NCLEX Anxiety

salmon7 · Sep 21, 2011

Hey there, first and foremost you are going to do great, really. It sounds like you've studied and put in the work, you will do fine. I just took my nclex a month ago, the absolute best advice I got, and this is priceless, is to spend as much time as you need or can on the first 75. Don't even think about the time, really forget its there. Think about every single question. I followed this rule and ended up with the 75 questions, which took me and hour and 45 minutes. Just remember you made it through nursing school, you will do great:)

Success2011 · Sep 21, 2011

Thanks so much Salmon 7...I'll do just that..I was thinking about spending 1 hour on 50 questions since I should prepare for about 265..but I guess your advice is great...It might just shut down at 75 if I focus on the first 75 and do well...

salmon7 · Sep 21, 2011

I would just forget theres even time at all, and think about each of the first 75 as much as possible, making your best judgement. I bet if u do that itll shut off at 75, and if it doesnt, itll shut off close to it after that. let me know what happens, good luck:)

Success2011 · Sep 21, 2011

Thanks Salmon, I'll keep you posted...And one more thing..did you do the tutorials before the actual exam...I mean the practice test cuz i heard it's included in the 6 hour timimg..I'm thinking of not bothering..but just going on to the actual exams...

Phoenix4 · Sep 22, 2011

Success2011, a big key to NCLEX is to not worry about the time. Seriously. I agree totally to take your time, it's not about speed. The actual minimum number of questions to answer and be able to pass is 75. You can still pass if you only do 75 questions in the 6 hrs! You do not have to finish them all in the 6 hrs.

So, there is truly no time pressure. Take your time and think each question through. If you feel yourself beginning to panic, stop, take a slow deep breath and when you're ready, read the question and answer options again.

From a post in this thread I started: https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/passed-1st-time-601909.html

"remember, studying is largely LEARNING, use a comprehensive practice test once in awhile to gauge how you are doing with improving overall.

That was really a big help to me with doing practice questions. It was a reminder that I didn't have to know everything (and we just can't know it ALL), and practice with questions that I might know only a little, or nothing about and how to handle that. When I first started studying, at a question I had no clue on, I'd feel immediate panic. Sometimes I found myself frantically picking something and moving on (usually wrong of course!).

Don't go there! If you read a question and think, hm, really? I have no clue. Deep, slow breath. Ok, read it again. Read both question and answers. Still no clue? Maybe it's a med you never heard of (there are so many, it's pretty likely to happen) and asking about side effects, or pt teaching about it. Another deep breath. Is there any info you can infer from the question or answers, like do you recognize anything about the generic or trade name? Does the age, condition, history of the client tell you anything? Usually you can come up with some hint that will help narrow your choices. Ok, so what if you narrow it to two choices and still pick the wrong one? Forgive yourself, and move on.

I kept trying to remind myself that NCLEX isn’t really trying to trick you, it’s trying to find out if you can avoid killing somebody the first week! (And I did think that the NCLEX had fewer “tricky” questions than a lot of the practice question sources.)"

You can do this. You have plenty of time to stop and take a slow deep breath whenever you need to.

Hope this helps!

Phoenix4

Passed NCLEX-RN 1984

Passed NCLEX-RN 2011

Success2011 · Sep 22, 2011

Thanks Phonenix4 appreciated....

salmon7 · Sep 23, 2011

Im not sure what tutorial your'e referring to, but there is a brief intro to the test that everyone has to take. It basically shows you how to take the test and its not included in the six hour timing. I do have to say that Phoneix has awesome advice, that is exactly what you need to do, focus and take your time on all of the first 75 questions no matter what the clock says really! A couple cool tips that stuck with me about general knowledge that actually were questions on there were from kaplan and this website. One that stuck with me is myicin. Mice have big ears, myicin sounds like mice, therefore, it causes ototoxcitiy. That was actually one of my first questions. The other is kinda weird but its like, anything acidosis comes out the A**, and alkalosis comes out the mouth like an alky(alcoholic). Anywho I know you'll do fine, you can do it, take your time:)

Phoenix4 · Sep 23, 2011

Here's the link to the tutorial you can download and do. This is exactly the same one that you do before starting the actual NCLEX exam (and yes, it does ask dumb stuff like what color is orange :) ). It's just so you have a chance to see the screen format that is exactly what the NCLEX exam will be.

http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/NCLEX_Tutorial.exe

I was glad I'd done ahead of time, then I didn't feel I had to read through the questions and answers carefully (which just being me, I'd feel compelled to do if I hadn't seen them before). It totally doesn't matter or count toward your exam, it is only so you have a chance to see what the screen will look like, where the next button is, where the clock is, etc.

Success2011 · Sep 24, 2011

Thanks guys..appreciated..

Memoreeze · Sep 24, 2011

Hi Success 2011,

I had a lot of anxiety before the NCLEX, too, and studied for months just like you. Good job! You are ready to test with that kind of studying backing you up. As far as the tutorial goes, I will tell you from my experience that I found it to be a great blessing. I actually found myself silently thanking God, Pearson Vue and the NCLEX people for providing it, not because I needed to become familiar with the format (after months of studying I knew what it was going to be like) but because I was nervous going in and focusing on the silly tutorial questions helped me relax and eventually focus on what I was doing BEFORE the real questions started. If I had bypassed that tutorial, I am certain I would not have had a clear head for my first few actual test questions.

P.S. I think you are going to do great! God bless you ! :)

Iammaj28 · Sep 24, 2011

Thanks guys..appreciated..

Success: don't let the anxiety strike u.. Just do ur best and be calm..read the question carefully and focus focus..