failed my first test today...will I ever be the same?

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Ok so I know that people fail tests all the time but I haven't been able to stop crying all day. Here is my situation: I have 5 months to go before I graduate (hopefully). I moved to another state to go to nursing school and live alone with no friends (except my nursing school buddies) and no family. My fiance and I have been in a long distance relationship the whole time and plan to get married once I'm done with my program and can move back to my hometown. It's really hard being apart, and hard being away from all my friends and family so I've really been looking forward to counting down the months until nursing school hell is over.

Throughout the entire nursing program and pre-reqs I have been a straight A student. I am currently on the president's list for having a 4.0. I have struggled just like anyone else and have worked hard and was currently getting A's in all my classes...until yesterday. I got a 73% on a test that is worth almost 25% of my total grade for the class. I feel like I just got shot in the heart. I studied just like I always do, but was totally blown away by the types of questions that were on the test. I know that people say teachers and exams don't make you fail, you fail on your own accord, but I really feel like almost the entire test had trick questions on it. I've made it this far with excellent grades, so obviously I'm not stupid. I just don't know how I can rebound from this when the test is worth so much of my grade. And what if the next tests are like this too?? And to make matters worse, after the test another student overheard us in the hallway talking about terrible it was and she told us she failed this class two semesters ago and 16 out of 24 people in her class failed!

I'm so afraid I'll fail now and have to retake the class which will put off graduation until next December. Which means putting off my wedding, 7 more months of loneliness and being away from the people that I love etc, not to mention tuition costs for another semester. I'm really heartbroken, disappointed in myself and scared. I am hoping someone out there has some words of wisdom, or has been in a similar situation or something. :crying2:

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Is your teacher easy to talk to? If he/she is then you definitely want to set up a meeting and express your concerns. Your teacher could point you in the right direction as far as studying for the next exam. You might even be able to go over the questions that you got wrong so knowing how you got it wrong will help you not get tricked next time.

If there is even one person from the past who managed to pass the course, then you have a shot of passing the course too. I know it's hard but you're only five months away from graduating and you already have such a high GPA, you must be doing something right!

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I certainly feel your pain. I am 71 days away from graduating from nursing school. Unfortunately, at the end of last semester, my family and I had to relocate to Indiana. With only one semester to go, I chose to return to Oklahoma to finish school. My husband, children, family and friends are all there and I am here. I have always done very well in school but being away from my family just seemed to suck the motivation right out of me. I scored a 74% on my recent exam and was very upset because of this. I decided to use that as a motivational tool. I will have been away from my family and friends for a little over 5 months...I don't want it to be wasted time. I want it to be worth it when I return home. I believe that if I can do it, anyone can! Best of luck to you and know that you are not the only one. You can make it...Keep your head up and study hard!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I'm so afraid I'll fail now and have to retake the class which will put off graduation until next December. Which means putting off my wedding, 7 more months of loneliness and being away from the people that I love etc, not to mention tuition costs for another semester. I'm really heartbroken, disappointed in myself and scared. I am hoping someone out there has some words of wisdom, or has been in a similar situation or something. :crying2:

If you're obsessing over retaking the class, then guess what--you will be so stressed over it you'll probably muff the remaining tests and really end up having to take it. It's called a self-fulfilling prophecy. So first thing: drop that mindset and focus on the rest of the class right now, because you can still pass it. Worry about retaking the class when you actually fail it.

Second, I think you're taking it a lot harder than many because you have that 4.0 GPA. I say this because I've been there, done that, and got the T-shirt. The first blow to the GPA is always the hardest to take.

You failed one test...and from the sound of it, not by that much. What you should do now is schedule an appointment with your instructor to go over the test in detail and see where you went wrong. Then work hard on the remaining tests and assignments--ask for extra help if you need it. Use this as a learning experience and to motivate you--now you have an idea of how this particular instructor tests, and you'll be better prepared for the next test.

Also, accept that you might not get an A in this class--that doesn't mean you still shouldn't try for one because you definitely should aim high. But tell yourself that it's OK if you don't get the A in the end, because the priority is PASSING the class so you can graduate, get married, etc.

Good luck!

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If I were you, I would stop borrowing trouble and focusing so much on the future. For right now, you have to pass your next test well. That's it. Study, get practice questions, go on your book's website for scenarios, and talk to your teacher. Maybe he/she can give you a little help with what to focus on for the next test. After that test is done, you will focus on the next small thing you need to do.

If your life schedule needs to be rearranged, there will be plenty of time for that later. For now, keep your eyes on the prize. You can do this!

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I say take a deep breath and relax or your going to stress so much it will mess you up on all tests. It is ok to make mistakes take this as your one big mistake in nursing school and move on. Don't stress over it just lift you head high and keep on studying. I don't think with your track record you will fail you might not have an A but I really think you will pass with flying colors :). But not if you keep stressing. You have gotten this far so no worries you will be just fine. good Luck on your next test :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Will you ever be the same?

Hopefully not. Maybe you will learn a lot of important life lessons from this experience that will make you a better person in the future. Maybe you will be more compassionate towards colleagues and classmates who are struggling to succeed. Maybe you will learn that you have inner strength to overcome hardship that you never knew you had. Maybe you will learn HOW to succeed when the going gets tough -- a skill that may be invaluable to you sometime in the future.

A lot of us have been where you are now. I have -- and while some of my memories are painful, I know I have learned from those painful experiences and used them to develop strengths that have seen me through other difficult times in my career.

It's up to you. You can choose to roll up into a little ball and die ... or run away and throw all your previous hard work away ... or allow this set-back to send you on a downward spiral of self-pity and/or self-loathing that will ruin your life like "losers" do. Or you can choose to learn from it and move on like "winners" do.

I hope you choose to move forward and be a winner. The previous posters have given you some good advice. Take it and give yourself a chance to succeed.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Just focus on now not the past. Do your best and you will be okay. Please do not invite negativity in your life, God is a god of the positives not the negatives. You are going to graduate on time, mark my words!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

In the words of one of my instructors, "Don't waist a good panic", it's not as if you were on the border of pass and fail and you failed. You have more chances to bring yourself back up. Be proactive and see what you did wrong, seek help if you need it and bounce back. It is not the end of the world, nor your nursing career.

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I know how you feel too! Are we in the same class?? Just keep powering through and you will be ok. You obviously arent stupid so keep your head up and show them how smart you are!

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I definitely agree with the post who said to talk to your instructor. We just took 2 tests for 2 different nursing classes in the past week, and my instructor said if you did not do so well, please make an appt to see her asap. Maybe she has some ideas to help you, or can recommend a nursing tutor?

Good luck!

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