failure

Re: failure

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:36:20 GMT

Hi Rainbow,

I have sent you a pm

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:23:20 GMT

Hi STRVN,

For fluid therapy I didn't say anything - even though I know I should have - I went to pieces when it happened as I was nowhere near it and I thought that bit was done.

Radiography I said caudal abdomen as we are looking at the bladder.

Pharmacy I didn't say I was inverting the vial when I did it as I was still upset after fluid therapy going wrong - That said, I don't see how 2 examiners can miss it?

Re: failure

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:34:39 GMT

Hi again Rainbow,

Did you say when the giving set fell, that you had broken asepsis and in a real situation you would replace it? the reason I ask is, this is something I done in mine, but pointed it out to the examiner and said I would replace the set in that situation. The giving set did not touch me either, nor I it but it has swung down and may have hit the drip stand, so that is why I said I would replace.

The Radiography one-did you just say I am centred on the bladder? because technically I think they would be looking for more than that.

The pharmacy one- when you inverted the vial, did you say you were doing so and why you were doing so?

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:36:52 GMT

Lab was one I failed but according to the sheets it was only on timing the dipstick which I am totally baffled about because I used my fob watch and stated time ie "30 seconds" as I read each appropriate section not sure how to do it any better. That was the only fail in that task.

Pharmacy the only fail was didn't invert vial - except I did? hence appeal.

Lab apparently I broke asepsis. The giving set fell down at the very end so I don't dispute it but I was annoyed as what a fluke! I was nowhere near it lol.

Radiography is the one I am appealing mainly as each step was marked as done (except one sandbag/tie for each limb - which I did do) and I got failed on positioning and collimation and a question which I know I answered correctly. Ie what anatomical point are you centring on in a cystogram. If it's not bladder then I'm really in the wrong job! This is one where my friend got the exact same fail even though she is certain she also used sandbags for each limb.

I am really just stressed at this point. I don't know how to do things any better than that, especially given my nerves. How do I know this won't happen again

Re: failure

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:30:39 GMT

Hi Rainbow,

Have you had any word back yet as to what exactly you failed on?

If it was lab, the Health and safety I think they would def be looking for would be Lab coat, goggles, where appropriate and gloves, washing of hands before and after,, and also correct use of the equipment , as well as cleaning, storage of equipment afterwards and disposing of any wastes in the correct place.

Did you calibrate the refractometer? prob a silly question .

I am taking it you spoke all the way through, describing exactly what you were doing and why you were doing it?

Also if you made any mistakes that you know about , did you point them out and say what you would do to correct it etc.

Dont give up you will get there and when you do it will be all the sweeter

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:10:05 GMT

STRVN thanks for input - not too sure about that. I'm pretty sure I followed procedures as taught? Could you please give me an idea of what mistakes you noticed that I may have over looked? Any constructive stuff will help for my resits and I'd appreciate it

Thanks Fluffy and everyone for advice and support I'm resitting regardless but will keep you updated about the appeal.

Re: failure

Laura Ringsell — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:29:22 GMT

Rainbow, there is loads of good advice already for you here and I wont say it all agian but will say ditto to everthing peeps have said.

I know only too well the pain of nerves and anxiety as suffer terribly too and desperately hope that you can find a way to conquer them for your re-sits. Along with rescue remedy (that i had to ask my sister to txt me to remind me to take as when i get anxious i forget about it!) I had cards in my pocket with positive phrases on and little reminders about the next room i was about to go in. I have no idea to this day how i survived the process and came out the otherside stil standing but somehow i did. Find something that works for you, find a collegue or another nurse to practice, practice, practice with and above all don't give up, you owe it to yourself to succeed and you will feel so proud of yourself when you do - good luck

Re: failure

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:00:16 GMT

I dont wanna rain on anyones parade or anything............ but you have said that you covered all key skills etc and you think you passed..... and I know you dont get anything much back form the RCVS, but have you considerd any H and S regulations that you may have breached???

Just a question as someone I know was much the same.. confident she had passed checked all the key skills, but when she actually showed us what she done bit by bit word for word, she had made a few glaring health and safet faux pas, just a thought and I know we all try esp hard, but some can forget the H and S issues in [practicals, so even if they dont present themselves within a practical, you should IMO be mentioning that what can occur and what you would do to correct it........... thats how I was taught, and thats the way I think always now.

Re: failure

helennorth — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:16:54 GMT

[quote user="Rainbow"]

I am looking into it but my tutor isn't hopeful the RCVS will listen. Afterall it's 2 examiners against me. I'm gutted more than ever now it looks like they failed me in lab purely cos they didn't see me invert the vial and the radiography marks are completely contradictory. It's like doing well in your driving test and sticking to the speed limits to then be failed for speeding!

Does anyone know how I should go about appealing. I'm not taking this lying down I would've accepted it had I done something stupid but to get perfect marks on all steps... I mean if I didn't miss a single point on positionming and collimation how can the end result be incorrect positioning/collimation? I don't get it?

How can I resit now? All my hard work and committment wasted cos the examiner was looking the other way or whatever? How can I trust the RCVS?

