Severe NCLEX Anxiety! Please help!

[Kestes13]

Hi all! I take NCLEX in two days. I got pretty good grades & am a decent test taker. I have been studying hard & using UWorld. I took the UWorld assessment, which ranked me in the 93rd percentile of passing. I pretty much feel like I have a really good chance of passing.

However. I have terrible terrible uncontrolled anxiety. I thought I was doing a really good job controlling it during school without medications. Now that NCLEX is days away, I can't slee without my PRN Xanax to keep my heart from having palpitations all night & I keep experiencing multiple PVCs in a row. I'm not only terrified for this exam, but also terrified for my health. At this point, NCLEX is so soon & I'm not sure there's anything I can really do at this point this late in the game to help me out. I know I'm going to avoid too much (or even any) caffeine before I go into the exam. Any other tips or tools to help, especially with the somatic symptoms I'm experiencing? The amount of palpitations I'm having, especially at night, is scary & I really don't like to depend on the Xanax to calm me down. I haven't taken it in months, but now I've been taking it 3 nights in a row just to sleep.

Someone pleeeeeeease help me out? I don't know what to do here! Thanks in advance!!

[3peas]

Deep breaths. I don't care what people say-you will never think you are ready for NCLEX. Think is the operative word, but you are ready. Don't listen to the people who say they they didn't stress and it was a breeze for them-lies! At this point if you have been preparing, you need to relax the day before the test. I'm not kidding. You need to be intentional with your relaxation. If you feel the need to review the things you have made a note through your prep time to go over, then do that in the morning the day before, but the rest of the day should be relaxing. What ever that means for you-exercise, binge watching TV, something creative, or hanging with friends/family. Eat well, drink water, and get a good nights sleep. Wake up early and arrive at the testing center with plenty of time. If you don't know it now you never will. If you did well in school and prepped for the test you will do fine on NCLEX.

I am a terrible standardized test taker-TERRIBLE. I do very well in class and on normal tests. I took NCLEX one week after graduation and I have anxiety issues as well. It was fine. I passed, I lived, and I never want to do it again. But I was intentional with my relaxation and expectations. You will conquer NCLEX!

[Kestes13]

Thank you thank you thank you!! I'm reviewing no later than noon then plan on laying by the pool with friends. I want this so bad & my biggest fear is I will stress myself out so bad & make myself so anxious I won't be able to think straight during the test!

[AshleyBSN11]

I'm in the same boat as you! I test on Wednesday as well and feel as though I am just a huge ball of anxiety due to this test!

[Kestes13]

I've decided to stop studying today! I'm psyching myself out at this point by doing more UWorld questions. I have to have faith in myself that I can be a safe practicing nurse & that the pat 4 years have prepared me well for it!! Keep me updated on how it goes & good luck! :)

[AshleyBSN11]

Completely agree! We are obviously smart individuals to be able to make it through nursing school. I'm finishing up some review and calling it a day and just relaxing tomorrow. GOOD LUCK!