Failed first health assessment exam! Help!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Hola!

I feel extremely discouraged. I studied for this health assessment lecture exam for hours on end and I know the question are like NCLEX styled questions and I tried to critically think and apply. Passing on a test is a 76 and I got a 68. Some people in my class didn't even know how but they passed with either a 76 or 78 or 88. I just feel so dumb and am upset that they passed and did not know how yet I studied my butt off and failed. Any tips? Advice? Has this happened before to anyone? ???

Thanks!!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

A lot of teachers hate to mention this, and a lot of students don't realize it until it's too late. BUT, most teachers don't make up their tests. They steal the exact questions from the end of the chapter (NCLEX questions) or they take them from the Elsevier website (if you guys do use Elsevier...).

Another thing to remember about NCLEX: Two questions are just wrong. Two questions are right, but which is the best answer? ALSO. Look for KEY PHRASES in the questions. For my med-surg test, we had a question that went on the lines of...

"Patient comes in during admission multiple chronic disease processes. She is experiencing DOE and paresthesia BLE. What is your first step?" The key words in this question are: "multiple chronic diseases" -- assess the patient's drugs first. (I wish I knew the exact question...ugh).

I would recommend this: https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323084673?role=student

Each chapter provides information on fundamentals with NCLEX styled questions at the back of the book.

https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9781437723700?role=student

That link provides information for assessments.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.
A lot of teachers hate to mention this, and a lot of students don't realize it until it's too late. BUT, most teachers don't make up their tests. They steal the exact questions from the end of the chapter (NCLEX questions) or they take them from the Elsevier website (if you guys do use Elsevier...).

Another thing to remember about NCLEX: Two questions are just wrong. Two questions are right, but which is the best answer? ALSO. Look for KEY PHRASES in the questions. For my med-surg test, we had a question that went on the lines of...

"Patient comes in during admission multiple chronic disease processes. She is experiencing DOE and paresthesia BLE. What is your first step?" The key words in this question are: "multiple chronic diseases" -- assess the patient's drugs first. (I wish I knew the exact question...ugh).

I would recommend this: https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323084673?role=student

Each chapter provides information on fundamentals with NCLEX styled questions at the back of the book.

https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9781437723700?role=student

That link provides information for assessments.

Thank you so much this was a big help and I will start using these as study tools! I appreciate your advice. I feel better just knowing I have these tools now to help me pass. Thank you again :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.
A lot of teachers hate to mention this, and a lot of students don't realize it until it's too late. BUT, most teachers don't make up their tests. They steal the exact questions from the end of the chapter (NCLEX questions) or they take them from the Elsevier website (if you guys do use Elsevier...).

Another thing to remember about NCLEX: Two questions are just wrong. Two questions are right, but which is the best answer? ALSO. Look for KEY PHRASES in the questions. For my med-surg test, we had a question that went on the lines of...

"Patient comes in during admission multiple chronic disease processes. She is experiencing DOE and paresthesia BLE. What is your first step?" The key words in this question are: "multiple chronic diseases" -- assess the patient's drugs first. (I wish I knew the exact question...ugh).

I would recommend this: https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323084673?role=student

Each chapter provides information on fundamentals with NCLEX styled questions at the back of the book.

https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9781437723700?role=student

That link provides information for assessments.

Thank you so much!!! :)

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Thank you so much!!!! :)

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Specializes in Emergency.

I also recommend you getting one of your fellow classmates who doesn't mind getting touched in potentially private areas and practice head-to-toe assessments. Practice standing up, sitting down, lying down, SIMs position, recumbent position. The more you practice, the better and faster you'll go. You can start from head and then go down while assessing skin tone, moisture, and temperature.

A lot of students I see that they have problems with is they make the patient sit up, lie down, sit up, lie down over and over. It's OK if you forget an assessment as long as you go back to it near the end. Be confident. You'll rock. :-)

edit: Forgot to mention a great resource for your HTT + neuro exam:

http://lane.stanford.edu/portals/cvicu/HCP_Neuro_Tab_4/Neuro_Assessment.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.
I also recommend you getting one of your fellow classmates who doesn't mind getting touched in potentially private areas and practice head-to-toe assessments. Practice standing up, sitting down, lying down, SIMs position, recumbent position. The more you practice, the better and faster you'll go. You can start from head and then go down while assessing skin tone, moisture, and temperature.

A lot of students I see that they have problems with is they make the patient sit up, lie down, sit up, lie down over and over. It's OK if you forget an assessment as long as you go back to it near the end. Be confident. You'll rock. :-)

edit: Forgot to mention a great resource for your HTT + neuro exam:

http://lane.stanford.edu/portals/cvicu/HCP_Neuro_Tab_4/Neuro_Assessment.pdf

Thank you!!! :)

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