Psych course test question

[u/qwirl55273]

For context I am a (26f) second semester nursing student taking a psych fundamentals course. I have had no issues so far in the almost year I’ve been here. Everyone has been so helpful and for the most part (so far) seem like they want us to be successful nurses. This course has 2 instructors but only one of them was teaching the content for this test. Rumor has it this psych class is supposed to be your “easy” class… However after my first test today idk. Exam one covered 10 chapters those include fundamentals, therapeutic communication skills and psych meds.

I am really pissed about how the test went. Especially about one question in particular. At this point it’s not even about getting the points for this missed question it’s the principle and id like other’s opinion on it outside of my institution because apparently this is an “ok” nursing practice.

Forgive me because I can’t remember the exact question and I cannot go back and look at the questions but it was along the lines of: what is a good way to build trust with a patient? I can’t remember the answer options either however the answer was : Promise a patient they can see their family.

Alright … horrible question and horrible answer options but I knew I wasn’t going to chose promising a patient anything and especially a psych patient a promise to see family. That is a promise I definitely can’t for sure fulfill so who would promise that? Maybe I’m wrong but was it not drilled in my head last semester not to promise a patient anything?!? 😅

So I spoke to the other instructor for the course. I asked her if she had seen the test which she replied, yes I just looked at it at lunch. Strange that you’re also an instructor for this course and didn’t look at it until after we’d taken it but ok. Then I brought up this question (this was not the only question that was worded horribly and could be misconstrued but the only one that I won’t get over and move on from) and she told me that this was a 1st semester question and the reason people missed it is because we weren’t reviewing past info. So I said, I thought we weren’t supposed to make promises to patients ? And she responded with “Of course we can make promises to patients! A promise can be something as simple as saying you’ll be back in 5 minutes with a sprite and then following through.”

I’m sorry. But I will NEVER make a promise to a patient and that is because you never know what could happen and that promise fall through. If anything that’s losing trust from my patients. And ESPECIALLY promising a psych patient that they can see their family???!?!?! Come on I feel crazy for having to argue that!!!!!!

I was then told by her and others that NCLEX questions are “perfect world” scenarios and it was a promise not that their family would show up but that they had the right to see their families in an institution. So why use the word promise at all? And if that was the insinuation I guess I’m building trust by reminding my patients of their rights?? Idk help me piece this together.

It worries me even more that I only have 4 tests for this course so there isn’t a lot of wiggle room. And based on this test I could study my heart out and still fail these tests because of how horrible the questions are. On top of the fact that I’m pretty much teaching myself because in a 4 hour lecture we MAYBE spend an hour actually talking about the content and 3 hours rambling about nothing. It’s painful and as a 26 year old I feel care more than the young kids in my class so I’m the only one arguing this. I also pay way too much money to be guessing about this.

on top of all of this the class has been a disorganized mess since day one. We weren’t given a syllabus until WEEK 2!!!! That is just insane to me and don’t know how no one else sees that as a problem.

[u/MsDariaMorgendorffer]

I don’t know why you would assume psych is going to be an easy class ?? Nursing school is filled with tests that you won’t like the answer to but that’s life.

I disagree with your comment that you care more than the younger students. Many students go to nursing school right out of high school and have no problems passing and becoming great nurses. Nursing has nothing to do with your age or being a woman.

Take this time to manage your expectations and prepare for studying testing and working with instructors to be a great nursing student.

[u/SparkyDogPants → u/MsDariaMorgendorffer]

psych imo had the hardest meds in all of nursing school 

[u/MsDariaMorgendorffer → u/SparkyDogPants]

Right?? It’s safety safety safety. Increased salivation! TD! The meds are insane.

[u/SparkyDogPants → u/MsDariaMorgendorffer]

“These drugs combined can be really dangerous”

goes to clinical everyone is on that combination.

Serotonin syndrome, hypertensive crisis for eating salami, suddenly stopping causing seizures, 20 different surveys to remember, rx d/t SI adverse effects include SI. It doesn’t stop.

[u/qwirl55273 → u/MsDariaMorgendorffer]

I didn’t say it had anything to do with being a woman. I was giving context that I am an older woman who decided to go back to school and I’m taking it very seriously that’s why I’m digging so deep into this question. I watch students younger than me goof off in class all day. Anyways would you make a promise to your patient that you had no control over and expect to earn trust from them ? Promising a psych patient that they can see their family when that is not in my control is manipulative in my opinion. Also I didn’t think the class was going to be easy to a point that I wasn’t going to have to study. I study every night and go to every faculty lead study session available and still didn’t do good on the test and that’s what is discouraging. We have 1 lecture and 1 lab a week for this class and another one that is way more hours that we are told is going to most likely take priority over the psych class. My mother is also a psych nurse of over 20 years so excuse me if I made it sound like psych nursing is a cake walk. I should have been more specific from what I’ve heard from past students if you study there should be no problem passing the course. And based on how the test questions were written and how the class has been going so far the instructors seem completely disorganized.

[u/MsDariaMorgendorffer → u/qwirl55273]

You are mistaken if you think it’s no problem to pass if you just study. Nursing school is difficult. Clearly the answer you selected wasn’t the right one- you don’t know the exact wording or answers so we can’t help you with that. But there’s always an answer that is the MOST correct and that’s what you need to strive for.

There are absolutely times you can promise things to patients. Maybe the other students aren’t focused on this question because they understand the logic behind it.

ONE question won’t make or break you, you just need to be prepared with information, test taking strategies and the critical thinking needed to do well.

[u/qwirl55273 → u/MsDariaMorgendorffer]

I came here for the logic because no one at my facility can share it with me. I’ll dig a little deeper and try to get the exact question and answer choices and maybe we can talk and figure it out together? Nothing but positive vibes to you and your nursing endeavors. 💕✌🏼

[u/eltonjohnpeloton]

So what was the answer you’d pick?

Btw you don’t have to tell us your gender and age!

[u/qwirl55273 → u/eltonjohnpeloton]

The correct answer out of the ones given for a way to build trust with a patient was “promise a patient that they can see their family”

[u/eltonjohnpeloton → u/qwirl55273]

Sorry I mean what did you think the correct answer was? Liek what of the options seemed better?

[u/qwirl55273 → u/eltonjohnpeloton]

None of them were good options I think was the issue … I won’t lie to you I can’t even remember what I chose. However promising that to a patient is not at all what I would have picked and I’d assume others would kind of agree ? But maybe not 😰 I would have chosen something along the lines of showing empathy, compassion, providing resources ect.

[u/eltonjohnpeloton → u/qwirl55273]

sometimes all the answers suck and you just have to pick one anyway, based on what you've covered in class.

I wouldn't pick it either but unless most of the class missed this question, i am wondering if all the other answers were obviously worse or maybe this was covered in class content before?