What is the point of nursing exams?

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Nov 9, 2008

To make sure you've learned and will hopefully retain the knowledge they're giving you.

Jolie, BSN · Nov 9, 2008

i know they prep you for nclex, but other than that is there any point to them?
as in any field of study, exams are intended to assess the knowledge level of the student. not all nursing education programs use their class exams as nclex preparation, and in my opinion, those that do are short-changing their students, similar to grade schools that "teach to the standardized tests."
is the activity of studying and taking exams applicable to nursing on the floor? do you use test taking strategies on the floor?
no. floor nurses utilize their knowledge base of their patient population and disease processes, as well as rely upon their own experience. critical thinking is important at the bedside, not test-taking skills, unless your patient is alex trebec.
i just feel frustrated and worried. i keep taking nursing exams (13 so far), and i keep looking at rns in clinical, and i feel like the gap should be narrowing, and it's not.

the gap between your clinical skills and those of an experienced staff nurse will not close much until you become a full-time staff nurse and practice with a consistent patient population on a daily basis. students are novices by definition. nursing school can't cure that condition :)

J9G2008 · Nov 10, 2008

Our nursing tests seem to be less about theory and more about application (well, except for the theory class! : )

So, my thinking is that it helps us become better critical thinkers to be given, say, four scenarios and choose which is most critical at that moment. I'm sure that as we go on, the choices will reflect our greater abilities, but now it's pretty novice level. Which is good.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2008

I always thought they were given to make us feel like we know less than nothing and to speed up the burn out process. (Just a little humor here)