was good skin thickening agent.... Doctors aren't always the most professional, pleasant people to work with....

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Specializes in Trauma, MICU.

I also have problems with reading too much in a question. For example...

You are putting on foot pumps. Which one would you do first?

a) Check the doctors orders

b) Check the patients foot size

c) Place the patients foot on the foot pump

d) Turn the machine on

Well in my overreacting brain, I read this as...

"putting" => actively putting on the pumps (which means you've already check the drs orders and check which size you need)

Well...of course this ended up being wrong. My teacher just wanted to make sure we knew what step needed to be performed first. I think I had like 3-4 of these type questions that I ended up getting wrong by reading too much into the question. :uhoh21: :imbar

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Oops! I guess I read too much into this one too! I was thinking, if you were already putting them on, then you would have already had the order from the Dr.

I guess I have a lot to learn!

To the OP: I'm sure your actions were justified as to how you felt at that moment. So, whether or not it an overreaction should not be a concern to you.

Just learn from the comment, and continue on.

Good luck! :)

I also have problems with reading too much in a question. For example...

You are putting on foot pumps. Which one would you do first?

a) Check the doctors orders

b) Check the patients foot size

c) Place the patients foot on the foot pump

d) Turn the machine on

Well in my overreacting brain, I read this as...

"putting" => actively putting on the pumps (which means you've already check the drs orders and check which size you need)

Well...of course this ended up being wrong. My teacher just wanted to make sure we knew what step needed to be performed first. I think I had like 3-4 of these type questions that I ended up getting wrong by reading too much into the question. :uhoh21: :imbar

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Specializes in Home Health.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Now that I have had time to think about it, it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. I still feel foolish for getting so upset, but I think it had more to do with all of the other stuff I'm dealing with (three teenagers driving me nuts and an 8 year old with GAD :bluecry1: ) than it did with school. I'm sure you know how that goes, the last straw and all. Thanks again everyone I appreciate all of your opinions and support!

Lisa

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What is the answer to the cane question? I thought false b/c I thought you put the cane on your bad side, now I am really confused. I missed a cane question on an exam once so I have a mental block....

I chose check doctors orders for the foot pump question.

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

You will get yes and no answers on this. I would say that no you didn't overreact by crying because many people cry when they are mad, anxious, upset, etc. - being a nurse doesn't mean you can't be human and cry at times. Yes I would have cried, then again I'm pregnant and cry at everything!

As for the question - yeah its true that you can't read into the questions or you will be driven crazy but unfortunately its hard to figure out when the teachers themselves don't give the proper answer.

So - no crying is not overreacting, and the teacher should not have been so rude, there is a nicer way to say - don't read into the questions too much. Because that is true, you can't read into the questions too much even though some need further exploration - it seems all nursing questions are vague!

Best wishes and try not to let this get you down!

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