Please help- Dilemna - should I continue or switch programs

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Please help,

I am in an accelerated direct entry masters program for nursing. I have made sacrifices to be in the program that I am in including moving to a different state to pursue my nursing dream. The problem is that I'm not sure that this particular program is the best fit for me. I am about to finish my first semester, but I am barely passing Pathophysiology and Pharmacology. Right now I am considered passing, but the professor may be scaling my grade- they are just a bad professor. Also I did not do well on my Fundamentals final exam, I am concerned that I am going into nursing without a full understanding of the basics. I will get a B or an A in Fundamentals- but this still concerns me. I just want to be the best nurse possible, but also do it safely. Some people I have asked say that knowing the knowledge will come with time, but what if I really don't have it. I'm considering changing schools and applying to another accelerated bachelor's program that doesn't start clinicals until the second semester in school. Maybe this will help. Please I need some advice as to whether I should continue on this path. By the way I do wonderfully in clinical if that helps and my clinical instructor thinks I'm doing great. I feel like I can do all the tasks, I just concerned with the understanding behind it. Thanks.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

First, let me start of by saying no, don’t give up on the program. Pathophysiology and Pharmacology were my two most difficult courses. I too became concerned as to whether or not I should continue with the program. I met with my professor and told her my concerns. Her response was, “Hold tight! This all will come together in the next couple of semesters. Everything builds upon itself. When you are in your Adult Health courses, you will get a review of Pathophysilogy. When you are in clinical, you will get a review of Pharmacology. You will do fine, just give it another year.” So, I did. And she was right! In Fundamentals, I think there are a couple of things that must be understood. First, the competencies associated with the course (all of your labs). Finally, it is important to understand the nursing process. Understand ADPIE, PIE, SOAP, ect. Each class is centered around the nursing process. When you get into Adult Health, you will begin a review of all systems. In this review you will be going over the A&P, the Patho, and the Nursing Implications. Most will be a review for you. It is at this time you will begin learning what you will do for those patients with the pathologies. I promise it gets better!

Just hang tight. You will do fine!

Good luck to you!

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Programs can be VERY hard to get into. You could come across waiting lists etc. My advice would be to stay where you are.

That being said- this is my story. Started out in a CC program. Failed out of pharmacology by 21 pts. I could have re-applied to the school and started all over again in Fundamentals. But- it was past the application period for that year- so I was going to have to wait another year to start again anyhow.

And that's when I made the decision to go somewhere else. I had to take 3 more classes for this program, but it was ok b/c I was going to have to wait until that August to start anyhow. I knew going into this though that every single program is going to have it's good points/instuctors etc and bad.

The main thing I like with this program is that drugs are taught as you go through systems. And I actually GET IT this time.

Do you have problems answering the questions on the test? Figuring out just what answer they want when you can narrow it down to two? Because what has helped me with test taking is NCLEX review books. I bought one for OB (wish I had done this in Fundamentals and Peds) and it helped me with answering the questions. My grades didn't go up dramatically but- passing this class this time by 4 points instead of passing by .05 the last time felt SO MUCH BETTER.

I'm starting medsurge in a week, and I got a different book than the one I used for my Maternal/Child class. This one has test tips in it as well, and I'm hoping it'll get me through a class that everyone's telling me is HORRIBLE.

Oh yeah, clinical is ok for me too. I can take care of a patient, write a concept map etc. It's the stupid test questions that get me EVERY TIME.

Cheryl

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Thanks ParkerBeanCurd and Cheryl. My friend in the program is also saying I should stay. I know that I have med-surg coming in the summer. I think I need to dedicate more time to studying and less time on distractions as well. In response to Cheryl when I take tests, I can usually narrow down the answer to two choices which includes the right answer, but for some reason I just choose the wrong answer choice :(. Even though I'm doing okay in my other classes I will definitely try to streamline my study habits.

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Specializes in Nursing Education.

The more NCLEX questions you practice, the better you will get at choosing between those last 2 answer choices. I always recommend students start doing NCLEX questions the first day they start nursing school! Just don't get discouraged when you see yourself getting so many questions wrong that way...just keep remembering that is to be expected, because you're only starting out!! Your scores will get better and (more importantly) your nursing knowledge will grow.

I was a very strong student in my nursing school, and I failed my very first nursing quiz in Fundamentals with a 60% (78% was passing in my school). While that was scary, and I had some doubts as to whether I was cut out for nursing, I came to realize that eventually you hit a 'critical mass' of nursing knowledge and it all starts to come together for you.

Good luck!

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Thanks RNTutor. I am definitely going to start doing NCLEX questions.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I really wish I would have listened to my instructors when they said to do the nclex questions from the beginning. It really does make a great deal of difference in learning how to understand the testing.

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I would definitely not leave this program at this point. You are insecure because all of this is new to you. All students need a period of time for the material to sink in and properly come together. As long as you are passing your classes consider yourself where you should be. But you do need to place more emphasis on your pharm and pathophys, as these are two areas of great importance to a strong foundation in nursing. Hang in there.

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Thanks That Guy and caliotter3. Caliotter3 your response just like the others are very reassuring. I have a small break between my summer classes so in addition to getting some rest I'm going to see what work I can do to improve my understanding in Pathophysiology and Pharmacology and Fundamentals. Would doing NCLEX questions just be enough or should I read my books over break?

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I really wish I would have listened to my instructors when they said to do the nclex questions from the beginning. It really does make a great deal of difference in learning how to understand the testing.

This is so true! After I've done my studying for exams, one of the last things I do is complete the corresponding section of my NCLEX books. It really helps me on my exams!

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If you do NCLEX questions read and study the rationales, all of them, for both the wrong and right answers. When you come across a concept that is fuzzy, go to the text and review.

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Thanks caliotter3! I'm going to do that for both subjects :)

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