How to pass first exam in nursing school?

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 15, 2015

First, take a deep breath. You still passed. It's not a competition, so don't worry about the grades of other students or whether they took the quiz together. They won't be able to get help from their friends during the exam, and especially not during NCLEX.

Second, examine your study habits. Perhaps the way you've been studying isn't the best way for you. Take a look at your learning styles (there are numerous questionnaires available online, but my personal favorite is VARK) and see if you need to adjust how you study. Then head over to the nursing student study tips forum and see if anything there can help you as well.

You are not a failure- you still have a passing grade, and it is only 1 quiz of many grades to come. Now, you know that you have some work to do, so get out there and do it. You have plenty of time to move up in the grading scale.

chris21sn, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2015

Hello, fellow nursing student. I understand how you feel, please don't think you are alone in this. When I first started nursing school, I did just the same - studied for A&P exam extensively, and just got 80. Then, to look at my friends who received a 90 on the exam. I had to rethink my study habits.

Can I ask what subject you were studying for?

It certainly depends on which subject. Whenever it is a nursing theory class - Fundamentals, Bioethics...I would recommend studying in a way of "skimming" information - not holding unto everything to the point of memorization, but to the point of critical analysis. ie: Instead of studying/memorizing the definition of "patient safety" - most of the questions are going to be in a contextual sense, where they are going to say "You are the nurse in the unit. You walked by this patient's A room. He is on the floor, clenching his stomach. What should the priority action be?" Making questions like this definitely will help you study and look for the information while you're studying.

If it's other subjects like pre-requisites - Anatomy - It is more or less focusing on signs and symptoms. We are nurses. We do not diagnosis. That is not part of our scope - there is no use for us to memorize the molecular path of diseases. An overview of what it is, will be satisfactory enough. If there is anything you should focus on it is how "pneumonia" effects the patient, and what you think the doctor will probably recommend for them to solve the problem (Medications, therapies - Physical therapy).

Now let's break down studying habits. All studying habits are different. And I'm sure the things I tell you, might not work for you. But just so you have an idea:

- I use my labtop during classes. I have a free app called Evernote - which separates all my subjects into separate folders - which keeps me organized. I have folders on my desktop and whenever my teacher posts powerpoints or sheets, I'll place it inside. I look at my syllabus and write down the important dates in my mac calendar. I have a "To-do" list post-it-notes on my Mac. Whenever I remember something, I place it there, and look at it later. This method, I realized, helps me let go of anxiety, while still holding on to important tasks. It also gives me a view of what I still need to do. So I can plan my time. I never use paper, I find it messy - and I end up losing things. Labtop - one thing with everything.

- I listen as best I can during lecture. Type my notes, correlate it back to her powerpoint. Depending on the subject, I may record her, and listen back on it. During reviews, I always record. Again, depending on the subject, I study based on that.

If there is anything else, please fill free to ask. I'm here to give advice. I could tell from your post that you're a bit sad, and I really hope I can help relieve even a ounce of it. I'm still in nursing, and I understand wholeheartedly how tough it is.

Student2017555 · Sep 15, 2015

My class is fundamentals of nursing or nursing 1 depending on what you call it !

chris21sn, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2015

My class is fundamentals of nursing or nursing 1 depending on what you call it !

Oh! Yes, Fundamentals is also a tough class. It's a different type of question/thinking. It's different from what your past highschool and middle school days taught you.

I'll redirect you back to my words from the previous post below. When I was writing the post, I was talking about Fundamentals. Think of Fundamentals in a way where everything is situational.

Moreover, do you have any workbook or NCLEX-style questions? I think also, the best way to tackle these questions are by doing alot of practice. For me, I had this thing called Prep U, I'd do all those questions, I had a Lippincolt workbook that accompanied the textbook, and then I did the questions at the end of every chapter. And lastly, I just want to reiterate: Nursing isn't about memorization. Do your best to understand the material. It will do you no good memorizing all those key terms, for nursing rarely asks questions like that.

QUOTE:

Whenever it is a nursing theory class - Fundamentals, Bioethics...I would recommend studying in a way of "skimming" information - not holding unto everything to the point of memorization, but to the point of critical analysis. ie: Instead of studying/memorizing the definition of "patient safety" - most of the questions are going to be in a contextual sense, where they are going to say "You are the nurse in the unit. You walked by this patient's A room. He is on the floor, clenching his stomach. What should the priority action be?" Making questions like this definitely will help you study and look for the information while you're studying.