NMC Test Online

abstam · Dec 29, 2014

exactly! It is a generic answer and she didn't really address anything at all. It is inconsistentâ€¦.anyone else really feeling like a Guinea pig right about now?? I trained as nurse in the United States but I'm already living in the UK (moved here recently after getting married) so I just feel stuck in this system. I honestly don't know what to do. Does anyone in here know of options for foreign trained nurses already living in the UK? â€¦Or is the NMC route my only choice, haha?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 30, 2014

NMC is the only route.

I just want to say you are all complaining how hard it is for you to register in the UK and I know they have recently changed things and it isn't easy however I must point out it is just as hard for UK nurses regardless on when they trained (either as a general trained many years ago or recent as a specialised nurse) to register in other countries and for some countries they have to pay $$$ and do return to nursing courses before being allowed to sit the country's exam. In one way it would be nice if all countries got together and agreed on who training would be and that the qualifications could easily be transferable but I guess that isn't going to happen any time in the future

Trmcrn · Dec 30, 2014

Silverdragon, I see where you're coming from, but I think my main problem with this whole process is the fact that it has not been standardized/the NMC has obviously not worked out all of the kinks. That and the joke of a study guide they provided for this test. I don't know how it works in other countries, but in the United States, once someone has gone through the process of having transcripts reviewed and possibly taking additional courses, there are purchasable, useful study guides that they can use to prepare for the NCLEX. With some proper studying, the NCLEX isn't too bad...and it tests basic nursing knowledge, not some of this stuff this new competency test is testing--like the code--which, to me, is something that can be learned on the job...and isn't something that should be tested through poorly worded/ambiguous questions. Also, the NCLEX is at least scored fairly using the CAT system - this new competency test is not graded fairly at all. How can missing one of a set of questions cause one to fail an entire exam? It's crazy. Maybe if the test were more fair and those of us who have to take the exam had an adequate study guide, we wouldn't be complaining so much. I have to take this test the first week of February, but I can tell you I'm already worried/contemplating cancelling it because I don't want to waste Â£130 on a test that seems designed to make people fail.

babyNP., APRN · Dec 30, 2014

I would tend to agree with Trmcrn. The test that the NMC put forth from what everyone has written doesn't seem to be properly "tested" for its robustness.

I asked my (English born and raised) husband about this and he has the following contribution:

"Britain is a testing culture. If they don't know how to write a proper test, they have absolutely no business making one and enforcing it on other people."

He has said that growing up and taking the GSCEs and A levels (junior high and high school tests, very important, much more than the SATs), he had access to past papers, previous tests, and a ton of revision material. He says it's very standard and even at the university level.

He says he's not surprised that the test is hard because British tests are hard, that's the way the culture is. But the fact that you can miss one question and fail the entire test is completely wrong. He would actually expect that the test would be so hard that you only get a 60-70%, but that would be considered a pass.

In any case, I wish everyone the best of luck on here.

fespillane · Dec 31, 2014

to Silverdragon102: yes we are all happy for it to be hard, but fair and consistent is the main point we're getting at. I was happy to do the English test, though raised in an English speaking country and also am a British citizen, I am also happy to do the tests and the course and prove competence but I am not happy for poorly worded testing, and completing a test i felt I got at least 80-90% on but find out I have failed. Also in other countries the Nursing board take the time to respond to emails and often give helpful information, whereas NMC ignore most questions asked.

alfredpower, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2014

I agree. The exam here in the Philippines is waaay harder than the cbt. The problem is that the criteria for passing ( esp the Critical Qs) were just ridiculous!

timeisbrain · Dec 31, 2014

I recently heard from my recruiter stating "although they haven't received formal word from the NMC" he heard they were doing away with the essential questions. I haven't been able to find official word of this, has anyone else heard that?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 31, 2014

to Silverdragon102: yes we are all happy for it to be hard, but fair and consistent is the main point we're getting at. I was happy to do the English test, though raised in an English speaking country and also am a British citizen, I am also happy to do the tests and the course and prove competence but I am not happy for poorly worded testing, and completing a test i felt I got at least 80-90% on but find out I have failed. Also in other countries the Nursing board take the time to respond to emails and often give helpful information, whereas NMC ignore most questions asked.

It isn't just the NMC that poorly answers emails I have had experience of poorly answered emails from other countries and we have had many other members post about not hearing from various state BON's not responding.

All I am saying is each country can have difficulties and really at the end of the day the various nursing bodies are there to protect the public and take money off the nurses and not do a lot for the nurses

fespillane · Jan 1, 2015

It isn't just the NMC that poorly answers emails I have had experience of poorly answered emails from other countries and we have had many other members post about not hearing from various state BON's not responding.
All I am saying is each country can have difficulties and really at the end of the day the various nursing bodies are there to protect the public and take money off the nurses and not do a lot for the nurses

Yes NMC is similar to other organisations in terms of lack of communication and information they give, although they are not the only one who is poor it does not make okay or acceptable. We are here to share our experiences, vent with each other to make it easier to deal with. if you are not going through this same process i don't understand why you're on here? It comes across as rude to say the least. This process is tough, but your comments are aggravating please refrain, it is doing no good.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 1, 2015

Yes NMC is similar to other organisations in terms of lack of communication and information they give, although they are not the only one who is poor it does not make okay or acceptable. We are here to share our experiences, vent with each other to make it easier to deal with. if you are not going through this same process i don't understand why you're on here? It comes across as rude to say the least. This process is tough, but your comments are aggravating please refrain, it is doing no good.

I am responding to comments that complaining about something that everyone reads and everyone has comments to make. I am from the UK and it isn't nice to read comments like 'how the UK needs good nurses' How jealous people are of a certain country' 'Now I have UK experience I want to move on to a country now I don't have to do the new country's adaptation program' We have seen it all on this forum. How rude it that when people read them comments.

tinners · Jan 1, 2015

Ugh. Dang. Its all making me nervous. There are many nurses here in the Philippines that will take the exam.

im from the philippines and i was planning to take the cbt this jan. but upon reading this blog im not sure anymore..

Trmcrn · Jan 1, 2015

Yes, silverdragon, but aren't you in a different country now? Shouldn't we have the opportunity to go to another country if we want to? I don't think there's anything wrong with us wanting to experience being a nurse in the UK (in my case, being a travel nurse) and having a somewhat fair chance at registering. I'm not asking for it to be easy, I just want it to be realistic. This new process is full of problems and the NMC is choosing to ignore those of us pointing them out. That's where a lot of the frustration is coming from.