Failed health assessment test...encouragement, please

[futureclern]

Hey guys. I had my health assessment lab midterm today- I had to do a head/neck/lymphatic system/integument assessment and a pulmonary assessment on my lab partner. I studied all last week, practiced on my boyfriend, watched videos, wrote out all the steps to each assessment, etc. I got in there, though, and I completely blanked. I was sort of able to get through thE exams, but my professor told me she can't pass me. She's letting me redo everything later this week, but I just can't shake how horrible it feels to have failed this. I know deep down this isn't the end of the world- especially because I get a second chance, but still. It just feels so awful. Any encouragement or words of advice would be greatly appreciated, but also thank you for just letting me rant!

[Triddin]

Instead of just studying the assessments, do them over and over. I practiced on my partner so much that he could ask all the questions I was going to ask him. The more you practice, the more comfortable the skill will be which will make it harder to blank completely.

You haven't failed, you're just learning how to be a nursing student

[LovingLife123]

Start at the head and work your way down. Do it over and over until it becomes habit. Eventually, you'll be able to do a full head to toe assessment in minutes. But it takes lots of practice.

[TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN]

Don't overthink assessments.

Objectively, it's easy as just simply assessing EVERYTHING. If it exists, assess it. That's the easy part, and the most time consuming. Externally it's pretty idiot-proof. Internally, make sure you get a little extra practice, that's where it's easy to make a mistake.

Subjectively, name one part of the body that can't have a family history of problems, or have a current problem in the patient... I think you know where this is going.

What helps me so far is to tie subjective questions into what I'm objectively assessing. It helps me make sure I ask the right questions, starting general, like asking about moles or bruises while I'm starting the skin on the head, and then getting specific as I notice anything anywhere.

It just takes practice. It's an art.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

For graduate school I had to memorize an entire 30 minute long full body assessment in the correct order. I bought myself one of those anatomic models that was a bit smaller than real life size (it stood on a base) and a full size Halloween skeleton, and wrote out a script for the assessment. I practiced it over and over again on the anatomic model and the skeleton (the skeleton had moving joints so was great for the musculoskeletal portion). I started off just memorizing the first portion (HEENT) until I had gotten it down, and then I added pulmonary and practiced those until I got it down and then added cardiovascular and so on, until I had memorized the entire thing. I would practice it all the way through 1 or 2 times a day for the last few weeks before the exam. It was the only way I could have done it because I have such a bad memory.