Nursing School Blues

Hello PSUAlum,

I am graduating from a four year program in a few days and reading this post brought me back to how I felt at the very beginning of nursing school!

I remember the first critical thinking exam that I took, I got a score somewhere in the low 60s! I was surprised and very upset, it seemed extremely difficult and like all of the answers were correct, it was just about finding the "best right answer".

There is hope! Your critical thinking skills will improve with time. Another thing that you might try is to find information about critical thinking test taking strategies. I know that it is definitely a skill that you have to learn and develop and they don't do much in the way of teaching you how to think critically in a test-taking environment. It really is unfortunate that this learning experience has to negatively affect grades.

I wish you the best!

I also wanted to add that it does get better! There were some times (very few) that I felt like quitting because it is difficult, but you can get through it!!! It is stressful, but it will be worth it in the end! What I liked to tell myself when I was feeling stressed was that I am lucky to be in a nursing program because there are sooo many people who would love to be admitted but cannot! So hang in there! You're there for a reason :-)

You just made my day :) thank you!! I KNOW i can do it, because I've wanted this for so long, and I love what I'm learning, but as you said, the critical thinking I just don't get. I have a month and a half before school starts again, and I'm trying to better my "thinking like a nurse" test taking style. I already bought the Saunders Guide and do it a little bit each day. Another big complaint about my school was that noone has Patho until the 2nd half of the program, which doesn't make sense. Even my tutor looked at the questions we were expected to answer and she's like "this is very advanced for a beginner level student, especially without patho."

Did you buy and books/ go to any websites that helped you with critical thinking? I'm up for any advice/suggestions. Thank You!!

-Meagan :0)

Doing case studies can really help develop critical thinking skills and IMO are really helpful at teaching you to "think like a nurse" because it's applying the knowledge that you have to a situation that requires you to think critically. Our instructors always told us to do case studies to study for tests. Having the knowledge is important but knowing what to do with it is better. Good luck to you! You'll get there. Sometimes it takes longer but if you truly are passionate about nursing you WILL get there!

it was just about finding the "best right answer".

I've taken tests like this before, and you're right, it's really hard to know which answer is right, but don't give up! Remember, you started for a reason.

I totally understand -- although I am good at critical thinking, it's a different way of critical thinking as a nurse.

What helped me was to do lots & lots of NCLEX questions. I have an iPhone, so purchased testing apps plus hardcopy books. I did a bunch of NCLEX questions each day. Whenever I got a question wrong, I looked up why it was wrong. Eventually, just from practice, my thinking made that subtle shift to "nurse-think".

Another thing that helped is that our school has a student mentor program & I was assigned a second year student as mentor. I really lucked out -- my mentor helped me with what to expect & strategies for studying & approaching the material. We also have a terrific sim lab staffed by enthusiastic nurse educators.

We are also assigned a faculty member with whom we can meet if we do not do well on an exam. And we have exam reviews, during which we can ask questions if we don't understand why we missed a question(s).

I don't know what your school offers in terms of support for students; I know I would not be doing as well as I am without that support. Hang in there!! It does get better. :)

I would definitely suggest that you study NCLEX type questions for your exams. I was having some difficulty with my nursing exams this past semester and was getting really frustrated as to why I wasn't getting as good of grades as I usually do on my tests even though I was studying the same as I have for all of the tests I have taken over my entire college career (and I have a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Social Work as well as have taken two licensure type tests in this area before and passed them with no problems).

I was talking to one of my coworkers who graduated from a nursing program a few years ago about this. Her suggestion was to purchase and use NCLEX prep materials as part of my study for my in class exams. I believe this helped me TREMENDOUSLY. After reviewing some of these materials as well as the ATI review books and practice tests I completed I scored an A- on the first test I took after following her suggestion and found out yesterday that I even got 100% on my final :w00t:

After reviewing these materials, I realized that my instructor was progressively incorporating NCLEX style questions into our exams which I think is why I was struggling so much. Also, I don't think it is just "critical thinking" per se because I have already have education and experience with this due to past education and employment, it is "nursing" critical thinking because from what I can tell, it is unique.

Hope this helps.

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions!! I don't start school again until June 21st (Basic 1) and I am trying to prepare myself for the next 2 years of test taking.

I purchased the Saunders NCLEX Review. So far I think it's helping, but then again, I'm just at the beginning of my studies, and some of the questions on there are really advanced. Does anyone have any suggestions on books that I can buy to help me with the first year of "basic nursing"? A couple of you mentioned NCLEX questions really help with eventually mastering Critical Thinking, but is there any material in particular that helped you?

I really appreciate all the support! This is what I've wanted for so long, and I'm trying to set aside the past 4 months and start fresh in June. Unfortunately, since I didn't pass, I have to pay 1700 dollars to the school before I even start classes. That's money I don't have, and I've been babysitting and working at the mall to try and come up with the money. Sometimes, I get really down on myself because I see people who are succeeding in school, but none of them have the passion and the work ethic that I have, it just comes easier for them.

It's beyond frustrating, but I can only hope that Nursing really is for me and this will all pay off!!

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions!! I don't start school again until June 21st (Basic 1) and I am trying to prepare myself for the next 2 years of test taking.

I purchased the Saunders NCLEX Review. So far I think it's helping, but then again, I'm just at the beginning of my studies, and some of the questions on there are really advanced. Does anyone have any suggestions on books that I can buy to help me with the first year of "basic nursing"?

Wow, my 3rd post in a row saying this, but I really like Nursing Fundamentals Reviews and Rationales. I'm in my 1st semester and used this A LOT! I think its a great study aid for fundamentals. Just ordered the one for Med Surg to get ready for Med Surg next semester.

Hey there! Sorry so long to respond!!! I just wanted to let you know that I didn't end up using anything to develop critical thinking skills, they just developed over time! I know that's not really what you want to hear and it looks like you've got quite a few suggestions here, so I really hope you're not still discouraged!! It'll come to you, it's just re-training yourself to think differently when test taking (easier said than done). But I know you can do it! And once you get it it'll be second nature (ish)! :)

Best of luck to you!!!

what I have found is that people have a problem with over thinking you might be reading to much into the question just read what the question is asking and mark the first thing that you would do even if it is just raise the head of the bed

Don't worry about the NCLEX practice questions being too complex; some will be & some won't. The important thing is to read through the rationales. You will learn from each question, even if it's something you haven't covered yet. Learning why an answer is right & why an answer is wrong is way better than just "knowing".

A lot of questions go back to ABC's (airway, breathing, circulation) & Maslow. Get those down and you can often figure out what the priority nursing action is, even if it's something you haven't covered yet. Sounds basic, but a lot of times students forget those (and over think).

The Reviews & Rationales books are quite good; I wish I'd discovered them earlier. And they are relatively inexpensive, particularly if you buy used. Hang in there, you'll find what works for you (it may take a lot of hard work, but you sound very determined...that's half the battle). Nursing school is such a different way to think & that can be very stressful until it starts to flow (ha! And just when you think you've got it, you'll have days when it just won't click. Don't let that worry you). :)