kristi1111

I would definitely suggest that you study NCLEX type questions for your exams. I was having some difficulty with my nursing exams this past semester and was getting really frustrated as to why I wasn't getting as good of grades as I usually do on my tests even though I was studying the same as I have for all of the tests I have taken over my entire college career (and I have a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Social Work as well as have taken two licensure type tests in this area before and passed them with no problems). I was talking to one of my coworkers who graduated from a nursing program a few years ago about this. Her suggestion was to purchase and use NCLEX prep materials as part of my study for my in class exams. I believe this helped me TREMENDOUSLY. After reviewing some of these materials as well as the ATI review books and practice tests I completed I scored an A- on the first test I took after following her suggestion and found out yesterday that I even got 100% on my final :w00t: After reviewing these materials, I realized that my instructor was progressively incorporating NCLEX style questions into our exams which I think is why I was struggling so much. Also, I don't think it is just "critical thinking" per se because I have already have education and experience with this due to past education and employment, it is "nursing" critical thinking because from what I can tell, it is unique. Hope this helps.

Hi, I am a nursing student about three weeks into my first semester of nursing school. I am wondering about other student's experiences while taking Pathophysiolgy as I have heard such negative mixed things about the class. I have heard some people say that they have had to take the class more than once. How was your experience.

This is something that I am nervous about also because I have taken most of my prerequisites at another University so have a feeling I am going to be in classes with a lot of people whom I have never met but may already know each other since a lot of the students may have taken their prerequisites there. This University also has a tendency to attract more traditional students than nontraditional (which I am) and this also makes me a bit nervous about being able to fit in.

I start on the 30th of August. However, I already have access to the syllabus for a couple of classes. I will probably start reading towards the end of this week and this weekend to get a jump start. Good luck to everyone :).

I'll let you know when I start on the 30th. Just got done printing out two of my syllabi (sp?) which have been e-mailed to me by my instructors and making sure I have the right books (so far it seems that I do except that according to my pharmacology syllabus, I have to find a "Medical-Nursing Dictionary"). Glad to hear that your day went well. Gives me some hope :).

I wore a blue button down long sleeved shirt (my interview was in January of this year) and a dark brown pair of dress pants, and dress shoes. Basically wore what I would have worn to a job interview. Must have been okay to wear that because I start nursing school on August 30th

Most of the time the only thing that has been shared in the classes I have been in is how the class did as a whole (by the professor). However, of course there are people who ask and it kind of depends on how they act as to whether I tell them my specific grade or not (I try to feel them out to see if they are going to get competative with me or not and if it seems they are I am more general with the information than if they don't). However, I have had people ask me what I got as far as grades, etc and then if I was doing better than they were ask me how I study, pointers etc. (and I have been more than happy to offer those suggestions to them and have done the same with others to obtain study tips also). I guess I am the type of person who would rather have everyone be supportive of each other than not cause we are all here to learn.

I find a mixture of independent studying along with study groups works best for me. I usually try to make sure that I have done quite a bit of independent study before I get together with people in a group though because I use the group mainly for clarification of certain things I don't understand that maybe they will, etc. I also think when you are in a group it helps to have something that you can focus on such as review questions, practice tests, former tests, etc in order to keep the group focused so that you don't get off track etc. However, unlike someone who had posted before I have found it can be helpful to be in a group even when you have people who don't understand the information as well as you do because if you understand the concept, etc. and can explain it to someone else it is a way of testing and/or reviewing concepts yourself. I also don't think it is bad to get off track for a little bit (everyone needs a little blow off steam time) but that you need to be able to keep that under control.

Congratulations. Me too (just took my final last evening). Should find out tomorrow (Thurs) if I am going to get an A or a B (depends on my grade on the final although it did not seem too bad). I hope those who have to take it in the future don't get too scared. It is work but it is doable. I took it along with working 40+ hours a week and microbiology last semester and got As in both lecture and lab and took it this semester with 3 other classes and feel I did well. I can only suggest to keep reading the information over and over because it is a lot of memorization but is very fascinating.

Took my last final last evening. Will start an accelerated nursing program on May 10th so am spending these precious five days of not having to cram information into my head or yank information out of my head doing things that are mindless such as sleeping, surfing the net (for fun and not for school projects) and watching television/movies. (Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) I do have to spend one of the days working).

Do what you love and success will follow.

Well, to answer your question, I am currently at the end of my 5th week of taking A&P I and Microbiology together. I just finished an 8 day stretch where I had an A&P lab quiz, then a Microbiology test, then an A&P test and another A&P lab quiz and I am currently feeling pretty exhausted (I also work 40 hours a week.) However, I got 100% on both of my A&P quizzes and a 90% on my Micro exam (she told us the class average was a 74%.) I don't know what I got on my A&P I test yet because we will not get our grades until Tuesday evening. I don't know if you can really judge what classes to take so that you won't end up with tests in the same week but I would reccomend if you are able to that you spread them out. However, I think it is doable if it ends up this way also (although as I said before, I am quite tired right now .) Hope this helps.

I'm so sorry. If I read correctly, you said that if you have your LPN that you have automatic acceptance into that program? If that is the case, do you have the option of trying to get your LPN first? Maybe you could keep applying to RN programs but in the meantime work on getting your LPN so that you are still working towards your goal of nursing. (This is my plan if I am not able to get into a program, I am just starting to apply to programs now.) Good luck :)

I too work full-time and am blessed to have a supportive husband (although he is working and going through an apprenticeship program so that probably helps) We have to split the household obligations due to the fact we are both working and going to school but that is only fair.) We do not have any kids so that is not an issue for us. I work 40 hours a week as well as pick up an occasional Saturday at another job to earn a bit more money. Because of this, I have only been taking one class at a time because since I already have a Bachelor's degree, I mainly have science classes left to take (A&P I and II plus labs) have to be taken prior to applying to the BSN program and Micro and Nutrition are optional to take before starting nursing classes and have to have a high GPA in these classes. I think the amount of credits you can handle depends on how busy your job is (I know some people who are working full-time as well as going to school full-time but have down-time so they can study on the job) and some who are working full-time and only taking 1-2 classes. It just depends on what you can handle. I think if you have been out of school for awhile, I would suggest easing yourself back into it but only you really know what you can handle. Good luck!!!

Good luck, I am taking it August 21st. I too am studying from the Kaplan book, the TEAS study guide as well as a study guide called Nursing School Enrance Exams. Studying for it seems kinda overwhelming. Let me know how you do.