Failed my first test...........so discouraged

suzy253, RN · May 31, 2006

The main thing I can tell you is to stay focused. Don't let this get you down too much--it happens and you can bring your grade up. Don't let it get to you so bad that you think that there's no hope and you end up giving up.

Read the questions very carefully. that was a big problem with me. I would be in such a rush and read the questions quickly in attempt to come up with the right answer and turns out that I read a lot of them wrong and therefore came up with the wrong answer. Was always saying to myself 'what were you thinking???'

Critical thinking is not something you get straight away--for me it took awhile but it will come to you!!!

Chin up!!! You can do this.

BunnyRN · May 31, 2006

Please don't get discouraged because you can pass the class!!! Now that you've seen the professor's style you can change your method of study!!! Trust me on this one. Don't feel sad, you will be able to make up the grade.

battpos · May 31, 2006

Hi everyone, I am in an accelerated second degree program. We just took our first test in health assessment and I made a 73.2, well in order to pass the class I have to make a 77% on all the test, which means that I will need to make a at least an 82 on the next test. I have been studying my butt off. I meet with my instructor today to go over my test. I have the theory part time, but I am not quite getting the critial thinking down. I am soooooo dicouraged. I feel like such a failure. I am scared that if I can't make it through the first semster, I won't make it through the program. Please any advice would be helpful. I have been using the tools from the book and website, whatelse can I do. I want to be a nurse more than anything. Please help me. :(

I can relate. Last semester I scored my all time low on my first exam of Med-Surg II. It was a puny 69. I felt terrible. I did everything you did -- check in with my instructor, study my butt off, and felt discouraged. The final exam was comprehensive and quite heavy -- it brought my final average to an 82. Not wonderful, but I passed.

The thing to remember is that throughout your career, you will never know everything -- the greatest thing you take from school is learning how to be a life-long learner.

I'd rather be working next to someone who has the humility to know they are not a know-it-all, then next to someone who is the definition of hubris.

Battpos = Batterypositive

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 31, 2006

Many people bomb the first test before getting into the grove of what they are after when they test. Don't feel like a failure. You failed one test yes, but you're not a failure as a student and you can do this.

Good luck.

hawkeye02 · May 31, 2006

Thank you all for the words of encouragement, it was just what I needed. Once I went to over the questions I could see the rational on the questions, my instructor is going to give us an extra 30 minutes on the test, so maybe this will help. Once again thank you

allthingsbright · Jun 1, 2006

Just a suggestion--get a NCLEX practice book at your local bookstore and practice taking NCLEX style questions--they are ususually divided up by class so you can practice taking Fundamentals questions this semester then move on to more advanced stuff as you study. Also, those books have lots of great strategies for taking these kinds of critical thinking tests. This really helped me 1st semester. Good luck! Oh, and a link to what I am talking about:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743265408/sr=8-1/qid=1149174331/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4701143-8416900?%5Fencoding=UTF8

marvinskbaby1 · Jun 1, 2006

Don't let the first test discourage you. Nursing school exams are much different than non nursing courses. Keep studying, I find that studying with a group (2-3 people) can be very helpful. Sometimes other students may have picked up on things in class that you didn't. It's not the end of the world. Pray and you'll be just fine.

hawkeye02 · Jun 1, 2006

Thanks everyone, I went to a help sight on the forum, there were links to for assessments. So I went and printed the material and made a binder today also brought 2 book, Test question logic and an assessment book. I have been studying since I got home today. I am actually looking forward to my second test. I hope these new strategies work for me. I will keep you all posted.

stnurse2008 · Jun 1, 2006

I know that you have already gotten this info from others but the first test is always the hardest. As for critical thinking that is something that I struggle with it is hard and the person who said the tests are different from other courses is correct, there isn't (or very few) other programs that test in the same manner. I saw on your last post that you bought those other books but make sure you buy and NCLEX book they are so helpful. They have alot of the same questions and they are written in that type of format. I do not know how your school works but on most of our tests there are 5-8 questions right out of the NCLEX book. I know that this is not something that you want to hear but if you are not able to pass the class do not give up, more than half of the people that I have talked to that failed a class say it was the best thing that happened to them and made them a better student in the long run. I have faith that you will pull your grade up. Keep your head up you will get threw it sounds like your on the right track!!

BeccaznRN, RN · Jun 4, 2006

Just a few more words of wisdom - I think everyone at some point has a test that they score badly on. I had a 52% on my first test in microbiology and ended up with an A in the class. Even our straight A, 4.0 GPA fellow nursing student got a 68% on one of our med/surg exams. Bottom line is not to let it get you down too much - we are our own worst enemies!