Failing med-surg!!

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Hi, well i am Not doing well in this class at all. Everyone was warning me about pharmacology, but they FORGOT TO mention how difficult med-surg is! Im a 1st semester nursing student, and I have a 67.5 average and we have one more test than the final. 40%. Its very strange because I have A's in all my other classes, so i know the teachers are wondering why AM I failing. Well not technically failing but, its below 70, which is what u need to pass. I really need help on HOW TO STUDY THIS STUFF. Ok, the 1st test i really didn't study because i had many personal problems, so i just sat around and cried for like 2 weeks. The 2nd test, i started studying during spring break, which started off good, but slacked off towards the weekend. I read the chapters, and study the notes but I think my problem is applying the material. I don't have any practice books, can someone recommend some tools they use to study for this class!:crying2:

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.

Saunders RN nclex review...

it helps to focus the knowledge on application and gets you into the right mind set just before the test. They are not a replacement for studying the material in full but after you have done so it's gravy and i think it helps ALOT. I don't go into any exam for MEd/Surg without having done all the nclex questions for the sections we are being tested on. Never test w/o it!

Mex

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Specializes in LTC, Cardiac Step-Down.

Sounds like you have some of the same problems I have with studying! I get bored and lazy about it too and it always comes back to bite my butt in the end. Having a dedicated study area and time helps me tremendously with this issue.

I echo the previous poster saying to get Saunder's review and start doing the questions that relate to the unit you're studying. Other student posters here on allnurses recommend the Nursing Made Incredibly Easy series if you're having trouble assimilating the information. Doing as many NCLEX-style questions as you can will really help you understand the information.

You may also want to consider getting with or starting a study group within your class. I guarantee you're not the only one having problems. Find people doing well in this class and maybe not so well in the classes you're good at and help each other. Teaching someone else is proven to be the best way to remember things!

If all else fails, you can always ask your instructors for help explaining concepts you're having a hard time with.

Hope that Helps!

Pepper

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Try nclex review books I did and went from a 70 onmt 1st test and a 90 on the second test. I got a mosbey with review on topics and a lot of pracice questions with rationals for every answer. Im in the same classes as you right now and Im always studying...good luck

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Also try "Straight A's in Med Surg", it helped me. Also the NCLEX books because that is where your teachers are going to get a lot of there questions from!

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

If it's any consolation, I'm having similar problems. I got a 74 on my first test and a 78 on the second one with 2 exams left in Med-Surg but I got a 90 on my OB exam without studying that much because it seems all common sense to me. I have now finally accepted that I have to know the pharmacologic interventions for the diseases covered on my exams inside and out if I want to do better. I think I do fine on the patho as well as s/sx but they don't go over the drugs in detail in class so I somehow always think that they aren't the biggest study point. I echo the studying with Saunders or a good review CD. My textbook has a website on Evolve and there are some outlines of the material as well as MP3s.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I also used NCLEX review books to study from all through school. I found them very helpful. Good luck.

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I just want to thanks everyone for there advice! I went from D's to an A, thanks to these books! THANKS SOO MUCH!!! I bought the sander's but i think it was too advanced for right now, but the books that was very helpful was med-surg made easy and lippincott's nclex rn review book as well as med-surg reviews and rationales...HIGHLY RECOMMEND!:coollook::up:

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I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR ADVICE. I went from D's to an A..thanks to these books! THe most helpful books were lippicotts nclex-RN review book, med-surg made easy, and med-surg reviews and rationales....THANKS AGAIN!!:up::coollook:

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