So Fustrated!! Please help!!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

Hello,

I been reading the advice on all nurses for a while now, but I need some advice of my own please.

I'm hoping someone can give me advice on effective ways to help study for my A&P course. I have tried flashcards, recording lectures, re-wrting notes, studying til dawn, etc, and I'm lucky to make a 70 on a test. I know the classes are hard and are designed to "weed-out" people, but I'm just so fustrated! I've passed my a&p I course (barley), now I'm in a&p II but it seems like I'm missing some key element to mastering how to study for this class. I know I'm not stupid, but I get upset when I bust my a** studying and walk away with a 60. Ironically, I do fine in labs ( all a's or b's), but I just can't get passed lecture. I've even talked to my professor about it, but the tips she gave me did not help improve my grade. This whole thing just makes me really wonder if I can pass nursing school if I can't even pass a&p II. :crying2:

If anyone can offer any effective ways to study that they don't mind sharing that really helped them I would greatly appreciate it.

mariposabella: I havent tried the you tub videos, but do use the textbook summaries, and the book website tools. I'll try the videos.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
Butterfly 0328: my thoughts are with you and your family. My husbands grandfather passed away either this semster and I just had surgery myself two weeks ago, (I still did class however, my teacher and I agreed to skype for class while I was out recovering). Plus I also work as well. So I just keep thinking to take things one step at a time, but I still get discouraged as well. But I feel better knowing I'm not alone. Hang in there!

I just think we both need to realize that we are doing the best we can. These classes are hard, hard, hard. I also believe that some things happen for a reason. Ex. I had to take A&P I twice also:crying2:. But had I passed A&P I the first time and A&P Ii the first time, I would be in the middle of my first semester of nursing school as we speak, and dealing with my mother passing would be horrible had I been in nursing school. Not to mention the fact that we are only allowed one absence during clinicals. My mother will be burried in Utah and had I been in nursing school there is a very good chance that I would have been kicked out because of missing more than one clinical. So, I do believe that things do happen for a reason. It just really sucks at the time because we don't understand. Keep pushing. We can push together. You are more than welcomed to PM me any time. I know you have to have a certain amount of posts before you have that option, so I will give you my private email. [email protected] If you ever need encouragement, email me please. This is hard enough, but from someone who knows exactly what you are feeling it helps to know you are not alone. Hang in there.:redpinkhe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

horseygirl2rn- you are also welcomed to email me at any time. You seem to be an amazing person.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are so sweet to say that, I'm just like you...just trying to figure out where to go next! (one foot in front of the other...)

I would love to keep in touch, ESPECIALLY knowing all that you are currently going through.

Perhaps it's all a good distraction, but it still wears on you, so remember to take a little time each day FOR YOU.

Here's my email address: [email protected]

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

watch the videos, do the chapter practice tests, listen to the lectures, and try to draw the structures and the steps that may help too.

tape up papers around the house so that wherever you go you can look at it and be learning. take your 3 by 5 cards with you everywhere and whenever you get a free moment look at them. also, make sure you do get enough sleep. not having enough can affect your memory. try to get a little exercise everyday because that can help with your memory and make you feel better. make sure you take your vitamins. it is healthy as well as it can help your memory and give you energy. how many classes are you taking each semester? if you spread yourself out to much there just is not enough time and energy to do it all. also, this may sound weird but attitude makes a difference. when i was taking my statistics class i really didn’t like it and thought it was so boring. i tried to convince myself when i was studying that it really was interesting and that i did like it. it didn’t work 100% but it did seem to help me get through it and do a better job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Also, this may sound weird but attitude makes a difference. When I was taking my statistics class I really didn't like it and thought it was so boring. I tried to convince myself when I was studying that it really was interesting and that I did like it. It didn't work 100% but it did seem to help me get through it and do a better job.

