Should I give up:(

annieob · Feb 28, 2012

I won't lie to you. Your pre-requisite grades are incredibly important to a nursing program. Anatomy and Physiology give you the fundamentals that your nursing classes build on. An ADN program will be reluctant to take on a student who might be lacking those fundamentals because you will be behind all the other students, and it's not easy to catch up.

However, I would suggest doing the absolute best you can in this class. Find a tutor (two, if you must), set up weekly meetings with your professor to go over the material that isn't clicking, rearrange your study habits, talk to the successful students in your class about what works for them. If you really want to be a Peds nurse, you have to be willing to keep trying even when it doesn't seem worth it. Nursing school is incredibly difficult and tests your determination every single day. Even if you leave this class with a C+, make sure your other pre-requisite grades are better. Then, during the interviews, you might be able to explain away this not-so-great grade and show them you're still a good investment with other good grades. However, if all the sciences are incredibly hard for you, then maybe nursing school isn't the best fit. It's wonderful that you seem to have a passion for the work, but it is a medical field. Patient care demands knowing the basics of the human body and its functions so that we don't cause any damage. But I believe that if you really want to do this, then you will find a way to make it happen. It may take a lot of extra work on your part, but if you really love it then you will understand why it's important.

Best of luck!

CDEWannaBe · Feb 28, 2012

Why aren't you doing better after taking the class a second time? Are you struggling to learn the information or are you bad at taking tests? Try to figure out where you're weak and deal with those areas.

FuturePedRN'15 · Feb 28, 2012

Thanks for the honesty and I going to go see my prof to see how can I work this out because I really want it.

FuturePedRN'15 · Feb 28, 2012

Yes I am struggling in the lecture part but in lab I'm doing great. And yes when the test is approaching I get overwhelmed I'm going to go talk to my prof to see how I can do better, so that I can excel on the last two exams and final.

Nurse2b7337 · Feb 29, 2012

I actually freeze up during test taking to. Some people seem to think it has to do with the professor. Some professors have a knack for teaching some don't they just rush through the lecture and you have to self teach yourself. It is a lot of information to take in but with anything when you out your mind to it you can do it. I agree with the mtg with your professor. I would go and see what they think after you tell them where your weakness is. Good luck to you.

CDEWannaBe · Mar 1, 2012

Since you're struggling in the lecture part you might look for youtube videos or library books that cover the same material in a different way. If you like the lab part, you may be more of a hands on learner. Try to do flashcards, make drawings of what you've learned, and "teach" is to a friend or anyone willing to listen for a few minutes.

You may also explain to your professor that you struggle with tests and ask if you can take the test at the testing center or another location and have extra time. Another option is to wear ear plugs so you aren't distracted.

Try to figure out what works for you. To be successful in a nursing program it's going to be important for you to figure out how you can best learn and be tested on the information.

FuturePedRN'15 · Mar 1, 2012

@CDEWannaBe I talked with my professor and she advised that I study in bits instead of whole chunks, because that was the way I was studying. Thanks for the advice I will try all of those skills and see which one works for me.

cally527, RN · Mar 7, 2012

One thing that has helped me is making a ton of flash cards. At the beginning of the term I was studying like I always have (I have a Bachelors in Business) I would do the readings and exercises at the end of the chapter but then when it came time to take the quiz I would not remember anything.

So I started making flash cards after I read the chapter and I study from those and it has made a big difference. I have a B+ average now.

Nursing2102 · Mar 8, 2012

Like the other comments said..... you need to find out what you are struggling with and focus on that. Don't give up though! If other people can do it so can you.

Good luck!

Love2camp · Mar 8, 2012

In my anatomy classes I used a recorder. I found it almost impossible to write down everything the professor was lecturing on. He very rarely wrote anything down. All our test were in essay form. It made it a lot easier to absorb the information when listening to it again at my own pace. I would write the sequence of events exactly as the professor stated ex. what happens with cancer cells. I would write more like bullet points so it was easier to remember each stage. Also word association or putting a picture in my mind that would help to remind me of certain material. I found it best to do the sciences towards the end of my pre-req classes because science courses have a shelf life. Some nursing programs will not take your science classes if they are over 4 or 5yrs old. Just food for thought.

Love2camp · Mar 9, 2012

Also your text book has a companion website to it. If you look in the 1st few pages of your book it should give you a website that you do not have to pay for. If you go on the website for your book there will be information on each chapter and practice tests.