Test Frustration

Babe · Mar 2, 2004

It happened to me, proably to most students at one time are other. Forget it, you've been doing good and will continue to do so.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 2, 2004

Remember, all you have to do is pass. C=RN

Once you have your license in your hand, no one will care what your GPA was.

I had excellent grades going for my bachelors and my masters degrees. Got into a community college nursing program and wham! Couldn't make an A to save my life. (I turned that around, but that's another story.)

The BA was loaded with premed subjects too--a year of physics, same of chemistry, two of organic, a year of A&P, plus foreign language. So it's not like I finally wandered into something difficult.

You will be fine. Everyone has an off day, and there seem to be lots of "off" tests in nursing school! You are nearly half way. Keep up the great work!

wrmbreeze · Mar 2, 2004

This has happened to me also. I don't know what it is but I study and it doesn't make a difference when test time comes around. Does anyone have any suggestions that could possibly help us?

RNKITTY04 · Mar 2, 2004

I have the exact same problem, can anyone please tell us what we are doing wrong?

opalmRN · Mar 2, 2004

here is my theory:

gpa≠rn

nclex=rn

wrmbreeze · Mar 2, 2004

This happened to me last semester but I did bring my grade up to pass, but I don't wanna just get by. I want to do really good in class. I feel like I would be a lot better student if I could do better on my tests. I am fine in clinicaL , i guess b/c my friends who are CNAs help me but I cant quite get the hang of the tests. My anatomy, nutrition, psychology classes were all fine ( B, B, A+ respectively) I know that I dont have to get an A to be a good nurse, but I have one teacher who tells us over and over that if we can't get a higher grade in the classes then we won't pass the boards. Others say different. I have Cs in my nursing classes, but would like to do better if anyone has any advice. I would just like my instructor to stop making me and others feel like losers.

opalmRN · Mar 2, 2004

I know that I dont have to get an A to be a good nurse, but I have one teacher who tells us over and over that if we can't get a higher grade in the classes then we won't pass the boards. Others say different. I have Cs in my nursing classes, but would like to do better if anyone has any advice.

Your instructor's job is to teach not threaten. I know many a fine nurse who was either a wiz on tests and struggled in clinical or vice versa and ALL of them passed the boards. I would have to disagree with your instructor on that one.

I would just like my instructor to stop making me and others feel like losers.

Remember this, "no one can make you miserable UNLESS you let them."

:)

rnmi2004 · Mar 2, 2004

Is your instructor willing to spend time going over the test to help you decide what happened? Our instructors all were willing to go over the test during their office hours, and it really has helped me.

Jen2 · Mar 2, 2004

Same thing happened to me on my first exam this semester. I just passed with the 75% that is required. I looked at it every night, did all the readings, studied alone and with a group, and did NCLEX questions. I have heard that everyone will have at least a couple of "bad test days" in nursing school. I have since pulled it up with a written paper and a presentation that is part of our grade. The next test is on March 23rd and I am going to start hitting it hard core tonight. I think the best thing you can do is to let it go, don't loose your focus and try better next time. I wouldn't worry unless I got like a 50% or 60% on a test. I work hard and try my best. If I get an A on a test great and if I get a C on a test great. Either way I did my best. Hang in there.

nursbee04 · Mar 2, 2004

It has happened to me, too.

Are you having problems with the way the question is asked?

Are there important stems in the question you are missing?

Can you schedule a session with your instructor to help find out what you're doing wrong?

You are doing the best you can, and the best you can do is all you can do, so don't beat yourself up. I'm sure you'll bring it up! :wink2:

ksrnstudent · Mar 2, 2004

Hi, all!

I am a second semester nursing student, too. First semester started off really rocky for me. I had a B on my first test and a D on the second. So yes, I think every student has some bad grades to begin with in nursing. Nursing classes are like no other classes out there...I know everyone understands me when I say that now. :chuckle

My advice would be to get a book on test-taking for nurses. I bought one throuh Meds Publishing online and it turned my grades around. I started applying the knowledge I learned from the book on the remainder of the tests last semester and finished (surprisingly) with an A in the class. I think if you can study for hours and understand the material and then apply the test-taking strategies, you will do better. For example, if one of your questions asks what would be the first thing the nurse should do ALWAY look for an answer that deals with assessment.

I would also recommend getting an NCLX-RN book to go along with the test-taking book. Together, the two have really helped me. I prefer NCLEX-RN Made Incredibly Easy (2nd Edition) by Lippincott. You can find this book in any bookstore. I've found it is easier to understand because it's broken up into categories and the answers are on the same page as the questions. I've also seen identical questions from this book appear on our tests.

I hope this helps! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! Good luck to everyone this semester!