Failed Second Fundamentals Test

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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.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
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.

Why not avail yourself of the writing center for assistance in note taking and study tips? The service is likely included in your tuition & fees.

Again, unless you made the flash cards yourself I strongly discourage you from using a non-verified source/free online that may not be up to date or consistent with the text used in class. Or worse may be filled with inaccurate information.

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Why not avail yourself of the writing center for assistance in note taking and study tips? The service is likely included in your tuition & fees. Again unless you made the flash cards yourself I strongly discourage you from using a non-verified source/free online that may not be up to date or consistent with the text used in class. Or worse may be filled with inaccurate information.[/quote']

Okay thanks. I do not think our school has assistance for study habits but I will look into a tutor.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Okay thanks. I do not think our school has assistance for study habits but I will look into a tutor.

Is there a student resources desk or something? Maybe peruse the school's website and see what resources are available to students. There's nothing wrong with seeking out help, especially while it's still early. Like GrnTea said, these are the foundations upon which everything you will learn will be built, and small things now will grow to be much bigger later on.

I'm a big fan of notecards. They really help me focus on the stuff that I really need to review, and I carry some everywhere. I also use my laptop for my notes, and I'll open up the powerpoints, and use the notes section below for my notes. That way I can see with which slides they correlate.

Sometimes the reading is a lot, but at least skimming through everything and reading the important stuff is important. The more you can fit it in, the better. I carry a book with me to most places, and I've downloaded the ATI books to my iPhone. It's come in handy while waiting in lines and while putting my son to bed at night (I can use my phone with the screen brightness turned way down while I'm in there).

Make the most of your time. Take breaks when you study. Do what you need to do to eliminate distractions.

DEFINITELY meet with your instructor again. Ask to see her on a more regular basis, or at least communicate with her via e-mail. I bombed an exam on a day that I was really sick (I'd e-mailed my instructors before-hand), and I also had some major family stuff going on (again, my instructors were in the know). My teacher was very understanding, and while she didn't change my grade, we did talk about what went wrong and how to correct it (sadly, I'd studied very hard and felt really good walking out of the exam, but I'd read things too fast and misread what she was looking for, so I missed stuff I knew). She also offered me extra credit. Staying in touch really is important, even if you're not meeting for an hour every single week.

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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.

Cate I am on my phone now too. Tips to follow, but first. Please be mindful that you asked for help. GreenTea knows what she is talking about and made a valid point. Try to keep an open mind and be grateful for the advice you receive. No one has to help you. Having said that....

Was it a fundamentals skills test or written? Two very different approaches to studying even though they link together. I am going to go with skills test. They are hard. No doubt about it. I actually learned in my education class the other day that to ask someone to speak or give rationale for why they are doing a specific psychomotor skill will result in a poorer performance of both. So right off the bat, you know you need to know those skills pretty well to be able to speak about them while doing. My advice, and what is working for me, is to practice on everything living or not every time you can. Pair up with another student and do mock OSCEs. Practice on your friends. Ask them to ask you why you are doing what you are. Teach another person. Repeat, repeat, repeat. And when you are done, start again. Good luck!

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I agree with the advice you've received thus far.

- For heaven's sake, go see your instructor -- as many times as it takes. If you don't know precisely what you are doing wrong, you won't be able to fix it.

- My school has free tutoring in almost every subject, as well as specialized nursing tutors. I would definitely visit you school's tutoring center, and any other resources available to you. Reading comprehension is huge, and you won't get very far if you have trouble in that area and aren't aware of it/don't remedy the situation. I'm not saying that is your issue, but I am saying I think it's worth investigating, if only to rule it out.

Regarding study strategies:

- I ventured to quizlet once or twice (since that's what pops up when you do a google search for practice nursing questions), but I ruled it out almost immediately because I realized the info is not reliable. (I'll be darned if I'm going to risk my knowledge and my grade by studying some internet stranger's understanding of nursing school content.) Make your own study materials using your notes, power points, and textbooks.

- After doing all the reading, attending every class, and taking copious notes during said classes, I rewrite my notes and power points into outlines from which I study. I also find ATI tutorials and practice tests really helpful; I try to take them all at least once, and read the rationales for the correct and incorrect answers. I also take the textbook publisher's online quizzes, though some are much better than others.

