PLZ HELP! DIDN'T PASS

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2009

I feel your pain...

but you gotta suck it up, life sucks some times! be glad you are passing, some would give up whatever to be where you are...

you junst need a pat on your back...

look to your goal, and focus on it,!!!

i too study like a horse to get not so hot grades!

but if you feel sorry for your self, all that will do is bring you down!!!

you have the power girl!

bja420 · Mar 19, 2009

In my school, there is SO MUCH covered in the exams that giving only one week to study is almost guaranteed to result in a low grade. When I started school, a wise nurse told me to start studying AT LEAST two weeks out from an exam, if not more. I've followed this advice and have done well on all of my exams. This semester however, is our hardest one yet and I am lucky if I can start studying a week before the exam. As a result, my grades have dropped a bit. Time is often the main factor between a high grade and a low grade. Can you start studying sooner? Review the information right after a class, make cards with that information and carry with you to study whenever you have a few minutes. Do a little at a time and try to avoid studying everything in a week. This has been helpful for me.

You might find that all that you need to do is start studying sooner and give more time to it (in days, not necessarily hours per day!). Wouldn't you hate to give up when the solution might be as simple as that? Also, our instructors HIGHLY SUGGEST that we read the certain chapters in Saunder's NCLEX Comprehensive Review book for the information covered on the exam and then do the questions. This was hard to fit in at first but now that I see how much it helps, I try to make it one of my top priorities. Come to find out, there were several questions on our last exam right out of this book.

Hang in there and don't give up! :up:

BJ

chevyv, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2009

It sounds like your in the same boat with your classmates, otherwise your instructor wouldn't be so generous in points. You just hang in there. You can study for the NCLEX for months if you choose, you can only study for your exam a short period of time. Just get through the class and do the best you can. Are you using NCLEX type questions to study? Is that how your exams are? If so, then maybe you need to figure out how to read the questions and pull them apart. That was huge for me. What is the question really asking? Underline the key words if you can write on the exam. This is a big help because there is alot of fluff in many of those questions. Hang tough!

shann106 · Mar 20, 2009

I have never heard of a nursing school/instructor giving extra points, the fact that she is giving that many extra points leads me to believe that your classmates are having just as much trouble as you are.

If nursing is what you really want then stick with it. I am sorry to say but it is going to keep getting harder. You have to really want it to keep yourself from getting frustrated and burn out.

AOx1 · Mar 20, 2009

It is important for you to realize something. If an instructor throws out questions, it is generally because after reviewing the performance of the class, we decide it was either poorly worded, or not covered appropriately, or on rare occasions, may have been miss-keyed.

NCLEX tests new questions all the time and has a lot of data on each question, so this is very unlikely to happen. Instructors, on the other hand don't have the luxury of as many resources and as large a test pool as NCLEX does, so we will at times throw out a question. This means that it was a BAD question, not that you or other students are stupid. Please realize that this is a big difference. Consider taking some time to re-evaluate your thoughts on nursing after the summer. It is more likely that you are just discouraged, frustrated, and burnt out, but after a few months of reflection, you will likely know whether this is still what you want.

If you decide to continue, talk to your instructor first. Review all the relevant content with NCLEX questions, talk to a senior about tutoring, whatever you need to do. I've talked to a lot of students, and they all feel this way at one point or another.

slim2007 · Mar 20, 2009

Thanks, 4 D encouragement everybody.... Sorry may thread got cut off...... But thanks for all because i was really down but now i feel better...... I will keep going and just study harder and wiser..... Thanks.. SLIM2007

elb252 · Mar 22, 2009

Glad that you're going to hang in there! :yeah:

You are most certainly NOT alone: I, too, study very hard over an extended amount of time just to see that I passed (barely), and many others did a lot better than I did.

But remember this as school gets harder (sorry to sound pessimistic, but it's the truth): in the grand scheme of things, the dedication that you place into your studies and the sacrifices you make WILL pay off. I've learned not to compare myself to my friends and classmates, because it's not about a competition...it's about YOUR education, what YOU'RE learning, and your drive. I don't know if you've had any clinicals yet, but you will surprise yourself in the future with what you know when you're talking to your patients, instructor, peers, etc. If you have the motivation and passion to be a nurse and you know it, you can get through ANY challenging test. I know that sounds so cliche, but it's also very true. :)

Good luck in your studies!!

Kevin RN08 · Mar 22, 2009

thanks, 4 d encouragement everybody.... sorry may thread got cut off...... but thanks for all because i was really down but now i feel better...... i will keep going and just study harder and wiser..... thanks.. slim2007

in my opinion, the red statement is only half right, this is coming from someone that has been where you are. in ms2 my first 3 tests were 68,64,62 then over springbreak i saw a hypnotist for my anxiety, although i was not successful in my attempt i was able to bring my average to 74.8% essentially missing advancement by, 1.2%. like you i was studying 40+ hours per week (it's a fulltime job, right?), but as i sat to take the test i could not recall anything (practically had to look at my name tag for the spelling of my name).

at any rate, through hypnosis i was able to learn how to relax, focus, and limit my destructive behaviors. my hypnotist incorporated test taking strategies into my relaxation cds and we limited my study time to 2 hrs per day.

beyond the doing pre-test and pre-class relaxation, i began focusing on the syllabus-that is the tested material, the other stuff is great for additional knowledge but won't (or shouldn't be) on your tests. pre-skim before every class, be familiar with the lecture(s) for the upcoming day- you don't have to "know" the material, but should have a familiarity with the content. it also allows you to listen to lecture rather than taking constant notes. i also have made it a habit to walk in the door at exactly 9:00am on test days, avoiding everyone else's pretest jitters and chit-chat, i find my seat and close my eyes and block out all sound except for the instructor. i do not study the morning of a test, period, if i don't know it i won't, the only thing i look at the am of a test is i review my test taking strategies.

lastly, don't lose yourself. take time for you, your family, do something you enjoy ... or nothing one day per week. for me, i take sundays in the fall to watch football, now it's spring and it's yard work with my wife.

your sauders study guide has the test taking strategies that i am talking about in unit i, ch 5 in short they are:

1. avoid reading into the question

2. look for key words like early, late, best, first, initial, immediately, most likely, least likely ...

3. prioritize using abcs and/or maslow's hierarchy.

4. identify true or false response questions. "... it is determined the pt needs reinforcement of discharge instructions if he states" is looking for a false or negative statement.

"what action would the nurse take next?" is looking for a true or positive statement.

5. theraputic communication questions always focus on the pt, pt's family, feelings, concerns, anxieties or fears.

6. eliminate similar options. if options are pursuing the same idea both can be eliminated. the one correct option frequently is the one that is different.

7. eliminate options with absolute words like all, always, every, must, none, never.

8. look for the umbrella option. thats the one answer that is more general and encompasses other correct responses that are provided.

9. use guidelines for delegation and assignment making questions.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

Talk to admissions and see if you can stay in the class as an audit.

You may not be able to do that if you are getting financial aid.

That way, you benefit in two ways:

1. Your GPA will not suffer.

2. You still get to sit through the material so when you take it again, it will be a repeat.