Nursing school frustrates me

MelissaLynn · Mar 3, 2012

I know it can be frustrating, Nursing school exams are so much different than ANY other exams. The questions are all critical thinking and NCLEX style.. Hang in there!

ecombs · Mar 3, 2012

I am also in my first semester of nursing school. I have never had to do test questions the way they word them. My foundations class is the hardest. I could read a chapter 12 times over and know my material, but the way the questions are worded make me question myself. I could get a question down to two answers and pick the wrong one almost always. Sometimes I try and go with the obvious answer, but then I over think the question and choose something that I would want to be the answer. I try and find why most of the answers would be wrong and choose the best answer that I think fits the question, but I am still struggling. I guess I could do more NCLEX practice questions, but does it get better after the first semester?

M3rcy · Mar 3, 2012

It gets better in that you will be familiar with the style of the questions but they typically will not get easier. The bright side is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Just stay vigilant and try to eliminate the answers that you know are wrong. Usually there are at least two or three remaining. For these use your prioritization knowledge and if you can't remember that then just go with your gut. Whatever you do, don't over think the question as this can lead to certain doom.

/username, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2012

Just going to pose a question: If test scores like this are stressing you out, and you're trying to achieve absolute perfection, how are you going to react when a patient is coding in front of you and doesn't respond to your interventions. Basically, what i'm trying to ask is if you think that the tests in your first semester are too stressful, how will you deal with the death of a patient right in front of you?

iNsaNiA · Mar 4, 2012

Lets not throw straw men around.

grpman · Mar 4, 2012

Just going to pose a question: If test scores like this are stressing you out, and you're trying to achieve absolute perfection, how are you going to react when a patient is coding in front of you and doesn't respond to your interventions. Basically, what i'm trying to ask is if you think that the tests in your first semester are too stressful, how will you deal with the death of a patient right in front of you?

Wow...I love the logic here. First, wanting higher than an 80 is reasonable and isn't wanting "absolute perfection." Secondly, since when does stressing over grades equate to stressing over the death of a patient? I would type a longer reply, but it doesn't deserve the effort.

allnurses Guide · Mar 4, 2012

I hear the frustration. I was used to doing very well on exams, and bombed my first fundies one so badly that I ended up with a C for the 5 credit hour course. There went my GPA!

A fellow student noticed me sitting there in absolute dejection, took me to join her study group (difficult because most students lived near the college, I was commuting long distance from my parents' house). Started getting the hang of it and improved. I'd've loved an 80!

But 30+ years later, then only one that knows about that score is me, and possible the friend who took the time to care :) (and now all of the AN readers here.....)

So: what I tell my students (yes, I now teach lol), is look for what the question is really asking, not over thinking it but not over looking the obvious. Look for key words or phrases, such as "best", or "first". That means more than one answer will look pretty good, and you'll have to choose the one that is most complete or answers the root of the question. Look for corresponding words or phrases in the answers. Avoid answers that say "always" or "never" if the question is about judgement ("best response" type questions). One quiz I have has questions about an suspected spleen injury, the first answer is about it being enlarged, but the best answer is that it is enlarged AND the nurse knows it should not be palpated. The second is more complete, and includes critical thinking or application of knowledge.

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2012

also ati has really good nursing logic modules.....helped me so much...i got A's on both my fundies exams so far!

AZMOMO2 · Mar 5, 2012

It takes time to adjust to Nursing exams if you are not prepared in advance. Nursing school is about critical thinking, application and knowledge. It is not enough to regurgitate the facts for the exam, forget it and move on, but you have to continue to build upon that knowledge to understand priority. Knowing which answer is the most "right at the time" out of a bunch of similarly right answers is pretty tough at first. Once you grasp the priority of care and the application processes to questions they do become easier as you advance. But they will never just be knowledge based questions again.

All of the above advise is correct. Practice, practice, practice. Priority, priority, priority!

I always say, "Many an A student does a nursing exam shock."

MadpeysRN · Mar 5, 2012

they get easier because you should get better at answering them. you have to find the stem, what is the question asking. then DON'T start over analyzing the question, what if this what if that. That is surely a way to spend too much time one one question. read the question atleast twice, slowly-underline what is the real question. my exams are always scribbled on. don't second guess-your first answer is usually the right one.

nursing school exams are NOT the barf back style you are used to, where you memorize the info and you are good-those exams are long gone.