So stressed out :(

chevyv, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

I bombed my first test. Totally bombed it.
This time, although I did not get my grade yet (she's calling us all w/ our grades today) I think I did a LOT better. This time, I did not worry so much about flash card type memorization. Instead I focused on applying the information. Every paragraph I read and then thought back over and asked myself "what is a real world scenario that this would apply to?" There were a few memorization type questions on the test, but the application knowledge I used kinda covered that as well. We did also study like crazy, getting together to ask eachother scenarios and such, which helped, but the "what does stereognosis mean" kind of stuff that we memorized just did not come in to play.
I hope you do well on your test. I hope I did well on my test! :)

I believe this is the key. NS is so much different than any other major out there. The instructor is making you think as a nurse from day 1 of Fundamentals. This can be very difficult for most of us who are there to learn how to be a nurse. I firmly believe every school should require a short class before nursing classes actually begin to expose us and teach us how to study best for this major. To be thrown in is accepted practice in every school, but personally, I believe its unnecessary. I've been told they are weeding out the ones who won't make it. Don't believe that either. I've seen people fail fundamentals and retake it and go all the way. Schools should focus on student success rather than weeding the weak, as they perceive them. Just my:twocents: :wink2:

snazzy-jazzy, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

Don't worry, you'll get used to it. It will always be overwhelming but eventually being overwhelmed will become your normal state. :smilecoffeeIlovecof

dianie678 · Sep 15, 2008

I am also taking that test tomorrow... No advice obviously, I don't know what to expect! :eek: But good luck to you! (and everyone else, too.)

NurseJeanB · Sep 15, 2008

Oh I have been in your shoes, and I sympathize with you. My first year I had three teachers that taught theory, and one of them was a PhD. She called herself a professional student and she told us all to learn to skim. She said to read all the introductory paragraphs, read all bolded an italicized sentences. Read every picture, table, graph etc. and read every chapter summation. I did that as well as participated in a study group where we doled out all the objective questions in the syllabus, and everybody in the group received a completed set to study prior to tests. I also recorded lectures and listended to them prior to tests, and I reviewed all the powerpoints. I also did every practice question at the end of the chapters. One last thing that helped a lot was that I read a book called Test Success: Test Taking Strategies (or Techniques) for Student Nurses.

Now everybody has different study styles and habits, but what is most important is to find out what works best for you as soon as possible. With my classes our grades were based on a midterm, a final, and a group project so if you found yourself doing badly there wasn't much time to fiddle around with corrections.

Best of luck to you.

kd2393 · Sep 21, 2008

i'm in my second week of nursing school and i am overwhelmed! i have my first exam on monday and i have no idea how to prepare for this thing. i'm losing my mind! has anyone on here been to stratham tech in nh? does anyone have any advice that might help me?! thanks

jamie-sue, relax. i am a recent grad but boy!!! do i remember those first three months! i thought i would never remember all that stuff but i would find myself rehashing the lecture in my mind. you remember more than you think you do. don't waste your time on stuff you already know, quick review and then move on to the topics you don't know or are having trouble with. ask questions, all nurses love to teach and many may have a way of explaining a topic that totally clicks for you. if you have a test in fundies in two days don't split that study time with something your testing on in a week. four straight hours of study will burn you out, break it up, move around. with a&p my silly husband and children would walk around with labels on their bodies, by the time i took the test all i could see was the placement of those labels. try to find creative ways to get the info in, if your having fun you will remember, trust me. and most important : always always always follow your first mind. don't change any answers unless you are willing to bet your first born on it. stay focused, stay calm, stay at it. you can do it!!!!! :yeah: