Failed a quiz feeling discouraged

[nicole95]

I am in my second semester of a second degree accelerated program. The first semester, I flew by getting a 3.95 GPA so I felt confident coming back. We just had a pre-exam quiz for med surg and I got a 75. I rarely place blame on a professor but the quiz was on material not found anywhere in the lecture or readings. I don't think this makes any sense and now I am flipping out at the thought of the first real exam. Does anyone have advice on what I should do? I plan on going to remediation, but I am seriously thinking that failing one quiz will jeopardize my grades due to how cut throat this program and nursing in general is.

[direw0lf, BSN]

Yeah I would get frustrated in my medsurg1 class when the exams wouldn't have the material the teacher covered. I've said it before on here and I'll say it again! Knowing how to answer nclex style questions is how to do good on exams. It's not about memorizing every sentence in the book, but you have to know how to eliminate answer choices. It's using critical thinking skills.

Random example:

After the tube feeding formula has infused which action should the nurse take next?

A. Clamp the opening of the gastrostomy tube

B. Lower the head of the client's bed

C. Place the client on the left side

D. Instill several ounces of plain tap water down the tube

So you think "Oh no teacher/book never covered feeding tubes"

Not to worry! It's basic anatomy and physiology and nursing fundamentals.

Eliminate choices...

You wouldn't put the HOB down right? Aspiration?

You wouldn't place the client on the left side why think of digestion, because of delayed emptying.

2 choices left so would you clamp the opening or would you keep the tube patent? You'd want to clamp the tube, but not before you flush it/keep it patent. So see you can answer that without having had any knowledge about tube feedings.

That's an easy question, but you get the idea!

So practice questions, use quizlet or there's plenty of apps or books.

When you practice questions, make sure you read over the rationales!!!