Iam failing my first semester in nursing school .......

MermiesGreatGig · Oct 30, 2009

All of the tests at my school are Application based questions, rather than knowledge based...so, I definitely know how you feel. They do it this way because the NCLEX is this way. Also, nurses must exercise critical thinking, therefore knowledge is only a small part of what you need. You have to be able to apply the knowledge to real situations.

All I can say is to take advantage of all learning resources possible. Does a study guide come with your textbook? Find all the practice NCLEX questions you can related to the particular subject you're studying. Also, you have probably seen lots of "What should the nurse do first?" type questions. Our instructor recently told us to simply pick the answer which you would implement if you could ONLY implement one thing. This strategy has worked well for me ever since.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! Always remember, it's not a question of "if" you will graduate...it's "when". :)

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2009

Mermie has given some great advice, so I will just add "Don't be embarrassed!" Go get whatever assistance you can to help you achieve your goals. At our school, everyone is required to take a class specifically on study skills, so please don't feel that you are "less than" for wanting to do better. Going to the learning center is just like going to the bookstore...just pickin' up the supplies you need to succeed!

Best wishes :specs:

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2009

I use NCLEX practice questions and read the rationales even if I get the answer correct. It seems to be working for me.

Maybe your learning center will help. I understand about the embarrassment, as I had to do it with math a while back, but it really did help me a lot.

curlylights06 · Oct 30, 2009

thank you for the great advise will make a new post when i take my next exam in 2

weeks hopefully my grade has gone up

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2009

practice, practice and practice, that is the only way to build your critical thinking to solve application questions!

hang in there you will rock it! put your mind into it, your body, and your brain!

amaxiechRN2011 · Oct 30, 2009

I know exactly how you feel, I got my secong test back today and failed with 72%. I am so upset because I study soooo much and utilized every tool given by the school and am using Saunders NCLEX review, so I dont know what to do now, I am so frustrated.

HelloM1M1 · Oct 30, 2009

Wow, now I feel that I'm not alone. They recommended me to buy the Saunders NCLEX review too.. which I did..... I mean the only problem for me is understanding the questions... my professor made every question so... wordy... that I got lost in the questions sometimes. I gotta practice reading the questions & getting the keywords.

msAnneRN11 · Oct 30, 2009

if it makes you feel better, this afternoon i went to the learning center because i am also failing my lectures. turns out, i tend to read the questions fast and i do not stop and think... here we go... critically. i know the concept, i know what to do, it's only the part where you have to dissect the question in order for it to make sense. i agree some questions are too wordy, so it is up to you to word it in a sense that you will understand it. she told me to remember this word: mims meaning: make it make sense (to you) then answer it accordingly. oh by the way, i too was embarrassed to have an appointment with her but for the effort of meeting up with her, i believe she gave me extra two points :)

Gerry1888RN · Oct 30, 2009

When I look at a question on each test, I try to think like nurse. I will try and answer the question before I even look at the possible answers, and I will then elimanate. I'm in my 3rd semester of my ADN program, and I am now finding the tests a lot easier than I did from previous semesters. I remember only getting an 82 for my first exam of the RN program that involved 15 hours of study time outside of class, and today I got a 88 with less than half that amount of study. I think things will get better for you when you get used to the types of questions involved with nursing school. But you should never stop reading as you have to think about the NCLEX also!

sparklingteardrops21 · Nov 1, 2009

Wow.... you guys are failing with >70s???? In our school passing is a 70 and pretty much what everyone gets. getting 75-80 is AMAZING, 80-85 is a miracle, and >90 is pretty much impossible..... I was failing my first clinical semsester and to make me feel better my instructor looked at the grading history, and NO ONE had gotten an "A" since the mid eighties. Talk about scary.

Ms. Nurse Assistant, LPN · Nov 9, 2009

what school you go to sparklingteardrops21?