Wow, it took me a hell lot of time to get me to write my next post
(1o days O.O)...
THAT's what I call commitment >___<
ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I'm so lazy *blush*
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all right, a lot of american nurses asked me about nursing schools in Germany, so I think I should push myself to write my little story about how the unicorn got her nursing license.
AND, who would have guessed: when I'm involved, even a "piece of cake" can be like redefining quantum physics o___O
In order to get your license in America, you have to pass the Boards test of the State you want to work in (like I had to pass the Boards test for FL). The test consists of one computerized multiple choice test and you can get 75 to 265 questions depending on how (in my case) lucky (knowledgeable for "normal" people) you are... it was a very very unlucky day for me
BUT I passed ^___^
In Germany, after attending nursing school for three years, you have to take a test, too.
A test which constists of 3 parts taking about 3 months
- paper based multiple choice test (which takes up to one week because you're getting tested for every area separately)
- practical (hands-on) test (you have to take care of 2-3 patients and an examiner is with you in the room, standing there and watching you with eagle eyes)
- verbal test (7-9 teachers are sitting in front of you (incl. someone from the department of health) and you have to answer questions of every area (2-3 questions per area)
hell, was I nervous... I already began being anxious about the nursing exam when I attended my first day of nursing school o___O
Just when I heard the words "nursing exam" I began chewing up my fingernails down to the hip bones - NO I'm not a test taking person! (and I want to attend veterinary school... go figure!)
I always thought that the verbal test would be hardest on me, because I'm more the writing than the talking kind of person (even though I'm talking and talking and talking...... and talking) but I freaked out 1 week before the practical test (and went mental 24 hrs before test started).
I was so scared that I cried like a waterfall and by best friend had to stay the night at my place because I really went berserk. I had more items on my "how to run away and hide" list than on my "what to watch out for during horrible lets-do-suicide tests" list, BUT I made it =^^=
The paper based multiple choice test was a piece of cake.
During my practical test one of my patients with severe dementia urinated on the floor ( but other than that, everything went smoothly (due to all the crying my face looked like the day of the interview (see previous post))
The verbal test was pretty tough, though. After half of the questioning I was so confused and worn out, that I had a black out during psych (my strongest and most favorite subject) but somehow I managed to pass, too and so I got my license *booya*
Uh, I just hope I never have to go through something like that again- EVER!
Don't get me wrong! I love to learn, I love to gain more knowledge and insight! It's just that I'm the worst test taker the surface of planet earth has (and will) ever see(n).
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A couple of people have asked for my opinion what I think which test was harder, the American or the German one. To be honest, none of them is harder or easier because you just can't compare them.
Even though the americ. test sounds simpler I had to study my *** off to pass.
The computer generates the questions to your level of knowledge: if you mess up one question the next one will be kind of the same way as the one you missed.
So if you have a weak area, be prepared for a rough time!
Also you have to know almost every medication out there.... and trust me, there are A LOT!
I'm just glad I'm done with this one, too.
The nurses out there know a lot, they went through a lot to be able to help you in case you need them and I'm proud to be a part of them!!!
unicorn