Failed my first test

[Samn337]

Hey guys, I failed my first test really bad. I studied a lot, I could have probably taught a lecture on it knowing so much info, but I don't know how I did so bad on my first test today.

is there a good book/article/video that helped you guys take nursing tests?

[LittyCity]

You NEED to do practice questions. Memorizing and reading is one thing, but actually applying your knowledge is the key.

[Zooey72]

I have had issues with some of the subjective questions. Practice questions do help, but there seems to be very little consistency. My first week of school one of the questions was about a woman asking about abortion (and as a hypothetical I am pro-life) and whether I should help her find a clinic. Keep in mind, my opinion on abortion does not matter in the least; I just wanted to know what answer they wanted. I picked "ask another nurse to help her", and I got it wrong. Ok, I thought I knew the answer they wanted is "you are a prof, do your job". I got the same question almost word for word on a practice question on my last week of class, but this time the answer was "get another nurse to help her".

Questions about assessments, vital signs, etc I am fine with. These morality questions that they give no clear answer to and is up to someone else's determination as far as what is "right or wrong", drive me crazy. "What do you say to someone who was just diagnosed with cancer". "What do you say to someone who just lost a spouse". Those things are so situational that any answer could be right/wrong. Guidelines like "Don't tell someone everything will be all right" are good. It gives you something to follow. But "What do you say to a parent whose kid was just diagnosed with cancer" can't be covered in a multiple choice question.

[CalArmy]

Kaplan book off Amazon helps you on how to answer questions plus gives examples.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

See if your instructor will sit down with you and go over the test and your answers. Knowing WHY you failed is the best way to succeed in the future. You mentioned you studied a lot, but were you studying the right topics? Did you really understand the material as well as you thought you did? Did you have difficultly translating the information into questions that required you to make nursing judgements? Your instructor can help you identify where you went wrong so that you can improve for next time.