Having A Tough Time In Ns, Need Some Encouragement And Advice

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the semester is almost over and i majorly flunked a test in my nursing fundamentals class:o:uhoh21:. i made a 76% and a 64% :madface:on the second test. i just feel like giving up. i put my all into studying for that second test and it just didn't pay off. there is classmates in my class who just look at it once and can pass a test with flying colors. my midterm adverage in that class is a 70%. we have to have 75% to pass the class. i still have one more test and a final to take. i am just scared to death that i have worked so hard to get here and then its going to be up to the final test if i can continue next semester. it is just so discouraging. the final scares me because i haven't had a comprehensive exam in a long time. i just feel like a failure! i am so afraid my career is going to be over this semester.

I am sorry to hear that you are having a tough time in the class.

I can relate to everything you are saying. The nursing program is difficult but the solution is not to give up. In fact it gets more difficult as you progress through the program. baskerlover9173, you have to believe in yourself. You are not a failure, you are just having a difficult time with the concepts in the class.

Here are some strategies that have worked for me:

1. Buy or borrow two or three NCLEX books & CDs and work through the questions.

2. Get a tape recorder and tape the class. Listen to the tapes while driving or grocery shopping or when you are working out at the gym.

3. Meet with your instructor and go through the test questions you got wrong. Ask her to explain why the answers are correct.

4. When you are studying, ask yourself questions from the material. For example if the topic is about inflammation, start with the basics. What is inflammation? Then turn the question around and ask it in a different way. Eg. What is the body's response to cellular injury?

Continue in the same manner with the rest of the questions.

What am i going to see when there is an injury to a cell?

why is their redness, pain and edema at the site?

what is edema? Why is their edema at a site of inflammation?

What complaints can i expect from a patient with inflammation?

What should i do about their complaints?

Which signs during inflammation does a physician need to be contacted?

5. Start studying early, keep up with the reading.

6. If it helps start studying in a group. No more than three people.

Finally, dont memorise the information, try to instead understand the concepts. Ask yourself why does this happen, what should i do when it does, what should i not do.

I wish you all the best. Please let us know how things worked out for you.

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Specializes in ICU.

The way NS school is organized is that everything you learn in one semester will be built upon the following semesters...........you'll see cirrhosis in med/surg and then again in critical care but the approach is different. It becomes important to learn the material as best as possible the first time around if at all possible.

I have other post on this site that tells the manner that I study and I'm a senior honors student, but it's not easy and I said "goodby" to any real kind of life until I finished NS.

You can do it though, and that is the first step you have to make in order to get it done.......know you can do it, don't just "think" you can..........know you can. Focus on the important things, the students making better grades can tell you where you need to focus, just ask.

When you in lectures follow in the book with the professors and highlight the material they lecture on in your book............since I never sell my school books I always have a constant reference libary (yup I even have my fundamental/assessment test books). If you have been going over the materail 3 times to get what you have gotten then double it, and go over it 6 times. If you get test anxiety then going over the material until you know it front and back will prevent those feelings from creeping in.

Remember "real" nurses don't give up.........ever. And if your ever a patient in a hospital then you'll appreciate that.

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Hello all,

I want to say thanks for all the helpful posts. I see that I have fellow NS out there that care. I met with my advisor yesterday and she had me all tore up. She wanted me to drop my class's completely and start over next year. Right now my standing in the class's are 70% in one class and 73% in another class. I still have one test to take in both class's and also have a final in both. I am really scared but I have chose to tough it out. I feel that I can get a 75% average. I am going to bust my but these last 6 weeks to do this. This is what I want to do I don't want to bail out now because I know it is possible. I hope you all agree with my decision.

Thanks Again. I will keep you all posted.

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Specializes in Med-Tele, Internal Med PCU.

Talk to your INSTRUCTOR(S), they can help you identify your problems in preparing/testing.

Look at the top of the student page, there are threads that stay at the top (posties), one of them addresses test prep and test taking. Look through the thread to see if any of the advice works for you.

Lastly, and most importantly. Do what you can and then RELAX.

Here is a little story about NS in general ... my classmate has her MBA an is now in our ADN program ... she was in a similar position as you, and her academic background is a 3.75GPA in Accounting and her MBA work. The bottom line is that NS is a differant animal to other classes you've taken.

Good luck.

Kevin

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Don't give up yet!! I'm currently in my 3rd semester (of 5) and it definitely doesn't get any easier, but as you go through, you learn what the most important stuff to study is and how the questions will be asked. The best thing one of my instructors said is to cover the answers to the questions before you read them. After you've read it, what is the first thing that comes to mind that you would do for that patient (basically, what is your initial response).QUOTE]

That's great advice if you're basically one of those students who doesn't have to worry about time. I did this on my last test, did fine on the questions I actuallyu read and answered but then ran out of time. It was my slowest time and worst grade yet. We have about 1 minute per question and I had to guess on the last 30 questions (without reading them)

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I wanted to let you know that I am in my nursing foundations class and nearing the end of it. Started out with 2 failing tests, which is not my norm at all. And I studied hard. The nclex style questioning style just kept throwing me off. I met with the teacher, and asked her to have tutoring for me. After working at this, I passed my next test, with an 88, then a midterm with a 93, then the next test even better. I wanted to let you know, remember you are here to learn, so go learn, no matter what it takes. I felt like a failure too, but then I decided that I am here to learn, so I am willing, and the teacher's know when you are serious. So give yourself a break, remember that you are there to learn, and do whatever it takes. It is hard, and embaressing. I had 2 friends that made me feel like crap for not passing immediately, and weren't supportive, but remember you are here for you. Keep going. I hope that this will encourage you to keep trying.

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