Second week of RN school

losilva95 · Aug 22, 2013

I remember in my A & P II class many of the students were first semester nursing students, and they said they would go home and cry everyday. They were always talking about one particular instructor being difficult. I guess I would cry every day too if I was trying to do A & P II at the same time as Nursing school. Thank goodness I have all those co reqs done, I think I will cry maybe just a little less, but I anticipate a few breakdowns are coming my way.[/quote']
Oh yes! I've already had two breakdowns lol! Thankfully I have all my pre reqs out of the way but it still doesn't make it any easier! Best of luck when you start :)

nurseladybug12 · Aug 23, 2013

I was also a tutor for my nursing program and I had sooo many students coming to me after the first exam saying " I was always a straight A student, I dont get how I failed this, I studied how I usually study." I have also had students say " the biggest lesson you taught me was that I was not studying enough". You need to study more than you think you need to. Read the text, take notes on it, tape record the lectures. Make yourself a study guide, study with a few others if that helps you. I would also buy one or 2 NCLEX prep books now, something I wish I had done in my first semester. Your teachers will phrase exam questions how these prep books do and it will help a lot to practice. The best way for me to study was to write down things over and over if I was not getting them, so to not waste paper, I got a small white marker board I would put on my lap while studying and it was my favorite way to study. I tried to type notes but my wrists would be exhausted eventually. Study, study, study is my best advice.

losilva95 · Aug 23, 2013

I was also a tutor for my nursing program and I had sooo many students coming to me after the first exam saying " I was always a straight A student I dont get how I failed this, I studied how I usually study." I have also had students say " the biggest lesson you taught me was that I was not studying enough". You need to study more than you think you need to. Read the text, take notes on it, tape record the lectures. Make yourself a study guide, study with a few others if that helps you. I would also buy one or 2 NCLEX prep books now, something I wish I had done in my first semester. Your teachers will phrase exam questions how these prep books do and it will help a lot to practice. The best way for me to study was to write down things over and over if I was not getting them, so to not waste paper, I got a small white marker board I would put on my lap while studying and it was my favorite way to study. I tried to type notes but my wrists would be exhausted eventually. Study, study, study is my best advice.[/quote']
Thank you for the advice! I'm trying new study methods because my olds weren't cutting it lol I've never thought of the dry erase board! I always waste tons of paper...definitely not good for our environment I'm terrified to take my second exam this Monday! I'm studying my butt off though. I really really hope this works! I've been reading all my material, answering the critical question in the book, doing NCLEX styled questions from book CD, and ATI exercises! Anything else you recommend?

mzrainydayz, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2013

First semester I failed my first nursing test, I was mortified. Don't get caught up in that feeling it will pass. You have to figure out what you did wrong with your studying and on your test. Change things up for the next test. What helped me was to break my material up and study a few chapters a day, then a week before the test study all chapters together. You also need to do practice questions daily, trust me it helps it gets your mind in the test taking mode. When you take notes in class write down everything, my teacher would emphasize certain things, that meant it would indeed be on the test. Good luck on your next test, you can do it!