On the verge of being dropped from the program

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Hi, I'm sure there have been TONS of other posts like this one ... I am in a program that requires an 80% to continue the program. I have a 73.5 avg right now, we are two exams into the semester. Next exam is on March 21st (on diabetes and respiratory). I am so nervous, stresses, scared and sad. I have stepped up my study game to (on top of the reading and note cards) to buying a lecture recorder and I'll be retyping the notes that are posted by the instructors (a suggestion of one of the instructors). I guess the only thing I have left to do on top of all this is blast out as many NCLEX questions as possible. I find that when I review the chapters questions and the questions from The Point website I have the knowledge but when I sit down for the tests ... it's a mess, I find that I am having a hard time chosing between the two RIGHT answers ...

Is there ANY other advise out there ???

Praying just isn't cutting it anymore.

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Specializes in IMCU GICU.

On tests. Don't agonize over answers. Once you start doubt your knowledge things begin to fall apart. Just go with your gut.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

definitely go with your FIRST choice! I dont know how many times I have gotten an answer wrong because I erased my first choice. If you can narrow it down to the 2 answers that is a good! Getting the correct answer out of those 2 comes from knowing the material so study study study and don't read too much into the question like saying "well what if the patient had this going on...". Good luck!:up:

p.s. Does your school use ATI?

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I also agree with going with your first choice, even if you don't know. Most of the time your first guess is the correct one. Don't go back and change your answers!

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I write down rationales on my exam of why I know my answers are wrong, or why I know they are right. That helps eliminate any question I might have. Of course if I don't know an answer, I most definitely go with my gut and don't change it! Good luck, I'm sure you will be okay! :)

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Thank you for the advise ... we don't use ATI ... we have Evolve and the HESI as testing banks and case studies. We have Thepoint as a supportive study site linked with our texts.

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My friend that tutors high school kids for standardized tests gave me some useful information. She said that it looks like the student learns about diabetes and expects questions to be like: the normal glucose level for someone who is hypoglycemic is...

What she was trying to explain to me is that the instructor want us to get the whole "critical thinking" picture (yes she used that dreaded word). So, I need to learn the whole picture for that patient. She suggested drawing a stick figure of person and start drawing statements around the picture of what that patient in hypoglycemia would look like: They are cool, clammy, sweating, nervous, and having palpatations.

So the instructor's question are to get us to think how we would recognize this patient as a whole - we do not always have the lab work done in the beginning.

My friend said that every part of my answer has to fit the question.

On the test the question would be for example...

Mrs. Mary came in the clinic with her three children screaming and they all had runny noses. Mrs. Mary is sweating, looks clammy and is confused. As the nurse you would..

A. Offer the kids tissues.

B. Tell Mrs. Mary to bring a sitter next visit.

C. Ask Mrs. Mary if she had breakfast his morning?

D. Ask Mrs. Mary if she is a diabetic and does she take insulin?

Not the best example, but the stick figure has helped me.

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I love the miss mary options for answers LOL thanks I'll try the drawing thing ... I think will be helpfull!

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Thank you to all that replied here, I managed to pull my grade up from a C- to a B- ... I'm very proud that I was able to bust my hump and go on!!!

Also I was able to recognize what my weaknesses were in regards to the testing process and over come this. So happy to be moving onward ... only 50 more weeks until graduation!

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OP- Are you attending Rivier college, class of 2012 evening program? I'm in it as well and everything you said sounds very familiar...

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Pop an adderall and study ur butt off. I'm in the same situation

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HA! no chemicals!!!! I'll go all natural

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