Miracle Story for Nursing Students!

[Hannah96, ASN, BSN]

I realized quickly on exam #1 that med-surg was not my cup of tea (when I made a 72). The second exam came and made an 88. I brushed the first one off as just "getting back into the game". Then came the 3rd exam, where I scored a 68. Then the 4th...5th...6th...all below 80s. Finally I made it to exam #7 and scored my first 90. This was the start of psychiatric mental health portion. Exam #8 came and I got another 90. Then exam #9 came and I got a 98. Then my HESI MH exam rolled around and at this point I needed a 84 in order to pass the semester. During the hesi I thought for sure I was failing the entire time, I wasn't going to make it. I hovered over question 55 of 55 on the submit button. As soon as I clicked it, I closed my eyes. I was either going to have to re-do second semester all over again or get to move onto 3rd semester. The score revealed an 89.8! I nearly collapsed! Now, since I took this speciality exam today, I will tell anyone who is taking the hesi MH exam to study personality disorders, assault/rape, antipsychotics/antidepressant medications (specifically sertraline, geodon, zyprexa, haldol, and trazadone). I just want to let everyone know to NOT GIVE UP! During my midterm I went around interviewing other nursing programs in the area and felt like withdrawing. I wanted to ride it out though despite the fact I was approaching the withdraw deadline. If I can bring myself up from a 73 to an 80 in a matter of 4 exams and only less than 1 month of the semester left, it just shows that you can do. This is how it worked for me:

Use Saunders NCLEX

Get the HESI NCLEX book and register it with evolve. Like 4 questions out of that green little book were on the hesi mh exam.

Make a quizlet while in lecture on the stuff the teacher is talking about.

Do that quizlet over and over again!

DO PRACTICE QUESTIONS. Find them on quizlet, on here, your nclex book, find them anywhere and do them. over. and over. again. 2nd semester is where you really establish how you'll pass 3rd and 4th.

Also, do not let others get into your head. Some people are natural test-takers, they leave the exam within 15 minutes and score 90s. Some people take the full 2 hours or whatever and they end up passing with just as good of a grade. Those people have to work harder for it and that's okay! Go see your advisor/student success coordinator. Their job is to encourage you and give you really helpful tips.

I believe in you guys! Best of luck!