This is not weird. I do try to keep my head up, and say its not the end of the world, but what I find crazy is that I'm struggling in this class but I Love it! It just facinates me and I love to read about it and study it. I just can't seem to get it from my head to the test paper.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So, I do believe that things do happen for a reason. It just really sucks at the time because we don't understand. Keep pushing. We can push together. You are more than welcomed to PM me any time. I know you have to have a certain amount of posts before you have that option, so I will give you my private email. [email protected] If you ever need encouragement, email me please. This is hard enough, but from someone who knows exactly what you are feeling it helps to know you are not alone. Hang in there.:redpinkhe

I too agree that things happen for a reason and we just have to let go and be patient. It will fall into place eventually. ( I just get anxious and what to move faster than time does). I will also give you my private email, [email protected], in case you want to talk or anything. Sometimes I think it helps just to talk to someone else who is not apart of your immediate circle of people. Also, your right, it does help knowing that you are not alone. we can hang in there together. Thanks!:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My best friend is the Pulse pen.This pen records audio and wrighting on a special note book. Expensive, but worth it. You can slow the audio to catch every word, and you can pause. I transfered the audio to my mp3 and fell asleep with the lectures. My A&P teacher never taught from the book so his words are like gold. I passed with a B+ and I can live with that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My best friend is the Pulse pen.This pen records audio and wrighting on a special note book. Expensive, but worth it. You can slow the audio to catch every word, and you can pause. I transfered the audio to my mp3 and fell asleep with the lectures. My A&P teacher never taught from the book so his words are like gold. I passed with a B+ and I can live with that.

I just bought this pen in the Echo 8gb version... you can record and transfer, additionally, you can buy ($30) software to convert you written notes to typed notes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First off, to Butterfly 0328: I am so sorry of all the things you are coping with. It is really admirable that you are still pursuing this path, and working hard. I really sincerely hope your life has some peace soon. I will definitely keep your son in my prayers as well. Best of luck to you and your family.

To acollin6: I am also sorry that A&P is not going your way. I have some ideas that helped me, and hopefully you as well :)

First off, have you identified the real issue with A&P? for instance, is it the amount of material per week you have trouble understanding, the actual material, are you finding you run out of time during tests, or is the wording of the exams? Since you are doing so well in lab, I am wondering if it is a test type issue.. I've been there!! My professor used to write answer choices like this a) Crohns Disease b) A and C but not D c) D on saturdays e) A, B, D not C.

And the whole test was deciphering the answers! There are ways around this I promise!!

Also, perhaps working in a group would help you remember the material as you would speak it out loud, and other people may explain things in a way that makes sense. Overall, it couldnt hurt.

Does your book come with a CD? if it does, the CD may offer great practice tests. and often, profs take questions from those tests.

Personally, I didnt love the flashcards in A&P 2 because I found the material required to be understand in order, so maybe a flow chart or outline is a better visual explanation.

Sorry to ramble! Hope this helps and best of luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
First off, have you identified the real issue with A&P? for instance, is it the amount of material per week you have trouble understanding, the actual material, are you finding you run out of time during tests, or is the wording of the exams? Since you are doing so well in lab, I am wondering if it is a test type issue.. I've been there!! My professor used to write answer choices like this a) Crohns Disease b) A and C but not D c) D on saturdays e) A, B, D not C.

And the whole test was deciphering the answers! There are ways around this I promise!!

Also, perhaps working in a group would help you remember the material as you would speak it out loud, and other people may explain things in a way that makes sense. Overall, it couldnt hurt.

Does your book come with a CD? if it does, the CD may offer great practice tests. and often, profs take questions from those tests.

Personally, I didnt love the flashcards in A&P 2 because I found the material required to be understand in order, so maybe a flow chart or outline is a better visual explanation.

Sorry to ramble! Hope this helps and best of luck!!

Thank you for all of your suggestions. A CD didn't come with my text but I do use the online companion website for practice test and study games. As you said maybe its the way the test questions are presented. My professor writes questions excatly like you wrote (which drives me up a wall :banghead:), cause when I do practice test on the text website after studying I do pretty well so i'm confident going in to take my lecture test. Then I get my test grade back and I bombed it. For example, my last test I re-wrote all of my notes and took the online practice tests and made 80%-95% on them, however I got to class to take my lecture test and bam a 52! This is why I get so fustrated! I figured maybe I'm not studying the material correctly or something. I'm just a spaz I guess. :no:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

When you say you've tried flashcards, are you talking about the premade ones or the ones you make yourself? I get nothing out of flashcards unless I make them myself. It reinforces the concepts when you make the cards yourself.

Does your instructor give you her lecture notes or powerpoints? You should always use those as a guide if they are offered. Instructors love to give questions directly off of those lectures unless they are using the book's test bank (which I HATE- those questions are always hard) If she is getting questions from the book, it helps A LOT to use the textbooks website as they usually have a lot of study resources for students including quizzes similar to their test bank questions.

Good luck..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment