Can't Pass Fundamentals of Nursing!!!

NurseCubby · Feb 25, 2014

It sounds like that, perhaps, nursing isn't for you. If you're failing the basic class this early in the game, I would encourage you to look at how you are studying. Preperation for the next test begins at the beginning of the semester, not one week prior. Otherwise, you're trying to cram 6-8 weeks of content into a weeks worth of study. That's setting yourself up for failure. Some nursing programs only allow you to withdraw and return once. Before you make the decision to withdraw and return again, I would carefully consider your options and speak with your academic advisor.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2014

What is your class required overall passrate? based on calculations you need to be in the high 80 to low 90's at least. It's a bit late to look for help with the next test being tomorrow. I've not been in this exact situation so I wouldn't know what to say. If 3 hours of studying not working try 6 hours or 8 hours per day. Cause when it comes down to it that's what to took for me to pass med surg. If you had 9 chapters for each test those really need to be read day before lectures and re-read before tests. Something is not adding up and it seems like further changes in study habits are needed if you really want this bad enough. In the long run I think you are just over thinking your answers, it happens to the best of us. Forget maslows and all that at this time...is the decision you going to make kill the patient or not? its really that is what it comes down to.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Feb 25, 2014

Some people are just not great test takers. Period. Especially with the "there are 2 right answers, one is more right". For me, the answers I got incorrect were always the ones I changed--go with your first instinct.

In any event, I would speak with the guidance counselor (or your student advisor) at school and ask for a tutor. They usually have student services for this. Ask if there's any test prep courses you can take, and take one. Even if it is a NCLEX prep, it can give you some indication as to how to take a test. Does your teacher have office hours? I would take advantage of speaking with that person to talk about how you can test better.

Additionally, I would start talking about what services are available for an IEP. When you were in high school did you need an IEP? Being learning challenged doesn't always mean you should not be a nurse. And perhaps your challenges are just in the taking of tests.

What also helped me was that I would look at all of the vocabulary words in a chapter. I would write them on 3x5 cards. I would look at the objective of the chapter (that is usually at the begining) write all of the objectives on a 3x5 and the "answers" on the back. Read and highlight. Take notes in class. Then go home and review your highlights, make any other cards you think appropriate, and then study the cards. Another aside, start a medication card file as well. Any medications, make a card, what it does, side effects, weird lab values....this can be used over and over again. Make sure you review the cards. Less overwhelming than books, and notes, and more books....

Finally, remember your ABC's. If it talks about airway, there's your answer.

Best of luck to you in your endevours.

vanessaem, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2014

Hi OP, I'm sorry that you're having such a difficult time and don't think based on this experience that you should give up on nursing. Nursing is for you! However, the academic road to getting there can be a challenging one. Fundamentals of Nursing is not an easy class. I actually failed my first exam in that course. However, for the next couple exams, I changed up my approach to studying. I ended up getting a B in the class. You have to figure out where most of the test questions are coming from. Is it the powerpoints mostly or the textbook? You should probably stick to studying the books and content that is assigned by the school. Skip YouTube for now because your professors are or should be getting all of their info from the assigned materials.

Perhaps repetition might work best for you. Meaning, go over the material from either source over and over again. You also said you only have a week to study for each exam. Why is that? Are you in an accelerated program? If not, you should not be taking only a week to study either sets of material. I was in an accelerated program and even I took longer than a week to study for tests. You should try and study the moment you get the material. If classes are in the morning and/or afternoon, you should spend about three hours that evening studying the material. Do this daily. Write notes on everything and not just what you think are key points because there might be important parts of the material you're missing. I would rather have too much information than not enough. I'm more of a knowledge-based thinker and not that great at critical thinking but that's what many nursing exam type question are. That's because in nursing, critical thinking is a must!

When you're dong your exam, take your time. If you're not sure of a question, skip it and go back to it. Mind you, you won't be able to do that on Nclex but do it while you still can...lol. Sometimes, I would look at a question and not know it at first because my nerves got the best of me. When I would go back to it, my head was clearer and I remembered the answer or as I was doing the exam, another question gave me a clue as to what the answer to the previous question should be. I repeat, take your time when doing your exams. Don't rush to finish because you see everyone else finishing early or before you. In my experience, the people who finished quickly, didn't do too hot on the exam.

