Failing nursing semester

[oliviaapNS]

I am in my last semester of nursing school and I'm failing

I don't know what it is about this semester, but I have never had test grades this low!

I think it is part that the questions are harder than ever before, part I have senioritis and am so ready to be done!!, and part the way our teachers present the material.

Last semester they decided to quit lecturing in the classroom, record a lecture in a video for you to watch at home, and then come to class for 4 or more hours to work through case studies and play games.

This has really made me struggle because them lecturing in a video basically reading from the book is not the same as when they would lecture in class.

Plus it's hard to spend hours watching a lecture at home and then hours in class as well, IMO such a waste of time.

I have failed every test. We only have 1 test left, 3 HESI exams (which I always tend to do bad on), and then the final.

With my average even if I make a 90 on this next test that still would only leave me with a 73.0 and we have to have a 74.5 to pass. I know that doesn't seem too bad but there is literally no way I could make a 90 on the next exam.

It's just so frustrating because everyone is excited about graduating and the teachers keep telling us we are almost done. I even had already went for an interview for a nurse residency program and was accepted.

But the hardest part for me has been stressing out about how I am going to tell my family.

My husband is VERY supportive and said it's not a big deal if I fail and have to retake.

It is everyone else I am worried about. Even the ones I am not close with, I am just worried about what they are going to think about me.

They are all expecting me to graduate in May.

I just feel so much pressure and have been stressed out more than ever.

Anyone else fail their last semester before graduation? How did you handle it and what did you say to your family?

[jtboy29]

Eliminate all the self-doubt first. Be positive and know that you will put your absolute best in getting a 90 on the next exam. HESI Exams are no doubt difficult and are confusing because they add so much to a question that will confuse anyone. Don't stress about what to tell your family or what they are going to think of you.

I failed my last term in my LVN program and it was on the outcome of me failing the Exit HESI by one point. I basically told my family "I failed the Exit HESI and I have the option of repeating the term again after the week long term break that same month (December)" Yes, it was difficult to tell them that however; I had people telling me "You know what to expect now and you will get it next time". Our terms were 14 weeks long (almost 3 months) and that was tough to think about however; I knew if I wanted to get it done I would go through it again. I wasn't stressed until 1 month leading up to the Exit HESI. Mind you, we had to re-take all the HESI exams again from Fundamentals through Pharmacology. That was tough because it added more stress as it would leave about 6-7 days of studying for the Exit HESI so I practiced questions everyday and I reviewed content in my HESI book because I wanted to pass this time around in order to move on and look toward the NCLEX. The day of the Exit I was so nervous however; I knew I had to put forth my best effort on the Exit HESI and if I fail I would of had one more opportunity to re-take it. Fortunately, I did not have to re-take it as I had passed with an 877 (850 was my program's requirement). I was so ecstatic that I passed so much that I cried. Nursing school is tough and not easy however; you have to think to yourself "I can do this or I was made to do this". Kudos to your husband for being VERY supportive during this time because it is stressful. The best you can do is stay positive and study and believe in yourself. Good luck and let us know how it went.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

In last semester they don't like to "baby feed" students. I had a similar situation to and had to make over 90% in my final exam just to pass with a C grade. I believe I got a 98%. I did it by studying hard and doing tonnes of questions You have NOT FAILED YET! SO FORGET ABOUT WHAT YOU GONNA TELL YOUR HUSBAND! It can be done. In addition to the lecture videos spend extra time in the text. Formulate learning your own way to how you learn best. Ask to meet with the instructor to review the past exams in that test to see where you went wrong. Ask them for tips on how you can be successful. Do complex NCLEX type questions based on topic. Basically I treated that class like a job 8hrs or more per day everyday until I passed. Like My families life depended on it cause I quit my job to do it and wasnt about to let one exam stupid stop me.

[CTN91]

I'm curious as to how this semester turned out for you. Being that I am in the same boat and my anxiety is through the roof being under so much pressure .. That's if you don't mind sharing your outcome!