Any thoughts on my friend's RN school situation.

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So I have a friend who is both an experienced LPN and an EMT. This person is very well respected, seems to be able to handle anything the moment brings.

This person has been very down over the online RN program they are with.

This person was visibly distraught as they related the story. I got the vibe that they just wanted an sympathetic ear to vent to. So I reverted to my old LEO crisis intervention instincts and just listened and asked an occasional follow up question, to demonstrate that I was listening.

At the same time, I am just curious if other people have heard of this situation. I have no intention to repeat anything back to my friend.

According to them, they followed along with the online "curriculum" and in the end, it cam time to report to a test center to take a test. The test center had TSA-esque security procedures. The person failed the test. They think it was rigged to force people to pay to re-take the test. They even claim that an RN friend looked over the material and though it so out of left field that the RN friend was unable to help.

As an aside. I had heard from a physician, a working physician who has a very narrow sub-specialty, who has failed the board exam several times, that the board exams are made artificially hard, and away from being job-specific, as a way to collect the thousand + fee as many times as possible.

Any thoughts if the problem is with either of these people? The people making the tests? A combination of both?

Thank you.
 
Schools can test how they want. Fair or unfair that's how it is. I've had very tough proffs who have tested on things not in the book or the lecture and had I not allowed my curiosity to spur me to do personal research I would have failed as well. Boards are hard because they are supposed to be. These people are entrusted with human life. You don't want just anyone passing the test. Regarding repeat failures, I'd gander they are simply not studying well enough or committing the proper time to the material. I've plenty of MD and DO friends that have not failed their boards. RN is a pretty big jump from LPN. I'd challenge your friend to review what was in question, talk to her professors and retake. Or better yet attend a brick and mortar school. I find it hard to believe an online education is sufficient for the hands on aspect of medicine and I'm a strong supporter of on line education.

Forgive any typos ahead of time thumb typing on my phone.
 
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My gut feeling is that online classes should only be used for review.

There is something undefinable that happens when a class is conducted in person and there is a group dynamic and all that. I believe when their is a class of students giving feedback, it sort of guides the scope and direction of the lecture.

The thing with "board certified", it seems their is this perception about it, listing it next to one's name for the general public to see.

The person who is the doctor, however, it has not yet affected their ability to seek or maintain a position in their field. That may be because this person has such a narrow sub-specialty that currently their are more open positions then their are people who have completed a course of training in it.

I am not going to say what it is because of privacy and all that, but just to say it is a combination of two specialties. So this person attempts to different board exams (alternates each year), There is no board exam for the specific sub-specialty.


Both people have told me they think the tests are "un-fair" which may be self preservation, yet, both people are considered competent and well respected.
 
My graduating BSN class had a 99% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX, and TN rose to become the highest passing first-time NCLEX state in the US. It all comes down to being in a good program. As I said in another thread moments ago, I spent 2 years in pre-nursing and 2 years in clinicals, labs, and class in many areas including nursing homes, ER, ICU, CVICU, Neuro ICU, NICU, OR, Med/Surg, Nephrology, and even in private practice settings at the University clinic and various physician's offices in the area. There is no way that any online program is going to give a student that level of experience, LPN or not. The only individuals who I think should be allowed to take nursing education online are ASN and AAS Registered Nurses, as the skill set of the BSN and ASN/AAS are the same. The only difference between the ASN and the BSN are courses in education, management, leadership, research, and community health; courses that can be taught online.

Your friend should bite the bullet and re-enroll in an NLNAC accredited nursing school that is campus based and not online.
 
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