completely devistated, not sure what to do now?

I agree with practicing NCLEX style questions. I feel like I always learn better when someone is quizzing me. During my first year, I got a 73 in my first med/surg unit exam, which was neuro. Passing was 75. I was forced to make an appt. with my prof. and she was the one to suggest an NCLEX book to supplement by studying. I like Saunders. The following three unit exams I got an 85 and then aced the last two unit exams and I still pulled out of the class with a decent grade. Do not despair - it's only one test in the grand scheme of things. I was feeling the exact same way you felt. Also, don't over think the questions and make sure you read the questions all the way - so make sure you can review old tests before you take the next one. I always found myself rushing through because I wasn't afraid that I didn't have enough time, and then I would pick the wrong answer or I actually knew the answer, but misread the question. For me, it was always the silly mistakes that bothered me the most.

Good luck!

I just typed a really long comment to lose it all to a page error.. great haha. Anyway, I know where you are coming from. I just started the last year of my program and did really poorly on our first big paper of the term. I don't know what happened .. I have been writing papers practically in my sleep since I have started and have always received excellent scores. Suddenly, because of one paper, everything has changed. I have been devastated to say the least, and just plain scared!! I have been so worried about the next paper I spent all day sitting in front of a blank screen, unable to write anything and practically paralyzed.

But guess what? You and I, we deserve our spots in our programs. We worked hard and were able to prove to our programs and ourselves that we could conquer the hurdles they threw us, and then press on. In my opinion now looking back, all of nursing school has been one big fat test. How do we handle obstacles, success, failure ... and how do we pick ourselves up when we fail or how comfortable do we become when we succeed?

The truth is, you failed a test and that sucks. It sucks a lot and it's plain scary. But endocrine also sucks, and it has NOTHING to do with cardiac (which I think rocks! ) That is the perk to nursing.. suck at cardiac?? That's ok because there is always GI .. or maternity ... or neuro .. or (fill in the blank!)! I also truly feel that "thinking like a nurse" can only come so much from a textbook. I have found the less I study intensely, the more my scores improved. I try and pull from lecture and clinical experience primarily. I have now seen enough that I can try and think myself through the questions they are asking rather than trying to sort it out of all of the other textbook material I just read. You will get through this - I will get through this. We are SOSOSOSOSO close I can't believe it... just remember what the ultimate goal is. and tell yourself I AM GOING TO KICK THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF THIS TEST BECAUSE I CAN THINK LIKE A NURSE, AND TEST LIKE A NURSE! Good luck!!!!! :)

You can study 100 hours a week and still fail. You must study effectively and focus on test taking strategies to pass your exam. I study maybe 8 hours a week and so far has made excellent grades. The quality of your studying is what makes or breaks you. Good luck.

thank you guys for your words of confidence, trying to stay focused and positive :) NurseLoveJoy, I think your on to something.....somehow reading 100 pages in 3 days and not knowing what the heck they are saying and being totally exhausted at the end of the day just isn't working for Nursing 3 and 4, hummmmm, maybe I need a new strategy, you guys rock !!