Failed 3rd semester

i come to realize the more time i invest in studying/reading, the better i do on tests... there is no secret/nor shortcut behind it. i do nothing but sleep, eat, study, and gym (believe it or not, my best hours of studying are after i work out).

and ... do not compare yourself with other students...

I would go to class, take insanely good notes to supplement the power points that the teachers gave out for lecture. Then I would go home and read and fill in any extra info (usually more in depth) related to what was written in the PowerPoint. THEN I would make flashcards out of the handouts that I supplemented with my own notes and study the handouts front and back until they were absolutely memorized. Some exams I had almost 500 of them. But ya know what? I was top of my class and aced every exam. I had so much background info on pathology, etc. that even if I didn't know an answer I could narrow it down, eliminate wrong choices and really think through the physiology. It sucked but was worth it...I was a career change RN student and told myself that this time around I was going to get great grades so I could open doors for myself for the future (ie: grad school). I know plenty of people who failed a semester and kept at it and became nurses! Just stick with it!

I'm sorry that you had a bad last semester, but it's in the past. As far as test taking tips, I would stick with the same ones that have been around for a long time. Don't stay up late cramming the night before, just makes you tired and stressed! Do you feel as though you are a terrible test taker? If so is it possible to get some feed back from your professors regarding your test scores? I found it helpful to read the test taking tips at the beginning of the Saunders NCLEX book. I was able to apply some of the test taking strategy's to non nursing classes. Also don't stress yourself out with regards to having to get the highest grade in the class. Grades, alone, will not dictate the type of you will be.

Michele RN

Aside from reading the texts and outlining the knowledge, assess your issues with the exams. Many students have difficulty with nursing exams because they are not straight memorization/regurgitation of facts but require applied knowledge and "critical thinking" to understand the rational behind the best answer (notice I say best answer, as sometimes there is more than one correct answer but only one is the best answer such as: You are working on a surgical floor as an RN and go to check on your A&Ox4 post lap choley patient and find them with eyes closed, snoring respirations and difficult to rouse. What is the first action you should take?: a. call a rapid response for assistance, b. reposition the patient to ensure an adequate airway, c. check vital signs, d. check the MAR to see what medications are ordered/given, e. run & grab the code cart and Narcan," While all may be correct, the standard is to call rapid response as you need more help, then reposition to ensure an adequate airway.

Try getting an NCLEX prep book and not only read the questions but also the rationale to the best answer. Some like Saunders, others like Mosby, Kaplan, LaCharity PDA.... Most NCLEX prep books are sectioned by topic (med-surg, basic care, pediatrics, etc.) so that you can correlate the questions to your current study material.

oh and do you know what they call someone who graduated nursing school with a B or C average and passsed the NCLEX?

A nurse.

Thanks so much everyone for the advice, words of encouragement and taking the time out! I'm defiantly going to utilize my time off to analyze answering questions and practice practice practice taking quizzes and tests. I'm going in with an advantage next time so Im going to be prepared no matter what.

I agree I shouldn't compare myself with other students but its hard to say that I didn't deserve to pass when I know exactly what they know but just couldn't pass the tests good enough. I really need to work on critical thinking and going with my gut instinct. Even my professor said its just test taking for me. I know one day I will be a knowledgeable nurse, this is just a minor setback! :)

One thing that I do that really helps me on tests is to think ahead while I am studying. I think about how I would write an NCLEX style question on whatever it is I'm studying. Sometimes while I am reading, I picture myself at the patient bedside or at the nurses station, applying the information that I am learning. For example, if I am learning about nursing interventions for impaired skin integrity, then I picture myself at the bedside turning the patient, applying lotion, etc. This might help for someone who is a visual learner. I also read the material out loud to my dogs. (They are very good listeners.) And during lecture, I don't take notes, because I get distracted by trying to write stuff down instead of just listening. But that works for me, because I learn well through hearing. It might not work as well for you. You may want to take one of the many online learning style assessments to come up with some ideas on what might be best for you individually. You may also want to consider if there is some test anxiety going on, and implement some interventions for anxiety if needed.

You aren't the first, won't be the last. You have 2 options, learn from it and move forward, get yourself back in the program, or learn to say, " would you like fries with that"

Exactly!!! I can't go back, I can only move forward and learn from my mistakes !