Can't seem to pass nursing exams

mitchsmom · Oct 19, 2003

I second the flashcard suggestion. Not everyone is a flashcard person, but if you do it, you will be automatically reviewing once when you write them and then you can use them as an easy way to study (and you don't have to drag out all your notes if you just have a few minutes between classes or in a waiting room or whatever). I have gotten all A's on my exams this semester and I always use flashcards. My routine is usually to (try) to make flashcards within a day or two of each each class and then before the test I use a voice recorder to read all the flashcards as a quiz to myself. I have a *very* long commute so I listen to this in the car. I also record my lectures to listen to in the car (I try to listen again that day if I can stand it, they say you are supposed to retain much more if you review it soon after you hear it). Sometimes for variety I'll look something up on the internet if I need a different explanation, and sometimes I'll make a quiz sheet in Word with an answer column across from the questions that I can fold back and forth to reveal the answer. Also, remember that for this to be helpful if you have to take good notes in the first place.

Jen2 · Oct 19, 2003

Bangin, best of luck to you on your next exam. I have been doing great and still have somewhat of a life outside of nursing school and this is what I do. I re-read my notes for approx 30 minutes a night, usually just the new stuff from lecture from that day. I then read the chapters slowly and highlight the "key Terms" and "learning Objectives" that our instructors gives us in an outline before the start of every new unit. As I Highlight and read the material I ask myself how is the instructor going to ask this on an exam? It's not just spit it back at them material it's applying the knowledge. An example from my last test goes something like this:

Client A is experiencing difficulty breathing pending their upcomming surgery. As the nurse what do you feel is the most important action?

A Call the physician right away

B Assess the clients breathing problem

C Assess the clients anxiety problem

D Tell the client not to worry that this procedure is performed every day.

The correct answer would be C.. Even though we are taught to assess our ABC's and make breathing a top priority, in this particular case if you treat the anxiety you cure the breathing problem.

This is where the whole critical thinking thing comes into play. I don't sit there and stare at my books or focus on one thing too much. In my program we usually have 17 chapters on one exam. I think you just have to know a little about alot. My classmates will study vital sign norms for hours and know them like they know their name, but in actuality, the instructor may only have one vital sign question on the exam. I just read and re-read my notes, and highlight the important things in my book and keep on reading over it until the day of the test, this way I am familiar with everything, and if I don't know the answer from instant recall, I can usually narrow it down because I am familiar with the material. Hope this helps. Best of luck to you.

RNB4LONG · Oct 19, 2003

I'm also in my first semester of nursing school and it's HARD!!!! As the other posters have said NCLEX books are great...but I've found two books specifically geared toward Foundations of Nursing. They have NCLEX style questions on all the topics we cover in Foundations.... Most NCLEX books DO NOT cover these topics.

1) Nursetest : Fundamentals of Nursing

Elizabeth Archer

Springhouse

ISBN 1582550018

2) Fundamentals Success

Barbara Vitale/Theresa Nugent

ISBN 0803610564

I hope this helps...They've certainly helped me!!!! Good Luck to you!!!