SEVERE Anxiety about the NCLEX

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hello! I just recently graduated from my Nursing ADN program. My school didn't have a certain score requirement for the Exit HESI final. They averaged our Exit HESI grade into our total overall grade. I am so unbelievably thankful for that because despite how much effort I put into studying, I couldn't sleep the night before due to Test anxiety and got a 69%!!! Thankfully my overall grade was high enough that I managed to still pass the program, but I felt absolutely defeated. I felt like an idiot because all of my other classmates were telling me they made A's and B's. I felt dumb. I still feel dumb. Instead of feeling happy that I completed the program and am graduating tomorrow, I feel terrible. I'm absolutely terrified of the NCLEX. I am so worried that I'm going to bomb it. I've been on edge and have been experiencing GI problems due to the immense amount of anxiety I've been having since the final. I'm worried I'm not going to pass the NCLEX. I paid for the HURST review, which I'm taking in a couple weeks, as well as UWORLD last night. I've done 125 questions so far on UWORLD. My initial UWORLD assessment said I was "HIGHLY LIKELY" to pass the NCLEX and placed me in the 60th percentile. That made me feel good for a total of 30 minutes, but then the worry struck back.

I also had an interview for a hospital yesterday with an incredible salary and benefits. They offered me the job on the spot. You'd think I'd be ecstatic... I can't help but feel even more pressure to pass the NCLEX now that I have landed this job.

I know I'm my worst critic, but I don't know what to do. I don't know how to get rid of this text anxiety and fear. I'm having mini panic attacks and my heart has been pounding 24/7.

This is so frustrating. Does anyone have any advice? It's as if the NCLEX is my worst fear. I've never had test anxiety so bad in my life. Honestly, I can't even think of a time that I've experienced this kind of anxiety. I had so many stressful situations happen every semester of nursing school and didn't get this stressed out. This is ridiculous!! I need to master the art of acceptance and just be calm. PLEASE HELP :(

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Everyone feels nervous/anxiety towards this exam....all 1 can do is prepare urself for it..study hard..a zillion tips on here on how to pass...but its up to you to put in the work and find the best study method that works for you. Good luck

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Thank you. I am definitely putting forth the effort to study for this exam. Ive been doing 75 questions a day and I've been scoring above average on the UWORLD exams. Hopefully I do well.

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I believe UWorld will help with some of your anxiety simply because the program looks almost exactly like the real NCLEX, and the questions on UWorld are the closest thing to the real NCLEX questions too!

Continually practice yourself to UWorld and do as many questions as you can, read rationales, write down notes, and re-do all your incorrect questions. NCLEX may feel like you're doing another UWorld quiz... which I felt like it did :)

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at 1 time there used to be good info at Home | NCSBN Tips for the exam day..sort of what to expect when u walk in the room,lol had some question examples.....Knowing what ur facing helps 1 prepare. Appears to be a lot of info on that link, esp about the "exam day" Click on that link and a lot of clickable stuff on the left column. GL

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I will! Thank you :)

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Just warning you in advance: everyone feels like they failed the NCLEX after taking it. EVERYONE. However, most (I think around 85%) of U.S. educated grads pass on their first attempt. I certainly thought I failed NCLEX, there were so many questions on things I had never even heard of! Even though I had 75 questions and graduated at the top of my class, that didn't stop the feeling of failure. But I passed!

I mainly studied by doing practice quizzes, over and over again. I also had some NCLEX prep books but didn't use them much because I had already read through them during nursing school. I took the test about a week after I graduated from nursing school, so I didn't have much time to study. I probably did 5,000 NCLEX practice questions total during nursing school and afterward as I was preparing.

Also, I suggest that the day before your test, you don't study or do anything stressful. Go see a movie with friends, go to a spa, walk in the park, etc. Whatever it is that makes you feel relaxed. Eat a light, healthy dinner and relax before bed. Get everything ready the night before, snacks, water, ID, phone, paperwork. Go to bed early. Leave early for the testing center. I actually went to the testing center ahead of time to make sure I knew where I was going. Take deep breaths, and go in knowing that you've got this!

Good luck!

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Thank you so much! That actually made me feel a lot more at ease. My biggest downfall is test induced insomnia lol! If I have a major exam I have the worst time trying to sleep. I'll lay in bed for hours paranoid that I'll fail. I'm my own worst enemy.

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I'm the same way the night before a test so I scheduled mine in the afternoon so I didn't have to get up super early to write after a restless night of sleep. I think I fell asleep around 4am and was then able to sleep in a bit before I had to get up and get ready.

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I think I'm going to have to do the same. I can't wait to get this over with!! Lol

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Specializes in PACU, Stepdown, Trauma.

Study, do yoga, get a massage, eat chocolate, pet your animals... whatever helps you to destress! I also have a job offer dependent upon passing the NCLEX, and it's nerve-wracking (and I don't stress easily most of the time!). Good luck to you! We can do it!

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Thank you í ½í¸Š I'm doing everything I can to not stress as much. I've managed to relax this week.

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