First test jitters

hi - i have my first test on technology on tuesday. i know how you feel. i have studdied more now then ever before. crazy.

gc.

i never studied this much in undergrad. i easily study six to seven hours a day and i just started. i took my first exam today. no biggy. but it only gets harder. best of luck.

Well, lemme just say that we've already taken 4 exams and finally have two weeks off without any! The last test was in chem and it was an entire semester of organic shoved into 4 lectures. I was so happy when it was over because I knew I was in for a little break. I'm kind of glad they give so many exams ... that way the build-up of information isn't so great before you actually get tested on it. Looking forward to the fall break!

If any of the wanna-be's are reading this, I have some sage advice. If you have the chance, take some of the non-anesthesia courses before you actually start the program. Seven of us are taking the full course-load (16 hours) and are feeling it, while others have already taken the BS classes (biostatistics, adv. physiology and nursing theory) and only have 3 classes.

Good luck on all of the tests everyone. I hear it only gets worse (gulp).

Jewel Cut,

Do not worry, you will do fine as you get into the swing of things.

My first test was not bad. It was the second, which was pure pharm. that knocked me of my feet and got me into grad school study mode real fast. I had this "out of body" experience for the remaining four hours of class after seeing my grades. Five other exams so far, and that humiliating(sp) experience has not ventured to repeat itself.

Hi,

We had 2 pharmacology exams this past 2 weeks, and it was a humbling experience. You think that you know a lot (since you've had x number of ICU/ER experience), but you don't! I didn't expect to get A's on those tests, but I did. Yippee! Something worked with how I studied! And I studied a lot! Bottom line...STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! There is no SLACKING in CRNA school! Either you're serious, or you're not. There's always stress with any exam. But, it won't be as bad if one studied for it. I guess my point is...if someone is stressing over an exam...this only means that, that someone didn't prepare enough for it.

I know what you mean! We have already had 4 tests in the last couple of weeks.

I would suggest taking the rest of the evening off and chill out. Or study another subject, or work on a paper (if any are assigned yet). If you have been studying as hard as you say, then you already know what you need to know for the test. Get some sleep and a good breakfast! Good Luck, I'm sure you will do fine.

-Gump

I have my first anesthesia exam tomorrow, feeling fatigued, also feeling the more I study the dumber I get, HA! It's amazing that all of the terminology and reasons I knew in the ICU seem to have slipped my mind, can't even define SVR now :chuckle (well, the real definition anyway). Anyway I know I'll feel a lot better once the first test is done. How did you SRNA's deal with the first exam, did many fail or pass? I think I studied more for this test than I did during the entirety of nursing school (no kidding), I guess that says something about how much I studied in nursing school. Just curious to see how neurotic everyone else was about their first anesthesia exam and the stupid things they did :uhoh21:

What is General Anesthesia...... Uhmmmmmmmm

Welcome to anesthesia school! No matter what people tell you, yeah, it's hard, it's the hardest thing I've ever done, yeah, I REALLY had to study....never hits home until YOU are the recipient of the mountain of information to understand, assimilate, and retain not only for the exam but for future use, i.e. not bump off a patient

Hang in there! Over time you will develop more effective study skills and methods. I strongly recommend studying with one or two classmates and go over every detail together. What one doesn't understand, another will catch on and be able to explain. Then there's always some things despite all the books and references, no one can see the light...then there's the instructor. Don't be shy in consulting for things that you don't understand. That's their job.

The first round of exams tends to be a real eye-opener! Obviously, you have had this experience. Yeah, this ain't undergrad. Stick it out, it's definitely worth it!

Good luck and get back to the books....

PG

It's funny because I've already had an anatomy exam and three papers for theory(which is taking up way too much of my time) andn I wasn't even bothered with those tests. I was just nervous with the first NA exam, like what if I fail and they think I'm an idiot. Pretty funny huh? But I did great, I was well prepared. I'm just glad that the first is out of the way. I absolutely agree with getting the non-anesthesia classes out of the way if possible.

I did great, I was well prepared.

I'm happy for you! :)

I guess my point is...if someone is stressing over an exam...this only means that, that someone didn't prepare enough for it.

I disagree! Some people stress no matter what. My brother-in-law, who is currently completing a fellowship in urological microsurgery, was apparently such a head case in college and med school that no one would sit near him. His level of anxiety made THEM stressed! He was the same way about his oral boards last winter, convinced as always that he failed, and as always did well.

But I do agree that the BEST stress reduction is preparation. Add that to adequate diet, sleep and exercise, and you've done your best.

I'm currently in Wesleyan and we had our first Physiology test a couple of weeks ago. It was a wake up call for all of us. That test was hard.

Now I know what it means when they said nurse anesthesia is tough.

I have 19 exams under my belt now (since mid June). I have to say that they don't get easier, but I am pulling A's on 98% of them. However, the more tests I take, the better I get at taking them. I have learned to recognize what each instructor wants. Alot of my classmates have stated that they are doing better because they are learning to be better test takers. Even though I never see my husband and I study 24 hours a day, my stress level has gone down because I know what to expect. Good luck and hang in there!