grandmabutterfly

Nursing school did not broaden my knowledge as much as MY studying did. I don't want to memorize questions in case I have to retake the exam because I already know that I won't have the same questions again. I want to LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES. If I was correctly reasoning through the questions obviously I thought I was right therefore I need to LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES. RNsRWe dozens of posts and replies on All Nurses explain how the test works. I'm not interested in the theory of the psychometrics of the test composition or how the system fluctuates according to whether the answer was right or wrong. I want to LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES. {There should be a Thread for those who wish to argue about "psychometrics" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychometrics).} I am not interested in posting the questions so others can cheat. The practice of nursing involves human beings that should not have to worry how we did on the NCLEX. They should be able to trust that we know what we are doing. I too go to the doctor as do members of my family. I want them to receive care from a knowledgeable nurse who didn't just pass the test with a "passable" rating or by cheating.

If there are no "trick questions" on NCLEX why are we not allowed to see our score or review the questions we got wrong? Is the NCLEX all knowing, all seeing, smoke blowing wizard behind the curtain not interested in us bettering our knowledge and skills or grinding our attitudes into dirt? I find that I learn from my mistakes.

We were told in class that NCLEX makes changes every few years so I would like to address the following: I saw an old thread about whether you can assume that you have doctor's orders to choose an answer on NCLEX. In the '14-'15 edition of a Kaplan RN strategies book I found": "Dependent interventions are based on the written orders of a physician. On the NCLEX-RN® exam, you should assume that you have an order for all dependent interventions that are included in the answer choices." Does that mean the question needs to state "prn"? Does that include LPN/LVN? Kaplan also states there is no trickery involved. If that's the case why doesn't NCLEX officially put out explanations instead of leaving students to the guise of publishers selling their wares? I can't wait to be done with this process!

I think APA format is for those instructors wishing to publish letting the student perform the research. Then, if they like your work, they use your source instead of performing their own research. I have more humility that I don't need to see my name in "print" for posterity while letting the plebes do the work.

Wow so many emotions, experiences and disappointments have been shared amongst the original post and replies. I too felt a lot of these issues during my PN program. Since I am not a "spring chicken" I feel I might be a bit more discerning than some of the younger students who have fewer life experiences to draw upon for comparisons of professionalism. I will not continue with the same school if I decide to complete an RN program even though the ADN instructor is the only one in the department with any actual teaching talent. There was too much contradiction between lecture and text that I felt the instructors hadn't prepared for class other than reading the slides. They didn't even value questions trying to lead them to correct their contradictions between the text and what they said. Fortunately I had one compatriot student who kept reminding me to keep my mouth shut. I felt their requests for questions were insincere when I realized they didn't know the answers. I enjoy learning and don't mind the difficulty, however when the instructors claim we needed to cover certain material on our own (more than one instance) I felt the program was not very thorough. I paid for this program and expected it to be complete. If there needs to be more classes/hours then the program should be modified, especially since my school prided themselves on their NCLEX pass rate. It is not the school's pass rate since the students were advised to follow-up with other programs i.e. Kaplan, Hesi, ATI, NCSBN Learning Extension, etc. Some of these NCLEX prep programs cost a lot of money. The one recommended by our school was a good review covering some of the material left out as previously mentioned, but the practice testing section had pitiful rationales (if any at all), circular explanations for "Test Taking Tips," and expected the student to be a mind reader of where the question was leading. This same program cited sources none of which were more recent than four years old and some 10 years old. Also during my PN program we learned of the phenomenon of "nurses eating their young." This was vehemently discouraged as an approach in future practice, however, I felt it in regular treatment from our instructors. This was not the case with other nurses during clinicals. I wonder if this falls under the category of "this is how it has always been done." Well, that is one of my greatest pet peeves-life is about what happens, growth, learning, experiences, change. We change our underwear, hairstyles, diets, cars, you name it life is about change. Why can't nursing education change to include compassion for students as human beings or to advocate more of what is taught - like therapeutic communication. Why are students less deserving than patients? Why do we not tell a patient "everything will be fine" whereas more than one instructor has given false reassurance. I have many more emotions resulting from experiences during my PN classes including a few positive ones. I originally came to allnurses.com this evening to find support for a different issue but NormaSaline's post caught my attention. Now I feel some relief.

Thanks for the citation from Wikipedia especially for learning the term "academic elitism." This is what I complained about while my husband was working on his Master's degree while I was working for a professor in the science field at a MAJOR university in California. I didn't know the official term, but I used the term "self perpetuation."

I might actually appreciate nursing diagnoses if we were writing care plans related to human beings (or not as the case may be for hospital work). And I'm in my last semester of LPN. Writing a care plan might be a great challenge. My instructors won't even discuss our critically thought out suggestions but jump to the "we're right and you don't know what you're talking about" innuendo type response instead of creating a teaching moment. I've received more appreciation as a nurse assistant for a unique, creative suggestion.

Still waiting for more responses before I decide if nursing diagnoses are just Nursing School jargon for nurses want to be important

I recommend checking and double checking between the counselor/advisor and the nursing program. My school apparently doesn't communicate which have to be done before nursing classes and which can be completed during nursing classes. Also confirm which will transfer before registering if you are considering changing from community college to a major university or stand alone nursing school. All the best of luck.

I'm 55 now and graduating this spring. Hope to pass the NCLEX before I turn 56. I don't plan on continuing to RN.

Does anyone besides the nursing staff ever look at or use the defined Nursing Diagnosis for a patient? If so who and what is done with it?