I've shared my study techniques, which work for me, but I really think that all the study strategies on the internet will not help you until you get some guidance from your instructor. Chances are pretty good that she has seen many students making the exact same mistakes you are, and she can (and wants to) help you -- if you put forth the effort and make your studies your priority. The vast majority of instructors really want you to succeed, but they aren't going to chase you down and force feed you what you need to know. Take the initiative.

Good luck!

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Our Nursing school has test taking help that breaks down the questions. Each nursing class has its own sessions. I'm not sure if your school offers something like it, but sometimes knowing the material isn't enough. Questions are often multifaceted. They involve nursing judgment based on that knowledge and prioritization of needs. Quizlet is good for getting down drug side effects and basic knowledge, but it can't help you analyze the situation or make judgement calls when presented with two right answers. My suggestion is to go over the questions with faculty on the tests you failed. Ask them to explain the rationale and see if there is extra help at your school. I also would advise trying out NCLEX style practice questions with attached rationales. The rationales are a huge help as to why that answer is the "most right."

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Everyone has different ways to study. Runbabyrun said they are a big fan of notecards but I hate note cards. That doesn't mean what they are doing is wrong or that they won't do well, it just means that method doesn't work for ME. What works for me is am NCLEX study guide with rationales and a VERY small study group. I'm talking 4 people at the most including me. You can bounce thoughts of each other, take practice quizzes together, or just teach each other. There have been a lot of great suggestions given. Find what works best for you.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Did you read the book?? Rule number one in nursing school...read the book. If something is even vaguely mentioned in class or in the powerpoints..review it in the book because you never know what information your professor will pick out to test you on. Another great resources is NCLEX 3500 found here. http://webcttoday.sunybroome.edu:8080/nclexrn3500/mainMenu.do

Practice answering questions and take the time to read the rationales. You can do this!

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Thanks everyone. I am going to use the nclex resources.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Keep in mind that the NCLEX resources will ony help you with how to take the tests, and a bit on the knowledge neede to know the answer. If your issue is purely the testing style being difficult for you, then NCLEX practice questions are the way to go. But if critical thinking, or just the basic knowledge is your issue, then not so much. I don't know why you won't just make an appt with your instructor. You pay a lot of money to let yourself fail because you won't have your instructor review your tests with you and help you fun what you are doin wrong. Also, you said your power points are too vague. Most are. Are you taking notes in class on your powerpoints to expand on the info on them? Maybe see if you can record lecture so you can listen to it later. If you did the instructor teaching something you don't understand, jot it down and look it up later. Review until you understand. There are a lot of useful suggestions here that you seem to be ignoring. Taking practice quizzes and NCLEX tests will only get you so far. You have to understand the material completely and put multiple concepts together to think through test questions. Hopefully you head some of the advice given here an can ten this around by your next exam.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Precepting, Education.

Ask for help from other students who did well on the tests. They can explain the ways that they prepared successfully for the exam. Maybe you could even join a study group. The trick to receiving help from another student or study group is to go as prepared as possible before the actual meeting. Do your readings, do the questions at the end of each chapter, recognize the areas that you may feel you need the most help in and also recognize your areas of strength. In doing the prep work you can contribute to the group by providing insight on what you understand and then receive help on the material that you are weak in. Don't expect the other student or study group to teach you all that you need to know from the test without doing your own work beforehand.

Some schools also offer free tutoring or study help sessions where they basically retrain you on how to study. When push comes to shove it all comes down to how much effort and time you put in to learning a subject. Don't expect to understand the big picture if you skipped over the basics. Good luck and happy studying!

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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!

We use Powerponts but they are very vague.

We call these "excuses."

If you have ever forgotten an appointment, I am sure you don't expect that person never to see you again. I would certainly hope that you would persevere to obtain the faculty input you clearly need.

And I stand by my hunch that writing and note-taking skills may be why PowerPoints look "vague" to you-- you are supposed to take useful notes to supplement them. Nowhere is it written that everything you have to know is going to appear on a PP printout.

It is a different kind of learning, and if whatever you are doing worked before and doesn't work now, you should consider doing it differently. But hey. Totally up to you. Good luck.

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