I failed LS3 TWICE, warning venting enclosed!

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Well I haven't been on here much since about april/may...I had taken LS3 the end Jan/beginning of Feb and failed (i honestly was just too anxious to get done with it, and didn't put much studying time into it, thought i could just "wing it") waited and re-took it end april/beginning of may after studying REALLY hard and reading all material in the textbooks and BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP...got a D AGAIN! I took a break at that point because my heart and drive just went to crap...I've since enrolled in two online courses through EC to get my 6 humanities credits out of the way, and I am now re-eligible to retake LS3 but SCARED to death... I have it scheduled for Sept 9th but I already know i need to push it to the end of Sept now because one of my kids has to have surgery and I do not have the time to devote to studying...also i have attempted to re-read the chapters again but i'm sooooo bored with the material i can't seem to stay motivated! I really don't know what else to do and i'm terribly frightened that i'm going to fail again :uhoh3: I really wanted to be graduated by the end of the year but it's probably not going to happen now. I'm frustrated, tired, and almost to the point of quitting (but it's not an option right now, i know i have to finish)

thanks for letting me vent!

Tasha

Specializes in Surgery, Med/Surg/ICU, OB-Peds, Ophth.

Hey Tasha! Did you ever take your own notes as you went along with your readings? The content guide is a little bizarre too and threw my study plan for lS3 a bit. In the Basic Concepts section of the content guide, I broke down every section with mind mapping, and made knows through there. First concept in center circle, first related disease with a dash off the circle, its etiology and sx with a dash off of that, corresponding lab values***, nursing interventions last. Next related disease would be another branch off of circle and so on; This layout would then pop up in my mind during the test and I loved it. I found errors in the content guide's sample questions in the back, there were two that were wrong, I know of the questions had capillary refill involved. Good luck my dear! I love seeing you posting again :yeah:

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

@Loops...mind mapping doesn't work for me..lol that's soooo confusing for me...I did write out and outline type notes while i read, i made flashcards of the words/diseases i didn't know, and I used flashcard exchange, the recommended textbook readings, etc...i bought SG101 but it doesn't help me much i don't believe, which is why i'm looking for chancellors audio discs/study guide...i know that helped me a lot with chronicity...i used the nclex review books/discs as well so I don't know where I went wrong...

the first attempt i barely got through all the reading & used flashcard exchange & RNbridge videos and took the exam...got a D, the second attempt i re-read chapters, made flash cards and took notes, used nclex review book and again took it 60 days later and got a D again (that second exam i took was nearly ALL pediatric questions and medications- both of which i struggle with anyway)

I got the distance learning systems HDLS3 study guide (set up kinda like chancellors but without audio) and have started reading that first as i mark off the content guide...figured i'd look at the med surg and pharm book and re-make flashcards again, and hopefully this will be the one that I can finally pass!

i think the advisor told me this is the last time this year i can attempt this exam, then i can attempt it one more time next year before i'm out of the program =( i guess that's why i'm sooooo scared! Maybe i actually DO know the material and it's just anxiety and nerves causing me to second guess myself???

Thanks for the support all, i really needed it right now!!!

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Specializes in Surgery, Med/Surg/ICU, OB-Peds, Ophth.
@Loops...mind mapping doesn't work for me..lol that's soooo confusing for me...I did write out and outline type notes while i read, i made flashcards of the words/diseases i didn't know, and I used flashcard exchange, the recommended textbook readings, etc...i bought SG101 but it doesn't help me much i don't believe, which is why i'm looking for chancellors audio discs/study guide...i know that helped me a lot with chronicity...i used the nclex review books/discs as well so I don't know where I went wrong...

the first attempt i barely got through all the reading & used flashcard exchange & RNbridge videos and took the exam...got a D, the second attempt i re-read chapters, made flash cards and took notes, used nclex review book and again took it 60 days later and got a D again (that second exam i took was nearly ALL pediatric questions and medications- both of which i struggle with anyway)

I got the distance learning systems HDLS3 study guide (set up kinda like chancellors but without audio) and have started reading that first as i mark off the content guide...figured i'd look at the med surg and pharm book and re-make flashcards again, and hopefully this will be the one that I can finally pass!

i think the advisor told me this is the last time this year i can attempt this exam, then i can attempt it one more time next year before i'm out of the program =( i guess that's why i'm sooooo scared! Maybe i actually DO know the material and it's just anxiety and nerves causing me to second guess myself???

