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| |  Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else?
At the beginning of December (12/5), I was in an accident. This was the last day of class in my first semester of nursing school. Our last exam was scheduled a week later and them the course final a week after that. I had to take an incomplete in the course but my school scheduled make-up exams for 1/6 and 1/13 so that I will have everything completed from the first semester and can start the second semester with my class on 1/20, IF my doctor writes me the OK to go back. I think that is one of the big things holding me back. If my injury does not heal by the start of clinical which is the first week of Feb. I have to take a leave of absence, which means I could not get back into the program until spring 2010 (NURS classes are only offered one semester). My surgeon thinks it will be close (give or take 2 weeks) and my school is very specific that all students must be able to adhere to all technical standards in order to be allowed in clinical and they can't change the rules even if it might only be two weeks. My surgeon has also told me that I can't rush things because I could make things worse, all these things I understand. It is just a lot to have on my mind. I have 2 kids, a husband that was very supportive in me stopping working to persue my dream, I took a year + of pre-req's, have student loans that I will have to pay back if I have to take time off, plus a year off means it will take me 4 yrs to complete an ADN. I have put so much into this and I know that I should be greatful that I am still alive or not injured so badly that I could never go back. Time is ticking and I have to get it together and study but I can't seem to get it together. I feel overwhelmed, I feel like I don't remember anything from the lectures, and just can't seem to accomplish anything. The most unfamiliar topics for the exam are diabetes, HTN, and fluids & electrolytes. I have all the powerpoints and my notes and have sat down a couple of times and tried to review a section but I feel like I am not retaining anything. I have an A in the class now but these 2 exams make up almost half of my grade. Even as I sit here now and type this, my mind is racing about all the stuff I need to review, a week after I take the first exam, I have to take the final which covers things I learned 4 months ago. My exam is going to be the only one going through that scantron, I don't want to do horrible or blow my shot. I know this is not constructive and I am being my own worst enemy here. I know I am putting alot of pressure on myself. Knowing this doesn't seem to be helping though!!! If anyone has some words of wisdom, feel free to share!   
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Dec 25, 2008, 08:07 PM
 Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else?
You've been through an extremely stressful period, no wonder you're not retaining information at this point.
Relax and take it in bits. Review your material often, but for short periods of time. Get lots of rest and eat well. If you can focus on the tests instead of your future in nursing--I know, easy to say from here--that should help, too.
Try index cards, they only hold a finite bit of information and that may seem less overwhelming than pages of powerpoints; writing the info down may help cement it in your mind, too.
I'm glad you'll be OK from your accident and I'm sorry it happened. Be well  .
| | No. 2 |
Dec 25, 2008, 08:28 PM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else? Originally Posted by hikernurse  You've been through an extremely stressful period, no wonder you're not retaining information at this point.
Relax and take it in bits. Review your material often, but for short periods of time. Get lots of rest and eat well. If you can focus on the tests instead of your future in nursing--I know, easy to say from here--that should help, too.
Try index cards, they only hold a finite bit of information and that may seem less overwhelming than pages of powerpoints; writing the info down may help cement it in your mind, too.
I'm glad you'll be OK from your accident and I'm sorry it happened. Be well .
Very good advice. If you find that you can not relax and start to get it together, then your mind might be unconsciously sabotaging you because you won't be physically ready. Do not force yourself to go back if there is any doubt as to your physical readiness. You don't want to hurt yourself and possibly blow your nursing school record. It seems like forever to take the delay, but look at it this way. If you mess yourself up physically or mess up in school, you will be dealing with far worse consequences. Calm down before you start to study again. Either way, you can get through this.
| | No. 3 |
Dec 26, 2008, 11:39 AM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else?
I sometimes get overwhelmed looking at all the stuff I have to know for exams. The only way to do it is to start, and break it down into manageable chunks. I write out my notes, then go through and highlight the important parts and focus on learning those. I try not to memorize things, but to understand the physiology. You can usually guess the signs and symptoms if you understand what's happening underneath the issue.
