It's called "critical thinking". Nursing school uses this a lot. All answers can be correct but one is always more correct for whatever the situation given. What is a passing score in your class? When is nursing school....my passing grade was 78.

It sounds too simple but I found if I compare A to B and cross out the one that is less right then compare it to C all the way down until only one answer is left worked for me. I actually have to cross out otherwise I will keep going back and forth until I just pick one.  And always read the whole question carefully, one word can make a huge differance in the answer, make sure you are answering the question that is asked. I hope that makes sense. Good luck!

khernandezmaterial:

I'm a RN, working full time and also back in school to reach my Masters. I graduated nursing school in June 2009. It was the best day of my life so far.

You can do it!!

Wow, you only need a C to be accepted into the program?  Consider yourself lucky, my school requires an A in ANP I & II, PSY, and ENG to even be considered for a nursing spot. 

This is the probably the hardest yet most rewarding thing you will ever do in your life,  besides being a mother, of course, but based on your posts I know you can do it.  You have the will and the desire.  I would suggest taking your time when testing.  A lot of times we see others finishing quickly and wonder what is wrong with me, whats taking me so long??  It just so happens those individuals may not be great students.  I take all the time I need when I test. If i need to go out in the hall to finish, then I do.  Afterall, this is my aducation and career at stake.  Who cares if anyone else thinks I'm slow?

I am working on my prerequisites as well right now but farther along then you are by the sounds of it. What I have found to work best for me has been first reading the chapter before the lecture class. If the professor has notes or powerpoints available then I also have those printed out prior to the lecture. Then while in the lecture try and listen closely to what the professor emphesises on. Then after the lecture I will write out my own notecards (flashcards) based off of the lecture and what the professor emphesises. I am pulling A's in my classes but it's a lot of work too. I also have a 3 year old so whenever he's not in daycare there is not much study time so during the day I try to put fourth every minute I can into studying. They way I keep looking at it is a short term loss of social life for a long term gain in life. Also remembering at the same time that these prerequisite courses are just the small beginning to what we will be doing in nursing school which will be much more challenging.

Best of luck to you!

I also am taking AP 1 this semester.  At the beginning of the semester, the professor posted on blackboard exam study guides for all the tests we will be taking. The questions on the study guides are based on the information covered during the lectures. I then make my own flashcards which helps me to study for the tests. So far I have taken two tests and gotten A's on both.

Perhaps you are just a bit anxious about taking tests. Maybe if you do some breathing exercises right before taking the test you can calm yourself down

Good luck for the future!

MJones- wow! I am so grateful for your response.  I have my second lecture test on Friday. I changed how I studied for the this test by making flashcards for all of the material that we have learned. I think it's helping me a whole bunch, seeing it in another context and off the page, like it will be presented on the test.  I am going to use your suggestions on Friday, except for the circling :( We are not allowed to write on the test papers, which makes a huge difference for me, I do better writing things down and making a mess of the test with my own notes.  I know it might take more time but I do get the right answers that. 

I am also known to take up until the last minute checking and rechecking my answers over to make sure I completed the entire test and that I have not over read the questions and answers.

Another thing. I am notorious for erasing my first answer, which is my gut answer and is normally the right answer. I should do what the NCLEX also recommends- cut off the erasers of your pencils. lol

thank you again, I am very grateful!!

you purchase the tests? But it's open book! right? I am down to memorizing. I need to use the material on a daily basis (at least weekly) in order to understand it. How is the online class going?

Well, final verdict for second AP test: 79. I'm stumped on how I could have gotten 12 wrong, and I am going to check the test to make sure that the professor did not mark my answer wrong if the scantron misread something because of eraser marks.  I am not sure what I could have gotten wrong if I was sure of all of the answers except a few.  Those few were about 5 the most.  And to add to some of this madness, I changed 2 of my answers while checking my test over before handing it in, and I had them right the first time! So I technically had an 83! darn :(

Any thoughts? Is that a good grade in AP for the material that we are learning? Or should I be doing better?

I agree with Suekay--the style of the questions each professor writes has a big impact, and once you get used to that, you'll have an easier time with it. For studying, the key is repetition. Don't underestimate reading (or at least skimming) the material before the lecture. That way, when you hear the actual lecture, it won't be your first exposure to the material, and when you get to neuro especially, it DOES make a difference! I'll share my study technique, but bear in mind that I am VERY OCD about how my notes look, so I always made the time for this, because it would drive me batty if I didn't (seriously, I wouldn't be able to sleep if I caught a mistake or an area of sloppy handwriting and didn't redo it before calling it quits!).

I took notes in class, but they were shorthand and very messy. Pay attention to how your instructor emphasizes key points (or at least, points that WILL be on the test) and make sure to identify that in your notes. One instructor always bolded the info on the powerpoint handouts; for another, you knew something was going to be on the test if she had a scary story of something gone wrong because the topic point was missed (e.g. she had a story of a nursing student who made an error on a mag sulfate drip and then didn't recognize the signs of a mag overdose--there were about 5 questions on mag sulfate administration alone on a test of 60 questions). Then, that night, rewrite your notes using whatever format best helps your learn the material. Sometimes it will be flashcards, but not always. Diagrams, flow charts (especially for the electron transport chain!), outlines: these are all useful, so don't hesitate to stray from flashcards. And KEEP YOUR NOTES! Good god, have they helped me study for the NCLEX!

When you study, keep in mind something my high school band director taught me: to teach is to learn twice. Get with classmates, each of you pick your weakest area, and present it to each other as if you were teaching it. If you can't meet with them, ask a friend or family member to be your "student": if you can explain the material to someone who has no knowledge of the subject and they can understand the point, you are good to go! Teach a stuffed animal or the wall if you have to, but I, and most people I have given this advice to, have found that it is VERY effective both in highlighting exactly what you don't understand and forcing you to internalize the material.

You notice that, by doing so, you just met the repetition aspect of studying: pre-reading, listening to the lecture, writing the information down, rewriting neat notes, and explaining the concepts. By that time, you'll find you have very little "studying" to do, as you've learned most of the material! Plus, you built up resources that will come in handy for finals, care plans, and NCLEX studying!

One last thing on tests: grades are important yes (especially if the grade you make influences your ability to be accepted into a program), but there is a HUGE difference between having knowledge and using it. A girl in my nursing class was phenomenal at memorization and did excellent on her tests, but when it came to using the information while building care plans, she fell short of the standard and it frustrated her to no end that she was one of the most "book smart" of students, yet she almost always had to redo her careplans. So don't beat yourself up over your score; what's more important is that you can use what you learn when you need to.

I hope this helps!

I forgot to add that I kept thinking that I have 1 minute per question and about 8 minutes to review my answers after I have taken the test. It helped and I was less anxious during this second lecture test! thanks!!!

khernandezmaternal:

Congratulations on your final grade. Keep up the good work and good luck for the upcoming semester.

I finished the semester with an "A" in AP and Medical Terminology.