I prepared myself for months for the boards. I've read the sweatbook a total of 5 times! The memory master for a total of 2! I felt ready and prepared to take the exam and I did take it yesterday. Did I have anxiety? Sure. Some, but not a whole lot. That right there told me deep inside that I was ready. But I wasn't prepared for the HARD questions that hit me during the course of the exam.
The first couple of questions were OK. I obviously missed a simple question that I should've known the answer to (it was a calculation question). A brief moment of brain fart I thought to myself. But, I was OK with it and moved on.
The questions got tougher and thougher I thought. The fact that, I was trying to answer some of them through process of elimination (you know, like well A and B are totally wrong, so its between C and D...).
Then, as the test progressed....just like the energizer bunny...it kept going and going and.....
Past question 93 and I was still at it. My heart sank and my confidence got knocked out of me. I started to panic a bit. "How much time have I lost...do I have enough time to finish?". I stopped and took a deep breath. I told myself to GET A GRIP and FOCUS.
The questions..."Where in the world did these questions come from?" From what I recall through the exam...most of the questions I was asked involved plenty of anatomy & physiology. Sure, I did get an easy question here and there, like the simple flow volume loop diagram. But, as soon as I breezed through a question or two like it, the hard questions came. And there were a lot of em! Now, I tried to rationalize...telling myself that, "Well, if most of the questions were hard....then I must've been doing OK. At least the computer was "adapting" to my capacity to answer these HARD questions. And if I was doing really badly, then my questions would've been easier and easier...OR it could've easily stopped at 90 something. CAN IT STOP AT ANY NUMBER ABOVE 90? Does anyone know?
So, I answered ALL 160 questions and tried my very best yesterday. I was emotionally run down and drained of all emotions. I was a zombie, trying to drive back to my house which was an hour away. Thoughts of failure came to my mind. People that were counting on me to pass...HUMILITY that may come after I get my results.
But, after waking up this morning from a BAD HANGOVER, I realised that nothing can really prepare you for an exam such as this one that is so unpredictable. Sure, the sweatbook helped. But in my opinion, the memory master didn't. I would advise those who will be taking this exam in the future to supplement your readings outside of the sweatbook and memory master. Sure, I tried supplementing my studies by reading M&M, but not thoroughly. That is my own fault. I take full responsibility for my successes and failures. And if I fail this one, then IT IS JUST A SETBACK. If I get knocked off this horse, then I'll just get up and get on it again. That's why they call it "School of Hard Knocks".
It's out of my hands now. The waiting begins. Between now and the day the fed ex man comes, I will hit the books and start reading once again. This time, I'll start with Morgan & Mikhail.
Goodluck to all who have and will take the board exam.
I would advise those who will be taking this exam in the future to supplement your readings outside of the sweatbook and memory master. Sure, I tried supplementing my studies by reading M&M, but not thoroughly.
Just curious...what is the sweatbook/memory master/M&M?????
Just took the boards last Aug. and i feel the same as you do after..took me 105 questions before it stops..but before that my computer suddenly stops after question 85..i thought thats the end..but then it pops..time for a break hehehe..it opted not to..my wife also took it and her's stops at 75..almost all in my group stops at 75..it's weird when you are left alone answering..but i can still remember the question before it stops..and i knew i got it right..so if you knew you got the last question right before it stops..you'll probably pass..I pass the exam and so is my wife..Good luck..
I was talking about my experience taking the board exam for nurse anesthetists. I believe you guys are talking about the LVN & RN board exams.
But, irregardless of what exam one takes...I still don't get the correlation behind getting the LAST question right or wrong...as it would "seal" ones fate on passing or failing.
Let's just say, that if someone took ALL 160 or 90 questions...and if he or she answered more than 70 percent of the questions right...THEN, if by chance the last question was answered WRONG....then wouldn't that mean that, that person would highly likely fail? If this was based on following this logic.
Well folks, the wait is over. I didn't make the cut. As soon as I got my results and found out that I didn't make it, I immediately re-sent my application to retake the exam (that'll put my retake date around mid October).
I would like to thank all of those folks who wished me goodluck and who offered their emotional support as I waited for my results. I am actually OK with it. Like I said, "it's a small set-back." I'm not as devastated as one would expect. I think grieving right after the exam for a few days helped alleviate the effect of having to deal with the bad news when I opened the fed-ex envelope today :wink2: .
It's back to the drawing board. The second time's a charm
A friend of mine asked me this evening why I would even consider posting that I failed the exam on this board. So then I told her, "Well, it's because I'm not ashamed to admit I failed at something." And that, "Humility is a good thing to have." I could only hope that someone may learn from my experience. No matter what aspect of my life that may be.
I could easily dwell on the "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda". And the "If only...." But, life's too short. Things could be worse. It's only an exam, I told her. I'll take it again, like the 10-15% of people who fail it every year. Sure, I'm disappointed. But who wouldn't be? I'm just better equipped in handling this bump on the road than say, someone who had a lot riding on this exam. I'm very thankful to be able to have the chance to re-take it again and not be pressured by outside sources. I'm thankful that my future employer's business manager was very supportive on the phone today, telling me that, "You're not the first one to not make it on this exam. There have been a lot before you." Now, who could ask for a better manager than him? :wink2:
Thanks again folks for offering your well wishes and goodlucks.
I'll pop in from time to time, until I re-take the exam again.
Vinny.
Vinny
You are good in handling situations or problems like this...i am touched by your attitude...You will be lucky, I hope the next time you try to sit again for the test you will be able to get it with flying colors...I will be praying for you. You boast my moral, even if I am not going to take yet ( I just received my eligibility) I got this confidence now, and the goal to study harder, and believe in myself.
Goodluck on your second...with your right attitude I know you will be a good health care giver. And your manager made the right decision of hiring you...
KayceeLeeRN, BSN, RN
105 Posts
Just curious...what is the sweatbook/memory master/M&M?????