C in Fundamentals

Editorial Team / Moderator · Dec 9, 2014

If you know what is causing issues - going too quickly on exams, as you said - focus on fixing that. It's changeable! I tend to do the same thing, and I have to force myself to slow down and read things twice. More often than not I realize I read at least one thing wrong the first time. Good luck!

brit.pz · Dec 9, 2014

I feel your pain! Toward the end of the semester in our fundamental type class I was on the brink of failing. We are required to get a 77% to pass and I was sitting with a 77.7%. It was terrifying. After failing my second exam in a row (I had gotten B's on the first three) I made an appointment with my instructor to go over the material and see what I was doing wrong. Did you meet with your instructor to go over your exams? Often they can help you see what you're doing wrong or at least explain the rationale of the wrong and correct answers.

When meeting with my instructor she let me borrow a book that she thought would help: http://www.amazon.com/Test-Success-Test-Taking-Techniques-Beginning/dp/0803628188/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418142093&sr=8-1&keywords=Test+Success%3A+Test-Taking+Techniques+for+Beginning+Nursing+Students

Another thing that helped was watching test taking tips for nursing students on youtube. There are so many helpful videos!

Those helped a lot during my next exam - ended up with a B again and a final grade of a B in the class. (I couldn't believe it after that ATI final! I wanted to cry about half-way through that test!)

So that is what I would focus on while you're on break! :) And get some NCLEX practice books and study those too! Good luck next semester!! First semester is just hard for everyone - I know plenty of people in my program that were barely passing and a lot of it was because they were struggling with changing their way of studying and thinking during tests. Don't let a "bad" grade get you down! We learn from our mistakes and you will come out stronger for this! :up:

guest544145 · Dec 9, 2014

@green girl. I just barely passed my first semester of nursing with a C but I had a hard time at the beginning trying to figure out how to study. I was overlooking key words in the questions on the test which caused me to get answers wrong. Now that I am on winter break, I plan to read helpful information relating to my second semester of nursing before I start in January to give myself an early jump start.

kristen312 · Dec 10, 2014

C is the new A in nursing school. I work HARD to get high Cs in my program. Hardly anyone makes Bs and As are pretty much unheard of. Tests are different! You can memorize everything and still get questions wrong, because many are opinion-based. (Though these opinions have plenty of evidence to back them up) Not to mention the fact that things in the textbook may contradict what your instructor teaches.

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2014

If you have an Amazon account then I highly recommend buying this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Saunders-Comprehensive-Review-NCLEX-RN-Examination/dp/1437708250/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418258691&sr=8-2&keywords=saunders+comprehensive+review+for+the+nclex-rn+examination+edition+6

This book saved my grades in nursing school. Never received a C again after buying this book.

Also, practice a lot of NCLEX-RN questions because you will see nothing but that while you progress in nursing school.

I highly recommend buying this:

http://www.amazon.com/NCLEX%C2%AE-Review-4000-NCLEX-RN%C2%AE-Individual/dp/0781777909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418258864&sr=8-1&keywords=NCLEX+4000

It has 4000 NCLEX questions. Since your professor is teaching you essentially whats on this bear of an exam you need to get the right materials to get ready for the hunt. Its not just about reading from your textbook and taking notes...its about using all the resources you have because the exam questions are not memorization but application questions.

You are struggling because you have problems with applying what you learn and thats a big problem that can be rectified by practicing the kind of thinking the professor is hoping for you to have by the time you become an independent nurse.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 11, 2014

You've already done the hard part - identified what you need to do better. ((HUGS)) It will get better!

vopoku · Dec 11, 2014

I totally understand you greengirl. I struggled in my fundamentals class because my professor will pull questions out of her butt and it's like when did we learn this?? My professor gave us way too much information and would trick us on the exam. Funny thing she even admitted it.wth! I did everything, nclex questions, used the saunders book but it wasn't enough and as time went lost my confidence and tried to survive. But at least I know I'm not a bad student, will move on, study harder and hope I don't have her as a professor again.

besaangel, ASN, BSN, MSN, CNA, RN, APRN, NP · Dec 13, 2014

I have to agree with everyone else! Its not the end of the world. I got a "C" in Fundamentals too but have done well in my other classes. What did I do differently? I did practice questions before EVERY exam. I used Med Surg success:

ISBN 9780803625044 - Med-Surg Success : A Q&a Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking with CD 2nd Edition Direct Textbook

jaluo2014 · Dec 15, 2014

I just completed my first semester and I got an A in Fundamentals, A in Skills, A- in pharmacology, and A in clinical. This is how I study. I read the whole chapter without skipping, do the questions at the end of the chapter, log onto Evolve website "incase you did HESI with Evolve/Elsevier" you probably has a free entry. There are FREE different types of books that deals with your topic and they have good nclex questions. I do questions pertaining to my topic. Then go back to my favorites online quiz lets made by students just like you and me(they are good). Go through those information. By the time I am doing exams, I scoop 100% in some of my exams. In my school, a C is 80% and that's all you can get to pass the class. Hope this helps. I am looking into using the same strategy in second semester.

NuGuyNurse2b · Dec 15, 2014

A C is hard to get in NS, ask all the people who fail out. Of course, always reach for the highest star, but don't be too hard on yourself for getting "only" a C. Everyone on this board knows how hard it is.