Currently in second year nursing and very disappointed in my grades. I came from highschool with a 90% average. In first year, I ended up with a 78% average and now, after midterms, I'm standing at a 63%. Currently have med-surg and absolutely love it! I just do terrible on tests and I cannot stand it because I feel like I know the material!

Anyone else have an issue similar or can relate?

Thanks,

- troubled nursing student

Nursing school exams are like nothing you have ever experienced before. I would recommend picking up a couple of NCLEX study guides so you can practice those types of questions.

You may know the material well, however it all matters on how you apply it (critically thinking). The exam questions are not straight forward in a sense of asking what is the five components of such and such. They give you a clinical situation and ask you how to chose the best answer. I suggest practicing many questions. Like Mama_Cashew suggested, purchase nclex study guides, or the Davis series success books which have a lot of practice questions with great rationales and learn how to apply your knowledge to the situations they present to you.

I third the needing a good NCLEX book and a good test taking stategies book. I also like the Davis success series because they give rationales AND test taking tips on each question. I happen to be very good at this type of question. I dont always know the reason behind a right answer, but I can usually get to the right answer just by narrowing down based on ABCs, maslows, safety, or action answers or anything but leaving the patients bedside for the various types of questions. I feel confident with the material, but lets get real, for most of us we just cant learn everything as fast as they throw it at us so we do our best to absorb what we can and always study and continue learning. There are people that are definitely smarter than I and know the material very well that bomb the tests and barely pass. Basically, try not to get too down. Poor nursing class grades dont always predict what type of nurse you will be or how smart you are. You just need to figure HOW to take these test so you can eventually graduate, pass NCLEX, and then start your real learning as a new grad nurse. GL

Use as many different resources for NCLEX-style questions as you can. Books, apps, whatever you can get your hands on. I like the Fundamentals Success book, the Test Success book, and the NCLEX RN Mastery app (pricey but good!). Our school required we have access to a website that goes along with our textbook called CoursePoint which is pretty helpful. The books usually have discs that have additional questions also. READ THE RATIONALES, you will be surprised at how much information you retain.

Use as many different resources for NCLEX-style questions as you can. Books, apps, whatever you can get your hands on. I like the Fundamentals Success book, the Test Success book, and the NCLEX RN Mastery app (pricey but good!). Our school required we have access to a website that goes along with our textbook called CoursePoint which is pretty helpful. The books usually have discs that have additional questions also. READ THE RATIONALES, you will be surprised at how much information you retain.

This is my first semester at Holmes CC in the ADN program. My first test is coming up and I am terrified because I don't know what to expect. I am in the process of reading my chapters but feel overwhelmed.

This is my first semester at Holmes CC in the ADN program. My first test is coming up and I am terrified because I don't know what to expect. I am in the process of reading my chapters but feel overwhelmed.

Are you in the night program? Grenada campus?

I am totally with you on feeling overwhelmed, I'm in the second semester of the program. I honestly don't always do all my reading and that is terrible (and I am not encouraging you to be like me) but I do pay attention in lecture. I focus the most on what is covered in lecture, and I do lots and lots and LOTS of questions (from the resources in my previous post). That helps me study more than anything, you may be different. You will find what works for you. :)

Nursing tests are not like any test you've taken before. Any test you've taken before (and this is just an example..) was probably knowledge based (i.e. "What color is the sky?") while a nursing test is going to ask you to apply that knowledge and think like a nurse (i.e. "Why is the sky blue?"). That's probably not the best analogy.. but maybe you get the point. There will be questions where the answer choices are all correct BUT you have to choose the best answer (what do you do first? what is most important?) and that's where Maslow's, ABCs, and any other way to prioritize comes in. It's not so bad in Fundamentals really..

BUT you must remember, that the test grade does NOT define you as a person. It defines your ability to apply critical thinking and clinical reasoning, and those things take time. Critical thinking is a skill just like taking vitals or inserting a Foley, you have to nurture it and practice. After you take your first test, you will be more prepared and hopefully have a better idea of how to study. If I can help you in any way please message me! I am not the best or smartest student by any means but I am in the struggle with you!