LPN to RN, thinking of dropping out :(

Awright162 · Oct 4, 2010

Hello. I'm so sorry to hear about your predicament.

I remember taking Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 last year. Those WERE some really hard classes. I remember studying and studying for the exams and while I felt confident that I had retained enough of the information to get a decent grade it seemed this was harder to do most times than others.

Just hang in there it all be okay.

In my case it didn't I ended up with a C and D at the end of that semester.

So my grades might not be good enough to get into the nursing program here, but we'll see.

I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Good luck.

MLMRN1120 · Oct 4, 2010

The only advice I could really offer is to try and hold out a bit longer. Have you spoken to other students in your class? They may be struggling just as you are, it's always hard to tell. Sometimes people choose to suffer alone rather than admit they are having trouble. I found that studying in a group on a consistent basis was very helpful in my ADN program.

A woman in my class who had worked 25 years as an LPN had a lot of trouble with the RN program at first. Our instructors were telling her to stop thinking like an LPN, which was difficult since she was still employed as one. It takes time, if you're close with any classmates I would really suggest approaching them. They might be glad to have a study buddy...Don't give up on your dream, give yourself a little credit, you can do it!

NAKIJA · Oct 4, 2010

It's sounds to me that at this point your anxiety about failing is Keeping you from learning. Giving up is not the answer. First you need to take a deep breathe. Second find people or even one person who's willing to form a study group with you, that always helped me. Even studying at a stress free environment like Barnes and Noble help (they also have books to browse through on your break time from studying and coffee too : )! This doesn't have to do with being smart enough. Sometimes it's about how much knowledge the instructor has on the subject or how well they can teach that influences how well they help their students understand difficult material. So continue getting tutored and try to find people in your class to study with!! Lastly do something you enjoy and keep A&P off your mind when you not studying. Best of luck to you!!!

Sparrow23 · Oct 4, 2010

What always helped me learn material was to teach it. If there was someone in class or a study group who needed help, I would learn a lesson and then help them learn it. Just a great way to reinforce the material so that by test time, I knew it. Also, it builds confidence in yourself that you know the material. Try it out. Doesn't have to be someone in class. Doesn't have to be anyone actually. Just go through a section, and then go through it again like you are teaching it. I have some med school and pharm school friends and whenever they have an upcoming test, I have them teach the material to me. It's a great study tool for them and I get the benefit of free refresher courses and of learning something new :)

Also, don't go into overload mode. Cramming works to a point, but take breaks in between all that reading. And don't just read without thinking. When you are stressed you can easily do that (i.e. find that you've read an entire page and can't remember a single idea from it). Take your time and visualize everything you are reading.

Find some ways to combat that test anxiety. Deep breaths, meditate, whatever works. Just remind yourself that it is not the end of the world if you do not do well on a test. You can always retake the course, which sucks, but is hardly worth the worry. Good luck!

juliannc99 · Oct 4, 2010

OK, just a few comments for you: First of all, you are NOT taking A & P for the 3rd time...you are taking it for the FIRST time. High school A & P and A & P for LPNs are two different classes ~ nice to have the background but you are not repeating the same class for the third time. Also, with A & P, are you memorizing it? If so, that does not work ~ you must understand what "parts" do and how they relate to each other (if you have to, make up a song about it ~ whatever works). If you take each "part" and understand what it does it is much easier than "memorizing". Also remember that different teachers have different styles of teaching ~ I never understood higher math until I got to college and had a teacher who just "clicked" with my learning style and I took off from there ~ was I ever shocked! Speaking of math, is there a specific reason you must take clinical math and A & P at the same time? If not, perhaps you are putting yourself on overload and need to take only one at a time. If you can, drop one and it will give you more time to study the other.

