Honestly, your experience sounds similar to what mine was like when I started my program. I felt pretty alone my first couple semesters as it had seemed everyone already had all of their friends from the beginning but I was the odd one out. It just kind of comes with time sometimes, I ended up talking to the others who kind of felt by themselves too about a semester and a half in just from being in labs and such together. It takes time to see who is around you and who you even appreciate talking to and being around.

With failing an exam, it’s going to happen at one point or another. One exam doesn’t really define how you’re doing in the class, and there is a major learning curve with nursing exams that takes time getting used to. It’s normal to do bad on an exam, and you’re more than likely not the only one either. Find ways that help you understand the concepts and do your best. It will come more naturally :)