Nursing Aptitude Test

KITTIPP

Hi

Did anyone else out there do the nursing aptitude test on saturday and if so how did you find them?? Personally I think i flunked the numerical one and am feeling blue about it all

Would just like to hear what other people thought..

Thanks

Kit

Montanita

I did those aptitude tests and everyone in the room was worried about the numerical tests I think. I only did about a third of them. I think I was too honest with the personality type questions so I actually think that might be what will let me down.

I think they are sending out the results on Friday so we should know soon.

I not even sure if Im doing the right thing so one minute I really hope I did ok and then the next minute I'm not too bothered!

Good luck

TERRIC

just wondering how your results went for nursing aptitude test and if you started and how you're going.. considering applying for 2009 but worried about round 1 already!

Montanita

Hi Terric

I didn't pass the aptitude test overall - I passed the verbal and numerical parts with flying colours but I answered the other questions about skills, experience etc honestly so that let me down. However - I got an offer in August based on my leaving cert points from years back but by that stage I had given up on the idea of nursing - so I have deferred the place till next year - I need time to think!! I'm confused. Anyone I have talked to says definitely get some experience of what the job is actually like before you do it because it is quite a different job to what most people think it is so i might try and do some care work over the next year at some stage. Are you going to go for it?

TERRIC

Good for you!! I, on the other hand, cannot use my Leaving Cert to fall
back on as I'm ancient! Did this in 1987 and whereas I got 2 A's, 4 B's and
1 C, only one subject was at higher level. Madness, I know.

Maths worry me the most. Confidence is low. Are they just sequences etc. or do I have to swat
up on fractions, percentages and problems? Can you remember?

As for pursuing the course or not, I'd advise you to take it up and become
qualified. Lots of people recommend work experience as a carer or similar but to be honest, this often
'voluntary work experience' type work is a far cry from a nurse's as most carers will be
doing the domestic more hands on caring/bathing side of it (vomit, blood etc) whereas the
nurse nowadays does the obs/meds/and reports etc... At least this is what
most general ward assistants tell me...so don't shoot me...!! Never is any disrespect intended and I'm sure won't be taken.

Sometimes just visiting the wards at visit time and observing a staff nurse
in action may give you a better idea...

I just feel that working as a nurses aid/carer might well give the wrong
impression of the actual modern nurse occupation, if you get where I'm coming from....

It's like this, nobody has a gun to your head if after initial clinical placement you
decide it's not your thing. I'm going for it as I'm married with 2 kids, with plenty of
real life experience, out of workforce for 7 years now and reluctant to
return to an office job..... Pros and cons to any living but a change is definitely what
I need. I'm also Irish but have australian citizenship and if we ever return to Oz
I can hit the ground running workwise.....

I just hope maths don't stand in my way...!!!!

seventhwave

Hi Terric,
Just in response to your point of view of gaining work experience as a care assistant. I appreciate what you are saying however basic nursing care is still a fundamental aspect to nursing. It’s applicable in most clinical settings, medical, surgical, A&E, ICU etc. In saying that gaining experience as a carer is not an exclusive requisite for nursing but for me it was greatly beneficial as I went into nursing about a year after my leaving cert. You have experience in other areas which is of great value and applicable also. Good luck with your future nursing career

Larianne

seventhwave wrote: »

Hi Terric,
Just in response to your point of view of gaining work experience as a care assistant. I appreciate what you are saying however basic nursing care is still a fundamental aspect to nursing. It’s applicable in most clinical settings, medical, surgical, A&E, ICU etc. In saying that gaining experience as a carer is not an exclusive requisite for nursing but for me it was greatly beneficial as I went into nursing about a year after my leaving cert. You have experience in other areas which is of great value and applicable also. Good luck with your future nursing career

I agree with this. I'm currently working as a care assistant and hope to go on to study Physio next year. Firstly you get to work in an environment with sick and vulnerable people. This will basically decide if you want to go on to study healthcare. If you can't hack being around people like this and helping them with understanding and patience there's no point of further study - you won't make a good nurse! Secondly, you do pick up information about conditions/illnesses and get a basic knowledge of how hospitals work - it gives you a good foundation going into the course.

