3.9 GPA, cant pass Nursing school tests!???

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I am at a loss for words. I dont know what to do anymore. I came into the RN program with a 3.9 GPA. I am SHOCKED that I am on the verge of failing my 2nd semester of Nursing school. I study my class notes, Powerpoints, I have 4 NCLEX review books I study as well. I cannot pass the tests. I am begining to think it is my naturally 'overanalytical' mind that is keeping me from doing well on these tests. I think I overthink the answers. And if this is the case, how do I overcome that? As you know, these are not tests based on fact and one answer is right. I find it impossibe! What to do??? Any advice is appreciated!

Hang in there fleurafor. As some have said, nursing school is a different beast. Tests in other majors ask you to choose the one correct answer from four incorrect choices. Tests in nursing school, however, seem to ask you to choose "the best" answer from five correct choices. Half the battle is reasoning out why the answer you chose is better than the other choices. If you are struggling to study all the content, send me a pm and I'll see about sending you some resources that helped me a lot.

Don't let these exams keep you down. They are not a measure of your worth.

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Do you have test anxiety by chance?? I know I do and that got me into trouble my first term until I got it under control. I would over analzye EVERYTHING or I would be so nervous that I would literally ignore a very important word in the question that would just through me completely off.

I know it's hard, I've struggled myself. Does your program have one person that can spend time with you and help you with test taking ideas? For me I need to read each question at least twice, circle the important points and prioritize. I now wear earplugs and sit in the back for each exam. I'm almost the last one finished each exam but it's helped A LOT.

Hang in there, you'll get through it. It's a totally different world I know.

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I have the same exact problem. I study for hours pretty much daily and then I barely pass the test. I have Psych nursing this semester along with my second semester MedSurg course. I got a 98, 94 and 92 on those 3 exams & couldn't figure out why I was ace-ing the psych exams and scraping by in MedSurg. I realized it was because I would actually go to bed the night before a psych exam instead of staying up all night saying, "I just need to go over one more thing!" I went to bed the night before my last MedSurg exam and got an 86. Try just getting some rest the night before, if you're an all-night crammer. You may be doing yourself more harm than good, like me!

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There are books specifically written to explain how to take nursing exams, if you don't have one, I'd suggest getting one asap. I didn't get a book, but we had a short "how-to" class offered before fundamentals started. It was invaluable. Nursing exams do not come naturally for most and there's no shame in struggling, you can get it eventually. Get a book on studying/test taking, find a study group and listen to how others deduce answers, find a stress reliever that works for you ( muscle relaxation, imagery, exercise, etc) and allow yourself to take a break when you feel overwhelmed.

MamaSquared, so true. My brain regurgitates info for exams a lot better when I allow it to rest the night before and soak in. Some people study for hours and hours non-stop, but it's counter-productive. We need those breaks, a little distraction, and blood flow to reset our brains and retain info.

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Hey ohgreat -

I am in the same situation in fleurafor with nursing school giving me hell. I saw that you offered to send her some resources that helped you. I am having a lot of difficulty getting through the vast amount of information I need to read for each exam and was wondering if you'd be willing to share the resources with me too. I have already sent you a friend request. Please let me know asap as I have finals (in med/surg 1 and maternity) coming up. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

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I just looked at the questions in a "Now what would an instructor want me to say here," rather than using personal experience or simplistic reasoning. Many of the answers are correct, but they are asking for the best answer, which usually involves being able to prioritize problems/solutions.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

My program recommends this book to students:

Fundamentals Success: A Q&A Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking (Davis's Q&a Success): Dr Patricia Nugent, Barbara Vitale: 9780803627796: Amazon.com: BooksMight be helpful to you when it comes to breaking down questions, etc.

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.

gotta :redbeathe the nursing tests!!

i would suggest meeting with your instructor [if you haven't] to see what you missed and the rationale behind the right answer. also, remember to use the abc's and maslow's!

don't feel bad, i came into the program with a 3.78 and FAILED my first test...it was a shocker. i studied as if i was taking a science test, learning all of the facts, not studying for a test that asked 'what is the best technique' or 'what should the nurse do first'...once i reviewed that first test i changed my study habits and ended up with B's on the two final exams.

don't beat yourself up over the gpa either...we have had people come into our program with a 4.0 and come out in the first semester without it...

i also suggest getting some nclex style books to help you 'critically think' so that you can get used to that.

best of luck!

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Practicing Nclex question is the best way for me before any exam I wouild practice a total of 2000 or more questions some times even if i was going over the same questions it formualtes your mind to think like the person who prepares the tests..... Repition is number one with those question you can begin to see what they are looking for and remember to find a balance not so far to the left not so far to the right but the middle.... Hope this helps!!!!! team student nurse.

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Thanks for the good advice, all. I have a pretty good academic background and honestly, these tests have kicked my butt.

The material is not that difficult, it is the process of obtaining the "Best Answer" that has been getting me.

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Hang in there. You sound exactly like me last semester. I was a 4.0 student in an ADN program. I had all my generals out of the way including my BSN generals. Had been on the waiting list for 3 years before getting into the actual nursing program (our clinical, nursing fundamentals, and lab skills are combined). I had about 3 years healthcare experience and currently work in hospital. I also passed the first semester of clinical with flying colors.

Then came second semester……. I studied my butt off for the first test. I knew the material frontwards and backwards. When I took the first test it was unlike any test I had ever took. I was totally dumbfounded. I had never seen questions like that before in my life!! I ended up with a 78% on my first test. I was devastated. Second test I studied even harder, 78%. I figured the third time would be the charm, nope, a 78%. We need an 82% to pass the course.

With only two weeks left of the semester I came here asking for help and realized I was studying all wrong. I ended taking everyone’s advice and almost made it. I ended up with an 81.6% overall grade. Just shy of the 82% I needed.

I am now repeating the course and learning from my studying mistakes.

Here are my suggestions……….

1. Get Nclex books. They help. If you can’t afford the latest addition get a couple older ones they still help.

2. Know all you labs. Memorize them.

3. If you don’t understand something look it up on youtube. Sometimes a 2 second visual makes more sense to me than reading over it 20 times and still not understanding.

4. Remember ADPIE, Maslow, Abc’s. Always think safety.

5. Read the full question. Absorb it. What is it asking?

6. Don’t get discouraged. Stay positive. No negative talk. It doesn’t help you. Sleep right, eat healthy. All obvious stuff that we tend to overlook.

I hated having to repeat this semester and was tempted just to quit. I will say I think failing has made me stronger. The tests make more sense now. Don't give up though. You can still pull your grade up and pass.

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I feel for the person who started this thread. I even attended an world-class undergrad university but getting 80, 77, 74 out of 100 in my nursing tests. More advice would be great- I see immigrant students who don't know the English language as well as me to BETTER on these tests than me. What is wrong with me??? I've noticed there are immigrant nurses who go through nursing school with ease and I've been to a top undergrad university and took some grad courses at an Ivy League and I'm STRUGGLING ... please help. You would think with all my education I would fare better and not even have to study as hard. I'm putting a lot of hours in and nothing is working. The ones who are getting "A's" study the night before and they do not have bachelor's degrees even. Thanks for the comments in advance

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