Practical Failed

Re: Practical Failed

LoveCat — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:06:07 GMT

Cheers for all the replies guys. I am back on course and up for the challenge of a re try in December!! I now have the problem of 'where is my application form' because of the postal strikes!!

So, fingers crossed it will find it's way to them in time and I'll be able to have another go!

I'll let you know how I do! xx

Re: Practical Failed

Jemima 13 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:35:55 GMT

Lovecat,

Practical exams are about as evil as it gets!! I passed mine second time round. Remember, you've been here and done it before so you know the basics of it and take comfort from the fact you know what you're going to be faced with situation wise!

I'm not a fan of Recue Remedy but Kalms are fab. Just take a deep breath and keep telling yourself 'I know what I'm doing, I do this every day'. I know possibly not to the standards they are looking for but the fact remains they are testing you on daily procedures. Ignore them if you can and focus on the task.

I also passed my driving test second time round so maybe there's a pattern emerging...?!

Good luck!!!! Stay confident!

Re: Practical Failed

FINNIGAN — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:07:05 GMT

hi there, you are not alone i failed mine too, first go, was gutted came home drank a bottle of wine and cried my eyes out, i so wanted to pass these as ive got my theory in november and felt id be half way there, now feels further away, they said id didnt pass the grey areas but i know for a fact i did on the two i failed, but its their word against ours i guess, will go for it again in december, just now got pressure of 2 exams a month apart.

Re: Practical Failed

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:45:55 GMT

Lovecat,

I am sorry to hear about your practicals. They are very nerve wracking I agree. Its nearly 10 years from I done mine and I'm sure lots have changed since then.

However, do persevere with it, you will get there in the end. As others have said, practice, practice, practice, its supposed to make perfect lolol!

I would practice until I am confident and can do it with my eyes closed! That way, you will know that you know your stuff and will certainly pass, even in exam conditions.

The idea of practicing in another practice is also a great one, is there any other practice you can go to? Or do you know anyone in other practices you could ask?

Good luck!

Re: Practical Failed

StephSVN — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:44:05 GMT

I have never used rescue remedy myself (very lucky nerves wise and have never suffered too much) - but a lot of my uni friends that have horses and compete in dressage competitions swear by it to stop their nerves passing to the horses.

Re: Practical Failed

Hannah Lowe — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:36:03 GMT

Hi Lovecat,

I failed my practicals twice and passed on the final chance. I was exactly the same as you and completely went to pieces in the exam, doing things I would never normally do (like setting up for the x-ray and forgetting to put the plate under the animal! Whoops). Anyway I can laugh about it now but at the time I was really frustrated and upset. In the end I went for a practical revision day at the centre I was due to take the exam. This really helped me because although I didn't learn much more about doing the actual tasks, I got to know the centre and the equipment meaning I was't so nervous when I went for my last attempt and ended up passing all 8 tasks.

Don't give up it's the final hurdle and alot of people don't pass first time. draw a line under it and re-take in December.

Goodluck

Re: Practical Failed

Maisy — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:32:33 GMT

Also LoveCat try and get on a practical revision course, they will help with confidence and you will get good feedback from it too. If you can get to Aldershot, MYF Training do fantastic courses and Julie who runs them is an RCVS examiner too so this is extremely helpful!

Keeping fingers crossed for you.

Re: Practical Failed

Freckle — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:42:59 GMT

Hi LoveCat

I am not at the stage of practicals yet, but I am the same - crap at practical exams! I have never failed a wriiten exam, but failed my driving test 3 times before I passed, all thanks to nerves! It's just having someone watch your every move - agghhh!

Definitely get that app form filled in and go for it again!

As you said you can't practice at work... is your practice friendly with any other local practices who may be able to help you out? Or would work pay for a pracs revision day?

Re: Practical Failed

LoveCat — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:14:03 GMT

I've just been on the RCVS website and seen that a lot of them have changed again! Urgh.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, I have filled out the application form and written out a new cheque (boo!) so I will definately give it another go.

Re: Practical Failed

Gemma s — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:50:45 GMT

Lovecat,

I failed my Pracs the 1st time, ive just passed but i felt the same. Dont give up, i felt like i couldnt do it again but i did. I used rescue Rem and felt it worked really well! They have put a few new pracs in so ensure u print them off and practice, practice, practice. You can do it! Gem xx

Re: Practical Failed

LoveCat — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:33:05 GMT

Thanks Maisy, I do really want to qualify - it just won't be the same if I don't manage to do it - I've put so much work in just to get this far.

I will deffo have another go in December and at least I know what to expect. I have not got the examiners sheets yet but will be sure to study them carefully to work out what when wrong - it seems to have been very close :(

Of course, you just feel like a bit of an idiot and it does make you feel like someone is telling you you're not a very good nurse. I am trying not to over think it though - I'm sure I am a good nurse. I'm just not very good at exams!

I can't really get alot of people to test me - I come from a 3 nurse 1 vet practice and the vet is a locum at the mo who won't be interested! My head nurse is great though so we'll do what we can.

Thanks for your feedback xx

Re: Practical Failed

Maisy — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:20:39 GMT

Sorry to hear about your results. Practicals are a sod really as the student is nervous, being assessed by someone they don't know and like you say have a lot bankingnon the results.

I would really recommend retaking the practicals but in the meantime practice, practice, practice! Get someone different to observe you undertake each practical task (ideally someone who you don't really work with much) and who can give you good truthful responses, especially in areas you are going wrong in. Did you get your previous sheets to say what you passed/failed on?

Personally I don't feel that the wage would really be fantastic as an unqualified nursing assistant, its not great as a VN! Plus the legal aspects can make you limited to what can be legally carried out, and this may change more with the new rules and regulations coming about.

I took some Kalms when I did my practicals, helped a bit but I worried so much about my practicals they prob didn't work too well! I did use Rescue Remedy for my driving test though and this helped!

Best of luck for next time