By Richard Freedberg, RN, MSN, MPA
That’s a tough circumstance to be in! Nursing students have to be smart, capable people with proven track records of success to get into competitive nursing programs. So why is it so hard now? First, let me just confirm that you are not alone! Your classmates may not proclaim it from the rooftops, but others most assuredly failed, and the majority may not have done as well as they would have liked. Be comforted by that, but not paralyzed! There are some very concrete actions for you to take.
First, find a quiet space to do some serious thinking. Recognize what you are feeling (perhaps anger or disappointment or panic or fear or . . .), take note of whatever it is you feel, and then gently push the emotion away as if it were a helium balloon. Tell yourself this time is for quiet reflection about the circumstances surrounding the exam. Think back to how you studied: how long, how often, what method, and so on. Think about the exam: Were the questions worded as you expected? Did the exam seem to cover totally different material? Ask yourself what you could have done and what your teacher could have done to better prepare you for the exam.
I need to give you some information here, some secret nursing professor stuff: If we are doing our job, we are always trying to construct test questions that mimic real life situations and that help you prepare for the NCLEX-RN® exam you will be required to pass before receiving licensure. A good test question isn’t “tricky,” but makes people think. It should not ask the respondent to just vomit back information, but to actually apply new knowledge to a particular situation. When you answer these questions, don’t read into them. Instead, use only the information they give you! Select the answer (since many are multiple choice) that best fits while remembering another answer might be partially right.
Now, take charge of the situation, in so far as you are able. There is a concept called “locus of control” that you may hear more about when you get to your mental health nursing class. We are bound to fail if we believe life just happens to us as victims. We are more apt to succeed when we realize there is always something we can do! Do something now! First, it can be really helpful to request your professor or teaching assistant for an exam review. Going over your exam with someone to give you guidance about approaching questions is invaluable.
Second, be realistic about studying. If your class is a 5-credit course, that means you spend about five hours per week in class. You should also plan to spend anywhere from two to four hours per credit per week studying on your own. This means you should be devoting between 10-20 hours per week, every week to nursing! Nursing professors have a saying: “The best remedy for test anxiety is knowing the material.” Use techniques that have worked for you in the past, read and reread, study in groups with other serious students. But the most important strategy is to spend time with the material.
Finally, think about your past experiences: Have you struggled in school? Do things seem to come slower to you than to other students? Have you been tested for a learning disability? (Learning disabilities exist just like allergies and high blood pressure.) Get evaluated; you may be entitled to accommodations that will help you be successful. I’ve been a nurse for a ton of years, but I would not be a good one without my glasses; they are my accommodation. Why is it we are all so uncomfortable with testing our learning ability? Find out about testing at your community college or university office on disability services.
Try some of the other stuff, too, and ROCK on the next exam!
Editor’s note: Freedberg is a professor of mental health nursing at Lansing (MI) Community College and the author of Stressed Out About Pharmacology. Email your questions to him at editor@stressedoutnurses.com.
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