Help! Failing my first semester of nursing school!

[nursing_potato]

I'm currently studying for my finals, but one class that I'm currently struggling in is Pharmacology (they took it back into the program after 5 years of being discontinued due to students complaining its difficulty) and after the HESI that we just took (which I failed) I have to get over a 100 on my final just to pass my course to a 78%. Any less than that, they'll kick us out since the passing rate is a 78%, so I don't know whether to even try studying for it. I've read some other topics that were in my position and I'm still disappointed in myself for not being able to pass this semester (my parents are even blaming me for not studying harder). I've worked really hard to get into the program since it's really competitive to get in and with all the work I've done, I feel like it wasn't enough.

I have friends who took the exams with ease and I just feel like they're naturally smart, especially one that's working in the weekends (she even went to a concert!) and she's still passing her classes with high 80's. I know I'm not supposed to compare myself to them, but I'm in a really hard predicament right now so I don't know what else to think, like why can't I be like that smart. I'm also bummed that I won't be with them for the next semester.

I've tried studying in study groups and even asked other people for help (including my mother who's a nurse but she hardly sees me since I'm mostly in school and/or she works since she takes night shifts in two hospitals), but for some reason, the information just doesn't stick. I know that I'm lacking in my testing skills since I knew the information but can't apply it to the question so I'm always constantly bickering to myself inside my head between two answers. I've read some test-taking strategies and it helped somewhat but I was still struggling.

If any of you guys mention, that nursing isn't for me, it is. I love watching my patients smile during my clinical (they've sent me blessings and a good luck in nursing school, so I feel bad for disappointing them) and I especially love taking care of old people (or people in general). My role model is my mother who is currently a nurse and she works twice as hard since my dad is the one who takes care of my brother and me at home by doing housework. The more I think about that, the more I feel like a burden because my mom has been buying me books to get me through the semester (especially a monthly subscription picmonic for pharm) and she's the one who's been paying for my classes and books included. (I'm planning on getting a part-time job to see if I can help)

Sorry this seems like a rant, but I've been so down lately that I don't know what to do anymore and I feel like a failure. I've been trying to keep up my positivity in the first half of the semester but I finally broke down by the near second half. I still want to pursue nursing and I don't want to give up, but I would have to wait for another semester to reapply again and I feel like I would've used that semester as a student in the second level... so if anyone has anything or suggestions to help me get through, it'll be highly appreciated! Please and thank you!

[Neo Soldier, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry you're going through this. If this first semester doesn't go as you planned, please consider (if you haven't) taking the CNA exam and getting certified. You may not need to take a CNA course since you've had a semester of nursing school. This way while you wait you can get immersed in patient care and make some money. If you do take the CNA exam, know that there is a skill section where you show your skills; you can watch videos online so you get a general idea of how a skill is performed. I think having a job may be therapeutic as opposed to waiting for another semester to come by. You say you intend to work part time anyway why not use some of the skills you acquired during your first semester.

Working at a job while you're a CNA also has the added benefit of you having a possible job when you graduate and get your RN license. So while many go through the awkward new-grad-job-search phase, you have your foot in somewhere.

Please consider applying to other schools in your area besides yours. It may be better to go to a different school because there are schools that may only allow you to fail once.

A helpful strategy for nursing school is to study practice test questions and read rationales. This will improve your test taking skills especially for the select all the apply ones. YouTube is a helpful resource for content you are struggling with.

I wish you good luck and a happy holiday!!

[angeloublue22, BSN, RN]

nursing_potato said:

@angeloublue22

I heard that med/surg is hard (I have it in the first rotation of my second semester if I passed my classes) but what books did you guys use for your class for Pharmacology? because does it matter what kind of books you guys used compared to ours?

We just used a basic pharmacology textbook. I used flash cards and youtube.

[nursing_potato, ADN, LVN, RN]

angeloublue22 said:

We just used a basic pharmacology textbook. I used flash cards and youtube.

Did you all read about 9 chapters for each exam that's given to you as well? In the beginning I overstudied until I realized after each and every exam what to study for (but also because he changes the way he questions us since a lot of us were failing)