Failed 2 fundamentals tests!!!

amymina · Oct 12, 2009

I am a new nursing student, and have only had two tests, but the way that I studied for the tests was to not only review the info and read as much as I could ahead of time, I also got a Nclex review book and CD and have been reviewing questions on the topic of the test. With that, I got a 92 on the first test will know the score on the second by the end of the week. Maybe that would help you as well.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2009

Nursing tests are tough! We've taken 1 so far and the 2nd one is tomorrow. The first one everyone sucked on....the highest grade in my class alone was an 80. The profs went through the test thoroughly and decided to give us all a certain number of points because on a lot of the questions there were 2 answers. So it was a crappy test apparently. I ended up with a high B! 1 more question right I would've had an A! :banghead: Anyway....they're tough and like no other. It's hard to narrow it down when there's 2-3 possible right answers. Good luck in the future!

AugustRain · Oct 12, 2009

I just graduated, and the two things I had success with were the Reviews & Rationales series (there's one for Fundamentals) and my study group.

We liked to read the questions together and debate answers. We took turns "teaching" (if you can explain and answer questions about a topic, you probably understand it), and if there was something none of us understood, we looked it up together and made sure we could all explain it back.

NCLEX style questions take some getting used to, but you'll get the hang of it!

GeneralJinjur · Oct 13, 2009

I agree about doing practice questions. After doing a bunch, you get a feel for the NCLEX style of prioritization. And always read rationales. I learn tons from rationales. The NCLEX 4000 software has lots of good fundamentals questions for practice.

ok2bme · Oct 14, 2009

Are they HESI tests/standardized tests? If so, forget the book and lecture notes, okay not completely..but focus on NCLEX study books, I loved the big maroon Hogan book and the blue Saunders one. This applies to all classes not just fundamentals. If they are instructor written..it may not help as much. Also, everyone has different learning styles, but one thing we all have in common is that repitition works! Flashcards take forever..so utilize sites like www.flashcardexchange.com where you can type them out. Best of luck! Never, ever give up!!

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2009

practice questions... that was the best way to go, for fundamentals my preferered was PRENTICE HALL questions!!!

ATI book also helps a whole lot

I highly recomend it!!!

Jashebo · Oct 15, 2009

You could also see if your book has a website. Normally they have practice questions to go along with the chapters. And like others have said study questions from NCLEX books that go along with your material

tlc2u · Oct 16, 2009

One of the chapters in the Saunders NCLEX book is a chapter on test taking strategies. Go to your local bookstore and look at a copy of the Saunders NCLEX there until you purchase your own. Read the chapter on test taking strategies. Then on one sheet of notebook paper write out a list of the strategies.

Whatever topics you will be covering on your next test. Find the corresponding chapter info in the Saunders book as well as the Reviews and Rationales book by Hogan. Read the questions at the end of the chapters and use your test taking strategies list to determine which of these test taking strategies will help to answer any of the questions. Especially note which test taking strategy is needed for any questions you answer incorrectly. Once you answer enough questions you will notice a pattern to the types of questions you are getting wrong. and the test taking strategies you need to focus on the most.

Also use the Reviews and Rationales and the Saunders book to skim through the info that corresponds to your upcoming test and get a feel for what is important to focus on by what they cover in those books. And by what they cover in their questions. Don't feel like you have to read all the chapters in your textbook and all the chapters in Saunders and Reveiw and Rationales.

You would do best to read the practice question and rationales first and let that be kind of a guide to you of the types of things that are most important to understand. Then flip through the Saunders and the Reviews and Rationales to look at the pictures, boxes, and charts, as well as the list of words and definitions. Then using that as a guide to what might be most important, then read your textbook chapters or whatever you normally do to read and study.

I hope this makes sense.

Let the questions, the pictures, boxes and charts be your guide to the important things if they correlate with what your instructor has in their notes or lectured on in class.