Here’s How to Stop Worrying About Your Nursing Exams

Learning how to tackle your anxiety during the Nursing Exam days is not fun! It is something that almost everyone experiences during school days for several reasons. There are a lot of assignments, deadlines, and exams students are juggling, complex information they are learning at lightning speed, & frequently there are around 20 to 50 exam questions over the material of hundreds of pages. 

It can be a straight recipe for student disaster for the students who do not struggle to deal with the anxiety of tests. At the Center for Anxiety & Traumatic Stress Disorders, Elizabeth Hope said, “People with anxiety have a terrible issue dealing with highly distracting thoughts that has absolutely no benefit.” Anxiety is undeniably super challenging to tackle, particularly during the days of nursing school. 

Worried about how you can deal with this terrible problem? First, let’s learn about you can recognize the anxiety of nursing exams to know the best solution for that;

Recognizing NCLEX Anxiety

Nursing exam anxiety can manifest in several integral ways, depending on the situation and person. You may have some signs & symptoms, including:

• Worrying about you will not do well
• A specific feeling that your gut is really clenching
• Physical tension, particularly in your back, shoulders, and neck
• Waking during the night frequently
• Thinking about an exam when you need to be thinking about some other things
• Changes in the appetite, like eating less or more than normal routine

It is typical to have some of the above-mentioned symptoms occasionally. This might be a constant reminder of the stakes, inspiring you to put in extra effort in your studies and projects. The following are some strategies to help you relax before your nursing school entrance test and overcome those tiny indicators of anxiousness.

Some people may experience severe NCLEX anxiety symptoms, like:

• Not sleeping properly due to the exam
• Being convinced that you’re actually going to fail, even if you have done well in the past examinations
• Constant physical anxiety manifestations, such as bowel irregularities, vomiting, or upset stomach 
• Persistent worst-case planning or thinking to harm yourself if you do not pass
• Feeling seduced to drink heavily or engage in some unhealthy activities to ease your anxiety and forget about the examination.

Moreover, there is a more negative and serious impact on your physical and mental health.

A particular test might not define your complete competence being a nurse, but it’ll absolutely gauge your knowledge and skills in becoming one. To assist you in overcoming test anxiety, below are some tips & tricks you can follow:

Tips To Stop Worrying About Your Nursing Exams

1. Establish a Review Schedule

Establishing a good schedule before your exams help you prepare in almost two ways. First, it will assist you in balancing the time between the preparation & your other regular activities. Second, it’ll help you outline which subjects you exactly need to serve more time on.

While planning the review schedule, it’s perfect to begin ahead of time & then allow 2-4 hours of time in your studies. This is better than overloading on the last few days right before the examination & getting stressed out in the procedure.

2. Visualize Success

According to the Law of Attraction, we attract to the things we usually think about. Therefore, if you think about lions all day, you’ll somehow attract lions to you. It works exactly the same way on Success and failure.

Imagine yourself studying great for your test in the morning & before you sleep. By visualizing this, you can efficiently manifest reality. If you feel negative or complex thoughts starting to go, stop, and impinge on your routine activities.

3. Don’t Check Your Answers

Do you know that if you do second-guess, it leaves incorrect answers in the end? Now that you absolutely know this, just make sure that you do not torture yourself anymore by re-checking all the answers. 

The same thing applies when it comes to passing your exams. Do not be allured to consult your books and notes to check if you really got the answers appropriately. Instead, give yourself a gentle pat on the back. And when you get the test results & feel there’s a space for improvement, you can simply go over the review techniques for making essential adjustments.

4. Practice Deep Breathing Exercises

When you begin to feel frazzled, practice different breathing exercises or any particular medication spot. Simply relax in a quiet place, close your eyes, & breathe deeply for almost 10 seconds. Get your mind out of a frenzy by picturing a peaceful location. 

This picture may be one in which you’re floating peacefully in the tropical sea or laying on the beach. By boosting overall circulation and delivering more oxygen to your brain, deep breathing exercises have several positive effects. Relaxation and mental clarity are two additional benefits of deep breathing exercises.

5. Avoid Last-Minute Studying

Leave your notes and handouts at home when you come on exam day. Always avoid the last minute and rush studying. It’ll only build the test anxiety and ultimately make you lose all focus and concentration.

If you compare what you have actually studied with your fellow students on the exam day, it may also result in making you doubtful about your preparedness level. Instead, just calm your mind, and relax to focus on giving your best on the examination.

Conclusion

The secret to Success in NCLEX is exploring top-notch ways to reduce the stress and anxiety of exams into a super motivational tool. Simply approach Success as a matter of physical, emotional, and mental preparation, and take benefit of the resources of your school and nursing test banks. Also, you can talk to someone you really trust if you find that stress is causing you severe distress. An expert can show you how you can manage your specific feeling & position you to get ready to succeed efficiently throughout your nursing career.