Stick with it. Learn from your mistakes when it comes to studying and take a different approach. These setbacks are by no means a reflection on your abilities. Don't let this material rule you. You take command of them and do the best you can. You can do it.

I wish you the best of luck. :)

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 25, 2014

I would like to add: do you have a Fundamentals Review book?

I as a former person with test anxiety, I utilized review books to help decrease my anxiety in answering the questions; as a kinesthetic learner, I would highlight WHAT the question is asking me in order to get the BEST answer; something to think about when answering questions.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2014

What do you mean, one week to study for each exam? Your course covered nine chapters in a week? HINT: Study every day, not just in the week before the exam. Never let a concept go by your eyeballs that you cannot close the book and explain out loud. Never. If you have definitely identified your difficulty in transitioning from content-based learning to critical thinking, then you need to work on clearly understanding not just facts but WHYs. Some of the NCLEX study books give you rationales for the right answers, but, more importantly, tell you why the wrong answers are wrong. This is to develop the critical thinking you need.

Have you spent any time at all consulting with your faculty? You don't mention it. Faculty really do want to see you succeed, but they will not come to you. Make appointments to see them at least every week to clarify the WHYs you're not getting. They have seen it all before and can help. At this point I think this might be the most important thing you can do.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 26, 2014

Sorry, but I have to disagree with a few of the PPs. Nursing is NOT for everyone. It is not an 'intelligence' thing. Our brains are pretty much hardwired for some types of cognition at the time of conception. For instance, some people are linear thinkers - they excel at logical tasks or problems that have 'one right answer' - natural engineers! Others are wonderful musicians - able to create entire symphonies in their minds. Some people cannot multitask, while others don't know any other way to live. . .

It is foolish to make yourself miserable in pursuit of a goal that you cannot achieve, particularly since there are so many other options available. I remind myself of this each time I look in my closet and see those size 10's that I bought because I 'knew' that this diet was going to be successful - LOL. If you're seeking a job with 'meaning' and 'helping people', there are many other professions which can fulfill this need. Many of them have much better career prospects and better working conditions than nursing.

Be good to you.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2014

Size 10s? Hell, I'd be thrilled to get into the 18s now. ::sigh::

Good points all around, though I would still recommend that the OP consult c faculty because every now and then someone like her hears something and it just clicks.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 26, 2014

Your problem sounds too serious for you to rely on a bunch of strangers on the Internet. You need to be talking with whatever counselors/advisors your school provides. You may also want to talk to a professional who can asses whether or not you have some sort of learning disability that could be holding you back. And you should certainly be communicating regularly with the faculty member who teaches this course.

If you have already done all of that ... and it has not resolved your problem ... then you should seriously consider whether this particular program is the right one for you. Just because you want it to be the right program for you, doesn't make it so. Depending on what the professionals who have had a chance to assess your learning abilities/skills/study habits/etc. have to say, you may decide that it is worth trying another nursing program ... or you may decide that nursing is not a good career choice for you. That's OK. There are a lot of choices out there. Beating your head against the wall, trying to be the "square peg struggling to fit into the round hole" is not a good way to go through life. It just beats you up and grinds you down.

Be good to yourself and find a career/learning environment that better-suits your particular needs.

Kelly185891 · Feb 26, 2014

Thank you for all your wonderful advice it really helped. In the ASN program the first week on Monday I had lecture on the nine chapters on the test. Of course I studied the material before class and after I would head to the library to study more on the topic. I study everyday to make sure I know the topic. The test was on that next Monday and after the test the new lecture would begin for the next exam. The exams are every week falling on that Monday. I had already bought the Fundamentals for Success, Test Strategies, Kaplan Nclex, and used several review books in the library. I think I over think the questions on the test. Plus I was worried about my check offs because we are only given two days to learn the skill and the lab is always booked. I know it sounds like I have a pile of excuses doesn't it?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2014

It kind of does....you sound sincere. Have you spoken to the faculty? What so they think? Have you been tested for a learning disability? Something isn't working. Have you had issues in the past?

What are you finding so difficult?