Good luck!

Leanan Sidhe

Hi

I was wondering if any of you can help me with this query. I am considering going back as a mature student to study nursing, however I am hard of hearing and wear a hearing aid. Now its just a mild case not that I am totally deaf or anything, I can still communicate just like you and everyone else, if you know what I mean.

Would this hold me back on getting a place in Nursing College? I noticed that everyone has to go and get a medical check up and was wondering is this to rule out stuff like this? Otherwise I am pretty healthy I think and would be able to devote time to caring for others.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Also I was thinking of doing a nursing studies or a community care PLC course in order to help me when applying as a mature student, would this give me any merit or would it just be a waste of time?

Just wanted to see what others think, thanks

Montanita

Leanan, I don't know whether your hearing would be a problem - I would ring the NCC and talk to them about it - I don't see why it would be a problem.

Terric, in relation to your post about the test - ''Maths worry me the most. Confidence is low. Are they just sequences etc. or do I have to swat up on fractions, percentages and problems? Can you remember?''

For the Maths there was definitely sequences and some data to interpret can't remember what else. There was a small sample of the test available on the NCC website before we did the test - but that only showed a couple of examples. Sequences were like a box divided into four sections and with number sequences and a number missing, like 2,4, ?,8 and then they get more difficult. Kilroys do a preparatory course for the nursing test apparently? Think there are a couple of places that do it if you are worried about it but I don't know if they are any good or not and you might not need to do that at all. Those puzzle books you get in the shops are supposed to sharpen up your thinking.

Larianne

Leanan Sidhe wrote: »

Also I was thinking of doing a nursing studies or a community care PLC course in order to help me when applying as a mature student, would this give me any merit or would it just be a waste of time?

Just wanted to see what others think, thanks

Not a waste of time at all. There is a Health Science course in pre-nursing at Colaiste Dhulaigh and DCU keep 10 places for graduates of this course. You'd need to get distinctions in all your modules. But if you work hard it can be done. And doing a course like this will help your application to other unis as well.

http://www.colaistedhulaigh.ie/full-time-courses/leisure-tourism-and-social-care/health-science.php

TERRIC

Montanita wrote: »

Leanan, I don't know whether your hearing would be a problem - I would ring the NCC and talk to them about it - I don't see why it would be a problem.

Terric, in relation to your post about the test - ''Maths worry me the most. Confidence is low. Are they just sequences etc. or do I have to swat up on fractions, percentages and problems? Can you remember?''

For the Maths there was definitely sequences and some data to interpret can't remember what else. There was a small sample of the test available on the NCC website before we did the test - but that only showed a couple of examples. Sequences were like a box divided into four sections and with number sequences and a number missing, like 2,4, ?,8 and then they get more difficult. Kilroys do a preparatory course for the nursing test apparently? Think there are a couple of places that do it if you are worried about it but I don't know if they are any good or not and you might not need to do that at all. Those puzzle books you get in the shops are supposed to sharpen up your thinking.

Hi Montanita, have the literature from Kilroys etc and may invest in this but in the meantime, puzzle books and 2 books I have borrowed from library on practice psychometric tests can keep me going. Puzzle books are a great tip. I've also signed up for a Nurses Aide course with lectures and work placement in an Aged Care facility nearby. This starts in November so I hope it's beneficial. Guess it will either convince or cure me out of the idea completely!! And, if it helps me secure a college place, better again - provided I make the order of merit. Time will tell. Gonna take it a step at a time... Best of Luck.

mumtoe&e

Hey all,
I too did this test last year, and passed, i got offered a place doing midwifery in UCD and i deferred until next year, i cannot wait to start.
For those of you who didnt get offers, or didnt pass the test the first time, do not give up... this was my second time applying, the year before i passed both the test and the interview, but still did not get a place, it is so disheartening but i was determined not to give up.. the higher u score in that test the better chance u have of getting a place... there are some great aptitude test books that u can buy, i have one in my attic, will root it out and give some of u the name of it if u are interested!