[/quote]

When I did my practicals I was failed on one radiograpy task. Every stage / key stage was ticked - I had done it correctly, so I really could not understand how the final key point of 'produce a diagnostic x ray ' was crossed causing me to fail !!!!!!!!!!!! Insane !

I was lucky I passed overall otherwise there would have been some questions raised about that !

Crazy system, it was supposed to make it fairer and more standardised but if this can happen with no explaination it doesn't work.

Good luck,

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:41:40 GMT

Hi Gemma,

I have applied to resit though not impressed about it lol. I was at Hartpury xx

Re: failure

Gemma s — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:20:03 GMT

quick question... what centre did u go to because i have exactly the same fails when i know i did it and said it..??

Re: failure

Gemma s — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:11:53 GMT

Same here.... I know how u felt. ive just failed my pracs, i got really good % in each task but the stupid little key skills had me! i practiced and practiced! My friend who took it passed with no practice what so ever!

Rescue remedy is really good! i was really calm and stopped me being a wreak through the pracs.

Get your application form in to re take sept!

Gem x

Re: failure

Maisy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:09:41 GMT

I agree it would be more helpful to maybe have a comments section on the forms, or at least add a comment where the examiner has put a point as being failed.

Hope all goes well, glad to hear you are still going to continue.

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:24:35 GMT

Hi Mrs Mac - I'm ok I guess. I feel better in that looking at the marks sheets I didn't miss anything, but cross because that didn't equal a pass in the examiner's eyes. My friend feels the same. I have already put the appeals procedure into motion but I am not hopeful to be honest so have applied to resit in September regardless.

Mainly I would like to know how I failed so that I can do better next time, but with no obvious mistakes in the individual points this can only be answered with the examiner's notes which I don't get to see. Just waiting on RCVS now.

Re: failure

Mac Feather — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:29:35 GMT

What is your friend saying about it?

How are you feeling?

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:03:08 GMT

Just an update - It turns out my friend who had her exam same place and time as me has experienced the same problems - in most cases exactly the same! Surely something's up?

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:39:32 GMT

Thank you all so much for your advice and support it has really helped me. I talked through my radiography exam for that very reson and she also asked what my collimation points were. I will try to appeal but I am not hopeful. I just don't understand how this can happen the RCVS is meant to be a professional body!

Re: failure

Maisy — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:19:01 GMT

Sorry to hear about your results Rainbow For what its worth I would recommend that you resit, you are so nearly at the end now. For appeals, it would be best to contact your VNAC and soon, as I believe the appeals need to be in place a certain time after the results come out.

Personally I think that radiography can be a grey area with the practicals. You are positioning a stuffed toy with no real joints so this can make positioning and collimation quite difficult. While you may have positioned the dog and collimated the view (which would be awarded a mark) if they weren't correct for that dog then this would account for the fail I would imagine. It may help next time to verbally tell the examiner where you are centering/collimating etc to as it can be really difficult on that dog they give you.

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 07:53:51 GMT

How can I resit now? All my hard work and committment wasted cos the examiner was looking the other way or whatever? How can I trust the RCVS?

Re: failure

Shane — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 07:18:42 GMT

Is there no way that you could complain about it?

Re: failure

les punton — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:35:13 GMT

sorry to hear that obviously the system doesnt work!

I definately think that you should resit though as all your hard work would be for nothing. Maybe they look for you to verbally say that you collimated? (although this would be obvious if they were watching you)

keep your chin up x

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:45:23 GMT

Hi Mrs Mac (and everyone else ) I have just recieved feedback sheets from my VNAC and I am furious to find that they have marked me down for things that I definately did! The marks even contradict themselves ie. I got every step right but over all they said I did it wrong! for example I collimated and centred correctly according to each individual step but for key step she said I didn't! I am actually fuming! They have even marked me correct on questions I knew I got wrong!

Re: failure

Mac Feather — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:58:11 GMT

Pardon my ignorance Rainbow (its been a looooooooooooong time since my exams) but is there any way of getting feedback/ finding out exactly wot bits you didnt pass and why?

Re: failure

Sarah Nicholas — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:37:35 GMT

Thanks so much all. I slept well used aromatherapy and rescue remedy (lots of it) as well as kalms on the run up to exams. I was a wreck but got through it. What I am finding hard is that I am sure I covered the key points in 2 of the 4 I failed. I mean definate. I know the examiners obviously didn't think so but I have checked it and I'm certain I did.

I just can't see how I can do any better. I feel sick at the thought of it and I can't stop crying

Re: failure

Mac Feather — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:33:54 GMT

Hi Rainbow, nerves arent funny, as Twindy has said maybe looking into relaxation/hypnotherapy or rescue remedy might help you. Did you sleep the night prior to exam- coz I know I am awful when Im nervous, I dont sleep and then cant think straight.

I find aromatherapy is useful for me when I need to get a decent sleep.

As everyone has said- please carry on in your journey to qualifying, easy for me to say but rather than use the word failure try n see this as a bump in the road on your way to qualifying. xxxxxxx