Help - scared nursing student

jparkinsonrn · Oct 23, 2000

Calm down!!! How did others in the class do? You are further along in your program now, perhaps a new look at study strategies now. This instructor may have a unique style or pattern of questions, his or her focus may be directed toward strengthening not just basic knowledge but the cummulative use of knowledge from not just this course but that of others you have already experienced in the curriculum. Saddly this is the world of nursing you will face after graduation, just when we feel so comfortable in our knowledge base another patient comes along to challenge us. Best of luck EMAIL me if I ca be of any help. jeff

hollykate · Oct 23, 2000

I'm in agreement with Jeff above. Also, I recommend you go to the instructor and communicate with him/her about this exam. Go over the test with the teacher- sometimes they will have a different insight- or see a pattern. Going to the prof does two things: it gets you the best help you can get (from the person who wrote the exam) and it shows the professor that you are serious about your studies.

I am always one to say do not stress over grades, but I agree, it is important to get passing ones. However, this is only one exam- you will probably do just fine, with some review of why you missed what you missed and perhaps as Jeff suggests, changing the way you study? Best WIshes, don't worry too much, just take some action.

CVSDnurse · Oct 23, 2000

Relax!! When I was in nursing school I always gave myself the OK to blow the first test. You need to see it as your first experience in seeing how this particular instructor writes their exams-learn form it and you will be fine. You will see that from tests to care plans, what is right for one instructor is unacceptable to another.

Just make sure you learn from this test so you can pull that grade up with the others that will follow. You need to sit down and evaluate if it was that you studied the wrong topics, misunderstood the questions or what ever the problem is. Also, meet with this teacher and discuss the exam. They really are on your side and will help. As the above post notes, the insrtuctors will be more impressed by your drive to be good and an ability to admit that you don't know everything, rather than just "trying to get by". This will hold true for any job you ever take too! Good luck!

spitfire · Oct 23, 2000

MES, I HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION AT THE SCHOOL I WENT TO,WE NEEDED A 79 OR ABOVE TO PASS.NO EXTRA CREDIT WAS GIVEN FOR ATTENDENCE,PARTICIPATION ETC..TESTS COUNTED FOR ABOUT 70% OF OUR GRADES,THANK GOD WE ALSO DID NURSING PROCESS PAPERS.THESE ALWAYS BROUGHT MY GRADE UP.I FOUND THAT I READ INTO THE QUESTION BEING A CNA. FIND A STUDY PARTNER JUST ONE OR TWO-MORE THAN THAT AND YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME SHOOTING THE BREEEZE.ARE THE TESTS THOSE DAMN CRITICAL THINKING TYPES?WHEN YOU TAKE NOTES IN CLASS HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING THAT THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON OR WRITE ON THE BOARD.YOU MUST KNOW THE PATHO OF A DISEASE BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.LASTLY I BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE STUDY FOR THE NYCLEX BOOKS USED THEM TO HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT POINTS ON ANY DISEASES.THEY BREAK IT DOWN INTO THE NURSING PROCESS SO IT IS EASY TO STUDY.GO TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR AND GET ADVICE.TALK WITH A SENIOR NURSING STUDENT THEY CAN GIVE YOU THE SCOOP ON WHAT WORKED FOR THEM.JUST REMEMBER THOSE DAMN TESTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT TYPE OF A NURSE YOU WILL BE.spitfire

babs_rn · Oct 24, 2000

It will be ok, I promise you. There will be tests in classes that you will be relieved to have achieved a passing grade on. The toughest thing about the first test in any class, nursing or not, is the fact that you don't know how the professor tests, or what he/she considers important. When I was in school we had at least one test per week and each test covered over 20 chapters of reading!! There comes a point when your brain is just completely saturated. As a result, it was two years after graduation before I could stand to even pick up a magazine to read for pleasure! I was just so, so burned out on reading so much.

One important point when dealing with nursing instructors: never let 'em see ya sweat. Talk with them, sure. Let them see you are trying and putting 110% into it. But don't let them see any personal weaknesses. They will feed on them and try to weed you out. I've seen it happen too many times. If you don't have confidence (and you're too early in the game to have developed that yet), FAKE IT. Don't be afraid to ask questions, just do it in a way that shows that you have thought it through and are a strong individual who just needs a point to be made clear. Trust me on this. Be strong and show yourself to be a thoughtful student and a hard worker and you will do just fine.

Best of luck.

Babs

babs_rn · Oct 24, 2000

Let me just add one more thing: one of the above posts is correct in suggesting you get NCLEX books to help you study. Also talk with students ahead of you in the program and see what inside information you can get. For example: I had an instructor who was known to lecture out of the text we had (Brunner), but tested out of another one that wasn't available to us in the bookstore (Littman). Not fair, but true. We all managed to find old Littmans around. It helped a lot. I also had a psych nursing exam that I recognized to be verbatim from the Mosby NCLEX prep book. They will pull stuff like that on you.

Babs

dazedandconfused · Oct 24, 2000

Ok, take a deep breath and relax. I have to agree with the advise that everyone has suggested. Check your study habits, get a buddy, and above all go to the prof. Let them know that you are concerned about your grade. If they know you are really trying, they will help you. I have a hard time with tests myself. I would be so scared that I would get ill. I had a few understanding instructors that help me through.(To this day I am thankful) I put the effort into it, and they helped with directing me to the right path. Good Luck with the rest of your exams. You will pull through it, I have faith

MES · Oct 24, 2000

Thank you all so much for even responding - it helped me so much - I was feeling so alone and disappointed in myself. I will request a meeting with my professor when I see him on Thursday - he does not have voicemail. I also made plans to meet a girl and I made flash cards last night from my lecture yesterday and I had just bought an NCLEX book - thanks so much and I hope to be able to help someone too someday as you all did!!!!

iloveer · Oct 25, 2000

Relax, you will do fine! Most nurses that I have know have all felt that nursing school was way too intimidating! Try enhancing your test taking skills. Remember, sometimes there will be 2 correct answers, they are looking for the BEST answer! And always remember your ABC's (airway, breathing, circulation--in that order) when taking tests. That is always your priority, also for those Nsg Dx too! If you are allowed to write on your tests try this: have a highlighter pen with you when taking the test. Place a blank piece of paper over the answers and read the question FIRST. Highlight any KEY words that stand out. They are always there, especially trick words like: best, exception of, which ONE, etc. Answer the question in your head BEFORE you read the answer choices. If one of the answer choices is the one one have already chosen in your head--that's probably the right one! But, be sure and highlight those KEY words. NCLEX books are good study tools for understanding how to take these tests. They also have tips in them for test taking and hints on what instructor's are really looking for. Good luck! I know it's great to get good grades, but just because you got great grades in school, doesn't mean your'e a good nurse--we all know that! And remember: "C=RN" (C as in the grade C)!

bluesgirl · Oct 26, 2000

Hey girl,

You may have test panic--

go to learning resourses center----it's called the better wAy--the better A--something like that--teaches you--better ways to study--but agree with some-- learn your teacher--take a child to class--ie see how much I have to deal with--never let them see you sweat--never tell them a weakness, ask them what do I do?--Make great notecards and read the fine points on the way to class--tape them--listen if you learn audibly--read if you learn visually--get a good study partner----get a support system--study partner, same thing---show enthusiasm, don't be late and don't leave early---they always cram the last bit of test in the last five minutes of class--take notes on last 5 10 minutes of class--it will be on test.

blues