Freaking out!

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2006

I am laughing my rear off! You said you are 20 and drinking but nothing illegal. Isn't drinking illegal if you are under 21 where you are from? I am totally playing with you, no harmful pretense here! That just had me rolling on the floor!!!

Congrats on graduation! I'm still trudging through the last 3 semesters, so I have no words of wisdom for you. Good luck!!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2006

I know I graduated so I have to KNOW this stuff, but I cannot seem to get above about a 65% when I do practice questions with either mosby's or Saunder's. It's really hurting my confidence here for NCLEX. I couldn't ever pass a HESI either, except for peds.

Well, getting 65% on Saunder's may be an indication you don't know everything you should. It's not unusual for schools to go lightly on areas of content in favor of other, more complicated areas. Then you need to go back and fill in the blanks. Concentrate on learning the content from this review book; it's excellent for learning material you either should have or just didn't in school. From there, you can move to harder, more complex questions using other guides (ie: Kaplan).

I will admit that it is partly my fault. I'm only 20 and since I'm graduated I did quite a bit of celebratory partying these past few weeks. Im so young and feel like these are my years to do this. (Please note that when I say partying I mean strictly drinking...no illegal substances involved whatsoever)

Partly? Is someone forcing you to go out drinking (illegally at age 20) instead of studying? I don't want to come down on you hard, that's not my intent, but please don't fall into the "I'm young and this is my time to party" trap. It is your time to STUDY if you hope to become a nurse soon!

Grr...I'm just frustrated mostly right now. I thought I knew a lot, yet when I do my questions I don't do too well. Not to mention I use the internet quite a bit to look up some of the answers.

Well, the Saunder's scores suggest you need to focus on the areas you missed. Doesn't mean you WON'T know them when it comes time for NCLEX, just that you need to focus on them now, then move to critical-thinking questions. What do you mean by you use the internet to look up answers? Do you do this to find the answers before the test is scored...and you're not really reaching a 65%? Or you look them up that way afterward? The rationales provided for each correct and incorrect response should be a reasonably good source of "why".

This board is a great resource; there's lots of people studying the same material and bouncing ideas around. Get in the game! :)

LoriAlabamaRN · Jul 31, 2006

My advice is to be incredibly careful with your "only alcoholic beverages" activities. If you get caught drinking underage, you will have a long wait before you can get your nurse's license.

pinky1908 · Aug 11, 2006

Hey kind of sounds like we went to the same school. I had to finish my questions (I had 2000) so I could take my HESI exit retake before graduation. I was also getting nervous about my scores on my pratice questions because they were low plus before I took the NCLEX (on 8/3) I was doing pratice questions and getting down to two choices and was choosing the wrong one. I was really starting to doubt myself.

So here are my words of wisdom: YOU KNOW THIS STUFF

even if you are getting the questions wrong focus on the rationale and the thinking behind the question. This is part of your studying thats why they have us do the questions because it helps you with your critical thinking skills.

Take everything one step at a time. Finish your questions first. If you have to retake your HESI exit then do that. Allow a couple hours a day to study and do review questions. Don't stress yourself out trying to study every hour of the day. You still have time before the your ATT will be issued (once you finish the schools requirements) mine took two weeks after graduation and that is because I called them.

Once you get your ATT and schedule you date them step up the studying but still allow time to rest.

The day before the test relax during the test relax if it seems confusing stop take a breath close you eye when you open them things will seem much clearer. I did that alot during my test and I passed and so will you.

Wish you luck