Thanks for the support all, i really needed it right now!!!

It sure seems like you have got some great resources Tasha! One more that I ran into when studying for Transitions that I REALLY likes:

http://www.quizlet.com I think it was, along the lines of flashcard exchange but I liked the format better.

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.

Tasha

YOU were one of my biggest inspirations and motivators to even start the EC program, I would come here and read your posts and be like wow, I can do this!!

You are going to get it this time. Don't let your nerves get the best of you. I recommend flashcard exchange also for LS3, was a huge resource for me, I downloaded it to my phone and there are some great sets on there for this exam---just look up Life Span 3 Excelsior or Excelsior NC6.

You should be so proud of all you have accomplished this far, plus being a mommy, working full time and being an military wife! Good luck to you girlie, I know you will be just fine this time :-)

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Specializes in ED.
*hugs* Tasha, you've been missed around here. And I know you can do this!!! *more hugs*

^^ what she said. I'm in the same boat with you and LS2

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I failed LS1 and LS2 and then went on to pass them in the same week. I had to change my study habits up. Up to this point all of the nursing exams were like review. So I wrote down the disease, signs and symptoms of, and medication used. I had to understand the disease process and not just memorize stuff. I used my saunders book because they break each disease down to the important stuff. Stay focused I know you can do this.

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

thanks everyone! I guess I never realized I inspired so many that when i really need the boost you all are here for me now =) it means a lot to me!!!

I got a study guide from chancellors (without audio discs which kinda sucks) and already i've read a few things I totally missed in my text and other resourses...

I have my final exam this week to take for Interpersonal Communications, and my midterm for Art History class...then i'm really getting down on LS3 again! Im gonna take this and PASS this next month1

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Specializes in LTC.

Hi Tasha, i'm glad to see u posting again. I was wondering what happened. Believe in your self that the next time will be the last time because your're gonna beat this exam lol. You were n still my inspiration. I'm taking LS1 in the morning. I've been studying for 2month between work n kids. At first i was very skeptical about this exam since this was the area i fail in a brick n mortar college. I studied every nite until i finally understand the topics. This is the first time i really feel confident about an exam. So tired of studying my brain feel like it's frying. I know u will get it next time. Hold the faith in God n keep studying n praying n he will deliver u.

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

thanks all! My son's surgery went well, and i passed my communications class (one ofmy humanities requirements) this week...now all my focus is on LS3 and my art history class (other humanities credits needed) so hopefully I can be FCCA eligible by the end of September!!!! =) onward and upward! I needed my spirits lifted and you guys ROCK...now if anyone comes across the chancellors audio CDs PLEASE let me know...it helps me retain info!!! =)

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did the 100 thing from rnbridge help u with this exam. i have them but because she doesn't cover everything in the vids i have been scared to use it for the test prep, i feel like i am all over studying for this test and it is my last one, want to test by end of september before they change the study guide and then make me study all over again.

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Hi Tasha, you were so kind to help me out when i first started. I am on Ls3 myself last test. hoping to test at the end of the month. I am glad to see that your little boy is okay. You are a mom and thinking about your kids takes precedence and could have had you distracted. You can and will pass this year. You have inspired me and it will be great to be posting that we both passed ls 3 at the end of this month or when ever you feel you are ready to take it. Don't focus on how you have to pass or else..... focus on you passing, believing that you've got it in the bag, the positive, not the negative pressure, then study and go do it, you got this!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah: In advance.

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Specializes in surgical nursing.

i just took the test for a second time and got a D. I'm speechless...

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