Je deteste les tests

I don't like taking tests. I am not a good test taker at all. I rush through things and forget to take my time. I panic a little....guess you could say I have test anxiety.

I am awesome at studying and can help other people achieve good test results with study suggestions but I can not ace tests. I am a B student when it comes to tests. I used to be an A student until nursing school. I have a B average on my tests and I am stunned and shocked.

I suppose I am doing better than say half the class with my B's however I am an A student and that is what I strive for. Someone gave me very good advice, "You may be an A student now but when you get to nursing school expect to be a C student!" He was almost right. The A student in me is still here somewhere but she's not showing her head.

I study the way I teach others how to study, I know the answers I just rush things and I tell myself every exam, "slow down, don't change your answers, take your time..." The pep talks don't seem to be helping much. Time for a new strategy.

Took an exam tonight. I was the first one done (surprising I know) however I don't feel like I rushed through the 61 question test. I read every question twice and all the answers twice. I am in need of test taking advice. I have always had test anxiety but still managed to get A's.

To anyone that is not in nursing school the questions are like nothing I've ever encountered before. The question may have 4 right answers but you need to pick the best one. Kind of subjective but there is always a rationale for the "correct" answer. After each exam we are allowed to look at the answers and see the rationale behind them. I know I missed a few questions, how many? I can't say for sure. I don't want to stress myself out trying to guess the magical score, I'm going to wait until the scores are posted in the next few days.

I am open to any and all suggestions for test taking strategies.

Don't Panic

For many of us exams make you want to screech, hide or panic. Don't do any of those. I am not the world's best test taker but I don't panic and I have a 4.0 in all of my pre-reqs for nursing school. This tells me I'm doing something right considering exam scores are the foundation of pre-req grades.

First spread out your studying and know what the instructor expects of you to know on the test and then know a little bit more. (See me previous post for study tips that have worked for me and they keep me sharp.) Although an instructor may say, "You only have to know what I'm telling you in class on the test..." does not mean only know that information. Your pre-reqs are what you build your nursing foundation on, don't skimp on gainable knowledge in your classes.

My A&P instructor was amazing however she would throw curve balls at us. She would tell us you only need to know what's on the power points for the tests, this was false. There were several questions a test pertaining to information provided in the book. I would read every chapter word for word, sometimes skimming information we didn't go over during class but at least I had a handle on the material. I took my pathophysiology class on-line. Since there was not a lecture with it we were accountable to possibly knowing everything from each chapter in the book.

When taking the exam read all the questions through noting which ones you know the answer to. Answer those questions. For the other questions read the question, discover what the root and stem are then you can start getting rid of distractors. Once you can work on those start narrowing down the answer that is most logical or most right. There can be other "right" answers but usually NCLEX style questions are looking for the best answer.

Here is something I found about multiple choice test questions:


A multiple-choice test questions consist of three parts:

• the stem, which asks the question, poses a problem, or presents an incomplete sentence;
• the correct response;
• and three or four alternative responses which are incorrect, these are often called "distracters."

Once you get the hang of discovering the root and stem of the question test taking becomes an art. It is not impossible to be an expert at taking tests. There are good test takers then there are not. Knowing what is going to be on the test and knowing how to read those questions is what makes a great test taker.  

Even if you're not in the actual nursing program yet or if you are I recommend a book that has great examples about roots and stems in it. Book is called "Fundamentals Success" by Nugent and Vitale. It's around $30 on Amazon if you can't get it at least borrow it from someone. It has 2 parts in the book, one about test taking the second part is NCLEX style questions.

3 Things You're Probably Doing Wrong

Nursing school is tough. I've been told recently though, just be glad you're not becoming a doctor, now that's hard. No one really wants to compare nursing school to med school, well at least not me. I'm in nursing school because I want to be, not because I couldn't score high enough on an MCAT.  Although both educations are intense there seems to be more information circulating around about how to survive med school but not much about nursing school. The things I have found on nursing school are vague at best.

Here are a few suggestions (my own) that I live by for studying.

1) Studying too much and not reading enough. 

Many people feel it's OK to just study their notes from class and not read all their material in the book. Although an instructor may say, "you only need to know the items in this power point for the test..." does not mean that's all you need to know. To pass a class there may be only certain knowledge needed however you need all the knowledge you can get from your pre-reqs for nursing school.

