Took First NS Exam. Need Some Encouragement.

[parkj9]

So I took my first NS theory exam today. We are three weeks into our program. Since Day 1, I have been studying my a** off every single day until the day of the exam, which was today. We need a 75% to pass and I know (or think) that I comfortably made it into the 80's range and passed. I did not feel like I failed or anything..but what has been bugging me all day is that I KNOW I changed my answers to questions that were right. I noticed that once I started looking through the test a second time, I started adding in "what if's" and would change my answer. It was just frustrating for me all day today because I know I could have easily gotten those points. I am in no way a perfectionist, but it's just irritating knowing that I do have a better score than what I actually got. I also feel a lot of pressure because our profs have been emphasizing this A LOT saying that we're not to be competitive anymore since we each have our spot in the program. But I know that everyone is still in that "competitive mode". It puts a lot of pressure and intimidation on me knowing that there are better students. I know it's nothing majorly serious, like I completely failed it or something, but I think I'm just slowly starting to feel overwhelmed. Not even because of the material or anything like that, but because I can still feel the vibe of everyone trying to compete with each other. I just need a few words of encouragement. I know that on the next exam, I need to NOT look over each question and re-think things through, maybe just check that I have every bubble filled in. Anyway, some guidance would be nice :) Thanks for reading through my vent..

[Mewsin]

Our class is still really competitive too and we're in our second semester.

I hope you did well on the exam. When people ask me how I do well (I get 90s) on my exams, besides just studying, my answer always is, I never change an answer. I don't go into what ifs. Be wary of going down that road, because that's where people seem to go wrong.

[smf0903]

Oh I absolutely agree with Mewsin...never, ever change answers unless you are 5000% sure you're changing it to the right answer...and the only time that happens is if you look back and realize you literally circled the wrong thing to filled in the wrong bubble (just a brainfart-type of thing!). You're gut is usually right. While that doesn't help on the test you took, just tuck that tidbit of info in your back pocket for future tests And as far as competitiveness, just try your best to ignore everyone else...you're in it for YOU! While I know the competitiveness can be suffocating (believe me, I understand that!) you really, truly need to do whatever you need to do to push that waaay back in your brain...out of it is even better There are fairly good students in our program (grade-wise) that I would experience a miracle of healing if I looked up from a gurney and saw their face with an RN badge hanging off their scrub top. Seriously. Grades, while awesome to make good ones, are not the be all, end all. I'd rather make a "C" and learn than an "easy A", if that makes sense.

Good luck!! Keep your chin up, your eraser down, and keep on keepin' on

[krisiepoo]

When people ask me how I did, i say "I passed" :) Noone needs to know if I got 100% or 78%

I agree with above, don't change your answers, it rarely ends up being a positive

[jcrou]

I did the same thing at first. I would go back and read into the question much more than I needed to and change my answers and then obsess over getting it wrong! I agree with the other posters, don't change it unless you are really sure. But always go back and look over your answers. I have noticed stupid mistakes more than once! In the end, the only thing people will know is that you made it through nursing school. You won't ever tell your patients what you scored on that funds test in your first semester!