Bottom line, you can only do what you can do. Worry about things you can control, not maybes. Focus on your makeup exam, and then wait and see how you do before worrying about next semester etc. Good luck.
| | No. 4 |
Dec 26, 2008, 11:54 AM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else?
Thanks to everyone for their kind words. I have never had issues with preparing for exams before and have always been able to break apart the info into manageable amounts. I know what everyone is saying is true, I need to just focus on the exams. If I complete these two exams I will get credit for the semester vs having to do it all over. I guess I just worry too much! It doesn't help that the accident happened at the college (non-nursing), so I have thoughts racing through my mind that if I have to take time off that the school wont let me back into the program and I have heard that some colleges will not accept nursing transfer credits, plus I like my school and all my professors. Anyway, I will try to focus and get going on my studies.
Thank YOU!!!!!
| | No. 5 |
Dec 26, 2008, 12:13 PM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else?
Good luck to you.
IM doing a make up exam on Jan 6th....very stressed about it
| | No. 6 |
Dec 26, 2008, 12:48 PM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else? Originally Posted by lovelyladynurse Good luck to you.
IM doing a make up exam on Jan 6th....very stressed about it
Good Luck to you too. I find out how I did on the 7th, so at least they wont be keeping me in suspense.
| | No. 7 |
Dec 31, 2008, 09:52 AM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else?
I experienced some serious trauma in the middle of October outside of my apartment, right in the middle of my pediatrics rotation. I missed two clinicals and while I didn't miss any regular course exams, I found myself unable to prepare for the final exam on time. I spent a week and a half dealing with police officers and trying to live one moment at a time. By the time the final came around, it had been 3 weeks since my trauma, but I still had a really hard time focusing. My professors were compassionate and allowed me an extra week for the comprehensive final. I ended up in a position similar to yours and I tried my hardest to study a little bit at a time and just focus on my weak spots. I ended up getting an A- in the class because my clinical grades were high and I did well on the first 3 exams, allowing for a little room for error on the final. I also took an exam for my health care policy class two weeks late during the same time period. Again, the best you can do is study how you know best and don't sweat the small stuff. I will say that I was prescribed anxiolytics daily and they also helped calm my nerves. It is really hard to get back into the swing of things after your life is turned upside down, but it is definitely do-able. After all was said and done, I made all A-s this semester. I wish you the very best of luck!
| | No. 8 |
Dec 31, 2008, 01:36 PM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else? Originally Posted by dolcebellaluna I experienced some serious trauma in the middle of October outside of my apartment, right in the middle of my pediatrics rotation. I missed two clinicals and while I didn't miss any regular course exams, I found myself unable to prepare for the final exam on time. I spent a week and a half dealing with police officers and trying to live one moment at a time. By the time the final came around, it had been 3 weeks since my trauma, but I still had a really hard time focusing. My professors were compassionate and allowed me an extra week for the comprehensive final. I ended up in a position similar to yours and I tried my hardest to study a little bit at a time and just focus on my weak spots. I ended up getting an A- in the class because my clinical grades were high and I did well on the first 3 exams, allowing for a little room for error on the final. I also took an exam for my health care policy class two weeks late during the same time period. Again, the best you can do is study how you know best and don't sweat the small stuff. I will say that I was prescribed anxiolytics daily and they also helped calm my nerves. It is really hard to get back into the swing of things after your life is turned upside down, but it is definitely do-able. After all was said and done, I made all A-s this semester. I wish you the very best of luck!
Thanks so much for sharing. It helps to here a similar situation...especially one that ends positively. The big day for the first exam is Tuesday, so hopefully it goes well.
| | No. 9 |
Dec 31, 2008, 02:13 PM
Re: Overwhelmed: Taking make-up exams over a month after everyone else? Originally Posted by tero80 Thanks so much for sharing. It helps to here a similar situation...especially one that ends positively. The big day for the first exam is Tuesday, so hopefully it goes well.
You're very welcome. I noticed that your exam covers diabetes, HTN, and electrolytes and was wondering if you had an NCLEX review book that might help you prepare with questions and look at the information from a different point of view than just your class notes? I know for me it works well if I'm already partially familiar with the information and just need to get it all sorted out, so to speak. Good luck and keep us posted!
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