TERRIC

mumtoe&e wrote: »

Hey all,
I too did this test last year, and passed, i got offered a place doing midwifery in UCD and i deferred until next year, i cannot wait to start.
For those of you who didnt get offers, or didnt pass the test the first time, do not give up... this was my second time applying, the year before i passed both the test and the interview, but still did not get a place, it is so disheartening but i was determined not to give up.. the higher u score in that test the better chance u have of getting a place... there are some great aptitude test books that u can buy, i have one in my attic, will root it out and give some of u the name of it if u are interested!

Yes please! If you can get me name of that book, I'd appreciate it. Many thanks.

TERRIC

KITTIPP wrote: »

Hi

Did anyone else out there do the nursing aptitude test on saturday and if so how did you find them?? Personally I think i flunked the numerical one and am feeling blue about it all

Would just like to hear what other people thought..

Thanks

Kit

Just wondering what score you achieved and if you got a place. Thanks.

tantipie

i work as a care assistant also,,and i love it,,i am waiting till my little man turns 4(in a yr and a half) to hopefully go train as a nurse,,i'm extremely worried about this as i panic and go blank in emergencies,,lol,,,i'll warn ye if and when i do go for it,,so ye can avoid my hospital,,

Skull_Collector

mumtoe&e wrote: »

Hey all,
I too did this test last year, and passed, i got offered a place doing midwifery in UCD and i deferred until next year, i cannot wait to start.
For those of you who didnt get offers, or didnt pass the test the first time, do not give up... this was my second time applying, the year before i passed both the test and the interview, but still did not get a place, it is so disheartening but i was determined not to give up.. the higher u score in that test the better chance u have of getting a place... there are some great aptitude test books that u can buy, i have one in my attic, will root it out and give some of u the name of it if u are interested!

If you do manage to root this out, I'd be very grateful to know the name.

Thanks.

ELISHA82

Hi just wondering did anyone get a place on the nursing degree as a mature student, I've applied for nursing for 2009 as a mature student and just looking for some advice on the apptitude test and what the interview was like.

Any help would be gratefully appreicated

elisha

PoppyGirl27

Hi all

I have just applied to do mental health nursing thorugh the CAO and I know there is a course you can do a few days before April to practice Nursing Aptitude tests. I think it was the red cow and at the end of March

Can anyone help ??

Thanks in advance

Ciava

PoppyGirl27

Skull_Collector wrote: »

If you do manage to root this out, I'd be very grateful to know the name.

Thanks.

I would love to know the name of the book too

Thanks a mill

Ciava

mumtoe&e

Hi Girls,
The name of the book is
"ultimate psychometric test book", by Mike Byron !!

I found it great.. practice practice practice!

Good luck

Ell69

This web page was helpful too...

http://www.ucc.ie/careers/students/Job_Search_from_Start_to_Finish/Pscyhometric_Tests.php

3cuties

PoppyGirl27 wrote: »

Hi all

I have just applied to do mental health nursing thorugh the CAO and I know there is a course you can do a few days before April to practice Nursing Aptitude tests. I think it was the red cow and at the end of March

Can anyone help ??

Thanks in advance

Ciava

Hi there - did you find out about this course? I have applied also this year and would be keen to do the course.

walsh_ma

PoppyGirl27 wrote: »

Hi all

I have just applied to do mental health nursing thorugh the CAO and I know there is a course you can do a few days before April to practice Nursing Aptitude tests. I think it was the red cow and at the end of March

Can anyone help ??

Thanks in advance

Ciava

Hi Ciava,

I too have applied for psychiatric nursing and am hoping to to do an apptitude test training course. Did you find out where that course is in the red cow? My apptitude test is on the 4th of April. i would appreciate if you could get back to me and good luck in your exam!

thanks
marie

mumtoe&e

Hi all
Just want to wish u all the very best of luck in the test
x

3cuties

Hi,

www.careerservices.ie hold these courses but I don't know how good they are.

Ms_Nightengale

Hi all

Just thought I'd offer a little bit of advice for the interview and apptitude test.

