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In the mix: The Professor’s Perspective: I failed my first exam! Now what?

Stressed Out Nurses Weekly, June 23, 2008

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.

Read the rest of the article on our Web site.

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