I need a little of advice and encouragement........
I have my first nursing school exam next week...... and this will be my first gauge of my own performance. Not to mention, it's a huge chunk of our grade (just like any other nursing program class!)
But I don't know why but I am seriously doubting myself and my own abilities as a nursing student.
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!
I know, I shouldn't be worrying when I could spend time studying or fear will do nothing for me and it's a huge waste of time. Yes, I absolutely do know this but I get scared knowing that my performance in the program is a gauge of my worth as a nursing student and this first exam is the first step!
I get so scared about it and feel anxious, scared, doubting myself, and maybe even slightly hopeless.... and it's only the first exam!
How do you control your crazy stress when it turned into something so ugly such as fear/anxiety?
Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.
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.
we all went thru the same stressors. When you have time, look up articles about "resilience". Nurses have to build up resilience in order to cope with all the things we encounter. The short answer is be prepared, be rested, be focused.
Hello, I am currently in Grad school for my PMHNP and your post resonated with me. I went the ADN, RN to BSN and now Masters in my nursing career. I stress over every exam. My advanced patho this year was a nightmare, we had only 2 exams, about 140 questions each and needed an 83 to pass. STRESS! What did I do? I studied like you would not believe, and I started 2 weeks before the exam. I passed with an A. Some of my colleagues didn't start until the week before and sadly some of them are not in the program anymore.
So it really is a simple solution, if you study harder than you think you need to and for longer, you should pass with flying colors.
Fruit Sucker
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Also, buy this book. Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students: 9780803628182: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com