I can't believe this - wearing a mask during the test?

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I'm really upset now that I found out we have to wear a mask while we write the NCLEX. I overheat easily and believe this is going to negatively impact my performance. How is this fair?! If they're that worried they should just postpone the exam. I wonder if any other professions (law, medicine, accounting..) are requiring their candidates to wear a mask during their licensing exam. I doubt it.

I'm glad to see that you have accepted the idea of wearing a mask during your exam. It is a fair and level playing field, as private businesses are entitled to have a dress code.

I think a greater number of people's testing performance would be impacted if masks were not required. Imagine trying to focus on the NCLEX if the person at the next station over kept coughing, and you realized their aerosolized droplets would be suspended in the air you would be breathing for the next few hours. Constantly worrying that you were being exposed to COVID would be a much bigger distraction than wearing common PPE, in my opinion.

I think it's considerate of Pearson VUE to protect its employees and testing candidates by asking people to keep their droplets self-contained.

You've chosen nursing as a profession. It's a good rule of thumb as you begin your career not to compare it to unrelated professions, like "law, medicine, and accounting" mentioned in your original post. Each of these is a unique profession, so it would be silly to think the same set of requirements/guidelines/expectations should be equally applied across the board. It's 100% acceptable for a standard to apply to a nurse, but not an accountant, and vice versa. If you think another profession's requirements/guidelines/expectations are better aligned with your personal value set, it's never too late to pursue a new path. I don't mean that in an ugly way... just that, factually, comparing nursing with law, medicine, or accounting is like comparing apples and oranges.

Hopefully you'll enjoy the nursing path you've chosen, and I wish you the best on your exam.

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Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.

If a mask can derail you on NCLEX, I have bigger concerns about you as a nurse.

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On 6/15/2020 at 2:10 PM, guest1059427 said:

I'm really upset now that I found out we have to wear a mask while we write the NCLEX. I overheat easily and believe this is going to negatively impact my performance. How is this fair?! If they're that worried they should just postpone the exam. I wonder if any other professions (law, medicine, accounting..) are requiring their candidates to wear a mask during their licensing exam. I doubt it.

If you think about it, people are asymptomatic with this virus and spreading it. It isn't fair to the other people to be exposed (or not) to this just because someone doesn't want to wear a mask. Unfortunately, if you see you're going to have any health issues, or you have a feeling it may impact the way you test, maybe you should reschedule to when masks are no longer required? Or try and get one of those masks with the little vent thing on the side.

I fully understand overheating, cause good god, I wanted to die wearing it. But they are shortening the test just for that reason and supposedly the shortened test is only in effect until July? So, if you havent tested yet, try and wait till then.

Good luck regardless ?

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On 6/20/2020 at 1:28 PM, LittleCa said:

In my state, any essential worker is required to wear a mask indoors. My husband works at a power plant in an office and has to wear them for his whole 10h shift ever since this whole thing started, even before the hospital I work at started requiring it.

Question for the people who have been wearing N95 during their whole 12-hour shift: Are you required?

We wear them in the rooms only, and I'll be honest, it's really hard to breathe especially if we are doing more physical work like bed baths and repositioning. Am I wearing them wrong?

You’re probably wearing it right. It’s will restrict airflow. I have to by my own- and wear them all day-you get used to it with time. Talking on the phone with one is quite interesting at times.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

We wear masks while doing our 12.5 hours shift. So in order to be safe and keep others safe, just wear it. Take breaks in between, and drink plenty fluids to stay hydrated!

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On 6/21/2020 at 1:44 PM, FacultyRN said:

I'm glad to see that you have accepted the idea of wearing a mask during your exam. It is a fair and level playing field, as private businesses are entitled to have a dress code.

I think a greater number of people's testing performance would be impacted if masks were not required. Imagine trying to focus on the NCLEX if the person at the next station over kept coughing, and you realized their aerosolized droplets would be suspended in the air you would be breathing for the next few hours. Constantly worrying that you were being exposed to COVID would be a much bigger distraction than wearing common PPE, in my opinion.

I think it's considerate of Pearson VUE to protect its employees and testing candidates by asking people to keep their droplets self-contained.

You've chosen nursing as a profession. It's a good rule of thumb as you begin your career not to compare it to unrelated professions, like "law, medicine, and accounting" mentioned in your original post. Each of these is a unique profession, so it would be silly to think the same set of requirements/guidelines/expectations should be equally applied across the board. It's 100% acceptable for a standard to apply to a nurse, but not an accountant, and vice versa. If you think another profession's requirements/guidelines/expectations are better aligned with your personal value set, it's never too late to pursue a new path. I don't mean that in an ugly way... just that, factually, comparing nursing with law, medicine, or accounting is like comparing apples and oranges.

Hopefully you'll enjoy the nursing path you've chosen, and I wish you the best on your exam.

Well said!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Thread closed for staff review

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