How to deal with the stress of not passing your first semester of Nursing School

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Hello Everyone,

First I would like to say, I know that this topic has been discussed on many threads. I totally understand why.  So many people who want to become a RN fight so hard to become accepted into the program and once the are accepted into the program, you expect it to be like A&P or BIO or Micro, but you soon realize that it is like nothing else that you’ve experienced.  Another reason why there are so many threads about failing nursing school or being kicked out of the program is the therapeutic side of talking about it. Getting those terrible feeling of failure out. Hoping that someone will comment on your thread who has felt the pain of not passing the first semester.  Fortunately I have the opportunity of retaking the semester over the Summer and it will keep me on track for graduation in 12/2022.   So, one of the main driving forces to passing the exams is confidence.  You have to believe in yourself!! But, how are you able to continue to believe in yourself if you didn’t pass 1st semester??  Maybe I just need sometime. I know one thing for sure I’m not giving up. Even though I feel like a total and complete failure. 

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Yes a failure is disappointing.... you take some time to get over it and then move on - this is natural.

But you already have a great attitude by expressing "I know one thing for sure I'm not giving up." YES - this is what will keep you moving forward and will make you succeed. 

Also be thankful that you will be allowed to complete the coursework during the Summer and move forward with your cohort - you can find many posts here on AllNurses - and the program I attended - where courses are only offered once a year, thus if you do happen to be unsuccessful and need to repeat a course you are delayed an entire year. So you can already be ever so thankful that you are not facing that situation and forced to brood on this for an entire year. 

Best of luck -- you got this. 

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203bravo,

Thank you so much for responding to my comment. Your absolutely correct. I have read many post that people have left stating that they where kicked out of the program for failing and would have to wait an entire year to reapply. So, I’m not going to dwell on my failure and consider this a second chance.  This second chance will provide me the opportunity to become a even more knowledgeable student, because that is so important.  It isn’t about me failing it about me having all of the tools I need to take care of my patients.  This is a very serious and rewarding career. I will literally be responsible for people’s lives so I do understand the need for reaching for mastery on all concepts.  I expressed to my clinical professor how my competitive side tends to get in the way of my progress. To clarify what I’m saying. Knowing that another cohort received an A on a exam versus me getting a C+.  My professor says “ At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if some graduated with honors or if another student just barely made it.” “You all will be RNs.” “Your patient isn’t going to know the difference.” “Your patient will just expect you to know what your doing and will you be able to take care of them.” That advice really put things into perspective. Not to get caught up in the competitiveness. Just try to do your best because at the end of the day we will all be at the same level, we will all have the same title of RN. As I said before writing about it is very therapeutic for me.  I know I will not give up and I know I will continue to work hard. I just have to get out of this funk and believe in myself. 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Small suggestion , and please understand this is made in the interest of making your path smoother. Don’t get fluffed over “grammar police.”

Like it or not, your faculty and others like future employers WILL care about your written work. If English is not your first language, please take the time to stop by the language lab or whatever they call it at your college and ask for help with missing words and homonyms. For example, 
Your/You’re and 

6 hours ago, SoontobeRN2022 said:

... the opportunity to become an even more knowledgeable student, because that is so important.  It isn’t about me failing, it’s about my having all of the tools I need ...

Best of luck to you. A good attitude will take you far. 

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Hannahbanana,

Thank you for pointing out my English faux pas’s! Yes, English is my first language and I totally understand the need for accuracy. With urgency and excitement and raw feelings coming across virtually. I just didn’t take the extra step with this forum, but I will in the future.

Thank you again!! 

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Specializes in oncology.

We did a study at my nursing school looking at the variables for passing boards. The most important statistics were the first and semester grades. First semester is all about comfort and safety. These 2 concepts are the underpinnings of NCLEX. I wish all well for this Summer. You have already learned a lot and can build on it.

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londonflo,

That’s great information I will pass this on. I’m shooting for Mastery from this point forward.  As, I mentioned previously. I’m using this opportunity as a restart, but knowing what to except. 
 
Thank you for responding!!

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So im having an issue.  during the pandemic we had online nursing school.  Not the same education we would be getting if we were at the school in person.  It's a lot harder, yet the grading system is the same.  I feel that we should be given some leniency due to the fact that it is VERY DIFFERENT than in person learning.  The teachers just read off the power points, and expected us to come in for a full head to toe Assessment on a SIM guy, and we never once had hands on experience with him. For my physical assessment class, our teacher was asking questions that didn't even apply to an RN.  example, one question was,

You are giving a rectal exam and you palpate a mass.  What do you do?

a. do nothing

b. document your finding and continue with the exam

c. stop the exam and refer them to a specialist

d.I don't remember this answer but it was wrong anyway

 

I chose B because as an RN we cannot refer patients to specialists.  but the correct answer was C. you would document  your finding and continue with the exam and then go get the doctor and then he would refer to the specialist.  I ended up with a 74 for the semester because of questions like this! Do you think I would have a case to appeal my grade, and not just because of this, but also because of the fact that some students were allowed retakes of exams and others aren't.  In the beginning of the semester they said absolutely no retakes.  Why is it okay for some and not for all?  I passed pharm and fundamentals, and now have to wait a year to repeat physical assessment.  clinicals is all physical assessment which I ROCKED! but its only a pass/fail.  My head to toe assessment I ROCKED as well, yet its only a pass/fail.  I know this is a lot and all over the place, im just so upset because I know what the heck im doing, like many other students who didn't pass for the same reason, its just frustrating. Should I give it a shot and appeal, and maybe appeal together? 

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Specializes in oncology.
49 minutes ago, RNcomingS00N said:

I chose B because as an RN we cannot refer patients to specialists. 

Yes you can make referrals and that action would be in the best interests (safety) of the patient, 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

You can absolutely request an evaluation from a specialist, PT, dietary, social work, whatever you determine is in your patient's best interests based on your RN nursing assessment. Anybody gives you stick about it, refer them to the AJN scope and standards of practice which is binding on all US RNs regardless of state of licensure.

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Yes, but you can’t right then and there tell them to see a specialist. I thought the doctors, or nurse practitioners can only refer right away, or am I confused?

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Specializes in oncology.

It is always so hard to not succeed with what you love, and it really hurts even more if you did not think it was a level playing field. From what you described you are great with thinking, assessing and performing on your feet. If you feel you need additional help with answering test questions, please seek out that help from your college. Believe me "Student Success Departments" know how tough a nursing test can be.

Years ago, my college required a book that really discussed the mystique of test questions. I gotta tell you I so wish I had that book 40 years ago when I was trying to scrutinize test questions. The book is this:

Test-Taking Strategies for the Beginning Nursing Students by Hoefler Patricia A. (2008-01-01) Paperback 

It is old but I really believed that it helped students answer communication questions, nursing process questions, etc. When it went out of print I bought it from our NCLEX successful graduates and sold  it to the next group...all at the same buy/sell cost. I was not a bookstore and made no money on this action. I just saw the benefit of this basic book for the students in their first and second semester. It is NOT an NCLEX prep book.

Anyways it is just a suggestion: 

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/test-taking-strategies-for-the-beginning-nursing-students_patricia-a-hoefler/580878/#edition=6233628&idiq=2942408

It is also on Amazon as: https://www.amazon.com/Successful-Problem-Solving-Test-Taking-Beginning-Students-dp-1565335007/dp/1565335007/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

 

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