I think I’m going to fail Skills help!!!

Nursing Students General Students

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I just failed my second skills exam. We have 3 exams total plus a final exam. I’m so overwhelmed that I won’t pass the course. So far I have used quizlet and read but I don’t know why the information isn’t sticking in my brain or if I’m just forgetful. I don’t know what to do anymore.

i have a skills check off coming up this week and now I’m even more worried that I may not do well because I keep failing these exams.

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When you say "skills exam," do you mean actual written tests specifically for nursing skills or do you mean exams in a class like Health Assessment or Funds? If they're for a class and the exams extend beyond nursing skills, the study strategy that has worked for me thus far is taking notes throughout lecture, studying those notes directly, and TONS of practice questions.

As far as skills check-offs go, the best thing you can do is PRACTICE. Take everyone's BP that you can get your hands on; find the different pulse points on different people, ask to listen to their bowel, lung, and heart sounds. Muscle memory is key, especially if you happen to "lock up" when you know you're being watched and evaluated (I'm incredibly guilty of this- skills checks make my skin crawl). If they offer open lab times for practice, go whenever you can. Use the criteria sheets they give you so you know exactly what is being looked for with each check-off.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

100% what BagelBomber said.

Do you become good at bike riding my reading about bike riding?

NO! You get good be getting on the bike and actually RIDING!

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3 hours ago, BagelBomber said:

When you say "skills exam," do you mean actual written tests specifically for nursing skills or do you mean exams in a class like Health Assessment or Funds? If they're for a class and the exams extend beyond nursing skills, the study strategy that has worked for me thus far is taking notes throughout lecture, studying those notes directly, and TONS of practice questions.

As far as skills check-offs go, the best thing you can do is PRACTICE. Take everyone's BP that you can get your hands on; find the different pulse points on different people, ask to listen to their bowel, lung, and heart sounds. Muscle memory is key, especially if you happen to "lock up" when you know you're being watched and evaluated (I'm incredibly guilty of this- skills checks make my skin crawl). If they offer open lab times for practice, go whenever you can. Use the criteria sheets they give you so you know exactly what is being looked for with each check-off.

It’s for actual skills written exam and not the check off. I’m starting to think my problem is that I’m not goood at answering Nursing questions. I tend to miss “select all that applies “ or “first priority” questions. It’s very frustrating because I know I’m not stupid. A person from a cohort before me suggested I try practice questions on quizlet as well.. so I will be doing that today.. I understand the material but I guess I’m not applying it properly. Apart from quizlet, any suggestions on where I can find practice questions ? I do the ones in our ATI book, but it only has about 5 questions per chapter.

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Just now, Bleblenurs18 said:

It’s for actual skills written exam and not the check off. I’m starting to think my problem is that I’m not goood at answering Nursing questions. I tend to miss “select all that applies “ or “first priority” questions. It’s very frustrating because I know I’m not stupid. A person from a cohort before me suggested I try practice questions on quizlet as well.. so I will be doing that today.. I understand the material but I guess I’m not applying it properly. Apart from quizlet, any suggestions on where I can find practice questions ? I do the ones in our ATI book, but it only has about 5 questions per chapter.

There's a line of Davis books called the Davis's Q&A Success Series (I got mine on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Med-Surg-Success-Applying-Critical-Thinking/dp/0803644027/ref=pd_bxgy_14_2/140-1576012-3650923?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0803644027&pd_rd_r=38d09d0b-6e20-4a41-b33d-20f2d1ceff94&pd_rd_w=eXIMQ&pd_rd_wg=SHVNp&pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&pf_rd_r=D8CHR763QX1BS0TBJETT&psc=1&refRID=D8CHR763QX1BS0TBJETT - honestly a game changer for me.

They don't necessarily line-up with what is being taught in lecture, but it has helped me determine what questions are actually asking and how I can best narrow down my options. I treat the SATAs like true-or-false questions and that has helped me a good bit. I had an instructor tell me to answer priority questions by asking yourself, "What is going to kill the patient first?" and that's been a big help as well.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
5 hours ago, Bleblenurs18 said:

It’s for actual skills written exam and not the check off. I’m starting to think my problem is that I’m not goood at answering Nursing questions. I tend to miss “select all that applies “ or “first priority” questions. It’s very frustrating because I know I’m not stupid. A person from a cohort before me suggested I try practice questions on quizlet as well.. so I will be doing that today.. I understand the material but I guess I’m not applying it properly. Apart from quizlet, any suggestions on where I can find practice questions ? I do the ones in our ATI book, but it only has about 5 questions per chapter.

Those are NCLEX-type questions and they are a pain. What I would advise is to buy some NCLEX review books. To save money, you can buy used books/older editions on Ebay or Amazon. Saunders is the most comprehensive and Kaplan does a great job of explaining strategy for taking this test - that will be helpful in figuring out how to answer these questions.

Also, talk to your instructor. They might have some good tips for you.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Mental Health.
On 11/5/2019 at 1:19 PM, BagelBomber said:

There's a line of Davis books called the Davis's Q&A Success Series (I got mine on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Med-Surg-Success-Applying-Critical-Thinking/dp/0803644027/ref=pd_bxgy_14_2/140-1576012-3650923?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0803644027&pd_rd_r=38d09d0b-6e20-4a41-b33d-20f2d1ceff94&pd_rd_w=eXIMQ&pd_rd_wg=SHVNp&pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&pf_rd_r=D8CHR763QX1BS0TBJETT&psc=1&refRID=D8CHR763QX1BS0TBJETT - honestly a game changer for me.

They don't necessarily line-up with what is being taught in lecture, but it has helped me determine what questions are actually asking and how I can best narrow down my options. I treat the SATAs like true-or-false questions and that has helped me a good bit. I had an instructor tell me to answer priority questions by asking yourself, "What is going to kill the patient first?" and that's been a big help as well.

Thanks for the link I wish I had found that sooner. It’s so hard to find NCLEX questions grouped as specifically as they are in this book.

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I don’t know who you are, but you’re literally speaking my life right now ? I feel your pain , I feel your worry. I’m an A - B student and I’ve never had to deal with failing a class. The embarrassment, the let down, and the confusion of it all is hitting me hard. So, same boat! I need a 78 on my final to pass. It’s those dablasted questions!!!!

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