Also, need help in getting my wife "over the hump"

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She is in her third semester of ASN clinicals, and has been missed getting an A- by about three to ten points in EACH of her previous nursing courses (and she seems on pace to do the same this semester). Her primary text is Medical Surgical Nursing by Lewis, Heitkemper, and Dirksen. We purchased the study guide and worked through it together for her most recent test covering the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, but she scored an 83% missing five on the thirty question exam. One thing that frustrates me is the relative shortage of "exam type" questions. In all of my A&P classes I was able to work practice questions until I literally wanted to puke (using the various study guides, web sites, and discs that came with our excellent texts, as well as old tests that the Prof's made available). However, with the Mosby texts there doesn't seem to be THAT many "test type" practice exams. My wife was always an A+ student before nursing school, and the woman scores over 140 on every IQ test we've ever taken together (swamping me by over twenty points). She is also excellent at the "practical" aspects of nursing, but unfortunately they don't count that in your grade. We are both concerned because she has ambitions of going on to graduate school either as an NP, CRNA or perhaps getting a Ph'd, but that probably can't happen without more A's! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

I can't help but just wanted to comment that the average test grade of a second semester student for the last test given was 66%. Your wife is doing absolutely awesome as is. I hope I do as well and I've got a 3.8 GPA going into my first semester of ADN nursing.

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Three words: NCLEX study guide. :)

Unfortunately, I didn't discover this until my last semester. Saunders Comprehensive Review is awesome!! Find the section you want to review (i.e. cardiovascular or renal or whatever) and read through it (quick read) and do practice questions in book and on CD. I think you get about 30 questions per unit in the book and another 100ish on the CD.

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Originally posted by PJMommy

Three words: NCLEX study guide. :)

Ditto here. Thats about the only practice type questions. To defend the schools (please,, no one shoot me) I don't think they want you practicing. We were told that they want you to know "everything" so in any situation you can come to a reasonable conclusion. She said she thought practice tests give you a false sense of security and take away from your abilities to "learn" to think critically. I personally hate that thinking. I need help to "learn" how to answer those questions.

And maintaing a passing grade in nursing school is respectable. With the failure rate so high, just making it through (let alone with a B) is such an accomplishment. Try to let her know its most important that she is learning, not that elusive "A", it was a tough lesson for a former 4.0 student like myself to learn, but it helps to let go, and just do your best....

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Roland you are such a sweetie for caring and helping your wife through nursing school. I wish her well and I also suggest NCLEX study guides. They really help.

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Specializes in OB.

I was also an A student before Nursing school. I had a 4.0 going in. I just graduated with a 3.45. There was no posisility of getting an A in my nursing school. I was in the top 5 each semester and NOBODY had an A. I think you need to relax, and get your wife to relax about the grades. Concentrate on learning the material.

Remember- Passing the NCLEX is the ultimate goal not getting the highest GPA.

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I have two degrees and am working on my ADN.

The first two passes, I had great grades, learned with ease, loved it, graduated with honors, all that stuff.

Nobody ever is interested in my GPA. Only if I have the degrees and the license.

In nursing school, I never got an A on an exam in "traditional" "regular" nursing school, and most of my classmates didn't either. A lot of them failed and were dropped.

We kept plodding along, remembering the one equation that is important while still in school. C = RN

Sounds like your wife's grades are in fact "awesome," and you sound pretty "awesome" yourself. Most wives, in any walk of life, would love to have a husband 1/10th as supportive and involved as you are. I bet you even say please and thank you! (No kidding--this is a wish of mine! LOL)

Oh--BTW, I finally did get my first A--on the Excelsior College NC-1 exam.

Hang in there--you and she are doing great!!!!!!

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

Does she have an NCLEX review book? My nursing instructor suggested that we get one. These are the types of questions that will be on all of our nursing quizzes/exams and more importantly the boards. She also suggested we get a study partner and that our partner have a different brand of review book and that we use both.

Also, Roland, please don't take this the wrong way. But, we'd love to hear from your wife directly and offer support.

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