First Nursing School Test-Failed...

random13 · Sep 17, 2014

Welcome to nursing school! Not being funny, but I have been there! Be sure to check your book against what you answered. They are human and sometimes the book reading contradicts the the test answer. If you show it to them they may give credit. Also, remember your abc's when answering a question. Hang in there, it doesn't get easier, but you will get better. :)

Undone · Sep 17, 2014

Don't let this set the stage for the rest of your semester. Nursing exams are like no other exams. You've seen what they are like now, and hopefully they will review the rationals for your class. I saw many fellow classmates struggle with finding the answer they were supposed to give, it will come to you. You must be safe with your patients, that seems to be the main idea of fundamentals. It's good that you were only off by two points, you can make that up.

Like the other poster said, check your answers, if you can show you were right you may get credit for it.

Good luck !

NuGuyNurse2b · Sep 17, 2014

Also, remember your abc's when answering a question.

THIS. I had such a learning curve in Fundamentals, trying to look into the pathophysiology of the scenarios being asked that I didn't realize I was overlooking the obvious question that was really being asked. I know exactly the frustration you are having cause I went through that too. Our school didn't stress the abc's, instead they harked on Maslow's hierarchy, which I think makes it harder to answer those Fundamental questions than just plain remembering your abc's.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2014

THIS. I had such a learning curve in Fundamentals, trying to look into the pathophysiology of the scenarios being asked that I didn't realize I was overlooking the obvious question that was really being asked. I know exactly the frustration you are having cause I went through that too. Our school didn't stress the abc's, instead they harked on Maslow's hierarchy, which I think makes it harder to answer those Fundamental questions than just plain remembering your abc's.

If you think about it Maslows is ABC's....

Physiological Needs
These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food, and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met.

If they ain't breathin'....They ain't leaven'.

smf0903 · Sep 17, 2014

THIS. I had such a learning curve in Fundamentals, trying to look into the pathophysiology of the scenarios being asked that I didn't realize I was overlooking the obvious question that was really being asked. I know exactly the frustration you are having cause I went through that too. Our school didn't stress the abc's, instead they harked on Maslow's hierarchy, which I think makes it harder to answer those Fundamental questions than just plain remembering your abc's.

I agree! I did this exact thing lol. Then once it clicked in my head I realized airwayayirwayairway (our instructors always had "maintain patent airway" as a response for these questions. Always lol.)

PaulBaxter · Sep 17, 2014

I would think the only thing to do would be to look very specifically at the questions you missed and see either what you misunderstood or, conceivably, which answers disagree with your texts, as suggested above. Wrong answers are always a good learning opportunity.

MrsComboCurlz, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2014

I had my first nursing fundamentals test this morning. I felt pretty prepared for the test. I had studied everything I could think to study. Even as I was taking the test, I felt like it was not that difficult. The test had 50 multiple choice and 6 dosage calculation problems. I felt unsure of maybe 2-3 questions and I forgot one conversion factor for one of the math problems. I figured that my grade would probably be within the 80-90 % range for this test, based on that. My jaw dropped when my professor posted our test grades this evening. A 72!?? ( a 74 or lower is failing) I could not believe I did so poorly. I read the required readings, reviewed the power point slides, went over the NCLEX questions, lab reviews and the questions following each assigned reading section. I also used our school's Kaplan study software online. I'm not sure what more I could have done. I guess I did so poorly because I am just not used to this format of NCLEX style questions. In all of my previous courses I was an A student. Needless to say I feel pretty discouraged...Does anyone have and study advice for a new nursing student?

NS survival doesn't come easy. My 1st semester/Fundamentals I purchased the FA Davis "Fundamentals Success" and Saunders NCLEX-RN (Purple or Yellow cover, doesn't matter) after not doing so hot on my first exam. I suggest you do the same because you need to get into the practice of answering alot of nclex style questions under your belt. With each semester it only gets harder IMO. Those two books helped me alot, I passed with a "B", and I'm happy with that. Im taking MedSurg now and I'm still using my NCLEX-RN book along with new FA Davis "MedSurg success" and "Pharmocology success". Good luck to you...

Undone · Sep 17, 2014

Yes. Those books were the best study resource I found.

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2014

This book is how I passed Fundamentals of Nursing

http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Success-Applying-Critical-Thinking/dp/0803627793/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410979817&sr=8-1&keywords=Fundamentals+success

Buy it. Read it. Answer the questions.

imbatz, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2014

Similar experience with my second dosage cal exam. I thought I did perfect on it but I made one mistake that cost me. I passed but not to my personal standards. So far, I have had 2 Pharm, 1 Fundamentals and 3 dosage cal exams and here is what I figured out.

1. The easy As are for social science classes. To get an A in RN classes means I have to work my butt off. (93 or > for a A)

2. Except the fact that I might get a B and be okay with it.

3. Expose myself to the information a minimum of 3 times in 3 different ways. The lecture (for me) doesn't count as one of the ways.

4. Get some sleep before the test. Being tired leads to dumb errors.

5. Take your time while taking the test.

6. Select All that Apply answers are never just one and never all four.

7. Patient safety comes first.

I didn't know about the ABC's. For all of yall that mentioned that, thanks. Now, I need to go study for my first Assessment exam.