Well, No Nursing for Me

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2010

There are three students suing a school near here due to the exit exam. I think they've got a pretty legitimate case too.

gumby1411 · Aug 18, 2010

Good luck in your future endeavors. I hope you find the career you're looking for.

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2010

Good luck.

I guess if you don't have a good school to support, coach and instruct you, it would certainly be scary.

I am so glad I went to the school I did, yes only half of the class graduated, when it was time to take that exit test, we aced it... we only needed 85% and we got an average of 97%. and it was not hard at all because we were used to it.

In the end it all paid off. 99% of us passed the NCLEX 1st try.

anonymousstudent · Aug 18, 2010

I'm OK with an exit exam. As long as they are teaching me along the way and the test is a fair assessment of what I've learned, I don't think it's a problem.

I have a friend at a PUBLIC community college around my area in an ADN program and it's terrible. They don't do an exit exam but enough students have failed the NCLEX that they are now on probation with the BON. I'm not saying they need an exit exam, but maybe that would have helped them figure out that they were lacking in some areas of instruction. In talking with her the school is VERY different that mine, and I'm sooooooo glad I didn't decide to go there!!!

wetzoo · Aug 18, 2010

Did all the programs you looked at have this bad of a track record? Surely one in your area had better stats than this.

But if you're opposed to an exit exam (isn't the NCLEX an exit exam?), then good luck in your future endeavors.

dcgrrl, ASN, RN · Aug 18, 2010

I can tell (by reading your other posts) that you really have been mulling over this decision. I know you must feel a since of relief that you have been able to make up your mind.

Best of luck to you in radiology school.

Trauma Columnist · Aug 18, 2010

And when you look at it, the NCLEX is sort of an exit exam too.

Nothing wrong with having standards IMHO.

Donald11 · Aug 18, 2010

Yes, I know the NCLEX is an exit exam. But at least that I can take an unlimited number of times. With a school based exit exam, you usually can take it only twice.

luvthegsp · Aug 19, 2010

if you are going to radiology school, many of them have exit exams as well, for the same reasons as nursing programs do. I am in a ADN program with an exit exam, and in my opinion, if you cannot pass the exam on the second try, you don't deserve to graduate nor become a nurse.

You do not have an unlimited number of tries with the NCLEX (it costs mega bucks for multiple exam tries.)

peas&carrots · Aug 19, 2010

I think it's a shame you are choosing not to follow a career path just because of an exit exam. If you know your stuff and have made it through the program than you should have no problem. I have the normal fear of alot of people that I won't pass the NCLEX but that doesn't mean I'm going to drop out of nursing school. I wish you good luck in whatever you choose to do but I hope you don't regret not at least trying.

Donald11 · Aug 19, 2010

"if you cannot pass the exam on the second try, you don't deserve to graduate nor become a nurse."

I don't know if I would agree with that statement. For a hands on field like nursing, you simply cannot judge someone's ability on a standardized test. The test is not going to tell you if they know how to insert an IV or catheter properly, now is it? Somone who passes the exit exam with flying colors could easily turn out to be a horrible nurse for that reason. In fact, it is actually harder to become an EMT because in addition to passing a written test, they must also pass a practical exam given by the state in order to get certified. Not so with nurses. The best written exam in the world cannot determine whether you know the hands on part of nursing.