 |
|
|
Executive Director of NABNE, visits SCNM
May 01, 2006
By Dr. Richard Eberst, Ph.D
SCNM was privileged to have the North American leader in the Naturopathic Medicine Board Examination process on campus April 20-21, 2006. Dr. Christa Louis, MS, Ph.D., the Executive Director of NABNE (North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners) spent two full days in April sharing her vast knowledge related to the development, administration, assessment and future of the NPLEX Board examination process which NABNE over-sees. Dr. Louise met with hundreds of SCNM students in a wide variety of academic courses from all of 16 quarters. She also spent considerable time in open discussions with a large variety of SCNM faculty, staff and administrators. Her visit was highlighted by a formal presentation which she provided on Thursday, April 20th during a campus-wide Synergy meeting. This presentation was recorded and will be made available sometime soon in the SCNM Library and on CD.
Most of Dr. Louise’s input focused on assisting students to successfully prepare to take both Part 1 and Part 2 of the NPLEX examinations. She provided the students with some very usefully hints on how to prepare for the examinations and how to more successfully conduct themselves during the actual examinations. Some of these suggestions included:
- Think of the NPLEX as the best thing that a student can do to prove they are worthy to be an ND. It is a step in becoming an ND, not just a nasty hurdle to jump over;
- View the NPLEX as a honor to take since it is one of the most important elements providing professional stature and legitimacy to the profession;
- The more challenging your medial college courses are the more likely you are to do well on the NPLEX. So, appreciate your demanding professors. Getting good grades that are inflated will only provide students a false sense of security. Being challenged in your classes will help you do better on the NPLEX;
- The NPLEX is a challenging process but it should be in order to be helpful;
- The NPLEX is designed to insure the safety of the public;
- You are not required to get all of the questions correct. For example, some sections of the examination have a total of 50 questions of which you may only have to get 33 correct;
- Make sure to have a positive attitude when you take the NPLEX. Be determined to do well and do not expect to fail;
- Look at the NPLEX as a great opportunity to integrate and synthesize what you have learned in Medical College;
- Start preparation at least 3-6 months in advance but it is best to start on “day one” of your entry to SCNM;
- Go over the NPLEX Blue Prints very thoroughly in order to know what will be covered. For example, know what percentage of each area will be covered on each examination;
- Do not “cram” the night before the examination. If you have not learned it by then it is too late. Take this time to relax and get yourself in a place where you will excel;
- The first questions are usually the easiest so try not to read too much into them;
- The last questions are usually the hardest;
- On Part 1, the Biochemistry examination is usually the most challenging and the Microbiology examination usually the least challenging;
- Make sure to fully prepare for all aspects of both examinations. The new policy is that if you pass most but do poorly on one you may fail the entire examination;
- Fully complete all questions on the examination and then transfer answers to the scantron;
- If you review your responses, make sure you are 100% correct before you change earlier answers. Most often, your first impression is the correct one;
- When you have done these two things, then add any comments regarding any questions that seem unclear, questionable, etc. Be very specific with your comments and make them helpful. Your comments are greatly appreciated;
- NPLEX uses several major references to check the content of each question. Some of the major ones are:
> The Textbook of Functional Medicine
> The Merck Mannual
> The new Textbook of Natural Medicine - Each question has to have at least two references to insure its accuracy;
- Each item is reviewed and approved by nine NDs also to insure accuracy;
- If, after the examination, an item is found to be poor, NPLEX can accept “any” response as a correct response;
- “Cut” scores are based upon the difficulty of each part of the examination by a panel of ND experts. After the examination is processed, if the results indicate the Cut score was too high, it will be lowered. The Cut score is never raised after administration.
In addition to these suggestions, Dr. Louise also provided the College some excellent suggestions related to how the College can improve its over-all academic preparation with both the Basic Sciences and the Clinical Sciences.
Dr. Louise was in Tempe for the annual NABNE Board of Directors meeting which was held in Tempe from April 21-23. She is a frequent visitor to the Phoenix area in that so many major leaders of Naturopathic Medicine work or reside in this area of the country.
