I need advice

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I am currently a second semester student, I just flunked my first test of the semester, Fluid and Electrolytes. My score was 42 out of 75 ouch!!! I understand what I am doing wrong, I have been memorizing everything, rather than understanding it. It boils down to this, I have three more tests, 25 points worth of quizzes/homework and 3 points for clinical. I can miss a total of 8 on each test and make the bare minimum to pass the course IF I get all of the above mentioned points. My other option is to withdraw now without a failing grade and try again next semester. I need some advice, the next tests are over diabetes, renal failure, prostate cancer etc... Is it possible to pull this off, or should I withdraw now to prevent a failing grade?? I have been sick for days over this.

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I am sorry to hear that you didnt do well. Remember though, that for most people (at least at my school) fluids and electrolytes is the hardest test. We had to take ours in the 1st semester and I think less than 10 people passed it- out of 60 something people. I would look closely at your school's drop policy before you consider that as an option. At my school if you drop with a failing grade then they consider that a failed attempt- not a 'W" (withdrawl). And let me just say- I know the sick feeling you're talking about--it never goes away for me. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

F&E was horrible to learn and get straight, I struggled badly with this concept as did most of my class, don't beat yourself up, aim high for you next exams and quizes, you can make it, and if you don't you might find it easier to get a re-admit slot after having tried your hardest and showing improvement rather than giving up after the first exam. Sit down and talk to an instructor or the director of your program for a clear answer on re-admits and to figure out what it is you didn't understand and maybe they can help, if you do end up taking the class over it would be better going into it the 2nd time around having been through the entire course and being prepared for all the lesson modules, good luck and keep us posted!!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

in studying diseases you should review (if you've already had anatomy and physiology) the normal working of the pancreas (for diabetes), the kidney (for renal failure) and the prostate gland (for prostate cancer). then, for each disease, you need to identify and understand how the disease progresses and what goes wrong with the anatomy and physiology. as each part of the anatomy and physiology gets screwed up as each particular disease progresses untreated symptoms occur. those are the symptoms that we and the doctors see. these are also the same symptoms that the doctors will be aiming treatments at and that we will be carrying out. there is a critical thinking flow sheet for nursing students attached at the end of this post. if you open it up and either download it to your own computer or just print out copies of it you can use it for each disease to help you organize information about that disease that you will need to know to help you learn this stuff.

here are some websites that can also be helpful:

for diabetes:

for renal disease:

for prostate cancer:

you should also review how to study and how to take nursing tests

on these two sticky threads on the student forums:

there are links to websites about fluids and electrolytes on post #24 of this sticky thread: https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/pathophysiology-p-fluid-electrolyte-resources-145201.html - pathophysiology/ a & p/ microbiology/ fluid & electrolyte resources (in nursing student assistance)

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

F&E is EVERYBODY'S worst test....you can study the other concepts and catch on better....the whole na, K+ etc...was tough to get without clinical practice....now after being on the floor, I can understand why x is being done for y.....just takes time....

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Specializes in med/surg.
i understand what i am doing wrong, i have been memorizing everything, rather than understanding it.

f&e is usually the toughest test. you do need to forget trying to memorize now, it's not like a&p at this point. you need to understand the body system, how it works normally, and then incorporate how the disease process changes the function. hang in there, you'll get it.

[color=#483d8b]i would also meet with your instructor as someone else posted. they pay attention to those who try imporve & take responsibility. it may not change your current grade, but maybe learning what they are looking for will help you on future exams.

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I halfway believe that a lot of the F&E questions were written by the devil himself, because they are SO HARD. I struggle with that too, and the truth is that I do understand it but I don't understand it anywhere near well enough to reason through and get the "most right" answer out of all of the "right" answers I can choose from! Basically I'm saying you're not alone.

I second (third?) the suggestion to talk to your instructor. Is there a study group you can join in your class, perhaps (if that would help you)? Do you know anyone further along in the program who might be willing to work with you as kind of a tutor? There are a lot of things you might be able to do to better prepare for the other tests, but I think that the very best thing you can do is go talk to your instructor, show her that you are taking this seriously and really want to succeed, and see what you can do to figure out way to make this easier on you. I really think that's a better option than dropping out, and I bet you'll feel better trying to make it through this semester than you would if you give up without exploring all the options first.

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