Failing alterations twice

[alocke1]

Hello everyone. I often come to allnurses.com for help and read advice that people give to others but I haven't found any advice on the topic I mentioned above.

I just took my final for my alterations class on Monday and found out I failed it AGAIN. Both times it has been by 1-2 questions wrong. I have been crying on and off since 3'oclock that day. I feel embarrassed, stupid, like a failure, questioning myself "is this career path right for me?"

A little bit of background, I have bad test anxiety and always have since middle school, the teachers had worked with me all throughout. In college I got a little better but once I started nursing school it got worse because they put that pressure on you right away that you NEED an 80% of better to pass. When I started my second semester the pressure was getting to me that I asked for testing assistance. They said I was doing everything I should be doing to study correctly but sounds like I may have a little A.DD. They referred that I take a psychiatric test to see if they could prescribe me something to calm me down so I can focus. I thought okay but I'm pregnant and I don't want to take any meds until after she was born so I waited and thought maybe I'll pass. Well I failed. I believe everything happens for a reason and it was almost a blessing in disguise that I failed. Having only one class this semester has made it easy with a newborn. I couldn't imagine a fully loaded third semester all while handling a fresh baby, so in a way that has worked out for me. Now THIS time I have been studying like crazy after each topic and knew the material but still failed by 2 questions. I thought about going to get help but I was breastfeeding and thought for sure meds would interfere with my milk so again I decided I'd wait to get help once done feeding. Failed again.

So my question, has anyone else out there failed the same class twice. And how do you bounce back from that?

I know I'm meant to be a nurse. I love the health care field and helping others feel better. I have always dreamt of being the real 'patch adams played by Robin Williams', at a childrens hospital one day. Its been a passion of mine since high school. I have also been told my WHOLE life when handling situations or people that I would make a great nurse one day. But failing this class has made me think otherwise.

Any advice, words of wisdom, stories, etc is welcomed. Like I said, I never knew one person could be so depressed until now. Thank you in advance.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm not sure what you mean by an "alterations" class???

[Shagce1]

I'm not sure what you mean by an "alterations" class???

It's like a med surge class. My program has health alterations, complex health alterations 1 and complex health alterations 2. Each one builds on previous knowledge plus delivers new content.

[alocke1]

Thank you Shagce1 you are exactly right

[Shagce1]

I honestly don't have any advice for you. I wish I did....it sounds like you are in a tough spot right now. Is taking the class a 3rd time an option? Maybe try a different format. Online vs in person or vice versa?? If this is the career path you want to follow, you should do it....but I would certainly try and figure out what is going wrong with your test taking before pursuing it a 3rd time. Get meds or testing accomodations or whatever you need to succeed. I had a couople of girls in my health alt class who had taken it the previous semester and they said the exams were virtually the same both semesters, so if this is correct for your class, you should be well aware of the content and what needs to be studied, maybe it is just how you are studying. I learned recently to supplement my text book and powerpoints from my classes with ATI materials. It helped me significantly to re-read the information in another format. Concept maps have helped as well. Topic, basic definition, priority nursing interventions, common medications and their side effects.

After re-reading your post I am sure this is not the information you were looking for as I don't have experience in your specific situation, maybe someone else will. Good luck to you.