I just failed my first nursing exam

mrsboots87 · Sep 18, 2015

Studying for a test begins on the first lecture for that test. Don't save your studying for just eh couple weeks before a test. Unless you have a test every week or two of course. As soon as you have lecture, go home and re listen or re read the lecture notes. Read the assigned readings and take more notes. Then review those notes again. Do this every day if you have to. Some people can study very little and do fine while others have to study every waking minute of the day. But the key is consistency. Whether you study a lot or a little, you need to do it every day and repeat. Most people learn with repetition.

RainMom · Sep 19, 2015

Nursing exams are also very different than exams for other classes. You have to start learning how to answer NCLEX-style questions where more than one answer may seem correct but you have to pick the MOST correct answer. Rote memorization does not work like in other classes. You have to know the "why" & "how" to think thru the scenarios in the questions.

My class was told that for the first test, the instructor fully expected half of us to fail (as nearly all her prior 1st semester classes had before) simply due to not making the adjustment to the way of thinking required to answer NCLEX style questions.

Brush yourself off & get back to it!

cupcakeluver · Sep 20, 2015

That 80 cut off is tough. My school is the same way. There is not much room for error. The good thing is that you only missed your cutoff by just a few points. At least you didn't miss it by 20 points. I think you should include a bit more study time. However long you studied last time....add another 2 hours or so. Whatever you think. Just increase it. The above posters had excellent advice as well.

You've got the opportunity to fix this. Put in the work. Good luck!!!

DowntheRiver · Sep 20, 2015

Don't sweat it. This is your first nursing exam in nursing school. I'd be more concerned if you fail your second or third exam. Really, don't stress. It is an adjustment. Some people just transition easier. You need to believe in yourself - you can do this!

Awesomocity0 · Sep 20, 2015

For anyone who says that you shouldn't save studying for the exam to mean that you didn't study before that probably misunderstood you or has forgotten what it's like to be in nursing school. You're studying subject by subject as they come up for comprehension, and then you study everything as a whole/refresh right before. You only have so many hours of the day, and some of the concepts require you to really think through.

Don't beat yourself up for your failure. It hasn't 'clicked' for you yet. There comes a point when NCLEX style starts to make sense, and you'll be able to not only answer questions correctly but will be embarrassed and amazed that you missed them in the first place. Because NCLEX style isn't only about knowledge. Lower tier questions are knowledge-based. Medium and upper level require deductions and for you to 'think like a nurse.'

For me, I had a minor clicking point near the end of first semester (I, too, failed my first nursing exam, and I only passed with a mid-range B for the entire class). I had the major clicking point in my second semester, where I understood how to answer the questions. From there, knowledge and critical thinking linked up, and I never got below a 90 afterward and graduated summa cum laude. If you continue to work hard and look at rationales for both questions you answered incorrectly AND correctly, I firmly believe that it'll link up for you, too, and that you'll be successful. :)

_zoubisoubisou_ · Sep 20, 2015

Pick yourself up and continue! I also failed my first ever nursing exam during my first semester, and another second semester. I was devastated. If your confidence is down, ya just gotta keep on pushing! Good luck to you and happy studying!

Cut off at 80, phew! That's tough. Where do you go?

Student2017555 · Sep 20, 2015

I go to st lukes school of nursing . It's a very accelerated program and you have to have an 80 average to proceed

living-dead-girl · Sep 27, 2015

Wow, that 80% is cut-off is a little rough- my school fails you at 75% or less, so I know your pain! My initial suggestion would be to take a step back and look at the questions you missed and what type of questions they were. Select all that apply? Nursing process? Interpretation of facts? Now look at what you studied for the test. If your study methods covered those things, but you still missed them, just try studying more and looking at the rationales. If you see that your study methods didn't quite cover those subjects, then re-assess on how you can change it up so that you're covering the right kinds of materials. This is what I had to do, because although I "passed" my exams, I wasn't doing as well as I wanted.

Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2015

I also failed my first test first term. I was so upset when that happened, but I went in to meet with my professor to do a test audit. She was really kind about the whole thing and helped me get a tutor. It actually helped in the long run, because the tutor helped me start to understand how NCLEX style questions can be asked and what I need to do to figure out the answer. Failing the first test is not the end of the world, but after putting in all that study time is a hard blow. It is not fun, but asking for help can get you back where you want to be. Good luck with the other tests this term!

Meeshie · Sep 28, 2015

Make an appointment to talk to your professor. Go through the answers with that professor and figure out where the issue was. Was it understanding? Critical thinking? Application? You won't know where your weakness is if you don't remediate and find out the rationales.

AcclrtdBSNstudent · Sep 28, 2015

Foundations sucks especially if you have a crappy professor. I had a wonderful professor. We are on that 80%=c and is the min to pass system . You can't possibly read everything so Id advise you to practice skimming.... Understand main points and see if you can recite them, explain them out loud to yourself. If you CANT highlight that area and review it again over until you get it. Good luck!