Exams so disappointing

jerryh55 · Jun 14, 2005

I think everyone has had the problem your talking about. Tests in nursing school are unlike anything most of us have seen. Instead of the straight forward one plus one equals 2, you have something like one plus one equals two, but are we gonna count the person in the closet, in the bathroom. Critical thinking questions require a much more thourough knowledge of the subject. More than one answer seems right, but you have to use your critical thinking skills to determine which one is more right. I had trouble getting used to this and still do, but hopefully come the fall, it wont be as difficult.

Have A Great Day and Be Safe

Jerry

stressgal, RN · Jun 14, 2005

You really do need to "learn" how to take nursing tests. A couple of books that have helped me are Test sucess for nursing students and saunders Strategies for success for the NCLEX-RN examination. Both of these books break down the questions and explain how to detemine what they are really asking.

Good luck.

AussieKylie · Jun 15, 2005

Well it happened again. I got teary in my exam and had the sniffles until I requested a needed tissue. I cant do exams well anymore errr. I just hope to pass the two subjects. Otherwise I may need to see a counsellor to help me out and see if nursing is my thang. For now I have been beaten up by this degree, this is my fourth year and I am burnt out, tired, drained. I am not sure as to how long I can keep on going just to get my degree. I know for sure I want to work in healthcare but I question myself, is the answer NURSING :uhoh21: :uhoh3: :rolleyes:

Stressgal, if you read my post again, could you advise about those books about nursing and tests? Who are the authors etc, thankyou :)

What to do what to do ** sigh***

It has to get better surely argh

stressgal, RN · Jun 15, 2005

I believe the test sucess book is by Nugent, and the saunders book should be easy to find on line. I have loaned them out to some new students, so I don't have them on hand right now. If I get them back I will send you the ISBN number.

Best of luck.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Jun 16, 2005

It won't get better but that doesn't mean that you cannot get better at them. Yes?

Nursing exams in school are designed with one goal in mind: teaching you how to take the NCLEX exam.

There aren't right answers and wrong answers: there are more right answers and less right answers. If your instructors didn't teach you how to think like this and answer questions like this, you'd never pass boards. Just take a peek at all the people who routinely freak about how hard that test really is.

Suck it up, go check out the books previously mentioned and keep this thought in mind: your instructors aren't evil; NCLEX is.

You will thank them someday for arming you to pass for real.

~faith,

Timothy.

AussieKylie · Jun 16, 2005

Hi Zashagalka

Thanks for your response. In Australia well I am not sure if all of Australia, but where I am we dont have any exams like NCLEX. However its not to say that if I was coming to America to work that I need to be prepared to take on NCLEX exams.

When finishing the degree, we sign up for hospitals to go to for Graduate Programs. Sometimes when getting interviews they either ask questions or focus on how you practically attend to patient care based on a scenario given. Well that is what I heard. I dont think there are exams like the NCLEX given during Grad programs. However I could be wrong but I have not heard of those type of exams as yet.

Back to my exams, I do know that sometimes teachers add things into the exams without informing us. So that makes it hard on students. Sometimes the questions given make me feel inadequate in English comprehension skills even if my first language is English. It is like they are asking us in a manner that is in the most elaborately elite way.

I have now come to realise by evaluating myself that If I am unsuccessful well I just have to repeat the subjects. I have to continue to eventually get my degree. But I may need a change of scenery to do that, as I am sick of my nursing school. I think I need to think more clearly on that before next year.

I just pray to the high heavans that I will pass the two subjects so I can move on. :)

Shastalee99 · Jun 16, 2005

Hi :)
I just did one exam today tomorrow will be my last one for the semester. For the one today, I studies and knew bits and pieces of information. It was a multiple choice and thought hopefully the answer will stick out. It was not like that at all, a few answers stuck out but only one was right. Another dilemma is how the question is worded as I am not really good on confusing questions. I went over and over the questions until I felt ok enough to finish up. So what you really study for can be positive or it can be negative. I just pray that overall I passed that subject and for tomorrows one too.
Has anyone had problems with their exams, with questions and possible answers. Or just a complete standstill with the thinking processes.
look forward to your reply :uhoh21:
I also wonder if it is me or the Uni curriculum or the way subjects are taught. As now I have failed two subjects and one of them was practical (which is ok for me to repeat) the other is theoretical - essay writing. Either way I really want to be an RN but I dont want to look like a failure either. Errrrr so much strength gets sucked away from me aaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh. Hoping to reach the light at the end of the tunnel :)

Hello, How are you feeling? Hope you did ok on your tests, this is the best advice that worked for me. I have ADD and a learning disability (Somepeople say this isa LD, but others don't...) I have to read things over and over again constantly and exams are the worst for me, always have been. I don't understand the question let alone answer it. After a while I've stared at the same question for 15 minutes.

I went to the counceling center and showed proof that I have a learning disability and take my tests in a quiet room with extended time for tests. If I don't understand, someone can re-word it. Every subject is different when asking for information on a test. Nursing like the baove poster stated is quite different in itself. This book helps me a lot: NCLEX-RN EXAM 04-05 ed. by Kaplan c the cd-rom, also Cracking the NCLEX-RN 7th ed. by The Princeton Review.

Now I know I am a hands-on learner and cannot put the peices together without physically doing something. To find the S/S od DVT, I need to do an assessment and understand "why?" for everything. Sometimes I'm embarrassed of the ADD, but oh well. I do good in class now that I figured out the problem. My anxiety has decreased and I don't feel like I'm freaking out before an exam anymore.

Another tip; I highlight ONLY the differences and KEY points. If signs and symptoms are similar, I highlight only the differences. Otherwise, all of my notes are bright yellow and I'm totally overwelmed.

There's a ouple other posts about the NCLEX testing and how to understand what they're asking for. You'll have to look. I think it's in the student nursing forum or pre-student...not too sure. But that post has lots of replies and very helpful.

Believe me, we all know it's hard in school, especially with a job and/or a family. We're all here. Poeple on this forum are sooo nice. I wish I really knew them!

Good luck. If you need anything; [email protected]