2nd year, close to failing...I dont understand what happened!

[UmmIbrahim]

OK in a nutshell...I survived first year of my 2 year program and actually in the last semester (med surg) I did really well...I finished with a B average. I knew 2nd year would be more intense but I didnt think I would be in the situation I am in right now...which I failing and little hope of passing! We have 8 week compacted courses...so first exam I failed...not too badly...but still...I chalked it up to being fresh off of summer break and having to get back into the groove. I was determined to rock the 2nd exam...2nd exam I failed BADDDDDLY...like super duper badly...why? I reckon I focused too much one 1 aspect of the material and not enough on the others. duh...silly me. argh. Anyway, I was determined with capital D to pass the 3rd exam...which would bring me up to passing (whoopie!)...yet I failed it!! Not a bad fail...but still failed and I am unsure what happened and why...I spoke to the instructors, I got their advice about how I could change my study habits, what im doing wrong...I did concept maps on the topics we studied and when I went in to my exam I felt...truely...truely felt that I understood everything from meds on down to nursing interventions!!! Yet...I failed...and I wasnt even stressed out.

Now I have 3 more exams and a final to go and I am not seeing any hope. I usually try to look up and be a cup half full type and I in my heart know I am meant to be a nurse. I LOVE it. But yet...here I am, basically failed! I am at a loss of what to do. Continue...trudge through the next 4 weeks and hope that I may somehow, miraculously get close to a 100% on the next 3 exams? Drop out and just get a job as a PCT and maybe apply somewhere else with a part-time program...? I dunno, this is causing major friction in my family which is making things more difficult for me as ive now disappointed many people...not JUST myself. I want to be a nurse because its an awesome career and I love it and its an actual, meaningful field where you can truly make a difference in someones life...and I come from a family which has a lot of problems (financially) so this, I felt was like my ticket to NOT being like the rest of my family! Downside...now, MORE loans and more time wasted.

I dont know...im so at a loss of what to do...where am I going wrong? I study really hard, I study the right types of stuff...then I do nclex questions and reviews...and I always do good with those! I dont know...

[zoe92]

Have you tried studying in a group or getting a tutor? Obviously whatever you are doing is not working. What sort of tips did your instructors give you?

[write2js]

I would suggest a study group, looking at the chapter objectives and making notes off of that, if they have power point slides, print those out and look over them, read and practice the NCLEX questions in the book and set your test/assignment goals a little higher. You have made it through one year, so it really doesn't make sense to give up and you only have 2 semesters left. Dropping out will cause a higher financial burden on you because you will not only have to pay for the class you failed, but you will immediately have to pay back those student loans. If you all have peer tutors, meet with them, or link up with another Nursing student who is doing well, ask what they are doing, and ask to study with them. I'm a first year student, but I haven't made anything less than a high B due to my study habits.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

how is the rest of your class doing? Do you have a new instructor? Do you go over the tests and you know that you got the answers wrong? I seems strange that you are dong NCLEX style questions and not doing well on your school exams.....good luck.

[studentrnchristine]

I am also a second year student, you can not give up!!! You have sacrificed to much to quit now. You owe this to yourself and you have to do this for you and your family.#1 Do you work? If you do I would seriously consider quitting. Most of the students who are failing in my cohort have yet to let go of their full time jobs. #2 Do you second guess yourself during the exams? I learned pretty quick in health assessment that I was born to be a nurse and a lot of the answers are intuitive, so I always stick with my first choice and never change the answer. By making that one little change my test scores improved drastically. #3 Remember being told that for every hour in class you would need to study four? In Nursing school that is the bare minimum. You need to know every body system, disease, drug, procedure ect inside and out, studying with a group is a great idea. When you study in groups everyone can bring something to the table, maybe there are points that you get that no one else does and vice-versa. I also like to take my notes and follow along with the book, paying extra attention to what the professor puts emphasis on. If she says something more than once I underline it and study it extra hard because she will most likely test on it if she feels it's important. At this point in the game I am to close to give up now, you have to do whatever you can, while you still can! I wish you the best of luck!

[catebsn25]

i am a 3rd year student... I have had your problems before and unfortunately failed and had to take a leave of absense... I have returned this past semester and am doing MUCH better! why? because I appreciate the opportunity more, i am studying more. I read all of the assigned chapters in the schedule, I attend study groups, and I take ATI practice questions as often as I can. I never did those things before, but yet couldn't understand why I wasn't passing. In high school, I never had to study... things just came easily to me. I took those same awful study habits with me to college. Now I know, I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING! I have to study my butt off and do as many practice questions as I can. good luck to you and I hope you can turn this around... if not, DON'T GIVE UP!!! if you know nursing is for you and have no doubt in your abilities, just utilize all the help that you can.

On your family being disappointed in you, don't let them get you down. If they haven't been through nursing school, they don't understand how hard it is. I used to let that get to me, but my new strategy is to not let them know when I have a test, or when I am struggling, etc... Keep it to yourself and to those who are supportive of you. Don't let negativity get you down.

I also recommend the article from here on allnurses "Freaking Out and Frantic," it honestly has got me through a lot of times when I am full of self doubt and wondering: Can I do this? Am I good enough to be a nurse? Study groups help me remember the content more than anything... just keep trying and know that you can do it! good luck and message me if you have any questions you think I can help with :)