Incredibly Scared

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I am new to allnurses. I am a graduate of a bsn program and am taking the nclex in 3 days. I am scared to death. I passed the ati predictor with a 99% pass rate, but have only gotten 2/3 of the way through ati virtual tutor. I did not feel that it was helping, and I was having a hard time committing so much time to it with my work schedule (3rd shift). I don't know what to do, I have anxiety anyways. I am afraid that I havent studied enough and am scared I won't pass. Any suggestions? ( I really don't want to reschedule, because I can't handle this much stress any longer)

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Your predictor scores are good. I'd suggest, if you're taking it in three days, to do a ton of questions (try the full 265) to get a feeling of sitting for the possible full boat. I'd only do a day or two, then take the next two to de-stress and chill. It is likely that you know what you need to to pass, and trying to cram in anything more will only make you doubt what you already know. Again, this is what *I* would do (and what I did!)

Treat yourself to some "me time" the day before. Do something that makes you feel good. Get some good rest and nutrition the day before, do some gentle stretching before. Breathe! Don't be surprised if you feel anxious, if you tend to do so before exams, but don't let it cripple you either. I walked into my NCLEX knowing I knew what I had to know to pass. I also know how I test....but I have to say I was nervous when I walked out 45 minutes later having only taken 75. Wouldn't have bothered me in school to have done 75 questions in 45 minutes, but THIS WAS NCLEX!

I passed. Went home, checked the PVT, good pop up, name on my BON shortly after. It is stressful, that's for sure.

If you have studied through nursing school and understand how to get to the bottom of NCLEX questions, you are prepared. Alleviating your anxiety about the test will go that much further in helping you pass. Give yourself a rest day, eat well, and as you're taking the test, be prepared to take the whole thing. That being said, spend as much time on each question as you need, but don't perseverate on each. You can do it....

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I don't think ANYONE feels totally ready walking into the NCLEX. That's just reality. But all you can do is prep to the best of your ability (which it sounds like you've done), give yourself the day before and morning of to RELAX as much as you can, and nail that exam.

I was CERTAIN I'd failed when I got 75 questions. Like, in tears in the lobby at Pearson Vue! So bad! I finally caved that night and did the PVT, and I got the good pop up, and thankfully, official results posted in less than 48 hours.

You've got this!! Breathe, have faith, and knock it out of the park!

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Being "scared to death" or "terrified" is not a functional way to go through life. It will serve you especially poorly in your first year of practice. Telling yourself you're terrified / scared to death / panic-stricken is something we hear all the time here, but is a poor message to give yourself. Lose those words and their cousins pronto; banish them from your vocabulary and they will never bother you again.

Lose the word "terrified" from your self-descriptive vocabulary. I mean it. Never use it again, and if you feel it coming on, immediately replace it with the word "challenged" or "excited!" Challenges you can rise to and meet, but terror is a paralytic. This is an exciting time! Embrace it! Your faculty says you're ready!

"I am so excited to finally be taking my licensure examination! Whooeee!"

There now, doesn't that feel better? Doesn't your brain like that better?

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Do some bio-feedback exercise while testing. Close your eyes for a few seconds and repeat a positive statement, like GrnTea suggests. You know the material or would not have gotten this far. Take deep breaths and plunge! Then go celebrate your success

Remember: the majority of people who take the test pass the first time

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I feel like she feels! I hope that she passed!! Like like the bio feedback tip!

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