how do i accept failure? how do i be calm in an overstressing environment?

Dolce, RN · Oct 11, 2008

My advise would be to read the notes you took in class over and over and over again. Sometimes it helps to rewrite certain fact portions of your class notes. Although reading the text is essential keep in mind that your professors will likely test out of the class notes so that is why you need to heavily focus on that component.

meadow85 · Oct 11, 2008

You need to find an outlet for your stress and frustrations. I started working out regularly to help me through tough times. Don't take it out on your family, because at the end of the day they are all that you've got. I've had a rough year and I have learned that when the world turns its back on you, your family will always be there to love you unconditionally.

I have been there, when you are chapters behind. Thats normal. Not everyone can be on top of the readings. Start catching up from the most recent chapters and then get back to the older ones when you have time, like over the holidays. Try forming a study group with your friends or classmates. They can offer you study tips and moral support. Also have a social life.

I found the first two years of nursing school tough, its a big transition from highschool. Just try to develop good study habits now and you will be OK. Try to find a balance ... it takes time. If you fail a test, its not the end of the world. Just try and try again. Look at the bigger picture when you feel like your at the end of your rope.

lpnflorida · Oct 11, 2008

Find a study partner, yes go over your notes. Sometimes there is such a thing as over studying over reading into the questions asked on a test. Talk to your classmates, or instructors ask for help /suggestions. You will discover some subjects will come easier to you than others.

Keep your chin up. My very 1st test in anatomy/ physiology I got a D. I was devastated . I had never had that grade in my life on any test. But I learned, I worked hard. I graduated with a 3.7

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2008

i'm in second sem of RN school. i'm working with a D. i have about 300 pages of postpartum, labor and delivery readings to go. the last test was an EASY test, and i got a 79%. just passed, and i worked hours to pass that test. the test before, i got a 55%, which is terrible. i guess i didnt study as good as i thought... and now the next test, is three times as hard, with more concepts and understanding, and i really dont have anything to help my grade. i'm yelling and hurting everyone around me and i just feel guilty about it. i cant help myself though. i am just giving into my emotions way too easily and it feels good. please help me destress. my family came over and i just wanted to rip them and degrade them.
i hate being angry. i'm usually mild and good natured.
please help.

There are a few things going on here that you need to take care of. You come first, your relationships with loved ones and friends are the key to life. If you are so stressed out that you can't cope, please talk to your doctor or a counselor - you can ask at your nursing school, stressed out students are not new to them, and some have resources in place to help - both with grades and with stress.

Now, let's step back and take a look at what you need to do. As one poster suggested, reading the current assignment and then reading a back-chapter would be best. Stay on top of the new information while catching up is going to be difficult, but it's still possible to raise your grade at this point in the semester. Talk to your professors and go over your old exams with them. See where the gap between your studying and the kinds of questions that are asked have occured. Are you choosing the intervention answer when the question asks for assessment (that got me tripped up a few times)? The only way to know for sure is to go back and see if there is a pattern to your incorrect answers. All at the end of the test? All the same kind of question? That sort of thing. Learning about yourself, and how you process information is valuable in all aspects of life - and will make school easier.

I had three young children when I went to nursing school. I had to re-learn how to study with constant interruption. I took over the diningroom table and just kept my books out - 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there - and if it went really well, I was even able to grab a nap when the kids were sleeping.

Good luck and don't just accept failure - you obviously don't want to if you are angry about it. So keep on fighting, and keep us posted.

Blee

RedCell · Oct 11, 2008

i'm in second sem of RN school. i'm working with a D. i have about 300 pages of postpartum, labor and delivery readings to go. the last test was an EASY test, and i got a 79%. just passed, and i worked hours to pass that test. the test before, i got a 55%, which is terrible. i guess i didnt study as good as i thought... and now the next test, is three times as hard, with more concepts and understanding, and i really dont have anything to help my grade. i'm yelling and hurting everyone around me and i just feel guilty about it. i cant help myself though. i am just giving into my emotions way too easily and it feels good. please help me destress. my family came over and i just wanted to rip them and degrade them.
i hate being angry. i'm usually mild and good natured.
please help.

Listen dude, the first thing you gotta do is drop the negative attitude. People that get stuck sulking and feeling sorry for themselves rarely meet their stated objectives. Second, realize that the material you are learning is no different than that of any other RN student. Having to read 300 pages worth of info on preggos and postpartum goo is not that difficult. You need to figure out what out of those 300 pages is worth reading. Like someone else already stated, talk to your instructors about the concepts you are not understanding. Also, talk with your classmates who are nailing the exams to see if you are spending time studying the wrong thing. Third, get off of this website and go read. Finally, realize that nursing school is a little bit difficult for a reason. Improving the quality of life for some and prolonging misery for most, cannot be accomplished by just anyone. Nurses have to be somewhat competent and understand basic patho, a&p, and pharm to care for patients. Nursing school weeds out those that unfortunately cannot meet these requirements.

MIKE411 · Oct 12, 2008

I am not sure if you have it or not but try reading saunders comprehensive book for the nclex. Still read your text book, but nclex review books help break it down so that it is easier to understand. Hope it helps...

angelwingsamy · Oct 12, 2008

heres my story....

i failed my first test in med/surg 2. we needed an 80% and i got a 78%. not bad but still not my typical score either. i yelled at my hubby and took it out on him like it was his fault. bottom line was it was my fault and mine alone. i went out and played poker and didnt study. why did i take it out on him? i dont know maybe it was easier than taking it out on myself. i realized that i just could not act like that. he was the one there for me why would i do that to him? when i saw how nasty i was to him for nothing at all-- i realized that something had to change ME. i said i was sorry and it never happened again. instead of my original method of dealing with the problem i decided to lean on him and i told him everything that i felt. i failed. it was hard. i was not dedicated. i was mean. i was dissapointed with myself. and i messed up. when i got that all out it was much easier to deal with the stress of nursing school. because i felt like i was not alone. i had someone to share it with.

go share it with the ones you love. even if it hurts tell them that you are having a rough time. they will be there for you. and when you see that you should calm down. calm minds study and retain better than stressed ones.

what i did to fix it....

i talked to loved ones about my stresses.

i made sure i had fun as much as i could.

i re-read and re-wrote class notes when i got home from school. it was still fresh in my mind and i did it about an hour or so after i got home.

then i made flash cards that fit my key ring. little ones with little facts.

i also made bigger flash cards with more information and tucked them into the little dollar store pocket photo albums.

i would carry the photo album in my purse or car and the key ring notes were there too. when i got a sec i would look at them. simple. i never really read the chapters. i just used them to pull out information to expand on my class notes. 300 pages a week was to much. just take chuncks.

i also bought a recorder and recorded the lectures. i would listen to them when i was in the car alone. doing dishes. taking a bath. and playing games on the net.

good luck to you! i hope that at least some of this advice helps.