I am in my second semester out of 4 for an ADN program. First semester went OK, I was really inconsistent with my grades, got a 100 and then a 68 on the next exam, stuff like that. Well this semester has been horrible so far. First exam I got a 76 and second i got a 60! I went in feeling like there was NO WAY i could get less than an 80, NO WAY! Ofcourse I started balling my eyes out feeling so discouraged. I have always been a horrible test taker, but this is something I REALLY WANT. Now my average is a 68 and passing is 75. Have 3 more exams and a final... i just feel like its going to be so hard to come back from this
I do practice questions on ATI but are there any other sites that can help me with the NCLEX style questions?!
I have difficulty with priority questions, such as which patient should you visit first or which patient will be going home first.
While I was in nursing school I tutored underclassmen. Here is some tips I give them for prioritizing questions.
1. Life before limb
2. Acute before chronic. Ex: Asthma before COPD or 8/10 pain before ABX for Pneumonia
3. Actual problems before potential problems. Ex: _____ actual problem before ______risk for problem. Keep that in mind even if the risk for sounds really good such as risk for aspiration
4. Listen to what the patient is telling you; never assume. Ex: if a patient complains of chest pain for the 5th time today you still need to take it seriously
5. Treat trends not transient findings: Ex: Never treat one blood pressure or one heart rate reading. You should treat a trend in BP readings Ex: treat BP 0800 120/80, 0900 110/70, 1000 100/60. If you have a patient who has a baseline of 120/80 and your current reading is 90/50 you should recheck that BP before treating it.
You all have really helped, I am going to try to do everything that was suggested.
I had an exam yesterday and I got an 80. It was my goal, I said I needed to get ATLEAST an 80 on my next 3 exams, 1 down 2 to go and a final. I really thought that I was going to do better than an 80 but It will have to do! Working on the exam already which will be Musculoskeletal, Renal and Cancer. Organizing first then starting my readings!
You all have really helped, I am going to try to do everything that was suggested.
I had an exam yesterday and I got an 80. It was my goal, I said I needed to get ATLEAST an 80 on my next 3 exams, 1 down 2 to go and a final. I really thought that I was going to do better than an 80 but It will have to do! Working on the exam already which will be Musculoskeletal, Renal and Cancer. Organizing first then starting my readings!
Thank you everyone!
Congrats on your test!
One thing I've learned in my program is that the devil is in the details. All the advice I've seen in this thread is awesome, but one thing I'd like to add is to not over think or "force" an answer to be right. Catching yourself trying to justify an answer with weak reasoning can save you sometimes. My personal habit: draw like crazy. I'm very visual so flow charts and arrows and diagrams really help organize my thoughts if a question has me boggled. It also helps organize what leads to what and where things are going or coming from.
Also: Take advantage of whatever tutoring or preparation sessions available to you through the school or program! Usually they're headed by students who have already been in your shoes and can really help get your thinking set in the right order. When in doubt, go to your professors. Nobody can give you guidance like they can.
Hey at my school the have accommodations for those with testing anxiety. I have them myself! Talk to your academic advisers about what your school offers, because although all schools have to comply with the American Disability Act or whatever, its my understanding that the rules are different. Not totally sure on that... Anyway at my school theres a coordinator that we have to talk to, she gives us a form and we take it to our doctor who signs it and *presto* accommodations! They may be able to give you paper tests, more review time, a private test taking setting, lots of stuff! Look into it, it may be what you need!
Your rationale on not studying a day before a test is true ....the whole day before I spent my day relaxing and watching law and order and surprise surprise I made a 84. As nursing students we know the info and sometimes when you overstudy that's when you run into the what if scenarios when answering questions.
justmeinlv
66 Posts
While I was in nursing school I tutored underclassmen. Here is some tips I give them for prioritizing questions.
1. Life before limb
2. Acute before chronic. Ex: Asthma before COPD or 8/10 pain before ABX for Pneumonia
3. Actual problems before potential problems. Ex: _____ actual problem before ______risk for problem. Keep that in mind even if the risk for sounds really good such as risk for aspiration
4. Listen to what the patient is telling you; never assume. Ex: if a patient complains of chest pain for the 5th time today you still need to take it seriously
5. Treat trends not transient findings: Ex: Never treat one blood pressure or one heart rate reading. You should treat a trend in BP readings Ex: treat BP 0800 120/80, 0900 110/70, 1000 100/60. If you have a patient who has a baseline of 120/80 and your current reading is 90/50 you should recheck that BP before treating it.