I need a mentor

TaylorKC · Jun 28, 2016

You are not stupid! Nursing school is not a cake walk. I had similar issues in Lpn school,4 kids and all. I found I was over studying. When I look back now, when studying,though details are important, also grasping the big picture is as well. As for nclex questions, you just have to pick the "most right" answer. To do this you have to look at the question and just pick the one that answers the question completely. Hang in there...it's worth it.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 28, 2016

I moved your post to the General Nursing Student forum to encourage maximum responses. Best of luck to you in your studies, I hope you discover your learning style to be able to apply the material without such a struggle. Have you checked with the counselors at your school?

Ginger702, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Aw thanks so much for moving my question to help me to get more responses. Do you guys know what I can do ? I do not know how to understand the big picture and apply concepts. The weird thing is I get a lot of the Nclex questions right. But for me applying the information is not working. I am known for overstudying and memorying powerpoints, but how can I prevent myself from doing that ? Oh geez please help. I do not know how many times I been crying. It took me 6 years to get into this the program because of the waiting list. I been there for a total of 14 years taking classes. I took a learning style test, and they said I am an auditory learning. I have done all. Accept take a taperecorder to record lectures. When studying I can spend over 6 hours with writing out information, and doing the chapter readings. The counselor told me to try to seek outside help because they could just provide me with the tests given for learning styles, which I taken already. Also they have self help nclex tests you can take on the computer. It is really it is bad. My mom left this school also and decide to give up nursing because of lack of support that is not given in this program.

andrea3434 · Jun 28, 2016

First of all, you say you keep failing classes. How many classes have you failed? How many does your program allow you to fail? My program only allows us to fail one class and it cannot be in the first semester so I am curious.

Anyway- How many students are in your cohort? Are you friends with any of them that are doing well? My first suggestion would be to study in a small group (2-3) with students who are doing well. My second suggestion is to find a tutor. Someone in one of the cohorts above you. My program has a tutoring schedule every week with free help available but it doesn't sound like your school has this.

I have three children so I know it is hard but it doesn't sound like that is your issue. Have you sat down with your instructors to go over your failed tests so they can explain to you what you are doing wrong?

Ginger702, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Everyone is failing in our class. No tutors are avaliable at our school. I was studying with a group , but it is not helping this semester. I have failed four classes so far and had to retake them. Our school is more about gaining money than helping students succeed. It is hard with 4 children, but I still bust my butt to study and do everything, and no good results yet. What makes it bad is I really do not have any friends and family for support either. I am result of divorced parents. My mom did all she could for us. My dad kept disappearing so for the most part no one knew where he was. I really wish I had a supportive family.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

What school is this? A "proprietary school"?

I'm only asking because, most programs, diploma, community college and university programs have a minimum before you can return, and four times is WELL over the limit.

First of all, you CANNOT memorize concepts; you must learn how to understand them, or you will be posting here once you complete your nursing program stating you failed for the fifth or sixth time.

STOP over studying!!! You need to pare down and change how you study.

Here are a few strategies:

-Study by way of the nursing process: each concept should be study by understanding the information in terms of assessment, what nursing diagnoses are applicable to the situation, interventions, and how to evaluate a solution to the pts' situation.

-As far as NCLEX questions, if you are doing NCLEX reviews from an NCLEX book, try doing them from specific review books instead of the general ones; Davis' Success Series comes to mind for me; I didn't even tough a general review book until I completed schooling and was prepared to graduate.

-You need to learn your learning style and test taking style; are you auditory, visual, kinesthetic? I am kinesthetic, and focused on action words and imagined scenarios when taking exams to help choose the best answer; I also learned I was an auditory learner and taped lecture and listened to lecture at night before going to bed.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 28, 2016

I took a learning style test, and they said I am an auditory learning. I have done all. Accept take a taperecorder to record lectures. When studying I can spend over 6 hours with writing out information, and doing the chapter readings.

So if you're an auditory learner, then why are you doing all this writing? Have you tried reading out loud? Sounds weird, but might be helpful. Definitely try recording lectures.

MountainBikeChick · Jun 28, 2016

I agree with Pixie - don't just do reading! You've already determined that it is not the best way for you to study. If you are auditory, I recommend looking up YouTube videos on the nursing process you are trying to understand. I used some of TootRNs videos on Youtube (like for acid/base imbalance, cardio, etc) and they helped tremendously because I'm a visual learner and she does drawings with voiceover. The way you are currently studying is obviously not helping, so try something else.

I also agree with LadyFree - four times is a lot to fail, my school only allows for one time. :woot:

andrea3434 · Jun 28, 2016

Is this a for profit school? It might be time to stop throwing money at this.

You didn't mention if you've asked your instructors to go over your old tests with you.

TaylorKC · Jun 28, 2016

A few additional thing you can try:

Take notes and read them out loud. Break it into sections so it's not too much at once.

Record lecture. Play it in your car when going places.

Use word association to help memorize.

(This can be fun silly things that just stick for you)

Ask questions in class. Often things are explained in a slightly different way the second time.

Participate in discussions. It's easier to remember a conversation you've had than just a black print out of s book because you have more to associate, like people's tone,facial expressions etc.

Lastly, make damn sure this is an accredited school. Most nursing schools boot ya after 1 fail.

Hope this helps!

Ginger702, RN · Jun 28, 2016

The teacher went over old tests with me, and some of the tests had errors on it , but the teacher refuse to change them. Also she would take Nclex questions and change the answers.