Help! Nursing exams

The key to understanding nursing exams is that first you must memorize the information and then learn to use that information in application-based questions. The way you get better by doing application based questions is by doing them, over and over. I recommend getting the Saunders NCLEX book and MedSurg book as they provide thousands of questions to practice on. Heck, get the Davies one, too.

DON'T MEMORIZE. Understand what you are reading and review what you are not grasping. Focus. Are you an audio learner? It helped me to record lectures. Making my own flash cards helped me A LOT in passing Nursing school. I suggest you have a calendar for every month and write down when every single exam is and when assignments are due. Also write down clinical days and events you need to attend.. That way you are somewhat organized and know what you need to do. Take it 1 week at a time. Don't stress yourself out. Good luck to you.

Your problem is that the prereqs only required you to memorize what the professor was telling you. Now you actually have to learn and understand how to apply the material you learn. There is absolutely no need to buy any extra books. You tube is a great resource and so are the notes your instructor gives you. This is not about memorizing NCLEX questions right now. You need to understand the concepts. Maybe see if a tutor is available to help you understand. The NCLEX should be fairly easy if you can understand and apply what you learn.

My school does not offer tutors and the teacher refuses to go over tests unless you fail a test. As for other students, most are fresh out of high school and every topic ends up about which club is offering drink specials that night, so I generally tend to stick to myself to study. Someone mentioned a calendar; I have a calendar that I color coordinated to show when tests, clinicals, and assignments are due. I'm a visual learner and color coordinating really helps me. The math isn't a problem as I'm strong in math, just understanding the concepts of fluid & electrolytes. I read the chapters multiple times but couldn't tell you what I just read. Most of the signs and symptoms are really similar and I guess I just have to learn which IV fluid replacement to give the patient. With only a week to learn it along with 4 other chapters, it can be overwhelming. I've already passed my psychiatric nursing class with a 91 B, so I'm not sure why the fundamentals tests are kicking my butt and psychiatric nursing was so easy for me. Most of my classmates come to me for help in clinicals or their mental health class because it just clicks for me and I understand it, but there's nobody I can go to for help in fundamentals.