Help...I CAN'T fail nursing school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nicole109 · Mar 6, 2010

I think it's terrible that some of you are assuming that the people who are failing aren't trying hard enough, or don't know their stuff, or some other method of laziness...we've all been through nursing school and know that it's another dimension of hell! I totally sympathize with the original poster--and if you've never been through a situation like this, then I don't think that you've got a leg to stand on--I'm not 100% blaming the instructor, but sometimes they do have a huge part in the problem...I failed A&P II in nursing school and was a 3.5 student prior to that class. My instructor gave our exams on 2 different days--with one day of lecture in between, much of the material covered on the exam was covered on that day of lecture for the first time. It wasn't any wonder that the entire group of Day One exam takers failed the class and the entire group of Day Two exam takers passed. We went to our department head after every exam to complain, and all of our complaints fell on deaf ears--2 semesters later when the same pattern repeated itself, she resigned. We had no syllabus, so no way of looking ahead to prepare ourselves for the next class, we "studied, and knew our stuff", the stuff we were taught, it was the other stuff, that we didn't know...

dudette10, MSN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

We all know that there are varying levels of teaching skill (which is a skill set unto itself) in NS, and we all know that some students get upset with the teacher only based on their own grade rather than looking critically at their own study process and effort. I sort of approach it this way: I can't do anything about the teaching skill of the teacher, but I can adapt to it. Sometimes, adaptation with a REALLY bad teacher means studying three times as hard as I would have to with a good teacher. Oh, well...that's what is required. I just address the lack of quality teaching upon end-of-course evaluation.

1) The first test/evaluation with an instructor is always nerve-wracking because you simply don't know what to expect! For the first tests, take good notes at the review session and overstudy for the exam. Prepare yourself for application questions by taking special note of s/s for disease states and the clinical differences between closely related disease states. Keep in mind priority/triage skills for those pesky "what should you do first" questions.

2) Use the post-test review to learn how the instructor thinks. If she writes her own tests, this is CRITICAL for a good performance on application-type questions. If you think like her, you're good to go. If you don't, ask her to give you the rationale for her thinking in choosing that answer. You can also add, "Thank you. I was thinking of it this way..." Debating answers will make you look like a whiner. Asking what she thinks, then adding on how YOU thought makes you look like you have carefully thought through your answers. Who knows...she might reconsider the test question!

I've come to the conclusion that there's no "right" answer, within obvious limitations. Just look at questions posed on this board, which is chock full of experienced nurses. You will sometimes get two or three different priorities all with solid rationale!

3) For clinical evaluations, take the instructor's criticism, then ask, "Upon next review, what areas do you expect to see improvement from me?" "Can you give me an example of what I will need to do differently?" Again, you can't change the teacher...you can only change yourself. Enter into the evaluations as a chance for improvement.

If you truly have a nasty teacher, it will become obvious with her comments. Keep in mind the difference between true nastiness vs. constructive criticism given in a less-than-smiling tone! True nastiness is, "You're not very smart, and you'll never make it through this."* Constructive criticism is, "You seem lost. You need to focus on blah, blah, blah." In essence, is she giving you information about where to improve? If not, it's nastiness. If she is, it's constructive criticism.

*This is what happened with a fellow student. My advice to her was, "If the instructor is nasty like that again, say, 'I am quite confident in my level of intelligence, so your opinion of my IQ is of little consequence. What I need from you is specific examples of how I addressed certain clinical situations and what you would expect my decisions to be with improvement. I am here to learn; not be insulted and summarily dismissed. Insults with dismissiveness is not a good evaluative technique."

(The nasty ones usually don't know how to deal with assertive, unflappable, always-professional students during evaluations! :heartbeat)

4. Know how to study. Studying is a skill. This became obvious to me when a group of very generous students put together a study guide based on one awful teacher's review for a final. I received the study guide and it was obvious these students were studying their butts off...but the review guide was badly organized and only included a list of facts to memorize. Focus on concepts...not memorization. When you're talking about body systems and the myriad ways they can altered, a better approach is understanding the main concepts of alterations, reading over the details, and seeing the concepts as a whole that is altered. For example, in many systems, inflammatory processes go awry. Feedback loops that keep the healthy body in homeostasis become the cornerstone of many disease states. It's sort of like a wrench in the machinery. That wrench screws EVERYTHING up! What is the wrench? What did it change? What is the cascade of events that the wrench started/halted? Those are the main concepts...the details naturally flow from that if you have a solid understanding!

