Well, No Nursing for Me

[Donald11]

After carefully thinking about it, I have decided not to do nursing. I do however thank everyone for the advice they gave me. I would like to do nursing, but virtually all of the schools in my area use exit exams, which I find are unfair. The more I research them, the more I dislike them. Here is just one recent article I found, in which the ENTIRE nursing class failed the exit exam. Unbelievable.

http://www.fox16.com/news/story/More-problems-for-UAPB-nursing-students/PzjkwO5ilEKz23_DwXW2hw.cspx

Good luck to everyone else!

[SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN]

"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.

RIGHT ON

[CuriousMe]

"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.

The exams aren't testing your physical skills. Your clinical instructor did that....if you weren't safe, they wouldn't have passed you.

The exams are testing knowledge and more importantly.... application of knowledge and critical thinking. Truthfully, I think the easiest part of nursing is the physical skills (inserting IV's, etc properly). After all, it's just a physical skill and with enough repetition it's hard not to learn it. The tough part is knowing to react the right way at the right time. Making judgement calls....that's what the exams try to test. Your ability to synthesize a couple years of education and make the right call.

[CuriousMe]

And to the people who say that FINAL exams are the "exit exam" please understand that final exams are a joke compared to a comprehensive exit exam like the HESI. On the final, you are only tested on material you learned in that one class. That's it. You are not tested on 2 or 4 years worth of material liek you are on the exit exam.

You're missing what folks are saying. They're saying that for each nursing class there was a comprehensive final....in other-words, the test was on everything they learned in nursing school up to that point. Actually, all of my nursing school exams have been that way. We were told in the first week that since we're going to need to know what we've learned as we practice, each exam we take (for a three year program) will be cumulative and comprehensive from the beginning of the program.

[dandk1997RN, MSN, RN]

I've been following your threads on not going to nursing school and my question every single time I revisit the threads is why on earth, if you are such a good student, are you so afraid of a cumulative exam?

I also agree that the application of the physical skills is the easy part. Understanding when and how to do it is the information you need to remember before you ever put your hands on the IV needle or catheter in the first place. I could easily do those things now, but I am not allowed to because I don't have the information to back-up those physical skills. And there are plenty of staff in my hospital that are able to put a needle in someone's arm and draw their blood, but I hate to see them do it because they don't understand the theory behind it and don't truly understand what they are doing. Bad, bad practice.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

On a little more thought ... I guess that your family is "looking down" on you for considering careers in nursing, radiology, etc. as they seem to have so little respect for their healthcare colleagues outside of medicine. And it may explain some of your fear of failing the HESI.

This was my first thought as well when I read the OP's post.

Seriously, if you have decided not to go into nursing solely based on ONE test, you clearly did not want to go in the first place. You're better off in another field. Anyone who truly wants to be a nurse is willing to climb many mountains to get there.

[JStylesNY]

in my opinion, the fact that you dislike the program or school policies should not dictate your career path. if you would love the job, you should pursue it. having said that, it seems you've done adequate research and made a realistic decision based on your circumstances, so i do respect your decision. i wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

[NJ2008]

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

Hope they win, lol.

"BTW, my school has a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, which leads me to believe that the Exit HESI is doing its job."

So the only purpose of the HESI is to allow schools to have a 100% NCLEX pass rate?

Yep, I think you are correct. Well maybe that's not the only purpose for schools using HESI but I'm pretty sure it's the main pupose.

Anyway you should not let that alone discourage you from becoming a nurse but good luck in whatever career you choose.

[RN Zeke]

One should know by the grades they are making if they are going to make the final grade to pass. If students aren't passing look at what and who is teaching in that order. Then the program's track record.