Answers I must know for my First Final Exam in Nursing (First Semester)

beth66335, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2007

Daytonight may take a crack at this, but I can tell you now there is not enough room here to write about the whole 1st semester at my school! If you are not already in NS then relax because if you try to take it all in now you will freak out! You need the whole semester to digest all the content and you are better off not trying to look at the big picture before you even start. Eat the elephant one bite at a time that way you can get it down ...and keep it down! :lol2:

Nurses-Rule1987 · Dec 8, 2007

thanks.

Im already a Nursing student, and my final exam is on monday for the semester

I just wanted some input about it.

thank you

and good luck in everything

natrgrrl · Dec 8, 2007

"Answers I must know for my First Final Exam in Nursing (First Semester)"

Here is my advice (note the important items in bold):

Do you remember everything that you studied for each exam? Probably not, so go back and write down everything you remember about each subject or process or disease. Then, write down everything you have forgotten.

Now that you have all that information in your long term memory, do you understand everything about how to use the nursing process? You probably do, but find some practice questions to review before your test because the more you practice it the better you will become at it.

I'm sure you know more than you think you do. And if you have access to your previous tests or homework, focus your study on what had been tested already. Obviously, the instructor thinks those things are important. GOOD LUCK and STUDY HARD!

krenee · Dec 8, 2007

You must go to my school . . . based on what you need to know and your location . . . NVCC?

Here's what I'm doing. Assuming you do attend NVCC, you need to focus first on pain and shock, because that's going to be 25% of the exam. Next I'm going to focus on fluid & electrolytes, because I didn't do as well on that exam and there will be 6-8 questions on the final. Then I'm just going to go through my lecture notes to refresh my memory, and look up anything that I can't remember well. Hopefully most of it I still have in my memory bank! But everything from the first half of the semester we're going to have only 3 questions per lecture. The bulk will be from the midterm on.

Of course if you don't go to NVCC, this may be useless information to you.

Best of luck!

Kelly

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Dec 8, 2007

Probably this will not be the most popular response, but you did ask....

It is not a matter of remembering answers.

It is a matter of remembering content.

If, for example, you remember what causes pain, the different kinds of pain and how their mechanisms make them work, and how the medications that relieve the various kinds of pain work, then you understand the content, and you will be able to answer the questions on your final exam because you know the material, not because you know answers.

It also means that you will have this knowledge when caring for your patients. No patient was ever helped by a nurse who knew answers, per se, but many have been helped when the nurse remembered content, understood it, and applied it using intelligent creative interventions.

As a contrast to some of the ideas floating around about how to study, may I suggest that you make a list of the topics covered this year and google each one. Read scholarly articles, or at least those written by professionals for patients and other lay people, and you will be amazed at the amount of information (and learning) you acquire when just browsing around and reading. If you can do it because it interests you (rather than being afraid you won't remember for an exam), you will be even further ahead.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you.

Nurses-Rule1987 · Dec 9, 2007

thanks kell

yes I do attend NVCC

im worry about it but thanks for the info

very beneficil

good luck to you too

I know you are going to do wonderful!!

thanks

beth66335, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2007

thanks.
Im already a Nursing student, and my final exam is on monday for the semester
I just wanted some input about it.
thank you
and good luck in everything

Yeah, I figured that out when I saw you posted in another place, sorry about that....but do try to relax; if you have done fine on your tests all semester, you'll do great!

workingmom869 · Apr 13, 2009

OMG, I have my Nursing I final exam on April 27th. I've done okay so far. I have a strong B. The final is a 40 chapter comprehensive exam. They are going to kill me with the stress. I dont know where to start? chapter 1?

I have printed out all the professor's lecture notes and still I just feel overwhelmed. HOw about a clue professor. LOL j/k I know that's not coming. At least we have 2 weeks, but still she is still going over the last 4 chapters. That I dont like at all... while we are all studying for the final she is still going over the last few chapters. Which means I really won't have a strong handle on that last few chapters. OH well.

Any hints on how to study for this???

Blessed and happy to be a Nursing Student.

I really am, cant wait to hopefully be a Nurse.

cursedandblessed · Apr 13, 2009

studying for finals- i still have two tests to go in this rotation.

i divide the content up the way i was tested on it. we're given a list at the beginning of the semester regarding the number of test questions on each topic. if you've got one of those and there are going to be 10 questions on pain and one on drains you focus on the pain notes, and skim the drains. (i'm rhyming here at 6:30 am. lol).

okay now you know what to focus on. you've already been tested on this once right?? i start with the things we did at the beginning of the rotation, and work my way back to the newest content that i was just tested on.

i generally study one hour and take an hour break as this works with my attention span. a timer helps especially if you have a family trying to get your attention for where is my ???whatever??? in general all questions, needs etc must wait until the timer goes off unless there is puking, bleeding, asthma attacks, etc-if you have children this is important to be specific as to acceptable reasons to disturb mom/dad.

go to bed at a decent hour the night before, if you commute drive and get to the area of your school at least one hour before the exam, and pick up some breakfast, sit in your car or eat at the restaurant and skim through concepts you're still having difficulty with. deep breathe, prayer (it def can't hurt) and make sure you go to the bathroom before the test.

and make sure you have your pencils, and some gum or mints!!!