Need encouragement- how do you control your fear?

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 21, 2015

I think part of it is that it's the FIRST exam. You don't know really what to expect. Once you get an exam or two under your belt you'll know more of how to study and what to study.

See how you feel when you're done with the exam. You'll probably get some relief just getting it over with and seeing how it is.

CVICU-Nurse1.5 · Jan 21, 2015

Study, then on day of exam pray and tell yourself that you will do good and you already know this stuff.

Skip hard questions and come back later.

Go over every question when you are finished.

It's how I got through term one of nursing school.

Beautiful_Soul · Jan 21, 2015

Take a deep breath and tell yourself, "I am who I am, I know what I know RIGHT NOW (you will learn more as you go), and I'm going to do the best I can. Look over every question very carefully and choose the answer that YOU feel is the correct answer. Go with your gut and try not to second guess yourself. Good luck! Please give us an update soon, if possible :)

Summers3 · Jan 21, 2015

Dear anh06005,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me.

Another reason why I'm fearful is because we only have like 3 exams and although I am a learner through trial and error, I feel that I can't afford to do badly even on the first one which unfortunately adds to all the self-doubting.

But I will definitely see how it goes after the exam as well. Thank you again for writing to me. :)

Summers3 · Jan 21, 2015

Dear protectnnurse2b,

Thanks for writing to me! :)

The problem is that I can't go back and review my past answers..... it's computer based exam and once you click "next", you can't go back to the previous questions at all. And I have been advised that if I don't know a question, guess and move on.

I wish I can go review everything before submitting but I can't unfortunately.

Thank you again for taking the time to advise me! :)

Summers3 · Jan 21, 2015

Dear Jas_shonda24,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me. I do feel better now (I said your quote out loud a few times lol). I do appreciate your advice to me. I was feeling very scared and even potentially slightly losing hope earlier today but see the posts here for encouragement made me feel better.

My exam is next week and let's see. I do hope to give an update once it's over.

THANK YOU for spending time to help me. :)

zzbxdo · Jan 21, 2015

I'm stressing to the point where it's beginning to turn into worry and FEAR of failure. There is more pressure on me than my peers because I have to maintain a certain higher grade or risk being dropped from the program (I was told by school this). Obviously I do not want to be dropped!

Why? Your peers are going through the same ordeal so what makes you unique that you'd need higher grades before getting dropped? Your peers should have nothing to do with you. Chill. Fear is a bit extreme. Fear is being chased by an angry Hippo.

Mild anxiety is good for you and gets you going. You'll learn and adapt how to take these exams by the end of your first semester.

Summers3 · Jan 21, 2015

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I was accepted on a conditional basis and I was informed beforehand I must maintain higher grades with the lowest being a B- in every class no exceptions. Peers can get a C+ and get away with it. I know I must maintain good grades regardless but knowing I have to do better puts more pressure on me beginning to doubt my own abilities. Hence..... cue the fear and anxiety.

I love your quote of the angry hippo though. XD

Thanks for your post. :)

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 21, 2015

Dear protectnnurse2b,
Thanks for writing to me! :)
The problem is that I can't go back and review my past answers..... it's computer based exam and once you click "next", you can't go back to the previous questions at all. And I have been advised that if I don't know a question, guess and move on.
I wish I can go review everything before submitting but I can't unfortunately.
Thank you again for taking the time to advise me! :)

A bit of anxiety is totally normal! We all have some anxiety about our "firsts" in life, first exam is no exception. For the most part, you probably have a good study guide already in your hands: your syllabus and your reading assignments. It's going to be an experience that will help guide you for how to study for the next exams... and each professor is going to do their exams differently so you'll just have to stay up on your studies. Chances are good that you'll also start getting some NCLEX-style questions so when you read the questions, try to figure out what the question is actually asking you to do or asking you for. Then read the answers and then go back and re-read the question while looking for any words or phrases that will help you go through the process of selecting the most correct answer. That's also not going to be easy as sometimes you can have more than one right answer, but one will be more right than the others.

As for the bolded stuff above, They're preparing you for the NCLEX. While that exam is computer-based and adaptive, once you "submit" your answer for each question, you can't go back to review/change your answers anyway. Once you've determined what your answer should be, select it and move on.

Craftyladies · Jan 21, 2015

I seriously dislike the negativity nursing schools start students out with. As a student you are there to learn... You are supposed to be able to make mistakes and learn from them your mistakes not sail through nursing school with 100% test scores. In reality they really want to see if you can think for yourself. The best way to show that is by working through multiple choice questions with a tactic. Question have have often hidden key words (part of the answer), careful with double negatives and read the entire question. When answering read all answers while eliminating the wrong choices on the first pass. That should leave you with 2 possible choices and That's the part you have will have studied for ( and when you do and prep your self this way the last thing on your mind is going to be is worry because you'll be busy answering questions)

Anyway, next time your teachers start with their threats imagine them dancing naked.... It's nothing more than an act!

Fruit Sucker · Jan 21, 2015

It's very common to have this anxiety. It will help if you use the same study method to prepare for exams every time. Once you start getting decent grades on exams, you can learn to trust your study process.

Try not to think about your peers, it won't help. Just focus on what you need to do. Avoid talking to classmates about what grades everyone is getting- it will only add stress. As long as you're doing what you need to do, that's all you need to worry about.