Two things about the NCLEX that I don't understand.

abundantjoy07, RN · Mar 29, 2005

1. Why don't they give you your preliminary results as soon as the test is over? Certainly, the computer "knows" whether or not you have passed or failed as soon as the test is over. So many people that I know have endured tremendous unecessary stress waiting for the results.
2. Why, have questions that are harder than the minimum passing standard? Since you don't get "extra credit" for being able to answer the "top tier" questions why even ask them? Why, should certain canidates have to answer questions that are harder than passing level simply because they can?

Of course, I don't know the answer to question #1...but if I had to guess I would say it has to do with confidentiality. I mean if you pass you're going to be happy and estatic. Whereas the person next to you who fails will be down in the dumps. People will be able to read expressions and will want to talk about the test at length after it is over. This is like an indirect violation of confidentality. It's better for everyone to leave feeling the same way and avoid conflict, embarassment, and maybe hostility. Then too there is a slight chance that others might be able to see your scores.

fab4fan · Mar 29, 2005

Because they don't want you to make a scene, harass the proctors unnecessarily or shoot up the place. Witness the behavior of your classmates after crucial tests and you know that these things might happen.
Because they may end up throwing out some questions and need to monitor the results against how others did.
Please also remember that many of us have had to wait 10-12 weeks, until our license showed up in the mail. No internet access to results, no results within 10 days. And the testing required us take a trip to a far location, with limited sites and limited test dates, where we had to stay in a motel and test for two days, 4-6 hours each day.
As such, why are y'all complaining?

Amen :rolleyes:

Roland · Mar 29, 2005

Amen

I agree that the "old" way of waiting ten to twelve weeks after undergoing multi-day testing was wrong. Then again so was slavery and the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. The point of course is that past oppression in no way justifies current mistreatment even if current practices are absolutely respectful by comparison.

It is my impression that there is an entire culture of "acceptance" (or at least passive tolerance) of the unfair which exists within nursing (indeed I would argue that this attitude is in part inculterated beginning in nursing school). I would argue that the NCLEX in its present incarnation is a manifestation of this attitude in that most people leave the test feeling depressed and unsucessful (even those in the majority who pass). An approach which facilitated getting most of the questions correct (assuming minimal competency exists) would instead foster feelings of empowerment and self confidence. However, it is my thesis that the entire health care system (ranging from Hospitals to HMO's and in some cases physicians) have a vested interest in discouraging such feelings among nurses.

Slobgob · Mar 29, 2005

Slavery? Japanese Internment? Breaking the 14th Amendment?

You sound like I did in High School taking 11th grade American History/Government. Those were the days... I could compare slavery to the lack of chocolate milk in the cafeteria. I sounded really dumb back then.

I'm not gonna weep and say you sound "insensitive" by even suggesting the comparison... you just sound like I did... dumb.

You need to lay off the conspiracy theories...

Every single question you've had... has been answered clearly. You wanted to know about the waiting period... you got a great answer. You wanted to know why the test asks hard questions... you got it.

Now you seem to have a few more... i'll let you know the answer. And then maybe you'll let it go..

"It is my impression that there is an entire culture of "acceptance" (or at least passive tolerance) of the unfair which exists within nursing (indeed I would argue that this attitude is in part inculterated beginning in nursing school)"

First off, there is nothing unfair about nursing that doesn't also represent itself in nuremous other professions. How about teachers? Around here, nurses make twice as much... yet nurses will still strive for more. Every single person on this large earth strives for a better lot... and to a certain extent believes that they are under appriciated for their craft.

Second, nursing school in no way teaches nurses to accept unfair practices or enstows lack of confidence. While it is true that nursing students often feel that they've done poorly on tests (NLCEX included), this isn't from lack of confidence. I'm quite confident, yet I always doubt my test scores... and only because I desire the end goal so badly. How do we deal with the stress... "hope for the best, expect the worse".

Third, what is "inculterated"? I've certainly... never been that.

"An approach which facilitated getting most of the questions correct (assuming minimal competency exists) would instead foster feelings of empowerment and self confidence."

Really? Cause students in RN programs get anywhere from 75-100% of the questions right in their usual classes. And yet they all still doubt themselves...

I've doubted tests that I scored 97% on... I'll doubt anything. Its not the NLCLEX's fault... but I do respect a test that really challenges its students to answer the tough questions. You can find this test model in University Math/Physics courses where 42% on a test once got be a "B". =)

"However, it is my thesis that the entire health care system (ranging from Hospitals to HMO's and in some cases physicians) have a vested interest in discouraging such feelings among nurses."

Do what? Seriously... you think everyone's in on it? Heh. You don't think Hospitals/HMOs have a vested interest in increasing the nursing supply. If you've studied 8th grade economics, you understand the impact of increased supply. If want a villian... look towards the nursing organizations that want to do away with AA programs and strive to raise NLCEX expectations. Don't villianize them too much though... everyone has their reasons.

That's your lesson... everything has its reasons.