Test taking hints: Never walk into a room full of people and sit down before the instructor is coming in and ready to close the door. Why? Because you hear what everyone is chattering about and the comments stick in your mind. Right when you thought you understood something, Patty may say something about it or ask a classmate about it and that answer is what stays with you, be it correct or not, and you will then question yourself. Also, do not sit in the path of where people enter or leave the room. If you sit in front you do not see other people leaving when they are done. If you DO see them going you begin to think you don't know very much because everyone is done before you. In reality, perhaps they don't know anything and have just given up and filled in the blanks and left OR perhaps they are a genius and finished quickly. Either way, it pulls you off track. Go through the test and answer the questions you know the answer to first and then go back to the others. Why? Because it gives you a (hopefully) sense of confidence related to what you know and you don't spend time on questions you're not sure about yet. When you do go back rule out answers that have "always" and "never" in them and if one answer expands on another one that is very similar it more than likely is the one to choose. Last hint: DO NOT go back and change answers because you are second guessing yourself ~ it's a sure way to change the right answer to the wrong one.

Last comment: What do they call an RN with a "C" average? Answer: "RN" ~ no one asks what your average was, nor how long it took you to finish. If one class at a time gets the job done that is what your goal is ~ GET 'ER DONE!!!

Good luck to you!!! (p.s. I also have a degree in career training and development).

DogWmn · Oct 4, 2010

I don't know what state you live in but have you considered Excelsior? I know I do much better with online learning, there is not the pressure to get to class on time, sit and listen to what might be boring lectures, and I can go at my own pace and do my class work at times it's convenient for me. It's not for everyone, but it's an option you might consider. We all learn in different ways and I found online suits me much better.

Decades ago I tried to work full time and go to school, and I found I just couldn't do it, I'd be late to class because of work and instructors were not understanding. I'd be stressed out constantly because of my need to be the very best at work even if that meant being late or missing a class.

Don't give up your dream if it's becoming an RN, go talk with the instructor and tell them of your problems and see if they can help with a solution.

j621d · Oct 4, 2010

Juliannc99 has given you lots of good advice. I would also add to her suggestion of answering questions you know first, I would suggest those questions that are long be skipped, too. I've taken tests where I skipped the first 10 questions only because the answer didn't jump out at me. It does help for time management, leaving more time at the end for questions that require more concentration.

grandmawrinkle · Oct 4, 2010

Are you admitted to an LPN to RN program? If you are, then don't drop out.

The sciences are the hardest part of any ADN program. As an LPN, I would imagine you would breeze through clinicals. Just put your head down and keep plowing through.

You aren't even halfway through the semester. Just try to nail what you have left and hopefully you'll pull out a B.

My second semester of A&P I felt like an idiot. I did well my first semester (A) and then my second semester I got a B-. Why? Because I bombed my neuro section. No, I really bombed it. I think I got a 50%. I am now a SICU/CVICU nurse working on my MSN. You can do it.

I am still very weak in my neuro knowledge. Everyone has some weaknesses -- you can work through yours. You can do it!

Leelee2 · Oct 4, 2010

Is it possible to start a study group with others in your class? We had a group of 4 in a study group, all brought different stengths (and weaknesses) but studying together helped us grasp the info easier, and was way more fun than studying alone. What one or two didn't understand, someone else did and could explain it easier than the instructor would.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2010

I knew that A&P and Micro would be tough so I only took one class at a time and I took them only during the summer so I could go to class every day and concentrate on the subject. I felt anxiety and suffering (or so I thought LOL!) but I kept saying to myself, "It's only 6 weeks".

Be a plodder if you must but keep moving forward! That's what I did and it worked for me.

Also, change your attitude to a can do attitude. Ok if you drop one class or flunk out this semester no biggie. Just pick yourself up and do it again. :)

Shimmer580 · Oct 5, 2010

Wow guys, that was really encouraging. :) I really needed to hear that. I've been so stressed out but you're all right. I can do it, and if I fail something, I can take it again. Its not the end of the world and my future employers wont know how I did on my tests or my grades at all.

You all really made me feel so much better... Thank you to everyone who posted something and anyone who adds..

:yeah: I CAN DO THIS! I WILL!