Used to get B's and A's now I have a D in nursing 101, HELP!!!!

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2005

I was having trouble with my exams last year, I went to talk to the Director of the program and she gave me some of the best advice. Some of the things she told me really has helped me a lot:

Before reading the question, cover up the answers. Just read the question. Think about it. What comes to your mind? Think about what you know. Even write some things down there on the test (if you're allowed to write on the test). Then look at the answers and see what's there that fits with what first came to your mind. A lot of those answers could very well apply, but it might not apply to that certain situation in the question, therefore the distractors will throw you off. Cover the answers first!

Secondly, look at what the question is asking. If it's a priority question, it's asking what the nurse would do first. These used to throw me off at first because they are all correct answers, in that they are all interventions that the nurse would do, BUT, it's asking which ONE of those would the nurse do first. When you get these questions, remember your ABCs. Which is the most critical? Which is top priority over all the others?

And I know this is said so often, but read the question carefully! I have made so many mistakes on simple questions because I missed a simple part of the question. Make sure you know what the question is asking. Choose the best answer you think fits, then read the question again carefully, just to make sure.

Don't read too much into a question. If a lot of information isn't given, then don't sit there and try to come up with more information, more than likely they're just looking for a simple answer. So many times we read the question, then start thinking of other information that could/would/maybe fit in there, and we tend going off track, therefore missing what the question is even asking! Just keep it simple. Look at what it's asking, don't go off track and look for something that's not there.

If you read the question and just don't know it, then cross out the choices that you know for sure aren't correct. This way it eliminates your choices, and gives you a better chance in guessing correctly!

Get a good night's sleep! I know people say that all the time, but it's so important! I used to try taking tests after staying up all night, it's just not a good thing. Getting a full 8 hours of sleep the night before a test isn't plausible for me, but I always make sure I get about 4-6 hours of sleep the night before, then I wake up 2-3 hours before the test and go over my notecards again. Eat a good breakfast and walk into that test with CONFIDENCE! That's so important .... go in there with the attitude that you will do well!

grinnurse, RN · Mar 25, 2005

Our instructor told us about the Kaplan book. They had a copy in the library that we checked out. It goes into detail and gives good examples of questions and how to get them right even if you don't know the answer.

Another tip to add to the ones that Raindreamer listed is to take a highlighter with you and highlight the stem of the question so you know what kind of question it is.

Then figure out if the question is asking for a true statement or something false? (I always put T or F next to it)

If the question is asking for intervention vs assessment-always assess, assess, assess first.

Then if they are all interventions for the patient-which intervention is going to directly have an effect on the patient? Also, which will do the least harm to the patient--restarting IV vs repositioning the patient's arm. Do the one that is least invasive to the patient which in this case would be repositioning.

Then on those therapeautice conversation questions are they asking for a feeling response or for information? If it is feeling-then the correct answer will be feeling and if it's information they are seeking-give the information one.

For teaching always know who are you teaching to?

These are just a few of the topics that they cover in the Kaplan book-probably alot better than I have just done too :rotfl:

And don't sweat the D- as long as you have other tests to take-you can bring that up. I made a 62 and a 67 on two tests last semester and was totally freaking out!! The last time I had made grades like that was in HS. It took me 3 more tests to bring those two up but I ended up with a B in the class!! So, my point is, if I can do it with 2 Ds you can do it with one D!!!

Hope these help and let us know how you did and if you used any of the suggestions that were posted worked for you.

Good Luck.....................YOU CAN DO IT

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2005

Thank you guys sooo much!! I will definitely read the questions better and check out the Kaplan book. You guys rock!!! :)