I need a mentor

Editorial Team / Moderator · 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.

Ginger, can you reply using the quote button? That way it is very obvious who you are responding to. :)

Ginger702, RN · Jun 30, 2016

I am sorry. Thank you !

Ginger702, RN · Jun 30, 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.

Youtube seems like a good source, hopefully it can help.

Ginger702, RN · Jun 30, 2016

Ginger, can you reply using the quote button? That way it is very obvious who you are responding to. :)

I am new to this. Thanks for helping.

Ginger702, RN · Jun 30, 2016

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. I am trying to find out what I am doing wrong, and go from there.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Jun 30, 2016

Ginger702, I stumbled across your thread "I need a mentor" and wanted to reach out to you. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm sure it took you a lot of courage. You are not a failure and nursing school does not validate who you are. I see you may be struggling in nursing school and i can relate 100%. i know what you are going through and feeling helpless, lost and humiliated. Please do not put yourself down and embrace the struggle because their is strength in every struggle we face and soon you will see it. Please just hang in there.

I also went to a school that did not have a tutor. The school i went to was not a private school. It was the most inexpensive school and very competitive to get in. I also expressed my concern to the Dean of the nursing program and she told me "nursing may not be for you and best that you drop. " I continued the program with her words playing over in my head that i was not good enough. Well, i got a tutor from the outside who charged 50 dollars an hour. That was a waste of money because all she did was read the questions in the book. I asked my classmates to help me but most (not all) was in competitive mode to help a struggling classmate. My teacher told me "You are going to fail Nclex but i know once you pass you will be a great nurse. " My point is I took the NCLEX and passed. I do not blame the school, the teachers or classmates. This situation gave me DRIVE and pushed me to study harder, stay positive and closer to God whose already said "I am a great nurse."

Nursing school is self teaching and we are not aware of how much studying and memorization is involved until we are in the program. Honestly, this forum may not help you because you really need someone to sit down with you and explain with the book in front of you how to take exams, how to study in nursing school. Have you had a meeting with your professor and expressed your concern?

future_RN, CNA · Jun 30, 2016

Me personally, had a hard time adjusting to this particular class (A&P2) because all my previous classes were memorization, memorization, memorization, formulas, more formulas, writing papers, and then some more memorizing. My professor's teaching style is very conceptual, which I have learned to love because it helps me remember more in the long term and have a better understanding of the topics. I have had to review my study habits and see which ones work best for which classes and for what particular kind of exam (Multiple choice, True/False, etc).

This conceptual learning did take some time to get used to but is a lot more helpful when answering questions. Also, I tend to overwhelm myself studying every little detail and losing the main idea while studying. Sometimes you just have to step back for a second.

Is your problem that you can not focus, cannot retain information, time management, test anxiety, or anything to do with your study habits? I think you should evaluate these and see if any of them have anything to do with your difficulties. Don't stress out! As I have learned recently, stress takes a big toll on your health.

Utilize your school's resources like tutoring centers and professor office hours. Even if you feel like you don't need them, I still have always learned at least one thing or saw the topic from a different perspective.

I did poorly on the last two quizzes (we have 2 every week), and I talked to my teacher for awhile after class and told him based on that work it doesn't seem like I am trying my hardest, but believe me I am studying very hard for this class, as far as my work how can I improve. He helped me out a lot and went over my last exam with me which I got a decent grade on but he gave me great feedback on the points he did take off and why. He said my writing style was great (essay exams) and that he could tell I knew my stuff, but that I needed to improve the organization and flow of what I was saying. He also told me other stuff that helped me out. I think communicating with your professors and asking them for their opinion on where they see your downfall being would be very helpful for you. It also shows effort and initiative and that you are a serious student and want to succeed and learn, which I'd imagine as a professor having your work taken seriously must be nice.

But the main issue needs to be recognized and dealt with. Don't stress out! That will make learning even more difficult.

I wish you the best!

future_RN, CNA · 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.

To be honest, it sounds like you are overwhelmed and might feel a bit lonely in this process. College can be a lonely experience. When I graduate I will be the first person in my family with a degree, which is an honor. But you can't depend on having a supportive network for your success in school. I mean in general, it is healthy and comforting to have a support network, but for school you should have your own network whether that be students, teachers, etc. And as one of your comments says, you have had study groups which are a great thing. When you finish school and get a job you will find people with similar interests as you and make friends/family. Right now make your children (whom I'm sure are wonderful and proud of their hardworking mother) and school your main focuses. Some years of our lives are rough patches, but don't give up! Not being rude in ANY way and I don't want to offend, but if your past is somehow inhibiting on your daily life, there are very many resources for counseling and therapy. (Again, not intending to offend!) I used to work in acute Psych and it really opened my eyes to the many different problems people face, and things that may inhibit you from living a full and happy life. Nursing school is about commitment and hard work, to gain education to enter a (what I consider very rewarding) profession.

I want to see a post from you in a few years (or however much time you have left) about your graduation!

Guest957596 · Jul 1, 2016

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

You did blame the school.

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Guest957596 · Jul 1, 2016

I am new to this. Thanks for helping.

You are getting a lot of suggestions for studying. You said you were studying 6 hrs already. If that's each day, you are already studying too much. Start with your textbook and your lecture notes. Evaluate your understanding of the material and add extra judiciously. You never said whether or not you had a spouse or partner to help with your 4 kids. Do you?

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jaluo2014 · Jul 9, 2016

Here is what helped me graduate with honors. I depended on NCLEX quizlet. I really did not open any text book to read. I recorded every lecture (attended all classes), some instructors will set exams based on what they teach only, some will set exam directly from power-point but in nclex-style. So, knowing your instructor's way of setting exam is key. About quizlet, as a new NS I didn't understand nclex type of question so I needed exposure and learn on my own how to choose the correct answer. Quizlet was my life-saver and it had been my life-saver. I used quizlet to study for my RN-NCLEX that I took 2days ago and passed. I was the only student in my class who could pull out 100% in an exam. Why? Because of quizlet. Just additional note, sometimes the answers on quizlets are wrong, so you need to think deep and smart for your answers. You can google my quizlet folder "DEE7772015 quizlet"

xdrowe · Jul 16, 2016

I keep failing classes which are frustrating. I study hard, reading all the chapters, study the powerpoints and do nclex questions, but it does not help. What I am having a problem at is I do not know and understand how to apply concepts, and when I take the test I am down to 2 answers that look right, and not sure which one to pick. Please help. I have 4 kids and my teacher was thinking that was the issue but it is not. I am depressed and feel stupid at this point.

Thank you for sharing this. I shared the same frustration when I started in pre-nursing. I would study with my study group after class ended at noon until 3 pm, grab something to eat and then study most times until 1am -3am (test days) and would be crushed when I would earn a C. My final grade was often a C (A&P days) but I forgot to takes other factors into consideration. I used to expect so much more from myself being single w/ no kids. What I forgot to take into consideration was the length of the class (15 days for A&P 1-maymester course) and 30 days (A&P 2). Once considered, I realized that these programs were not most beneficial for my nursing education, and I think at the time I was more concerned with completion. I am retaking these courses at a full 13 wk semester now that I know what is best for me. I think that may help you to pull out the magnifying glass and see what exactly went wrong for you, and simply adjust. When you realize, you will have the AH HA! moment then you won't feel so depressed like I did. I always felt like I was going to be an AVG nurse when my potential was so much greater. Don't let depression hold you down. You will be a great nurse, and such a great example to your children. Keep your head up.