Exit Exam

Today we took the HESI Exam. It is a comprehensive exam that predicts a student's performance on the NCLEX-RN . Basically, it is a "mock NCLEX." They tout 97.4% accuracy in predicting success or failure of the NCLEX.

Some schools use this an a true exit exam by making it a benchmark that must be met in order to graduate. Our school, however, does not. They encouraged us to study and do our best, though, as we receive feedback about our areas of weakness. We then can have a plan on how to focus our studies for the real deal - state boards, the NCLEX.

Well, we just had an exam Monday and have another one coming up on Tuesday - both DO count towards our grade...so needless to say there wasn't a whole lot of "HESI Studying" being done here.

I felt like taking it was a good experience. I really appreciated the feedback and being able to experience the feel of what the NCLEX may be like. It gave me confidence, too.

This brings me to a question. Isn't there some etiquette somewhere that says it is RUDE to ask someone what their score was? There were students after the exam sharing their scores with each other, which is fine...they were all willingly participating in it......which is fine, but I wanted no part of..... However, my one friend blatantly asked me what my score was. I really was offended that people could be so bold. If I wanted to share my grade, I would have.

I don't know why that bothered me so much. Yes, there is the straight out attempt at invasion of privacy, and putting someone on the spot...but it REALLY bothered me. I just said, with a laugh, I don't think I want to share that information. She was fine with it... end of story. But, what are my reasons for not sharing.

It is not the obvious: a bad grade. Actually, I got a very good grade... But, why wouldn't I want to share that with my classmates? I can share it here - in near anonymity. I shared it with my husband and children and no doubt will tell my sister. But not my classmates.

Am I afraid of looking the part of the nerdy, adult student? Isolating myself from the rest of the struggling students, lamenting together the unfairness of it all. Am I afraid of making them feel inadequate because the material was attainable for me? Or is it the "English" in me... wanting to adhere to proper etiquette?

Despite the drama afterwards, the test gave me confidence that I can make this last push through to the end successfully. Maybe I'll lighten up on myself a little bit these last few weeks. But probably not.