NCLEX Anxiety

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi All!

I have been a long time lurker to this site, and I am taking the NCLEX RN examination next week (August 8th). I feel that the common theme among test takers is anxiety, lack of confidence and self-doubt: and those statements are my main issues at this time. I graduated with my BSN this past May and I am already employed as a nursing assistant at a children's hospital. Many of my friends have taken the NCLEX and have passed. I feel that I have wasted my summer studying and haven't been able to enjoy this exciting time in my life due to this overwhelming anxiety and worry that I won't obtain my license. Through my school I have taken Kaplan: so far, I have taken over 5,000 practice questions and I feel confident with the Decision Tree.

I just feel like I have not even studied enough (I sorta know the lab values, kind of remember the meds, etc). but I feel as if I need to be focusing on these issues and I just get so overwhelmed. I know that this is a common feeling everyone experiences but I just want to take this test once.

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Ditto!!! I feel the same way, and I also test on the 8th at 0800! I purposefully chose a later date so i could study. I think i have studied all but 7 days since graduation on May 12th!

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Just be confident! Read the question carefully and look through the answers before you choose your final answer and move forward! I failed my nclex, that is because I was so anxious looking at the time and try to finish my test ASAP. As well as I lack some of the content. But if you think you study enough and confident enough, then take the board and think positive. Don't stress too much because it will distract you from getting the right answer. Anyway, good luck and God bless!

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I'm going through the same thing as you. whenever I get too much anxiety i just close my eyes and take a deep breath through my nose. It helps when im stuck on questions. I don't think you can study EVERYTHING going into this test. Don't focus too much on content but rather on your critical thinking skills and how to answer questions properly.

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Specializes in NCLEX Tutor, Mental Health, Pediatrics.

Confidence will increase if you know your lab values back and forth, up and down. Memorize, memorize, memorize!!!! Kaplan's decision tree doesn't always "speak" to every learner. There are other ways to learn how to answer the questions.

1. Read the entire question and then ask yourself, what is the question really asking me? Decide whether it is asking you for the correct answer or for the incorrect answer (and the other 3 answer choices are correct). Whisper the question to yourself so you can hear the question too.

2. Do not read the question and then say to yourself "I know what that answer is" because 9 times out of 10 you will choose the wrong answer. Research has proven this fact.

3. Every answer choice is going to represent applied knowledge...there will not be any content questions and if there is, consider it as a gift from the board.

More later.....

Ann

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I'm in the same exact situation! It's like you spoke what's on my mind too!

I feel like as if I don't know anything although I studied a month for this!

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Specializes in NICU.

Thanks everyone for the input :) I am naturally an anxious person by nature :uhoh21: and I'm perfectionist so naturally I want to study all the time to make sure that I gave it my all. To Oztizz and Chris: we got this, time to show them what we can do! I do agree that confidence is the main issue at hand and to go into this examination with the mind set that "we will pass" will help ease a majority of the problem. We can only take one day at a time and give it our all.

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what are you using for questions?

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Specializes in NICU.

Oztizz- I have the Kaplan RN Course Book and through my school (probably hidden somewhere in the tuition fees) we have online access to the QBank/ Questions Trainers, and an online video review of the content (Health Promotion, Pharm, etc) and a review of the rationale of the questions. I also have a Saunders book that I look at for reference and answer some questions. :)

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I wish I had kaplan. I'm using saunders 5th for content, nclex 4000 for q's, a study manual from school, and some q's i found online

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Specializes in NICU.

With Kaplan, they taught us the Decision Tree- and some people like it and some don't, however, I do like how it makes you stop and think about what is being asked: do you assess or implement, is it physical or psychosocial (pain= pyschosocial so throw it out!) do ABCs apply, and ask yourself "what is the one thing I can do before I go home that is safe for the patient". Even when I work I used the decision tree (nerd I know). You are being proactive and studying that is half of the battle right there. Just keep on studying and show them what you got. It never hurts to be over-prepared than to be underprepared. (Even though I know I will most likely be crying after this exam, but hey, I gave it my all and that's all I can do!) I also know that there is a "allnurses study" guide floating around on here. Google it and print it out (not at home- it's 38 pages, woof!) I have been looking over that and I find it helpful as well. It doesn't hurt to look it over. :)

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I got to page 15 on that :). Still making my way through! How many times have you read it? I'm still on my first round :/

What are you planning to do till the big day? [i test at 8am too!!]

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