The jitters have already started...

Published

Hi everyone, this is my first post! I graduated last month from a pre-licensure MSN program and I'm taking the NCLEX tomorrow! I graduated with a 4.0, did well on HESI, and have studied my butt off the past couple of weeks. How is it possible to feel so prepared and yet so unprepared at the same time?!? I'm taking the test a few days sooner than I had hoped, but that was what was available. I didn't have time for a review course, but I went through the Saunders book, about 500 Kaplan qbank questions, and a few hundred Mosby questions.

My big question is how do you deal with emotions/anxiety during the test? I plan to breathe slowly and focus on the question at hand, but I'm afraid if the test goes past 75, that I might start freaking out a little. Any advice?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would turned the questions "counter" or counting.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Go in for the long haul. Expect it to go past 75. Bring food and drinks (for locker). If you panic, you panic. But take a break when you panic. Just remember 76 is the most missed question, according to kaplan.

Honestly, nclex is a rite of passage. I was more scared of the emotions to endure rather than passing. I took it, freaked out for two days, and passed. It was horrible, I didn't even feel like a person, but that's the way it was.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I really like this! "If you panic, you panic, but take a break when you panic." That's advice I'm really going to take. I bought snacks and specifically included my favorite dark chocolate for just before the test and on breaks. I think controlling my emotions will be key. I remember on HESI I really felt I knew absolutely nothing and then got 965. So I'm expecting the test to be all SATA about drugs that I've never heard of, yet somehow I will make it. That's how I'm staying positive. Thanks for the great advice!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I personally didn't even pay attention to the number of the questions. I was so focused on the question that I was on that didn't realize what number I was shut off, but I'm pretty sure it was at the 75th question. I was sorta panicking during my exam because I had several questions that I had no idea and had to guess. However, I found out I passed and I am so relieved. When I felt super anxious, I put my hand on my upper diaphragm/chest and took deep breaths and read the questions words by words to see what the keywords of the question were. I took my break around 68th question, I think. I used the bathroom, took a sip of water and went back to the test. Take breaks and deep breaths as needed! and me personally, I prayed before I started my exam. :) Best wishes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion