NCLEX Advice...or perhaps I should...HELP!!

[ArmyNursing4Me]

I would like to first say thank you to everyone here for sharing your personal experiences...it truly is inspiring to those of us who are sitting in a world where there is the feeling that this is only in my case (i.e., myself)...I have as of today sat for the NCLEX-RN twice...both times I failed...the first time I got all 265 questions...the second I got 250+...I'm not sure which was the lesser of the two evils...however....I am petrified of facing that exam again...I attended a review course for the first exam...but did not return for the second...this third time I sought the guidance of the Dean of my school and various others...I now realize that this is not unique to me...and that this does not determine my ability to be an outstanding nurse in the field...however...this appears to now be my biggest hinderance: TEXT ANXIETY!!!!....I would like to know if anyone has some input on handling the extreme test anxiety that I am feeling as I am studying and preparing to face this "obstacle" again...any insight would be greatly appreciated...I thank you all so very kindly for listening to me...God Bless you all...

[J-Swift808]

Sorry to hear of your situation. I too was unsuccessful on my 1st and 2nd attempts on the NCLEX exam. Just recently I took it and finally passed. Like many others, I know that text anxiety can either make or break you during test time. Prior to taking the NCLEX a 3rd time, I had placed a lot pressure on myself in having to pass it. This tremendous amount of pressure would eventually get the best of me, and I've had to reschedule my test dates numerous times because I felt that I just "wasn't ready". There were a multitude of factors that played the part in me finally taking the exam recently, but one of the main ones was that I had to stop "ducking/dodging" the exam itself. Everytime I rescheduled brought a sense of relief, but as the test date neared, my anxiety started to rise. My motivating factors were:

1. Nobody feels really prepared going into the test. There is too much information to know, and the test can come at you from any angle. The best one can do is to know basic nursing concepts/lab values and review one's weak areas.

2. Bills/Loans. I had not returned to work for 6 months since I had failed the NCLEX the second time, mostly because I was ashamed to face my peers/co-workers. I told myself that regardless of the outcome of this exam, I would return to work. Convincing myself to do this lifted a lot of pressure off my shoulders.

3. Reading posts/threads of people passing on this website. Very uplifting, and was comforting to hear of others that were in my situation as well and were able to pass the exam.

4. Prayer. Without a doubt, this is what mostly kept me grounded and focused.

I've heard from some of my friends that they asked their doctors for a presciption of anti-anxiety meds prior to them taking the NCLEX. Not sure if it works, but they swear by it that it kept them calm/relaxed. Hope this helps. Best of luck to you!

[ArmyNursing4Me]

God Bless you...and thank you so very much for your words of encouragement and wisdom...my coach from the review course did suggest that I speak with my doctor to get a prescription for a low dosage beta blocker...and when speaking with my doctor he did say that he has prescibed in the past and it appeared to help...I'm not sure...I'm staying in prayer for guidance and wisdom regarding that..and will continue in preparation for the next go around...thank you for keeping me in your prayers and thoughts...I will keep you posted on the outcome...