failed first fundamentals exam

NeoNatMom · Sep 7, 2015

Hi guys! I'm new to this site so I'm going to start with my background. I had my baby girl in August of 2014 and decided at that point that I really wanted to go into nursing. The first year of my child's life I completed all of my prerequisites with an A and studied my butt off! It was definitely a challenge with a new baby but I did it and was so motivated and optimistic beginning nursing school. Before school even started I was reading the material, making notecards, outlining chapters, etc. The first two weeks were so difficult because I haven't been able to see my daughter as much as I would like and I've been having to stay up all night to study (it takes forever to put my little girl to bed). It came time for the first exam and I was pretty confident that I would be fine considering how many hours and sleepless nights I had spent studying. The night before the test I was looking over my notes and realized that I didn't actually understand any of it! I had spent all of my time reading, re-reading, and writing EVERYTHING down that I thought might be a test question rather that making sure that I could apply the information. Needless to say I had a mental breakdown and cried my eyes out. I told myself "it'll come to you during the test, you studied too much for it not to." Well test time came and I actually didn't think it was too incredibly hard. My confidence level slowly started to rise. Of course, as soon as I begin to feel better about things I receive my exam grade and see a big 66% posted on my blackboard shell. I cried and cried, contemplated quitting the program, and than looked at my daughter and decided that I couldn't give up. I HAVE to do this. I have already scheduled a time to meet with my professor to review the test, scheduled tutoring sessions with 2 different tutors, and ordered and NCLEX practice book (saunders). I want this SO bad and am willing to do anything and everything to make it happen. My question for fellow nursing students and nurses is what should I be doing to understand this stuff? I feel like it I put anymore time into studying I would literally never have a moment to rest and relax. I know I need to be studying a different way but I just don't know how. If anyone has advice or words of wisdom they would like to share it would be very appreciated!

Hey there,

I understand your worry about the situation. I am also in just past my first fundamentals exam. I think what might be helpful is utilizing resources that allow you to spend less time writing. My fundamentals books are by Wilkinson and have many useful resources, both in the book itself and online with the access code. I'm not sure what publisher you have but I would try using things to guide you. Since your first test, did you see a ton of questions that related to teacher power points? Do you have resources from your book like I do? You can pm me and maybe I can show you some of the stuff I have. Another thing I do is use the chapter objectives and make sure I can answer them. My book came with that and knowledge checks as I read to review recently read topics. I find stuff not included in either of those while reading and put a question on a small post it and slap it somewhere on the page. Writing answers are an uphill battle and I'm not one of those learn by writing people anyways. Let me know more about what you have and I'll help you find some good resources. Best wishes

tjmnurse · Sep 7, 2015

Does your Fundamentals book have a corresponding Success Book? I have a Q&A Review Success Book for Fundamentals, Peds, and Med Surg. It breaks down into different subjects, asks the questions, and then shows the rationales... basically why the correct answer is correct, and why the other answers don't work. The seniors in our program (I'm a junior) swear by these books, but no one found out about them until Fundamentals was almost over last year. Here's the amazon link.

Fundamentals Success: A Q&A Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking: 9780803644144: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

AutumnCro · Sep 7, 2015

I'm currently taking my 3rd nursing class. I always approach every test question like there's some kind of "gotcha" in the phrasing. First, I really analyze the question. I make sure I truly understand what it's really asking. NCLEX style questions need to be read a few times before you can be sure. If you can write on your test underline key words or phrases. Then analyze the answers. Eliminate the ones that don't make any sense, eliminate the ones that don't answer the question in a grammatically correct way, eliminate the obviously wrong ones, that might get you down to 2 possible choices.

In terms of studying, memorization doesn't do much good. Always go to class, pay attention, record lectures and listen to them again as your looking over your notes. It helps a lot.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2015

My first thought was, you are doing way too much. You should not have to be up all night studying. I think you are going way over the top on this. It was your first exam. Why did you schedule 2 different tutors? Meeting with your professor to go over the test is good, but right now that is all you need to do. What I see is someone who is putting too much pressure on themselves. You are setting yourself up for burnout and certain failure. Take a breather.

Nursing school is not about memorizing the material. Don't read every word. You don't need to do as much as you are doing. You are trying to retain too much information. You can read the material before class. But don't make notecards and outline prior to the lecture. Take notes during the lecture. Record the lecture. After that, organize your notes and figure out what was important in the lecture. Then, make your notecards. Don't spend all night studying. Do an hour or so each day. You need to understand how to apply what you have learned.

You need to spend time taking care of yourself and your child. Take a walk, get sleep. Spend time with your baby. If you don't take care of yourself, I guarantee you are going fail. You are going to end up quitting. Someone who is exhausted can't properly retain what is being taught.

I'm a single mom. I have never pulled an all nighter. I would be worthless trying to take a test or listen to a lecture without sleep. I spend time with my son and I make time for my boyfriend who lives an hour away from me. I'm in my third semester of the program and have all As and Bs so far. I study efficiently and effectively.

Find what works best for you to study. I like to pretend that I am teaching the concepts to my "pretend" students. I always played school as a little girl. If I can teach the subject, I understand it. Flash cards work also. I always take a 10 minute break every hour if I am studying longer than an hour. You will get there. Just slow down a little.

Peloome · Sep 24, 2018

Hey, wwondering what you're up to. I'm in the same dilemma, failed first exam despite weeks of studying? Did you figure out what worked for you?