I need help to succeed in nursing school

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hi All,

I need some advice. I made it through my freshaman year in Nursing School at Gwynedd Mercy College:yeah:. Iam now entering into my sophmore year. I need help. The freshaman year was very hard and so demanding it was times where i didnt think that I could make it, but I never and will never give no matter how hard it is. It's just a little frustrating that I was only able to pass with C's. I have no problems with C's becuase i'am able to pass and move on but i would like to get better grades becuase C's are also very close to making you and breaking in nursing school. It is also frsustrating where it seems like you study so hard like you should be getting A's and B's but I still only to manage to stay in the high 70's and sometimes i might get and 80 but an 80 is still a C. I study so hard and read everything in sight, I even read things six or seven times, i also make flash cards and do tons of nclex questions but I still can not get out of the C range. I'am very nervous for sophmore year which is even more demanding than the first and I'am also worried about passing hesi exit exam and nclex. I dont know if it is the style of questions or what I'm just trying to aim a little higher this year if i can. Does anyone have any pointers!

Thanks

Does anyone know the author of the book you guys mentioned "Test Success for Nursing Students"? I think I found it but I want to make sure

Patricia Nugent & Barbara Vitale

0 Votes
Hi :)

Nursing school is tough, no matter what. But, you can find ways to make the best of it. But it takes pretty much all of your time, as I'm sure you know.

I just graduated in May, with a 3.8 GPA. (Yay!) I had people in school laugh and actually get mad at me for doing well. But I wasn't ashamed- I worked my butt off! I'm pretty sure I re-wrote the majority of my Med/Surg Book! lol That was what helped me - I had a notebook for every class that was just for notes that I made from the book. First, I would read the chapter and highlight what I felt was important or seemed like something the teachers would ask. Then, I would go through again, and summarize the highlighted things in my notebook. After that, I mainly studied my notebook. I would bring it everywhere, and when I had a free moment, I would flip to a spot and read something random. I always had classmates asking me to ask them something out of "my notebook" lol. When I felt comfortable with something I had written, like I knew I knew it, I would highlight it. Then I would focus on everything not highlighted, until I could highlight almost everything. Time consuming? yep!

I also did NCLEX 3500 and Incredibly Easy! questions for every test, which help too.

Good luck to you, you can do it :)

Totally time consuming but exactly how I study and for me it works like a charm.

0 Votes
Specializes in IMCU.

I don't take notes in class or when I am reading -- but I know this doesn't work for everyone. I just pay very close attention in class. Also, if I am particulalry tired in class I will record the lecture.

What I spend most of my time on is applying what we were taught using Saunders or ATI books/CDs.

0 Votes
Hi there,

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I have gone through a very tough LVN school, where I was only 1 of 4 (of a class of 36) that graduated on time. I had a lot of people come to me for help during school, because I learned how to study.

I should tell you too, that I didn't always know how: I failed Chemistry and Anatomy over and over about 10 years ago. So when I returned to try nursing school again, I had to reevaluate my learning methods. What changed for me is my age and determination: I would do everything it takes to pass. I don't know if you are young, but when I was 18-20 I sure didn't know how to study. Kudos to you for trying to find help!

My biggest thing was realizing how I learn. Some people are visual, some audio, whatever. I learn by WRITING EVERY SINGLE THING DOWN. If I don't write it down, IT DOESN'T STICK. I can read something 20 times, but unless I see it in my own handwriting, I won't remember it. I outlined every single chapter, and then when it came time to study for the test, all I had to do was look at my notes and occasionally refer back to my book.

It should be noted though, I take awesome notes. Notice the difference at taking notes on this sentence:

Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the giving of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals. It is commonly referred to as a drip because many systems of administration employ a drip chamber, which prevents air entering the blood stream (air embolism) and allows an estimate of flow rate.

You can write the whole damn thing out, or write this in your notes:

IV: (within vein)

~liquid subst. in vein

~IV aka specialty pharm.

~drip chamber prevents embolism, allows flow rate

This is just what works for me. I helped a lot of students learn how to take notes, so their hands don't fall off. If you are an audio learner, I would suggest finding a good partner that likes to "teach." Sometimes if you teach something to someone else you remember/understand it better. So it depends on your methods, find out you're absolute BEST way of learning, and do everything you can to stick to it.

And by the way... if you plan on having a fun social life, you probably won't be pulling A's or B's. Stick to your priorities. Good luck!

I also had issue with studying and had to drop and now are reentering this semester. I couldnt figure out what I was doing wrong and took a horrible toll on me but I am ready for more punishment lol

0 Votes

Hi

I was smiling looking at my post from last year. All of my worries . I passes and offically graduated from the ASN program I was a B student and I passed my Hessi exit. First year was hard and second year was even harder but I think first defintly prepared me and showed me how to study. Love you GWYNEDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 Votes
Specializes in SDU, Tele.
Hi :)

Nursing school is tough, no matter what. But, you can find ways to make the best of it. But it takes pretty much all of your time, as I'm sure you know.

I just graduated in May, with a 3.8 GPA. (Yay!) I had people in school laugh and actually get mad at me for doing well. But I wasn't ashamed- I worked my butt off! I'm pretty sure I re-wrote the majority of my Med/Surg Book! lol That was what helped me - I had a notebook for every class that was just for notes that I made from the book. First, I would read the chapter and highlight what I felt was important or seemed like something the teachers would ask. Then, I would go through again, and summarize the highlighted things in my notebook. After that, I mainly studied my notebook. I would bring it everywhere, and when I had a free moment, I would flip to a spot and read something random. I always had classmates asking me to ask them something out of "my notebook" lol. When I felt comfortable with something I had written, like I knew I knew it, I would highlight it. Then I would focus on everything not highlighted, until I could highlight almost everything. Time consuming? yep!

I also did NCLEX 3500 and Incredibly Easy! questions for every test, which help too.

Good luck to you, you can do it :)

loved this! this is how i studied for A&P. i prefer rewriting things. i am not crazy about ppts.

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