Nursing school harder than expected!!!

wannabemw · Feb 28, 2005

Maria,

I know u r crushed right now, but look at it this way, it is better then being dropped completely by the nursing program. I would have given ANYTHING to have been offered that opportunity b4 I flunked out. But, on the flipside, I am glad that I flunked out now, b/c I discovered that my old school wasn't as great as I thought. SO, just think, everything happens for a reason! As far as Pharm goes: talk to your prof and see if he/she has any suggestions. Also, find a way to recall w/bringing an old memory n2 the picture. EG: when I have a headache I take ______. This med is also go if I have _____. Or like w/anti epileptics: _____ is good for_____ &______, and I know this b/c when my mom had seizures, she also balanced out in her moods.

Or: imagine yourself in a familar placce, each rm that u enter, tell yourself I see___ sitting at the table and she takes_____ and ____ because of ______. And sitting across from her ismom, who take_____ for her____. Get the idea, then go from rm 2 rm. This helps if u make up a story along the way! This wks! My testing grades have shot up b/c of this...also helps when taking notes in class: headache (me):_____(insert med). If u have anymore q's about this tech, just PM me...also ck out my study tips on my other posts!

Good Luck! We all have to help one another here!

~MJ

kirbi · Feb 28, 2005

Don't be rough on yourself just because it's difficult. Attempting difficult things is what enables us to grow. You never know what you are capable of accomplishing if you don't try. Failure is NOT trying and not succeeding. There is no shame in that at all. Failure is when you never even try in the first place.

That being said, set your determination cap in the direction you want to go! Tell yourself, "I CAN DO IT"! Develop strategies for success. Analyze what you are doing and what you are not getting. If it's Pharm, then find out what specifically you are missing. The previous poster has some good tips and keep asking other students too, they will have more good study advice. Address your specific study needs.

If it's NCLEX questions, then focus specifically on what you are missing on them. Is it knowing how to prioritize? Deciding which in the most correct answer? I always write out the rationales or possible rationales for every answer. Then I evaluate, which one specifically answers the question asked best. If no rationale fits an answer, I cross it off and don't pay any attention to it. Plus, try to ask yourself what is the big picture?

Here's an example of a dumb mistake I made the other day. I had S/S's given to me and I had to pick the disease. Two answers fit, except for one symptoms and I couldn't quite place it. So, I had to guess. As soon as I left, I thought DOH! Why didn't I pick the illness about the disease we were actually studying????

That's what I mean about the big picture. What is trying to be accomplished? Either wth the test or with the question? Sometimes putting things in perspective makes the answer more clear. Mostly, though, practice, practice, practice.

And tell yourself, "I WILL DO IT"!

kirbi

dave1117 · Feb 28, 2005

I am one of the lucky ones in that NCLEX type question are an exciting challenge for me. Fortunately I answer them right a large percentage of the time. You are not alone. Many of the very smart people I study with have the same problem that you are having, and thus do not do well at all on tests even though they definately know the technical material. As a member of our SNA and one who runs skills clinics for our under-class people I am looking into starting a new program to help others with the test skills necesary to pass nursing tests. Getting that idea by administration will be another challenge.

As far as your problems...why not except the fact that you need to move slower. remember who usually wins the race, the tortoise or the hare. Nursing school is not a sprint.

The previous suggestion regarding your Pharmacology class is a good one. I always imagine why I would take a drug. Most schools do not require info to be known for doseage and route so usually that is not a problem. As far as nursing teaching and side effects, think about yourself and your family and how, when and why you would use drugs and why you would not. That works for me...

Good luck and keep your dream alive.

dave :)

wannabemw · Mar 1, 2005

"I always write out the rationales or possible rationales for every answer. Then I evaluate, which one specifically answers the question asked best. If no rationale fits an answer, I cross it off and don't pay any attention to it. Plus, try to ask yourself what is the big picture?"

Kirbi, TY! I am going to try this!

~MJ

sun1shine1 · Mar 1, 2005

For pharm: I do the "enter a room and diagnose everybody" tactic. "oooh See that vein popping oiut of his head; he's prolly got HTN. I bet he takes an ACE I - those end in -pril. It does...; s/e are...; call the MD when...; I know it's working by...; It works on....; I can give them...; I need to check...first; It'll start working...peak...last...; It may affect these labs...;" You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get good at that game, but definitely make a game out of it. It'll also help you with s/s of ds.

Once I understood what NCLEX questions were looking for (a good review book helps), they got much easier. Even if I don't always remember completely what the question is asking about, I can usually narrow down the selection to 2. Of course then I usually pick the "other" one. Happened about 4 times on my OB test today as a matter of fact. Nothing more frustrating than that too!

Ash

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2005

I did fail a class my very first semester of nursing school. I picked myself up and went right back at it. It was hard to do, it was hard knowing I wouldn't be graduating with all the great friends I had made that year. But my advisor asked me "do you want to be a nurse?" YES!! I do!! So I went right back at it, and now I'm in my very last semster, about to graduate in a few short months. I'll be a nurse, just like I've always wanted to be. It can be done.

A few things that in your post really caught my eye though .....

I have a serious mental block over NCLEX style class exams which I believe is one of most important reasons why I had to drop 2 of my failing classes.

No, you don't have a serious mental block over the NCLEX style class exams, that's completely NORMAL! We take all of our prereqs, and they have exams which are based on knowledge/comprehension. Then we come into nursing school and are expected to take exams that are based on application. You can have all the knowledge about the chapters you read, but until you learn to apply it, then you will have a hard time with the exams. So you ask how do you learn to apply it? Well it just takes time! You can't go into nursing school expecting to ace every exam, it's a learning process. Each exam you take will help you learn how to apply and critical think. It gets easier with time. It gets easier each semester. The exams don't get easier, but it's easier because you know how to critical think better and apply your knowledge to those exam questions. It won't happen overnight. All you can do is practice. Talk with the instructors. Read some of the NCLEX practice books for strategies. What you're going through now is completely normal. Don't think you have a mental block, just know that it's normal to be frustrated with these exams .... it's something completely different than we've ever had before.

Being a nurse was always my dream I hope and pray God will help me reach my goals.

Being a nurse WAS always your dream? It IS always your dream!! Don't talk like it won't happen. It's still your dream. If that's what you really want to do, then make it happen. I wish you all the best, you'll be just fine! :)

abundantjoy07, RN · Mar 1, 2005

Most people feel the same way. The problem is it isn't as hard as it is time consuming.