question for HFCC nursing students!

Veruka · Nov 22, 2007

I kept mine. But... you probably won't need it for that test. They set you up with a web program that you need to do, and all of the information that you need for the test is on that program. It's very basic pharmacology, so you should do good! :)

Congrats, again!:balloons:

oguesswhat · Nov 23, 2007

Ha hopefully it should be easy I heard like 45% failed 1st try. I'm not terribly worried cause I know I will study...but seriously thats a lot to fail!

Veruka · Nov 23, 2007

I heard like 45% failed 1st try.

I'll say it again..... don't listen to things you "have heard" -- most of it is not true.

MySimplePlan · Nov 24, 2007

I'll say it again..... don't listen to things you "have heard" -- most of it is not true.

Um, I've seen 45% fail that test the first time. Easily. Most things one 'hears' do have some validity to them, so it's worthwhile to investigate them, especially when one's standing in the nursing program is hanging on it. (I do wish the new dean will change the way this pharm test affects the pass rate in 126.)

Don't ignore the importance of that pharm exam. It took out a third of my clinical group last year. :icon_sad:

oguesswhat · Nov 24, 2007

Wow...no matter how many pass or fail...thats a crazy amount to get kicked out of one class for one test!

MySimplePlan · Nov 24, 2007

Wow...no matter how many pass or fail...thats a crazy amount to get kicked out of one class for one test!

I couldn't agree with you more!!! You do get one retake, but by that time, your nerves are getting in the way as well! I hated that freaking pharm test.

However, I've seen half the class fail a nursing exam, too. The 155 tests are pretty hard. The Psych tests were flunking people out at this rate, too, but the dept head did somethng about them, and they are more manageable now.

Look, you just have to study like crazy for everything, LOL.

I wish you the best in nursing school. I am excited for everyone who gets a slot and gets in! :Snowman1:

oguesswhat · Nov 24, 2007

155 test? huh? How long do you have for those tests? A semester? A year? Or the whole program? ha. And I thought I had a lot this semester :-p I had 9 in 1 class and 12 in the other. Good thing I am usually pretty good at the whole test taking thing :-p

Just_An_Illusion · Nov 24, 2007

I couldn't agree with you more!!! You do get one retake, but by that time, your nerves are getting in the way as well! I hated that freaking pharm test.
However, I've seen half the class fail a nursing exam, too. The 155 tests are pretty hard. The Psych tests were flunking people out at this rate, too, but the dept head did somethng about them, and they are more manageable now.
Look, you just have to study like crazy for everything, LOL.
I wish you the best in nursing school. I am excited for everyone who gets a slot and gets in! :Snowman1:

Ok, I'm starting the program this winter as well and now I'm concerned with this pharm test. I didn't feel like I learned a whole lot in my pharmacology class so I hope this website gives us the info we need. To here that almost half the class didn't pass it the first time is getting me a little freaked out! How many questions are on this test?

MySimplePlan · Nov 25, 2007

Ok, I'm starting the program this To here that almost half the class didn't pass it the first time is getting me a little freaked out! How many questions are on this test?

Sorry to make you nervous. I guess I just want to warn you since I HATE to see someone do badly in their nursing classes.

Pharm test - as another poster stated, it's a web-based pharmacology module that is pretty long. (Well, for us it was.....I hear they shortened it this year.) It had a ton of material in it, and it took a long time to get through. The test was based on this website stuff, and not anything the teacher taught. So, you had to study for it entirely on your own. I don't think people studied enough for it, thinking they already had Pharm, what more could it contain?? Half of MY class failed it once, then 5-6 failed it the second time, and were tossed out of the nursing program. (You do get a retake.) Now, Amybeth's class did much better on the pharm test, so my class of 19 first-time failures does not represent every class. The college did revise this module a bit this year, but I don't think they have all the bugs worked out yet. They had to do something - it was awful last year - people were so upset.

