I need advice to pass my first nursing course. Any tips or techinque I'll be greatful

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Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anyone can give me great tips or technique to survive and PASS my nursing exams. I already took my first one and sadly I did not do too well. I study really hard for this exam too and most of the material was not even on the test.I review my notes, read the chapters each night up until the day of the exam and read over the power point slides. Plus I bought the Fundamental Success book. I feel so lost right now:cry:. I worked so hard to get into the program and I would HATE (yes, I know hate its such a strong word) to fail or leave the program. I need to do exremely well on my next two exam plus the final in order for me to move on to the next section. Right now I am really under stress. I would be greatly appreciative for any advice.

I will make sure to buy tons of peppermint gum..haha, and I love peppermint mocha too. Thanks for the advice jnurse21. I look into pruchasing those books. =)

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Specializes in Hospice + Palliative.

Definitely focus on learning how to really READ the questions. They're not always asking what you *think* they are; look for key words (like assess, best, next, first) to determine what it's really asking. I also find it's helpful to cover the answers while I read the question, and try to figure out what I think the answer is before even looking at the choices. Usually, my answer will be one of the choices, so I know I'm on the right track :)

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Oh wow cool, thank you for your input 4boysmama :) I really appreciate it. I am going to practice alot of reading/understanding the question. Because my first exam, I felt like what I study was not even on the test. So its time to change my ways of thinking.

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I used the Hurst review! It really places two years of nursing knowledge in one review. Marilyn Hurst goes into specific details about how to answer NCLEX questions. The course can be purchased online and was worth every penny! I passed NCLEX!

Here is the link Hurst Review Services - NCLEX Review Course Good Luck!

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I'm doing OK so far in my classes. I got a B on my first med-surg exam. Med-surg is HARD.

Anyway, I read the chapter following the powerpoint outline that my professor posts online for us.

Take notes along with the power point slides. Go to one of my NCLEX-RN resources that I checked out at the library.

Do about 20-35 NCLEX questions there. Go to the textbook website and answer the multiple questions off of there.

Take notes in lecture. Study my notes and lecture notes.

That's it. This method has gotten me a B. I don't mind because a B is way better than a C.

I recommend the Reviews&Rationales series by Mary Ann Hogan. It has a version in fundamentals too. Its

really good! It breaks down the information from your textbook into an outline form so

you get only the most pertinent information. But, I dont recommend substituting your textbook reading for

these cliff note type books like R&R or Saunders because you STILL need to

understand the information. If you don't understand the information from reading your textbook, then these short cut books

will NOT make sense and/or stick. I tried just reading the Reviews&Rationales book by itself and it did

not help me stick the information together. I find that after I have read the book then went over

the R&R book, things started making sense.

If you read a concept in different ways, things start falling together.

Good luck!

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I definitely try to focus on what causes the disease, what are the symptoms, and what am I supposed to do about it! But don't go crazy into detail I think if you get the basic concept of the disease then you know what your role is in NCLEX world. lol O and it also helped me to listen to lecture again so definitely try to record lecture! Good luck! You can do it! As we say in my nursing program "Do well Beautiful!"

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I take it you are in Fundamentals....?

Since you already have the Fundamentals Success book, do every question that is related to what you are learning..if you get a question wrong..study the whole section again.

Also, when your professor lectures...if he/she talks about something in your book I highlight the section, it will be on the test-study and learn it. Also, learn all the tables within the chapters.

Another piece of advice that I can give is STUDY EVERY DAY! Even if it's for an hour-

When you are taking the test...read the questions slowly..and pick out the most important word-for example I took a Fundamental test yesterday and one question was about bowel elimination-all of the answers were plausible-BUT none of them were directly related to bowel elimination...

Also, patient safety is first...I noticed if wash your hands in one of the answers-it's usually always right....

And anything I don't understand or I can't "digest" it....youtube is your best friend-

Yes I'm going to toot my horn-I got a 93% on my test.:yes:

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[COLOR=#003366] jandegarcia , Thank you for that advice I am going to look at the website =) and Congrats on passing the NCLEX.

[COLOR=#003366]jngo91 , I just purchase an NCLEX review book by Saunders and I am going to review it along with my textbook and ppt slides.

[COLOR=#003366]simplycompcaro , I wish I could record the lecture but for some reason its prohibbit in my program. =( . Some girl was recording a lecture and she got in trouble. Thank you for your advice, I will go over the NCLEX book. =).

Red35, yes I am taking the fundamentals right now. We are the topics on Stress and coping, grieving process, spirituality and patient safety. Thank you for your help, I think I will start looking up certain things on youtube.

Congrats on your exam =)

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