5. For clinicals, review the instructor's expectation and MEET THEM. If she expects you to know a, b, and c when you arrive, know it! Prepare, prepare, prepare. Did I mention prepare?

6. If you are prepared, you will most likely not ask a "dumb" question...a question you should have already known the answer to. For example, we were asked to do pupil evaluation during our last clinical rotation for our care plans. I included it, and during my evaluation, my instructor asked me, "How did you know PERRLA? Many other students said they didn't include it because they didn't know what it was." I answered, "You mentioned it, it was only glossed over in lecture [by another instructor], so I googled." YES, sometimes you need to pursue information further than having it spoon-fed to you during lecture. Understand that, and move forward!

Hope this was helpful!

chevyv, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

When so high a percentage of students fail, that should make that instructor take a long hard look at how he/she is teaching the material. Unfortunately, the students who fail have no way of benefitting from this look. If it continues, the instructor (who is probably tenured) will be looked at if enough students step forward for a few semesters.

I do agree with other posters when they are telling you to know your stuff. Seek out help right away if you need it. Don't wait until you have too many failings behind you. Spend time with the instructor during office hours as well. Learn what she wants from the student and give it her. Sometimes it's more about learning the instructor than the material. Sad, but it does happen. Good luck to you :redbeathe

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

I had a teacher just like this in NS. Many people failed her class much more than in your case. It only motivated me that much more to study. That's what I had to do and it wasn't a problem, I actually made a 'B' in her class. Furthermore, I didn't think she was that bad. I heard all this talk about how hard she was, but really, it wasn't any harder than any other class.

Form Your OWN OPINION !! Just study hard and you'll make it.

katkonk, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

Well written, dudette!

carecrafter · Mar 7, 2010

sorry I didn't respond sooner - I have had my nose in the books !

I honestly don't remember (brain fatigue) but I will say that I have a BS in another subject so I am no rookie at this school business. I have also done a lot of teaching and usually side with the instructors on things. Trust me, this one is extreme. From the beginning there have been students kicking and screaming over every little thing and that was extremely frustrating to watch. But this is different.........I don't know - I'll reserve judgement for now and see how things develop.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2010

Keep us posted! Good luck!!!!

HumptyDumpty · Mar 12, 2010

Someone please help me...I am about to get into Med Surg III at ECPI...and the instructor we will most likely have is....well let me just say the last term...9 people out of 20 failed her class. If anyone has had her..MRS. B...I know I can't say her name but if someone had her then they will know who I am talking about by using MRS.B. She ain't no joke. So someone please help me out with any information about how I need to prepare for her. I can't fail...I have come so far. Please any info will help.

Well my dear, I am sorry that you are so worried about failing nursing school for a class you havent even taken yet. But here is the solution. If this makes you this anxious, leave the profession now because it will get much worse. Hardees is always hiring people to make biscuits, and the best part is that they are usually premade!

carecrafter · Mar 12, 2010

Ok - wow - what a compassionate response! :uhoh3:

This is a place where it is ok to post your "freak outs" and I think you should disregard that very UNhelpful last post. Its very legitimate to worry when you come across circumstances that indicate things aren't as they should be. Take a deep breath, plunge into, give it your all and trust yourself.

And ignore smart alecks!

Ecpi Raleigh 07/09 · Oct 19, 2010

UPDATE: This was the BEST INSTRUCTOR I COULD HAVE HAD. She was AWESOME...She was VERY FIRM AND STRICTED but her teaching styles were amazing. I will always remember this lady. She taught me so much. Most importantly...She taught me to not judge someone by there book or by other's...It's always better to give that book a try!

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 19, 2010

What a great update! I take this to mean you passed?

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Oct 19, 2010

So glad to hear you ended up having a good time with her!