Last semester-bombed 1st exam!!!!

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

Try to stay calm. I failed a number of exams in nursing school. It's a new class, and it takes time to learn what each professor's style is like. When studying try to keep in mind what is important for the nurse to know (ie assessment finding, nursing interventions). It's still very early in the semester, you can recover!:redpinkhe

Meridian · Sep 18, 2008

During my last semester, I failed the first test. You need an 82 to pass where I'm from and I made a 74 on the test. I guess it just depends on how well you do from here on out because there's gotta be some body system or topic that you're interested in or could do very well in. Cardiac helped me out alot, which was weird considering I've never been a fan of it and Peds KILLED me, but I made it and even made a pretty good grade on the final exam. Just hang in there and remember ASSESS FIRST!

bimmersbabe · Sep 18, 2008

If it makes you feel any better - I failed the first 2 tests of my last semster. NOT a good feeling!! However, I chose to go to the guidance area of our school and they were very good at giving me suggestions to help me calm down and to facilitate the way I learn best. I bought a small recorder and read the notes out loud - then I could listen to them while I was driving around. I also bought a self confidence cd which I listened to every night - sounds corny but it really did help.

This is YOUR future - you can do it!!! Get determined that you WILL pass and then find what works for you. Everybody seemed to believe in me, except for me. That was so silly, I am smart and so are you!

chevyv, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2008

I, too am in my last semester and bombed the 1st exam. I barely passed the 2nd. We need an 80 on each exam and if you miss that then you have to do some remedial assignment. So now I have a 5-10 pg paper to do before the end of this course (its an 8 week course). With the amount of work to do, I decided to put it off until the very end. My 3rd exam is tomorrow. The 2nd exam I took the approach that I would carefully read the question (with my pencil out of my hand) and every answer. Most of us know that we can usually eliminate 2 of the answers right off the bat. After that, I sat and thought logically about each answer. I ended up with an 82. Beats the 75 I got for the 1st exam.

I also realized that I'm sick of ns. I'm so close yet I feel so far away. Now, I take it one day at a time. If I flunk this semester, I'll take it again. We can retake 1 class in our program before they terminate you and luckily I haven't had to yet. Our school is also going to a 16 week class for this one next semester so I know I'll be fine. Just very stressed right now.

I know how your feeling! We just need to keep our eyes on the prize :nurse:

PEBBLES1 · Sep 24, 2008

I am the same boat as you. I failed my 1st exam & 2nd exam. I have never failed a test in nursing school. We have 3 different instructors and no test review. Majority of my class is not doing well and you are talking straight A students failing. I just decided to stay calm and study harder. I have less than 10 weeks to finish. Not only am I going to finish I am going to graduate also. Stay strong and it will be over for you soon. Good luck

chevyv, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2008

I, too am in my last semester and bombed the 1st exam. I barely passed the 2nd. We need an 80 on each exam and if you miss that then you have to do some remedial assignment. So now I have a 5-10 pg paper to do before the end of this course (its an 8 week course). With the amount of work to do, I decided to put it off until the very end. My 3rd exam is tomorrow. The 2nd exam I took the approach that I would carefully read the question (with my pencil out of my hand) and every answer. Most of us know that we can usually eliminate 2 of the answers right off the bat. After that, I sat and thought logically about each answer. I ended up with an 82. Beats the 75 I got for the 1st exam.
Took the 3rd exam and ended up with an 80. That's the lowest score you can get. Friday is test #4 and I'll let you know how that goes. Keep my eyes on the prize, keep my eyes on the prize. Also, for those that want to hear about tips on how to take nursing tests here is a link http://evolve.elsevier.com/staticPages/s_student_development.html I hope the link works. Let me know. There are 10 strategies and its a video. I found it on one of the threads here.

healinghands201 · Sep 29, 2008

Thank you all for getting back to me and being sooo positive. I wish I could be. I haven't even applied anywhere because I am deep in the pits of depression. I feel very overwhelmed. I can't stop shaking the feeling that I am letting my family and myself down. I have been feeling like a terrible wife and mother to my two little boys because mommy needs time for school.......and yet I fail. Anyway, you are all right...EYES ON THE PRIZE!!!!!

bookscrapper · Oct 8, 2008

healing hands,

here's a great site for learning EKG strips:

http://www.skillstat.com/sixSecond2.htm

(open in IE, not firefox)

i learned them last spring and we used a great book that had lots of practice sections: ECG Workout by Huff (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/ECG-Workout/Jane-Huff/e/9780781782302/?itm=2)

I would suggest, if you're not doing it already, to schedule study groups with others in your classes. We started that in our 3rd semester and it really made a difference. We would meet for a couple hours at a time and really break things down. Like with various conditions/diseases, we'd state what it is, what we would see in the patient, what we would do for the patient, and what nursing diagnoses would apply.

Hope that helps! PM me with any ?s.

bsugar888 · Jan 21, 2009

Thanks for all the posts.........Im in my last semester..........and im scared to death.

PEBBLES1 · Jan 22, 2009

I know how you feel. I just graduated last month and my last semester was extremely hard. I thought I was going to die. But, hang in their, be confident and you are going to pass. Good luck

Kevin RN08 · Jan 22, 2009

As I see it you have to make up 11 test points, I would guess you have 5-6 units in the semester. Take it one test at a time, you've made it to this point ... get back on your schedule and do what works for you. You don't have to make up all 11 points on test #2, it's a long semester add in the other tests, VCEs, essays, or what ever else there is and you will be fine.

I too would suggest meeting with your instructor 1:1 to find out if it was something specific that you did or didn't do; getting some anti-anxiety training to learn how to relax. The natural tendency is to increase your studying, don't fall into that trap stick to the syllabus and to YOUR book.