Hi all,I'm a first semester nursing student. My program has our first semester broken up into three courses. I have not been able to pass a single exam since beginning this program, except for my practical exams. I work really hard and all I do is study and go to school. I've managed to get A's and B's on all my pre-reqs but now I can not seem to get a 75% or above on any exam so far. I've been close, 74, 72, etc but not a 75% which is passing in my program. I'm feeling so discouraged right now because I keep taking advantage of all of my resources and really have been giving it my all. I don't know how to give more when I feel like I gave it my everything. I no longer discuss my grades with my peers and feel like the I'm the only one who is not passing any of these exams. I love clinicals and think that I will be very good at actual nursing, I just really don't know how to get through the nursing program. If anyone else could share their experience of struggling to pass in their first semester I would love to hear it.
KiggyPupPuff 24 Posts Oct 30, 2014 I just want to offer encouragement. You certainly don't have to discuss grades with classmates but don't feel weird. And don't think that there is no way to overcome.In going through the process of deciding to withdraw from my first semester of RN program, I found out so many resources that my school provides that I wish I had taken advantage of from year 1. My weakness is not lecture and theory but actual clinical performance, but I think some things I discovered are generally applicable to yours. (ie tailored to your situation)I don't have an answer for you but I have questions that you don't have to reply but just consider if you think they can help you. (No accusations, just establishing)1) Are you putting enough time in studying?2) What are your thoughts on talking to your instructors so that they can help you identify how you can study more efficiently?3) What do you think of the possibility of a tutor. (Note: At my school, RN students were paid by the program to tutor LPN students)4) How can you utilize your nursing advisor to trouble shoot. 5) What type of support programs does your school offer?Lastly, I just want to throw this out there in case in helps.I was actually well into my LPN year when I realized that going over lecture notes and slides (from the instructors) was not even close to enough - I had to buckle down and read the book. I'm an excruciatingly slow reader but by the end I relied more heavily on reading than lectures. After reading and the day before the test and the morning of, I would go over lecture powerpoints. Reading, I believe, helped a lot with my entrance exam to transition to RN.Wishing you lotsa luck.
Namaste883 9 Posts Nov 1, 2014 Thank you so much for your encouragement and sharing your experience. I actually reached out and spoke to my advisor and professors today about where I'm at. Unfortunately I have made the decision to withdrawal from my Fundamentals of Nursing course (that's our first semester clinical course 6 credits). Since I have not been able to pass a single exam we concluded it would be better to withdrawal to save my GPA and start back over again in the spring. They will hold a seat for me if I want to try it again, and for that I am really grateful. I too have discovered a little bit too late in the game of some of the resources I should have taken advantage of in the beginning of the semester such as testing accommodations to take my exams in a private room with more time. I like your suggestion about taking time to both spend on power points and notes in addition to reading the book. While I did spend an ample amount of time studying I never quite found that balance between spending enough time on both power points and textbook. I would either spend too much time on one of those and not enough of the other. I am going to look into private tutors also. I was in a tutoring group session which was helpful, however I believe a one on one tutoring session would probably be most beneficial. I'm certainly not ready to throw in the towel and quit as I know in my heart this is the right profession for me...unfortunately it may take me a little longer to complete than I would like. Sharing your experience really helps remind me that I am not alone with the struggles in nursing school. Thanks again for the encouragement!! I just want to offer encouragement. You certainly don't have to discuss grades with classmates but don't feel weird. And don't think that there is no way to overcome.In going through the process of deciding to withdraw from my first semester of RN program, I found out so many resources that my school provides that I wish I had taken advantage of from year 1. My weakness is not lecture and theory but actual clinical performance, but I think some things I discovered are generally applicable to yours. (ie tailored to your situation)I don't have an answer for you but I have questions that you don't have to reply but just consider if you think they can help you. (No accusations, just establishing)1) Are you putting enough time in studying?2) What are your thoughts on talking to your instructors so that they can help you identify how you can study more efficiently?3) What do you think of the possibility of a tutor. (Note: At my school, RN students were paid by the program to tutor LPN students)4) How can you utilize your nursing advisor to trouble shoot. 5) What type of support programs does your school offer?Lastly, I just want to throw this out there in case in helps.I was actually well into my LPN year when I realized that going over lecture notes and slides (from the instructors) was not even close to enough - I had to buckle down and read the book. I'm an excruciatingly slow reader but by the end I relied more heavily on reading than lectures. After reading and the day before the test and the morning of, I would go over lecture powerpoints. Reading, I believe, helped a lot with my entrance exam to transition to RN.Wishing you lotsa luck.
