Need inspiration.... FRUSTRATED and loosing hope

avenellpn82 · Oct 28, 2009 02:19 PM

Hello,
Well first let me say i was super excited to finally get the chance to persue my lifelong dream of being a nurse. I thought that doing the LPN first would be beneficial to me because I would be able to contribute to my household while continuing on for RN and also it would give me experience as i have no prior medical experience. School was great for me until 2nd quarter. I have a 4.0 gpa for all my classes..EXCEPT FOR NURSING FUNDAMENTALS 2.....:angryfire I give so much extra effort and have to do alot of self teaching because the teacher cannot controll the class and basically does not teach but gives us the hardest tests ever. She basically comes off like " I already have my BSN so who cares about you" type of attitue! I have spoken to the lead instructor and director of nursing in my program and they basically blow me off saying they can't help me I have to learn critical thinking.(how can i think critically about something i wasn't taught?) The problem is, I read the chapters my self over and over and use 3 books to help me study but its all like rocket science to me because i've never done this before. I can tell you all about the disorders as per the book and the different lab values but just cant pass her tests!!!!!!

SOOOOOOO today i failed my midterm and am scared to death that i am gonna fail this class. The DON assures me that I will be ok but the issue is I am not learning in that class so how will i pass the NCLEX?

We basically fend for ourselves in that class and rely on each other to explain points we dont understand.

Have any of you had to deal with this in your school?
If so how did you go about handling it?
Did you end up passing the class?

itsmejuli · Oct 28, 2009, 02:50 PM

Sometimes it can be a real struggle, especially when it comes to learning to answer NCLEX style questions on exams.

The best way to get used to NCLEX style questions is to get a Saunder's NCLEX book and practice. There are thousands of NCLEX style questions on the Saunder's cd that have answers and rationals.

It really helps to do at least a 100 of these questions every week. Use the book to review for exams and practice with the questions at the end of each chapter for whatever unit you're working on in class.

I also like Prentice Hall's NCLEX-PN review book.

Both books have test taking strategies.

You can do it!

**pagandeva2000** · Oct 28, 2009, 05:04 PM

Most nursing students struggle with the first semester because nursing questions are styled differently. It is not always about memorization, but also, reading into symptoms, how labs relate to the question, etc...

As mentioned, purchase a comprehensive study guide to NCLEX-PN and start practicing questions...then read the rationales, whether your answers were correct or not. This will give you more experience. Best of luck!

miss LPN countdown · Oct 28, 2009, 07:10 PM

I can relate to you as far as teaching yourselves. I'm in level five now and only had a few good instructors .some of them just don't care. according to everyone else focus on the saunders nclex book . that's what will get us through! this critical thinking is no joke but just try to learn the rationales .question why for everything. you'll get through. hang in there

williamsa · Oct 28, 2009, 07:26 PM

I felt the same way, you just have to find out what works for you. I had Saunders book. I had my son and so I bought the flash cards while at the grocery store or doctors office or what ever. While doing clinicals I even had my patients and staff members and class mates quiz me on upcoming exams. I made my own study guide as well as flash cards. Flash cards were my best friend and songs and acronyms. Especially for remembering medications and there side effects. You have good teachers and those who just don't want to see or don't care if you make it or not. I believe that if I didn't have those who kept telling me I couldn't make it. I wouldn't have worked so hard to prove them wrong. So do so prove them wrong and be on top of everything. You can do it hang in there hun this is the hard part.

avenellpn82 · Oct 28, 2009, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by itsmejuli

Sometimes it can be a real struggle, especially when it comes to learning to answer NCLEX style questions on exams.

The best way to get used to NCLEX style questions is to get a Saunder's NCLEX book and practice. There are thousands of NCLEX style questions on the Saunder's cd that have answers and rationals.

It really helps to do at least a 100 of these questions every week. Use the book to review for exams and practice with the questions at the end of each chapter for whatever unit you're working on in class.

I also like Prentice Hall's NCLEX-PN review book.

Both books have test taking strategies.

You can do it!

Thanks for the reply.
I do have the latest edition Saunders NCLEX PN book and i do great on the CD questions for some reason but the way she words hers is the issue.

NrsintheFam · Oct 29, 2009, 08:30 AM

I just started, so I'm not as far as you. But my A&P class was pretty much a self taught class. All the teacher did was read from slides, when asked a question 8 times out of 10 she didn't know the answer. Was always in a rush to get the class ended, and gave us the wrong information on multiple occasions. A lot of people complained about her to the DON, but got the same excuse nothing they could do. So we all just pretty much formed study groupes and taught ourselves. And majority of us made it through.

rma2lpn · Nov 21, 2009, 04:40 PM

I just finished my A&P ! and end up passing with a C but barely. I totally understand what you are feelin i aced all of my teachers quizzes and critical thinking questions, however when it comes to her tests i barely passed. I failed my final friday but i had an A average prior to it so it brought me down to a C. I'm very worried cause i studied like crazy and like you i feel as if i knew the material back and forth and still failed was very frustrating to me. This same teacher also teaches A&P 2 so i have to go through this anxiety thing all over again. I'm looking for different ways to possiblity study this time. i think i'll try the flash card thing and see if that helps. I also kept copies of my old tests so i can review them to hopefully try to grasp her "question style" so i can try to ask myself mock questions while studying. I just keep thinking four more weeks with this teacher. We have a week off so i'm going to review the next two chapters in advance..hopefully this helps me. I'm determined not to fail and neither should you. We have come too far!! Good luck!

Need inspiration.... FRUSTRATED and loosing hope

Need inspiration.... FRUSTRATED and loosing hope

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