I mentioned 'the 155 tests' to another poster - sorry to use lingo you might not know yet. I forgot you haven't started the program yet. 155 is the MedSurg class you take your second semester of your first year. The tests there are pretty hard. You'll do OK if you develop good study habits for 126. Then, 155 prepares you for your second year, which doesn't seem so hard - probably because we're used to the difficulty and the high expectations from the nursing program. The material isn't hard -there's just so much of it to know.

I apologize if I am worrying you. I want to help you, not make you a basket case. I want everyone to do well!

Veruka · Nov 25, 2007

It does sound like they have changed it a bit from previous years. Here's how it went this year in my section....

We got introduced to the pharm module-- which is online-- the first week of classes. We then had the next 4 weeks to do the "assignments" on the website, along with the "exams" on there, & hand them in to our teacher with an 80% or better.

We then took the pharm test in class. You are only tested on what is in the online program, so if you do the assignments & the exams, you should be okay.

Out of 42 people in my class, 5 failed the first time, and one failed the second.

I really wouldn't stress out completely about this test. DO take it seriously, but as long as you do your online program and study for the exam, you will be okay. The key with nursing school is being extremely organized with your time. This pharm test is in addition to your regular course work, so you really have to be good at time-management. We took our pharm test the same week we had a pop quiz & another exam. There was a lot of studying that week.

amybethf · Nov 25, 2007

Ok, I'm starting the program this To here that almost half the class didn't pass it the first time is getting me a little freaked out! How many questions are on this test?

Sorry to make you nervous. I guess I just want to warn you since I HATE to see someone do badly in their nursing classes.

Pharm test - as another poster stated, it's a web-based pharmacology module that is pretty long. (Well, for us it was.....I hear they shortened it this year.) It had a ton of material in it, and it took a long time to get through. The test was based on this website stuff, and not anything the teacher taught. So, you had to study for it entirely on your own. I don't think people studied enough for it, thinking they already had Pharm, what more could it contain?? Half of MY class failed it once, then 5-6 failed it the second time, and were tossed out of the nursing program. (You do get a retake.) Now, Amybeth's class did much better on the pharm test, so my class of 19 first-time failures does not represent every class. The college did revise this module a bit this year, but I don't think they have all the bugs worked out yet. They had to do something - it was awful last year - people were so upset.

I mentioned 'the 155 tests' to another poster - sorry to use lingo you might not know yet. I forgot you haven't started the program yet. 155 is the MedSurg class you take your second semester of your first year. The tests there are pretty hard. You'll do OK if you develop good study habits for 126. Then, 155 prepares you for your second year, which doesn't seem so hard - probably because we're used to the difficulty and the high expectations from the nursing program. The material isn't hard -there's just so much of it to know.

I apologize if I am worrying you. I want to help you, not make you a basket case. I want everyone to do well!

My Simple Plan is 100% correct. She's an asset to allnurses and has been tremendously helpful to me and I am sure many other nursing and pre-nursing students. The nursing program is incredibly demanding, if u thought A&P was tough, u haven't seen anything! We are not trying to discourage or worry you but this is reality and u must stay motivated and form very good study habits. It moves at a very fast pace and falling behind is not an option if u want to pass. I want to MOTIVATE u not scare u!

And heed the warning about the pharm test. Do not take it lightly. I think I printed 200+ pages to study from off the website. If u study hard u will pass. There is one retake but still some couldn't pass. My section lost 4. So u DO NOT want to add more undue stress to yourself having to do a retake. Being in a position to fail out of the program when retaking a test on top of studying for the other stuff is not a position u want to find yourself in at all. So just take everything very seriously and manage your time wisely and u WILL SUCCEED! It's also a lot of fun meeting new friends and being a student nurse. I have loved all of it so far. Sure it's hard but if I can do it and so can u.

Good luck and be positive; u are about to embark on a personal journey

that will teach u how to be a nurse. My Simple Plan told me that no one who truly works their butt off has ever failed and she's right. It's not just brains, it's more tenacity than anything. It is what u make it.

So start strong and stay strong.:balloons: