[blynn9173]

Hello All,

To make a long story short, I didn't pass last semester. I failed my fundamentals class. I missed passing by 10 points. I was so close. I was so disappointed. I put my heart and soul into the program. I even quit my job. I studied all the time. I had a really hard time grasping the critical thinking concepts on the tests. I finally started catching on the middle of the semester but it was to late. I had never been exposed to those types of tests before. I applied to a different school and guess what?? I got in!!! I am so excited but scared at the same time. I am so afraid I will fail again. I felt like such a failure and let down to my family.

I was wanting some suggestions from you guys on how I can prepare to start over in August. My dream is to be a nurse. I have been a medical assistant for the last 6 years and loved it. I just hope and pray I make it!!
Thanks.

[maryloufu]

Never give up!
Congrats on getting in!

[Mommycakers]

Do you have this book? How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School
by Durham, Kelli S. Dunham

Many people on this site mention to use NCLEX review books as study aids to help get used to this type of testing in school. I start in August too and plan on getting two NCLEX review books to help me as I go thru school. Study groups are another idea if they work for you. Do you tape your notes or make flashcards? I plan on using a combination of all of these until I find what works best for me. Good Luck to us both!

[blynn9173]

Thanks for the reply. Yes matter of fact I have that book. A friend let me borrow it. I started reading it the other night. I think it will help. Good luck to you in Nursing School!

[blynn9173]

Thanks for the reply. As a matter of fact, I do have that book you are talking about. A friend of mine had it and let me borrow it. I started reading it the other night. It is real informative. Good Luck to you in Nursing School!

[maryloufu]

When working my way through school I found the Saunders NCLEX book to be the most help to me.

[Daytonite]

Check out the information on this sticky thread in the General Nursing Student Discussion Forum:

• http://allnurses.com/forums/f50/looking-test-taking-stratagies-224581.html - Looking for test taking strategies

The basic strategy for answering critical thinking (application type) questions is as follows, you must:

• know and consider the normal anatomy and physiology
• know and consider abnormal anatomy for the disease in question
• know and consider the resulting signs and symptoms when the disease occurs and how they proceed from mild to fatal - each sign and symptom can be related back to the pathophysiology of the disease
• know and consider how the doctor diagnoses and treats the disease in question
• know nursing interventions for the signs and symptoms you are being asked about
• know the steps of the nursing process and what goes on in each of the steps and consider how they are affecting the question you are being asked
• know and consider the principles behind the actions being done - there are many kinds of principles: principles of nursing, principles of biology, principles of chemistry, principles of physics, etc.
• read the stem of the question carefully and answer that because the test makers try to trip you up by distracting you with conflicting information they give you in the answer choices that sounds good but has no relationship to what the question is asking for
• ask yourself "why" a patient is experiencing some sign or symptoms to get at the underlying problem. Nursing like other disciplines treats the problem/signs and symptoms.

There is lots of help and support available specifically for students in the student forums on allnurses. You access them by clicking on the "Students" tab at the top of any page of allnurses that you are on.