Decreasing Performance and Test Anxiety in Practicing Nurses

Specialties Educators

Published

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Great resource for nurse educators in staff development positions.

Many nurses are being required to pass competency and certification examinations to keep or advance in their positions. Unfortunately, anxiety often dampens the nurse's ability to demonstrate competence in a particular area of practice. The dimensions of test anxiety are explained, and signs and symptoms are described. Basic intervention strategies are included to guide educators in helping staff with performance and test anxiety.

http://www.nursingcenter.com/pdf.asp?AID=841447

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

If any faculty members has any suggestions on how to decrease test anxiety, I would be more than happy to hear anything and everything.

My test anxiety is horrible to the point where I almost think that I am going to pass out when I am taking the exam.

I cannot begin to tell you how many hours I spend in preparation...it is not from lack of studying.

However, it is costing me points on the exam..I go back to review the exam and I can't even tell the instructor sometimes why I picked answer so and so, because when I go back to look at it, I even say to myself, "What????"

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.
If any faculty members has any suggestions on how to decrease test anxiety, I would be more than happy to hear anything and everything.

My test anxiety is horrible to the point where I almost think that I am going to pass out when I am taking the exam.

I cannot begin to tell you how many hours I spend in preparation...it is not from lack of studying.

However, it is costing me points on the exam..I go back to review the exam and I can't even tell the instructor sometimes why I picked answer so and so, because when I go back to look at it, I even say to myself, "What????"

One thing is to learn/practice/employ simple stress reduction techniques.

Example: During the course of a test, be sure you take time to stop. put down your pen/pencil. put your feet flat on the floor, close your eyes and take some deep breaths. Then you can start up again a little more relaxed.

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