Except eating meat that is... that's barbaric. =)

Altra, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2005

Slavery? Japanese Internment? Breaking the 14th Amendment?
You sound like I did in High School taking 11th grade American History/Government. Those were the days... I could compare slavery to the lack of chocolate milk in the cafeteria. I sounded really dumb back then.
I'm not gonna weep and say you sound "insensitive" by even suggesting the comparison... you just sound like I did... dumb.
You need to lay off the conspiracy theories...
Every single question you've had... has been answered clearly. You wanted to know about the waiting period... you got a great answer. You wanted to know why the test asks hard questions... you got it.
Now you seem to have a few more... i'll let you know the answer. And then maybe you'll let it go..
"It is my impression that there is an entire culture of "acceptance" (or at least passive tolerance) of the unfair which exists within nursing (indeed I would argue that this attitude is in part inculterated beginning in nursing school)"
First off, there is nothing unfair about nursing that doesn't also represent itself in nuremous other professions. How about teachers? Around here, nurses make twice as much... yet nurses will still strive for more. Every single person on this large earth strives for a better lot... and to a certain extent believes that they are under appriciated for their craft.
Second, nursing school in no way teaches nurses to accept unfair practices or enstows lack of confidence. While it is true that nursing students often feel that they've done poorly on tests (NLCEX included), this isn't from lack of confidence. I'm quite confident, yet I always doubt my test scores... and only because I desire the end goal so badly. How do we deal with the stress... "hope for the best, expect the worse".
Third, what is "inculterated"? I've certainly... never been that.
"An approach which facilitated getting most of the questions correct (assuming minimal competency exists) would instead foster feelings of empowerment and self confidence."
Really? Cause students in RN programs get anywhere from 75-100% of the questions right in their usual classes. And yet they all still doubt themselves...
I've doubted tests that I scored 97% on... I'll doubt anything. Its not the NLCLEX's fault... but I do respect a test that really challenges its students to answer the tough questions. You can find this test model in University Math/Physics courses where 42% on a test once got be a "B". =)
"However, it is my thesis that the entire health care system (ranging from Hospitals to HMO's and in some cases physicians) have a vested interest in discouraging such feelings among nurses."
Do what? Seriously... you think everyone's in on it? Heh. You don't think Hospitals/HMOs have a vested interest in increasing the nursing supply. If you've studied 8th grade economics, you understand the impact of increased supply. If want a villian... look towards the nursing organizations that want to do away with AA programs and strive to raise NLCEX expectations. Don't villianize them too much though... everyone has their reasons.
That's your lesson... everything has its reasons.
Except eating meat that is... that's barbaric. =)

Thank you! :bow: :yeahthat:

YoungWiseWoman · Mar 29, 2005

This thread went from nice to brutal...would everyone just calm down? It seems as though people are being personally attacked and it's not that serious.

:blushkiss CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG??? :kiss

That's my :twocents: :thankya:

mysticalwaters1 · Mar 29, 2005

It is truly sad that someone has such poor values in life that it comes down to believing that. People need to recognize that there are no guarantees in life and that they must be prepared to roll with what life deals them, fair or otherwise. Contingency plans are essential to everyone.
It also reinforces the point that I have made. People that found out that they failed at the test site would be screaming at proctors, complaining about unfairness of certain questions, crying, asking inappropriate questions of the monitors and making an unnecessary scene. And I would not be surprised that if someone has the poor judgement to be suicidal over NCLEX results, if they might not also shoot up the place or do violence to others. (Witness the case of the Nursing student that killed people a few years ago).
And part of being a nurse is also being patient. Your career will require ALOT of waiting. You need to learn to deal with it.

My one nursing professor told us one person I don't know if they had the results i thought they did and that person failed and threw the computer down in the room! That's a big reason why i think they don't let you see results. IN pa they have a liscince verification site and you could find if you got it in 3 days. I was so annoyed my then annoying manager was waiting for it because I was working as a GN and if I failed I'd have to lower my position to take it over again or stay where I was and gain a nurse. She goes to me I don't see it yet and it sounds innocent but the feeling was not there to support me but then again if i failed i shouldn't be working as a nurse and get the GN temp license revoked (I passed though!)! No concern at all for my sake if I passed or not but just a number with her! That's another long story! We have a new manager now. The first one just was not personable at all and was never on the nurses side at all not that you have to be personable but at least approachable and listen to all sides. She resently got demoted yikes! OUr new manager actually investigates things like if someone complains she will discuss it with you but looks at the charts and records and will support you if you ultimately did the right thing. It's like 360! However she's not one with the paperwork! You can't get your vacation approval confirmed which was our other managers cup of tea you got all your paper work. Anyway going off on a tangent!

Roland · Mar 29, 2005

Okay, I will concede that my rhetoric was a bit overblown. I was trying to respond to my personal observation that so many people who take the NCLEX are left with a sense of dismay, and or oblivion (even those who pass). If I take a CPR class or an EMT I expect (and have experienced) scoring at least eighty if not ninty percent on the certification exam. I had the same experience when I became a licensed residential appraiser study the material and you will score at least in the mid to high 80's. My half brother is an M.D. in Internal Medicine and he scored nearly perfect on his boards. My uncle is an attorney and he aced his bar exam in New York (which is reputed to have one of the hardest bar exams). Why is it so unreasonable to expect that after years of hard study that nurses should be able to score highly on their certification exam?