I need a mentor

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Some videos to watch as you have time:

Now, after each quiz, test, exam for which you don't do as well as you had hoped to do (even when it gets to getting an 84 when you were hoping to get a 90), promptly (within 1 business day) schedule an appointment with your professor to go over the exam. Be sure to explain your thought process with the professor over why you picked what you picked; and ask the professor to go over why that though process didn't work, the right though process, as well as the rationales for each answer.

Here's a general rule for test taking strategy:

1. Rewrite the question (or otherwise use a pencil to circle, underline, cross out, etc.) so that you are just dealing with the question they are really asking. Take special care to note if the question is positive based (patient understands, teaching was correct, etc) vs. negative-based (patient doesn't understand, teaching is not clear, etc.) as well as whether the question is SATA or not.

2. Cover up all answers, and based on the STEM of the (re-written) question, what would you answer?

3. Now compare your answer to the answers available. If you have a match or close match, pick it.

4. If none of the answers match, then for each answer, ask yourself what is the outcome of that answer in relation to the STEM of the question. As you as asking yourself about the outcome, also ask is it SAFE / SAFER?

Generally, you want to pick the absolute safest answer that best fits the outcome of the STEM.

Nursetk4 · Jun 29, 2016

I know you are frustrated but don't give up. All this hard work will be worth it. I promise. These experiences will help you when you are dealing with difficult patients or situations where you are humbled. It is teaching and showing you are resilient and that you don't give up. Attributes that make a great nurse.

A couple of suggestions. Don't study when you are stressed. I know easier said then done. Studies show that when you study during stress that is what your brain remembers. I would wake up around 2 am and study until 4 am. Then go back to sleep for a couple of hours. This helped me because I had slept and the environment was quiet. I would also play music in the background so when I was taking a test and I started to panick I would stop and start singing the song in my head and it would calm me down. Pink got me through NP boards. I passed on my first try.

Another suggestion is to read the last sentence of the question and then read the answers. Usually you can omit 2 answers. Look for words such as Only, No, always, but etc. These words change the question and can be confusing

I am too the mom of 4. So I know how hard this is for you.

I also read books on study skills.

I hope this helps. Please keep us posted

Best Wishes

AngelKissed857, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Your school is required to have a dept. for disabled students. Go see them and see what testing they can do to see if you have a learning disability. I cannot recommend the Livescribe pens highly enough. Go to Livescribe.com. The Echo pen is all you need, but get the 8gb. As you are writing notes in lecture, it records the audio. So if I want to listen to part of the lectute, I just tap on the writing in that section and the audio of the lecture plays. But possibly my favorite part is that when I upload to my computer, thete is an option to slow the audio without distorting it. My toughest lecturer fits about 6 words in the time most people could say one, and she has the superhuman skill of never taking a breath in a 2 or 3 hr lecture. So that feature is a godsend! Buy the pen system, uses special notepads, and see your disability resource department, don't wait, do it now.

Oleacronon, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Hi, is English your second language? If so, you may benefit from video taping the lectures. Trust me that makes a huge difference. You should also study with a dictionary in front of you, or use the internet. Another thing that helps me is quizlet. I google every topic beforehand, so I can be prepared for class. Good luck in your journey!!

sunnyskies9 · Jun 29, 2016

I was never a great student, either, but one thing that helped me was going back through the power points and highlighting the important things that I didn't already know or that I felt like would be on the exam. Then I would make an outline of the highlighted points. That helped me to get a big picture of disease processes, treatments, etc. And I second getting on youtube, especially if you are a visual or auditory learner.

qestout, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Buy an NCLEX Comprehensive Review book...Saunders Review is excellent. Do 100 questions per day or at least coordinate questions with the areas you are studying in class. When you check your answers, read the rationales, whether you chose the correct answer or not.

Guest957596 · Jun 30, 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.

You're studying 6 hrs? Is that per day or per week

If it's daily, you are over studying. It's easy to blame the school for "lack of support". Your teachers aren't magicians or miracle workers . Are they helping you or was the mom comment to cast dispersions on your school? How you study is more important than how long you study.

Guest957596 · Jun 30, 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.

School is all about money? How is that germane, even if true?

MaryEllen17 · Jun 30, 2016

I am result of divorced parents.

So am I but that has NOTHING to do with whether I make it or not in this world. If everybody threw that excuse out there the world would be a pitiful place. If I mess up it is on me and I determine what I need to do to change my mistake-not rely on someone else or make excuses.

rural-rn-15, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2016

Haven't read the whole thread but when I was in school I would do the following: Make index cards from notes and the text. Record myself quizzing with the index cards. Play the recording during my commute to school. You say you are an auditory learner, so this (along with recording and re-hearing lectures) could maybe help you. Also, have study sessions where you and your friend/group talk through concepts and procedures. Each of you gets a topic, researches it, and teaches the group about it in your own words. You get the benefit of teaching (which is the BEST way to learn IMO) and listening. Also, this helps with the issue you identified where you have a hard time applying concepts, if you all make application a part of your mini-lessons.

I don't know how old your kids are... mine put up woth me teaching them a lot of nursing school stuff so that I could solidify it in my own brain. They would also quiz me if I asked them to.

Ginger702, RN · Jun 30, 2016

I am not blaming the school for anything. I am trying to figure out what I need to work on.

Ginger702, RN · Jun 30, 2016

I did take a disability test and a learning style test. They said I do not have a disabilty, but I am an auditory learner. Also they said it is helpful when someone shows me how to do things. So I am guessing, I am a visual learner also.