Nclex exam vs. actual nursing... some insight

[juliemcd]

Wasn't sure where to post this but thought this would be a good spot since I have just recently been through the tortures of the NCLEX. I thought maybe this post would help encourage those of us who happen to NOT be stellar in "test-taking"!

I have decided that, passing or failing, will in NO way determine the "kind" or "type" of nurse we will be nor will the "number of questions". I even have an inkling of thought that the test really can't measure our TRUE level of knowledge to the extent we might think. That is really up to us as individuals.

After my first week of real life RN experience (which isn't really much but enough for me to realize what my future potential has in store for me) i have found that I am MUCH more competent than the nclex EVER gave me permission to be. I have found that I am MUCH more competent than NURSING SCHOOL ever gave me permission to be.

I have found out, at this early, early, early, stage in my career, that it is up to ME how competent I am and can be. I won't go into long, boring explanations of the few experiences I have had that have helped me come to this conclusion, I just want to tell everyone out there who have passed, failed and/or feel defeated by nclex or nursing school........

these are just a few, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, forks in the road for you to get by in order to be out there and truely prove to yourself the amazing nurse you have the capability of being.

When the pressure isn't quite as high and you can think clearly, you will be amazed at what you KNOW you know and what you "thought" you didn't know but really do.

Moral of the story, try as hard as you can to take this bull by it's horns and take it down the fork in the road YOU want to go down, not the one IT wants to go down. STUDY STUDY STUDY, be confident, and remind yourself OFTEN of how capable you are regardless of what a "test" might say. :) Good luck to EVERYONE...... JulieMcd,RN