Failed Second Fundamentals Test

[cate3624]

Hello everyone, so im a first level nursing student. I just failed my second fundamentals test and failed worse then I did the first. I use quizlet. I need everyones advice because if not I will have to change my major.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Have you spent any time at all with your faculty in office hours discussing where they think your problem lies? They have seen it all before and, believe it or not, actually want you to succeed. But you must take the initiative. In college the faculty will not call up your parents to see if you are doing your homework. It's all on you. Make an appt to see your faculty once a week to go over your classes, what you learned, and where you need to have better understanding. Go over your exams with them and learn why you got the wrong answers on so many questions. It's a different kind of learning than you have ever done before.

The minute you hear something in lecture or read it in your book that you don't understand, you must get it clarified before moving on. Never, ever let something go passively. In nursing school everything is cumulative. You are expected to have a good working knowledge of everything you learn, and to apply it at higher and higher levels as you go along. Miss something small now, turns into a big, big deficit later.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Apparently you quizlet method is not working. It's a free site with no guarantee of accuracy.

Do you have a workbook/study guide that accompanies your text?

Have you met with your instructor to ask for help/tips?

Did you check if your text has online resources ( most do)? If you have an Elsiever text you can sign up on the evolve website, look up your text book and have access to additional study resources.

[cate3624]

I have went to see my teachers when this happened with the first test. What are your strategies to study?

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

Do they do power points? My instructors really only test us on what's on the power points but reading the chapters helps too. Doing the end of chapter questions. I also re write the power points in my own handwriting because that's how I retain information. I haven't failed a test yet, but I'm sure I will eventually. I'm 2nd semester and we are doing medsurg 1 along with pharm and it's much more difficult than first semester, which I thought was hard enough!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Once? Is that all? Did you not keep going? Did you really feel blindsided by your failing grade on the second test because you felt perfectly secure in your mastery of the material? No, I didn't think so.

Studying is important, and there are many, many threads on AN where students talk about their different strategies and tactics for that. But unless you have some idea of where you are and where you need to go, nothing will make sense.

Is there a center in your college to help students with study skills, writing skills, note-taking skills, and reading? I'd start going there right after your weekly meeting with your faculty.

[cate3624]

Apparently you quizlet method is not working. It's a free site with no guarantee of accuracy. Do you have a workbook/study guide that accompanies your text? Have you met with your instructor to ask for help/tips? Did you check if your text has online resources ( most do)? If you have an Elsiever text you can sign up on the evolve website look up your text book and have access to additional study resources.[/quote']

Thanks....I did do the workbook but for all the chapters and I will use the evolve resources.

[cate3624]

Once? Is that all? Did you not keep going? Did you really feel blindsided by your failing grade on the second test because you felt perfectly secure in your mastery of the material? No I didn't think so. Studying is important, and there are many, many threads on AN where students talk about their different strategies and tactics for that. But unless you have some idea of where you are and where you need to go, nothing will make sense. Is there a center in your college to help students with study skills, writing skills, note-taking skills, and reading? I'd start going there right after your weekly meeting with your faculty. [/quote']

I highly doubt that my teachers have time to meet with me weekly. One of my professors forgot that I was even meeting with her the first time!

[cate3624]

Do they do power points? My instructors really only test us on what's on the power points but reading the chapters helps too. Doing the end of chapter questions. I also re write the power points in my own handwriting because that's how I retain information. I haven't failed a test yet but I'm sure I will eventually. I'm 2nd semester and we are doing medsurg 1 along with pharm and it's much more difficult than first semester, which I thought was hard enough![/quote']

We use Powerponts but they are very vague.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I'm serious about the college center for writing and note-taking and all. You leave words out in your sentences and have problems with grammar and punctuation. They may be able to help you with reading and writing, without which you'll have a difficult time succeeding in any course of study.

If you learn that you have a learning disability they can help with that, and get you accommodations for testing and other reading-writing activities. Worth a shot, really.

[cate3624]

I don't have a writing problem. I'm writing on phone and just trying to get some advice. So if you could, please stick to the topic.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I read all my text books ( I'm a compulsive reader) prior to class, highlighted the text during the presentation. My note books-- right side for class notes; left side was my chapter outline and highlighted reminders of anything I needed further clarification of after reading.

I completed the workbook as I completed my reading. I routinely met with my instructors between or before classes. (I never failed an exam in nursing school but saw no reason to not stay ahead of the game)