I am now in my final year of nursing after applying as a mature student and I can still remember the nerves and the anxiety I felt when I was applying and I really feel for all of yee.

for me I just kept practising and practising and practising the verbal and nurmeracy tests from books that I found in the library..I can't remember what they were called but it might be worth checking in your own local libraries...they were really old and battered but they did the job.

I think the key on the day is just try to remain calm and not to panic..I found rescue remedy and a having a good nights sleep the night before really helped..and remember you don't have to answer every single question that is in front of you..you are timed in the test and really I think there set in such a way that you couldn't finish them!

And for the interview I spent ages filling out the qustionnaire..phrasing and rephrasing what I wanted to say and everything I wrote was related to my work experiences..then when I went for the interview the interviewers just said okay that's grand now can you tell me how you showed these qualities or demonstrated these domains in real life situations..definitely had to think on my feet and for the life of me can't remember exactly what i said..so it might be an idea to relate what you say to your own life experiences.

Anyway, thats all the advice I can think of at the moment but if anyone has any questions or anything feel free to PM me.

And of course I wish yee all Good Luck!

Peace
Ms_Nightengale

Natalie79

I'm also thinking to apply for midwifery course next year...:rolleyes:
Nervous about it....., at the mean time, I'm working as a carer, and I loves it:)
I'm Russian- with on Irish citizenship.

I know, it going to be hard for me, to get in to midwifery course, aside aptitude test, and the interview, I have to pass ''Cambridge'' exam and get as high as 6.5 marks - which it's not going to be easy ))))

Congrats to everyone who have got a place on Nursing/Midwifery it is wonderful and an interesting course!!!

Laura25

I recommend getting some aptitude test books and go through them for a few minutes a night before you sit your written assesment, and then the interview, tho scary, is really fine, interviewers are lovely and can see through nerves, i know this as i gave a horrendous interview yet got through.

Also easier to get into General and then go on to Midwifery from that.
General Nursing offers alot more scope for you to decide later where you would like to specialise.


L.

TheWestsAwake

Hi folks

I have just applied to the CAO for mature nursing, I was wondering was there any courses that I could do in January or February to get me up to speed and let me know how much I have to work on the apptitude test. Its been nearly 8 years since I last finished college and I have had the luxury or calculators and computers to calculate and think for me ever since. Just worried I may have dulled my brain down too much, so need to know where I stand. Also if there where any courses in the West of Ireland it would suit me even better as Castlebar is a long way from Dublin etc.

Any relevant books would also be useful.

Thanks a million

..Summergirl..

Hi TheWestsAwake, there is preparation course out there, it's only one full day and it cost 150 € they'll explain you all the process how the aptitude test runs from the beginning to the end and they run the course usually day before the aptitude test. Other thing what you can do is to buy the book by Mike Bryon it also will gives you an idea about the test. If you have problem with the maths i advise you to refresh you knowledge on multiplication, division, etc. Puzzle as well is very helpful stuff. Good luck with your application and test.

carla30

TheWestsAwake wrote: »

Hi folks

I have just applied to the CAO for mature nursing, I was wondering was there any courses that I could do in January or February to get me up to speed and let me know how much I have to work on the apptitude test. Its been nearly 8 years since I last finished college and I have had the luxury or calculators and computers to calculate and think for me ever since. Just worried I may have dulled my brain down too much, so need to know where I stand. Also if there where any courses in the West of Ireland it would suit me even better as Castlebar is a long way from Dublin etc.

Any relevant books would also be useful.

Thanks a million

just pm'd u there.;)

TheWestsAwake

carla30 wrote: »

just pm'd u there.;)

I pm'd You back Carla30 but I'm not sure if it worked at it does not appear in my sent messages!

TheWestsAwake

Oppps :eek: I may have sent multiples, just figured it out now, I hadn't my outbox settings set to save sent messages. All sorted now. Apologies for mutltiples of the same pm.

smilerxxx

I've applied too, I'm hoping to find out about that course in Limerick... any luck for you?? I'm really worried about the exp part. work experience i am lacking. however i have a lot of personal exp in the area.. friends family etc.. any idea if this will stand for me