My thoughts on the NCLEX exam

[Anyausa215]

Hi everyone! I read this web site everyday. I am international nurse preparing for NCLEX RN.It drives me crazy! I read yours emails, your questions about best strategies, what book is the best, what test prep course is good to take. I read your disappointed emails that someone did't pass even was great student in the nursing school.

I am studying everyday at home. Sometimes I have a better day sometimes the questions just dont work at all! And you know what I observe and think? That this NCLEX exam it is not matter of your knowledge, it is matter of your luck!!

Did you ever read Nclex national statistics? It says that each year almost 50 percent people fail! Does it mean that these people are stupid or not smart?? No! That means that they just don't know how to play a peek a boo game such an NCLEX! That explains why this country have no nurses and wont have nurses in future years! Thousands of people each year fail. And just bunch of people sit somewhere there, and think about next stupid question to create and put in the system.

Does it really matter if nurse knows what is Cushing's syndrome and knows perfectly its signs? Does really matter if you know the very fist sign ?

(I am sorry to be politically correct should say "the earliest sign" of shock? Or the latest sign of shock? I know shock signs, all of them but do I have to know the very fist one? Because I will have a dying patient and I will say to him:hold on John I have to think which symptom will be next one!

I had a question about pulmonary embolism. It was asking about level of anxiety. And 4 different answers about level of his anxiety (soft, moderate, severe etc). Anxiety is an anxiety!!!

We can go on and on and on. There is more useless questions like that.

I just can tell you, who didn't pass. Don't think you are stupid or not smart-just because your friends passed first time and you didn't. You probably will be in many cases better nurse than others. To be a nurse it is not only theoretical/medical knowledge. It is your love for patients, your practical skills, your ethic, believe, your time managing, your strong character to deal with daily difficult job. Not only 265 questions.

One day I heard discution that RN didnt wash her patient because she is created for higher purpose...she was waiting for CNA or other help. Patient was laying in the bed dirty and alone. It wasnt her duty! So if she doesn't want to do it go to sell the coffee.

The country I came from nurse does everything. She does blood transfusion and in 5 minutes later she runs to wash her patient if he needs to be washed.

Well but the nurses from my country dont necessary know what is the very first sign of Cushing disease:)

To all of you-dont give up! This is great country, needs great strong nurses. You are hero anyway! For all of your patients you are meeting know or in your future.

And for those who create these Nclex questions-go ahead!!! Create more! In 2010 there will be lack of one milion nurses.

[chichimitchi]

awww im sorry that u feel this way about the nursing test, but dont u also think that they really arent asking for much? i mean how many licensure test pass u with a minimum number of 75? plus the CAT is designed to help u pass, so u have to give them credit a little bit.. i know what ur saying tho that knowledge isnt everything, but we are professionals that deal with real life medical issues and they have to make sure that we atleast know what were doing

[suzanne4, RN]

Actually the statistics state that an American trained RN will pass 85% on of the time the first time that it is written.

If one trains out of the US, then the rate drops to 44%, but this has more to do with differences in language.

Any disease that is seen in the US is fair game for the exam, does not matter what you had in your country or if you have ever seen a patient with it, but the fact is it can be asked. And the exam will focus on your week areas.

And the exam here focuses on priority and what you would do in a certain situation. The issue then becomes that you will need to understand what is needed for you to be able to practice here in the role of the RN, and you need to meet the requirements that are in place here, not the other way around.

And you need to understand every single issue that there is with shock, that is part of the assessment process that is required on each and every patient that will be under your care.

Best of luck on your American exam.