Failed Med-Surg 1

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Jan 30, 2016

I am sorry you failed your course. Now it's time to put it behind you. It sounds as though you have already started the process of reapplying for the fall termâ€¦good! You may not be graduating in May, but you will graduate! Sometimes life happens. I thought I would be retired by now, but no. I am still working. And for the record, it was early retirement- age 40. Before you take med/surg 1 again, figure out what you need to do to pass it the second time and each subsequent course.

Good luck!

yoshi2560 · Jan 30, 2016

I don't know what kind of textbook you're using in your course, but a lot of nursing textbooks have study guides that are also available for purchase. My text had a study guide and an online resource tool that helped me pass my Med-Surg I course. Going through the practice questions and reading the rationales really helped me understand the concepts and test-taking strategies.

Also, if it's the test-taking that's got you down, I would recommend changing your testing strategy. In my Med-Surg course, our exams were modeled after NCLEX-style questions, and I realized that in order to convince myself of the right answer I had to go through all the potential answers and write down why I thought they were right or wrong. That made me focus on the details of the answers and identify key words that made the answer right or wrong.

Good luck! It sounds like you're doing what you can to put yourself in a better position and that's all you can do. With that attitude I'm sure you'll do well next time!

Mickeybabe16, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2016

Hi, I actually have been looking over my notes from class every chance I get and will be redoing my notes from class. I'm waiting on my CNA test date so I'll be doing that as well meanwhile I hear back from the school. Even if I don't get readmitted into the program there I have other schools that I've been looking at. Like you said "it's time to put it behind me". Thank you for the words of encouragement!

Mickeybabe16, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2016

I don't know what kind of textbook you're using in your course, but a lot of nursing textbooks have study guides that are also available for purchase. My text had a study guide and an online resource tool that helped me pass my Med-Surg I course. Going through the practice questions and reading the rationales really helped me understand the concepts and test-taking strategies.
Also, if it's the test-taking that's got you down, I would recommend changing your testing strategy. In my Med-Surg course, our exams were modeled after NCLEX-style questions, and I realized that in order to convince myself of the right answer I had to go through all the potential answers and write down why I thought they were right or wrong. That made me focus on the details of the answers and identify key words that made the answer right or wrong.
Good luck! It sounds like you're doing what you can to put yourself in a better position and that's all you can do. With that attitude I'm sure you'll do well next time!

I'm reading my chapters following the syllabus, I had a hard time with the exams. My class had two professors lecture the class. So I had tough time keeping with their testing style. I am rereading and rewriting my notes/diseases this time on a note card keeping the most important info on one card. This is something I've been dreaming about since I can remember and I will not fail a second time. Crossing my fingers I'm readmitted. :)

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 2, 2016

The hardest part of failing a class is knowing you failed. The second hardest thing about failing a class is figuring out why you failed and how you are going to fix it. The third hardest part of failing a class is being able to communicate your coherent plan of success to the readmission committee and hope they find it adequate enough to allow you to re-enroll.

I failed out of class (and therefore the program) and put together a plan for success and presented it to the team. I was allowed to re-enroll and went from a so-so student to a class leader and peer-tutor. Since I re-enrolled and did well, my repeated class substituted the failed grade. If you repeat the course, often Schools will keep the "failed" grade in on your transcript but will annotate it as being "discounted" for GPA purposes due to the repeat. Had my grade NOT been discounted (think "not counted"), I would have had a much lower GPA.

So, now you hopefully see that sometimes failing out and reapplying can be a very good thing in the end. In my particular case, my graduation date was pushed back a full year, but I'm glad I did it. I'm a much better nurse for having that second look at much of the content as well as being able to dedicate more of my study time to more in-depth pathophys. That also helped me pass the NCLEX in 75 questions and well under 90 minutes.

Mickeybabe16, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2016

Well I'm working on piecing the puzzle together. Doing little by little hopefully what I cover is what they will cover come the new semester. Thank you for the encouragement.

UnicoRN611 · Feb 13, 2016

The good thing is that when you retake med-surg, it'll be easier because you've already been exposed to it.. You'll be better off for it. I really struggled in Med surg because it was given in 4 weeks and I had a lot of family issues at that point in time. I passed with a B, but I wish I would've dropped out and retaken it the following semester because now I'm in my final semester and I'm REALLY struggling with my med surg knowledge in the ICU... Nursing ain't easy. Keep your head up!

Mickeybabe16, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2016

You're absolutely correct! The only thing that worries me now is getting the same instructors again, but that really shouldn't matter. I'll have an advantage since I'll be reviewing for the third time once I'm back.

The good thing is that when you retake med-surg, it'll be easier because you've already been exposed to it.. You'll be better off for it. I really struggled in Med surg because it was given in 4 weeks and I had a lot of family issues at that point in time. I passed with a B, but I wish I would've dropped out and retaken it the following semester because now I'm in my final semester and I'm REALLY struggling with my med surg knowledge in the ICU... Nursing ain't easy. Keep your head up!