I am a first-semester nursing student in an accelerated nursing program (15 months). I am currently taking Med Surg I, Pharmacology, Health Assessment, and a transitions course.
I have my previous bachelor's degree in psychology and have experience working as a case manager for adults with disabilities.
I am incredibly excited and passionate about becoming a nurse and am doing everything that I feel I can do to do well in my classes. However, I am finding it hard to do well on tests.
I started out with a 90% on my first pharmacology test. I was incredibly pleased, but in my former degree, I was used to getting straight A's (with a few B+s not in my major) so I was expecting an even higher grade.
Since that first test, I've been consistently getting high 70s on my exams. I got a 76% on my first Med Surg exam, and a 76% and 78% on my two health assessment exams. For the supplemental assignments, I've been doing really well -- I've gotten 95% on the two care plans we've had to write and 100%s on the papers we've had to write about diseases, PICO questions, my journals for clinicals, and on the cultural exploration assignment we had. I am having an incredibly amazing time at the LTC clinical site, and already have established a great relationship with my clinical instructor.
I realize that there's a learning curve, since we have to think differently to answer NCLEX-type questions, but I feel that, after I've already taken three tests, I should be getting the hang of it. It's comforting to know that I'm doing well at some things, but it's really disheartening that I am not able to do better at this point in time in Med Surg and health assessment. I participate in the lab and have passed all my competencies without any issues thus far. It is just the written tests that are getting me, and I'm not sure why.
There's a ton of material, and I don't feel like I am having a hard time understanding it, but that also concerns be because I can't really identify where I'm going wrong. I am having a pharm test this week and have made index cards for all of the prototype drugs (we're being tested on ten chapters) and that seems to help somewhat. I am wholeheartedly prepared to do the work that is expected of me, and have been putting all of my time into learning and understanding the material.
I guess what I am looking for, is perhaps some tips/suggestions for studying or ingraining the material into my brain. I really want to understand how to approach the material effectively.
If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them. I appreciate any assistance that anyone can provide.
Some people call nurse practitioners "physician extenders." Personally, I find that insulting and I argue with a physician friend about this every time I see him. That might be what it means to some folks. I meant that we are not subordinate to physicians or appendages for them.
I lived with my saunders book through nursing school, it was my BIBLE. Just concentrate on the questions related to what you are doing in class. Also use the cd that comes with it, it gives you the rationals and lets you know how your progressing. Good Luck!! It's not easy but sooo worth it in the end!!
I second what some others have said... I recommend getting NANDA-I 2012-2014 (I purchased it after reading GrnTea's advice to another poster and it has made a tremendous difference in my comprehension of nursing diagnoses), Saunder's NCLEX, and Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment by LaCharity. I also have found The Anatomy Coloring Book and the Memory Notebook of Nursing series helpful. Best of luck!
Nursing-school exams are unlike any other area of study, IME. You need to figure out how they want you to answer the questions before you can give the correct answers on exams. These books help you figure that out.
I am also in an accelerated program and struggled on the tests. My recommendation is to practice NCLEX style questions as often as possible. I have 3 books and get together with a group to do nclex questions every week. It is time consuming but has increased my scores from the 70's to the 90's.
nurseprnRN, BSN, RN
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Some people call nurse practitioners "physician extenders." Personally, I find that insulting and I argue with a physician friend about this every time I see him. That might be what it means to some folks. I meant that we are not subordinate to physicians or appendages for them.