For example, I had a professor that said only what I talk about will be on the test. So of course very keenly most people only took notes on the power point she showed us and what she said. I know some people never opened the book and passed with a C. I got an A because I knew there would be more on the test then she led onto. Reading the book gives you a good base to learn from. Read the book along with studying.

2) Studying too long at once.

Studying in 3 or 4 hour blocks is not good for you. You should be studying for an hour or so and taking a 10 to 15 minute break in between study "sessions". One thing I have learned to do is study for a bit an hour or so then take a break, surf the net, get something to eat, take a short walk, make that important phone call you've been putting off...well you get the idea. Do something that takes your mind off studying for a bit.

3) You probably don't have enough methods of studying.

Although there is not one way to study there are sometimes only one way that works for you. Here are some suggestions I have and you can use them based on your learning style. (most colleges have tutors that will let you take a quick test to determine your learning style).

There is so much more beyond the power points we're given and the notes we took in class. Actually read your book and try to stay ahead of your class by reading for the next review in class before that class. Use flash cards, they can help you memorize formulas for calculations, help you with memorizing  words and phrases used in nursing such as sagittal plane or functional health patterns.

Many textbooks have free on-line practice tests and quizzes, they also have on-line matching games and other activities to help you remember key points. Take advantage of these quizzes and tests, my first exam this semester had several questions from our on-line textbook resources. I was able to answer those 4 or 5 questions with confidence and ease because I had already "answered" them before.

One last thing I want to touch on with different types of studying. Listen to your lecture again while reading your power point slides or your notes. Just another suggestion if you're the type of learner that likes to "hear" what is being taught.

I study, take my break then change up my studying. I use flash cards, practice tests, read my notes, study the power points and re-read material in my book if needed. This keeps my mind fresh and I don't get burned out or bored form studying "too much".

Good luck!

Only an 80%

Second week of my first semester of nursing school. First exam already and I only got an 80%. I studied every night, read the 9 chapters in my book that I was supposed to, took the power point slides and made my own notes and studied, did I mention I studied? And I only got an 80%.

Class average was 73%, half the class failed the exam. Failed. It wasn't me though but I only got an 80%.

I have PTSD but I don't make excuses about it but I will openly talk to people about living with it. Nightmares, night sweats, weird dreams when you don't have nightmares, recurring images of what started my PTSD, anger, rage, loneliness, sadness, weariness, depression, anxiety, panic attacks and a list of other abnormalities fight with me to take over my life. I guess having PTSD is like a functioning alcoholic, you learn to deal and be "normal". Most people that meet me and get to know me don't believe that I have PTSD, "Wow, you seem so pulled together...." or "geez but you're so normal and you were never in Iraq...".

No I was not in Iraq, but I was raped, had my life on the line as an EMT and my daughter nearly died having her face ripped off my a brutal dog. Not to mention an abusive ex who is now deceased but can no longer hurt anyone. He was physically and mentally abusive to me and my kids. That's another story...

My PTSD developed suddenly after July 12th of 2010. My 6 year old daughter was playing a few houses down the street with her friend. Out of nowhere the neighbor's pit bull came to her friend's yard and attacked my daughter's face on her driveway. My daughter nearly lost her right eye, had her orbital bone exposed, her mandible and teeth exposed, her upper lip and right nostril ripped off. She looked like she had been shot with a shotgun.

With a trail of blood being created with every step she took back home, her father and I were in complete awe and disbelief. What has happened to our daughter? Why her face? Why not her arm or leg but her precious little face? She has the face of an angel still....looking beyond her scars.

I will write more about what happened to my daughter as time goes on. I can only replay small bits of what happened on that dreadful day in my head. It's been over a year and I still can not come to terms with what happened to her and our family. 

I can tell you this though. The reason I am back in nursing school is because of the thoughtful, intelligent, caring, giving, humorous and amazing nurses my daughter had during her hospital stays from her accident. It is their light and giving that lit a spark in me to finish a job I had started 10 years ago...nursing school. Well here I am and I've never been more ready to get the job done this time. No more nasty exes to make me quit or move away form my schools. My husband now is so caring and supportive and wants to see me do well. I am very lucky in so many ways and can't even count them all.

So yes, I got an 80%, I'm still in shock. I have a 4.0 in college right now and I don't want to mess that up and I want to be an excellent nurse one day soon. I know which questions I missed on the exam and I'm not too mad at myself for it either. I went back and changed 3 or 4 of my answers which cost me an A. I will get it with my exam next week. I have 8 days to study, read, study some more and take practice NCLEX style tests.