What am I going to do!!!!!

JulesRN10 · Sep 9, 2009

first, i'm so sorry that it has started out so difficult! i am the queen of making things so much harder for myself than they have to be...so i did a couple of things to help myself out. generally, my problem wasn't the material, it was my nerves. so, making sure i got as much rest as humanly possible before a test was important. i even napped during our breaks/lunch if i could. power minutes here & there really helped. i also tried to eat right. i know, another hard one, but really important to make that brain tick right. talk to your teachers...maybe they have some insight on what is happening. i also began believing in myself. speak it, believe it, receive it. when you wake up, tell yourself "i can do this." when you get dressed, when you get in your car...you get the picture. tell yourself that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, and tell yourself so often that eventually, you will believe it. then, don't hesitate. don't change anything...just let it happen and be grateful! i know, sounds crazy, but it works. the other "crazy" thing i did was when i studied at night, i took 10-20 minutes and played some type of meditation music that was geared towards learning. i wish i could send it to you, but i have a different computer now. anyway, i'm not one to go touting lots of different personal beliefs, but a few focused minutes of this music (i googled it and downloaded off the internet). some was guided, with a guide telling me to take slow deep breaths and focus/relax or whatever. some of it was just relaxing, soft music. whatever i did, it worked, because when i studied, i felt very focused, and tended to really learn the material. got great grades after that! maybe it was a combination of things, maybe it was determination or just routine, but whatever it is, find what works for you and go for it. don't give up. and don't get discouraged!

CDeniseGo · Sep 9, 2009

I believe that you need to stop, take a deep breath, cry, and then take a nap. You cannot beat yourself up and expect to do ok. You tried studying all night, and its not working. Try something else: study for a couple hours, take a break. Do an nclex study test, go thru what you got wrong, and study that. Relax. Go out w your mom or boyfriend and have some fun. Then study a little more. You can do it, believe in yourself and you will be GREAT!!!

CDeniseGo · Sep 9, 2009

P.S. I failed Med/surg 1 doing what you are doing. I relaxed, the second time around, and got a B. I understand exactly what you are feeling. In my school, if you fail twice you are out of the program. So now I am taking it a day at a time, a test at a time, and doing the best I can...

:heartbeat

MEDICJOHN · Sep 9, 2009

Dont study all night, you wont remember anything. Study in short sessions, maybe 45 mins, no more than an hour..then..take a break. Walk, eat, pee, etc. Make sure you have a class syllabus and follow it..assuming your teacher tests from that. Don't quit unless they MAKE YOU!

Sara5229 · Sep 9, 2009

I would suggest you get a book called Fundamentals Success. It is a book that is full of review questions all on the Fundamental level. You could then read your chapter and then take some of the practice questions on that subject and maybe you could pinpoint what it is that you're not focusing on. Don't stress it takes everyone a little bit of time to catch on to how to take Nursing exams... they're completely different from any other test. You might talk to one of your instructors too and see if they can help you with a better way to study.

moncj66 · Sep 9, 2009

I agree with sara! Go buy that book, it helps so much. I was like you studing everyday and only managed a 72 on my test consistently and we need a 75 average to pass. I used that book and ended up with a B. Try to seek it out at barnes & nobles or amazon.com

Rylee2008, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2009

Buy a LPN NCLEX, it reviews the sections your working on in Fundamentals and then the sample questions are similiar to those on tests. Fundamentals is not memorizing, you have to apply the material. So think each questions out and look for key work like first, best, etc. I got a A using the book and always look at interventions, tables and charts in the book. Most instructors love interventions. Don't be too hard on yourself though, it was your first test and now you know what they are looking for. Good luck.

cursedandblessed · Sep 10, 2009

First of all are they NCLEX style questions? If they are, then you're going to have to learn how to take it apart.

What's the question asking for?

What's the pertinent info related to what the question is asking and what is just a distraction (I circle the important info and cross out the distractors?

Always remember your ABC's:airway, breathing, circulation (if your patient doesn't have these three nothing else matters).

If the question is asking for the NOT, negative, the patient doesn't understand then three of your answers are the things you would do, and the one that you wouldn't is the answer you put down.

Cross out the answers you know are wrong, you don't need to look at them again.

Fundamentals Success is an excellent book to help you get used to the questions, along with a Saunders Nclex Review book.

Sarah Hay · Sep 10, 2009

exams in nursing school are 100% different than other exams in regular course classes. it took me a couple exams when i first started nursing school to learn how to study. i'm in my second and last year and i'm still looking for the perfect study routine... but i'll not go into that. the thing about nursing school is you cannot merely memorize the information you read from powerpoints, notes or your textbook. you have to take what you read, understand it, be able to reword it and be able to answer different scenarios based on that information. don't give up ... i wanted to give up as well but i stuck in there. you will learn how your professor does their exams and you will mold your study habits based on their teaching/testing methods.

i also recommend the book fundamentals succes. it helped me. i am currently in medical-surgical nursing for adults and children ii and i use the medical surgical success book and success i have been making! i've made an a on my first quiz and a 92 on my first system exam (eww ... cardiology). i hope this helps you and your next test grade will skyrocket up there!

sarah hay