Failed 2 Fundamentals tests - HELP!

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First test I did fine. Now the 2nd and 3rd I've missed 8 out of 15 and 7 out of 15. I know the material pretty well and I study quite a bit, but it's the critical thinking, I guess, that I'm lacking. Some of the questions I can see where I didn't think it through well enough. Others, to me, seem like a matter of opinion and could go either way, though it is my faulty thinking. I've scheduled a meeting with the instructor for Thurs, which is what they told us to do if we are struggling. Other than that, does anyone have any advice for me? I got all As through the prereqs and I knew this would be a different game but never thought I'd FAIL like this!

Good Luck! Please update the thread when you know how you did:)

I met with my prof and she gave me good advice. I've been studying all weekend - I'm taking a combination of advice on this thread, writing everything out, doing practice questions. Tues is my next test.
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I will - and thanks everyone for your help - I really appreciate it.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

see the information and go to the websites listed on this sticky thread: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/looking-test-taking-224581.html - looking for test taking strategies

the actual test taking (critical thinking) strategy is in chapter 5 of saunders comprehensive review for the nclex-rn examination, 3rd edition, by linda anne silvestri and is 7 pages long. if you don't have this book get it at a library or from a fellow student and just xerox those 7 pages. the major attraction of this book is that it contains, in a concise outline form, the course content of the nursing curriculum, so it is a study aid, and then thousands of application type practice questions. these are the kaplan test-taking tips: http://www.ann2.net/pld/kaplan.html

it is often after many years and taking many courses that students realize that there is important information in the prefaces and very early chapters of books that they often skipped over because they didn't contain facts about the material they bought the book for. i keep telling students that the nursing process is usually discussed and explained pretty thoroughly at the beginning of every care plan book but most people never bother to look there. you may never be asked directly about the nursing process, but its principles will underlie many test questions. if you don't know it, its steps or what goes on in each of the steps you will have totally missed what your rn training is all about.

your question about how to answer critical thinking questions is a very common one. here is the answer i usually give: the basic strategy for answering critical thinking (application type) questions is as follows, you must:

  • know and consider the normal anatomy and physiology
  • know and consider abnormal anatomy for the disease in question
  • know and consider the resulting signs and symptoms when the disease occurs and how they proceed from mild to fatal - each sign and symptom can be related back to the pathophysiology of the disease
  • know and consider how the doctor diagnoses and treats the disease in question

    [*]know nursing interventions (those are the nursing treatments) for the signs and symptoms you are being asked about

    [*]know the steps of the nursing process and what goes on in each of the steps and consider how they are affecting the question you are being asked (http://home.cogeco.ca/~nursingprocess/index.htm and http://www06.homepage.villanova.edu/elizabeth.bruderle/1103/nursingprocess.htm)

    [*]know the sequence of priorities of needs as per a guideline such as maslow's hierarchy of needs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs)

    [*]know and consider the principles behind the actions being done - there are many kinds of principles: principles of nursing, principles of biology, principles of chemistry, principles of physics, etc.

    [*]read the stem of the question carefully and answer that because the test makers try to trip you up by distracting you with conflicting information they give you in the answer choices that sounds good but has no relationship to what the question is asking for

    [*]ask yourself "why" a patient is experiencing some sign or symptoms to get at the underlying problem. nursing like other disciplines treats the problem/signs and symptoms.

these are threads where nursing test questions were posted for discussion and review of the correct answer:

feel free to copy and use: critical thinking flow sheet for nursing students

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So I get an email from the famous Daytonite! How exciting lol I've read many of your helpful posts and printed them out. I will go through this one in more detail later today Thanks!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

The reason I didn't post an answer sooner was because I was getting ready to go into the hospital for several days. I had surgery. I was just discharged yesterday and am still moving slow.

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Sorry to hear that - I hope you recover quickly.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

How about we get you through your next test so if I get stuck in the hospital again there's a possibility I get you as my nurse? Read through some of those posts regarding test questions. Some of them, unfortunately, are a bit beyond Fundamentals, but whenever I answered a question I posted my reason for my answer choice.

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You're very sweet - here you are just out of surgery and the hospital and you're thinking about me passing my test, let alone all the other lengthy posts you've given to people on here. You're some kind of saint!

But yeah, I went through some of your info above and am going to save it. I do have Sauders and Chp 5 you referred to.

One thing I'm realizing - this is not prereqs - I can't just read the chapter, memorize, then ace the test. In writing things out I'm realizing I have to actually dissect everything and work to learn it and see how it fits into the nursing process. At least I *think* that's what I should be doing.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

You are correct. You are in the beginning process of solving problems and making decisions.

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bec717

re: "failed 2 fundamentals tests-help"

i would like to know do you still have your study material and/or study notes? i am currently in fundamentals and pharmacology. i am really worried because i am a terrible tester and i cant get any of the info to stick in my brain:banghead:. appreciate any info you are willing to share with me. o what is the pearson trick??

thanks

ps. congrats on passing ur nclex:yeah:

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I did it! I got an A!!! I took everyone's advice on here and the instructor's and really studied, handwrote a lot out. This was a double test - the first test I didn't miss anything. For the second test, she pairs you up with a partner and the two of you compare answers and discuss/defend your choices. You can then change your answers. My confidence wasn't up there yet so I changed one of my answers to match my partner's since he is really smart. Turns out it was wrong. But she averages the 2 scores so it still came out great.

Thank you all so much :heartbeat. It's great we have this place to come to for help.

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Congrats! Keep it up!! BTW, as hard as it is they tell you to never change an answer- as most of the time your first instinct is correct!! It's hard when you are under pressure/time to talk yourself into not changing! And you are smart too, very smart- keep studying and doing practice questions!!

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