Are you about to graduate from nursing school, and the crucial time has come to start preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam? The National Council Licensure Examination—Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is a mandatory entry-to-practice requirement for those becoming registered nurses in Canada.
As such, pre-exam anxiety can arise due to the high stakes of the assessment, the NCLEX eligibility criteria, the fear of failure, and the overwhelming volume of topics that students must study.
Let's discover some effective strategies for managing test-taking anxiety and navigating these potentially turbulent waters. Ready to learn the best strategies for succeeding in the NCLEX-RN? Read on!
Five Effective Techniques to Manage NCLEX Test Anxiety
Overcoming test anxiety on an exam like the NCLEX will take much more than a positive mindset. It requires a multifaceted approach, including proper study techniques, relaxation techniques to manage stress and anxiety, self-care, and finding adequate support to deal with any challenging test.
Discover the perfect formula to pass your NCLEX with flying colors. Let's take a closer look!
1. Know your enemy
To defeat any adversary, you must thoroughly study them to understand them. Familiarize yourself with the NCLEX exam format, question types, and content areas. The NCLEX-RN exam comprises four-choice, text-based, essay-style questions written at the application/analysis level of difficulty and may include charts, tables, or graphic images.
In terms of content, the exam may range from health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, primary care and comfort, physiology, reduction of risk potential, and pharmacological and parenteral therapies to infection prevention and control. You have up to five hours to complete the NCLEX and can expect to answer a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 150 questions.
Don't let the uncertainty of not knowing how to answer the test become a significant cause of anxiety. The more informed you are about the exam structure, the designated time you need to answer each question, the types of questions that may be included, and the score to pass the NCLEX, the better your results will be.
2. Create a plan of attack
Developing the best NCLEX study plan will be critical for you to stay organized and dedicated to studying all of the topics included in the exam. A structured study plan can promptly alleviate anxiety and help you feel less overwhelmed as the exam date approaches.
Your NCLEX study plan should be customized to your strengths and weaknesses, incorporating a combination of study materials and resources that will test your learned knowledge. Proper NCLEX study should include a syllabus with realistic and clear objectives and a timeline that defines the time frame for achieving each objective.
Whether you opt for a one-month or three-month study plan, consistency and discipline are the keys to success. However, candidates generally aim to start preparing for the NCLEX four to 12 weeks before test day. Stop worrying and explore the ultimate NCLEX guide to success!
3. Look for NCLEX Prep Resources
Using excellent NCLEX Tips and Resources is crucial to better prepare for the exam. We recommend you look for accredited review books, such as the Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN, Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN, or the NCLEX-RN Questions & Answers Made Incredibly Easy. You can also study through online courses such as UWorld NCLEX Preparation, the NURSING.com - NCLEX Test Preparation, or the Kaplan NCLEX Test Preparation.
Also, practicing exams can help you get used to the NCLEX format, better manage the time spent on each question, and learn how to answer each type. NURSING.com offers NCLEX practice tests (SIMCLEX) that you can take to get a feel for the test format.
We encourage you to check digital NCLEX study prep tools like online question banks, realistic exam simulations, and YouTube NCLEX dedicated channels: RegisteredNurseRN, Simple Nursing, Level Up RN, and NURSINGcom w/Jon Haws, RN.
4. Discover anxiety reduction strategies
Anxiety can hinder your ability to concentrate and solve the NCLEX test effectively. To answer the exam smoothly, you must incorporate stress reduction techniques before, during, and after. Deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, regular physical activity, and getting enough sleep will undoubtedly promote your relaxation and concentration.
But why is controlling anxiety a successful test strategy? When people experience test anxiety, it triggers a fight-or-flight response and blocks the brain from thinking logically, making it challenging to stay focused. For this reason, incorporating stress reduction techniques before, during, and after the exam will be essential to process that adrenaline release.
Regular physical activity will undoubtedly increase the production of the brain's feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins and achieve overall wellness during stress.
Also, we recommend looking into deep breathing exercises or mindfulness meditation training sessions, which reduce reactivity to acute stressors and improve health outcomes in stress-related disorders. And, of course, sleeping seven to nine hours per night will prevent the buildup of stress hormones and help reduce anxiety.
5. Find the best NCLEX test preparation
Isolating ourselves can amplify anxiety when we are in high-pressure periods. That's why finding personalized study sessions and the best private tutoring will help you excel on the NCLEX.
Consider starting NCLEX study with the best private tutors in Canada who can offer you a personalized study plan, study sessions tailored to your availability, and the best private tutoring to suit your goals and budget.
Learning to study effectively and establishing a consistent pre-test routine will help you feel more relaxed and avoid feeling like the clock is ticking. Learn what works for you from a private tutor with the best NCLEX preparation: Find the best NCLEX tutors with Superprof, Canada's best private tutoring platform.
What are ways to cope with NCLEX test anxiety?
As you may notice, several strategies can help you reduce test anxiety and increase your performance on test day. Now that you know some general strategies to manage your test day anxiety better, below are specific recommendations that will help you feel more confident before, during, and after the test.
Coping with test anxiety before the exam
To get your mind under control before any exam and work on staying focused on the objective, here are some tips you can follow the week leading up to and the day before the exam. A step-by-step approach to building a strategy will avoid feeling overwhelmed and keep external pressures at bay.
One week before the exam:
- Exercise regularly and maintain a balanced diet.
- Prioritize your rest and engage in activities you enjoy to channel stress, such as hobbies.
- Continue your good study habits and strategies.
- Review the topics you find more complex with your private tutor.
- Continue to review your knowledge through mock exams.
The day before the exam:
- Prepare a checklist to review what you will need for the exam. For example, remember to bring your Authorization to Test (ATT), which could be a driver's license, state/province identification, or passport), a snack, and something to drink.
- Get a good night's sleep the night before the test.
- Focus on eating well and avoid stimulating beverages such as caffeine, as well as irritating foods such as spicy or fatty foods (Stress, anxiety, and digestive problems go hand in hand).
Coping with test anxiety on the day of the exam
- Give yourself plenty of time that morning to prepare without rushing.
- Eat something light and not irritating or stimulating (such as coffee). To feel satiated, opt for fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, and protein.
- Bring a small snack and enough water to replenish your energy and keep you hydrated.
- Try to arrive at the test site at least 30 minutes before.
- Try to achieve a relaxed state of concentration and self-confidence.
- Avoid talking to anyone to avoid negative, stressful, or distracting comments.
- It's time, champion! Face the exam confidently, knowing how hard you have prepared and studied. Just by showing up, you're practically on your way to success.
Coping with test anxiety during the exam
- Be punctual and go to the bathroom before the test.
- When you start answering the test, take it one step at a time and focus on what it takes to answer each question. This way, you can handle what you have left to solve.
- Maintain realistic expectations. The important thing is to do things well, not perfectly. Not knowing how to answer a question is not synonymous with failure.
- When negative thoughts emerge, breathe and put them aside in a mental waiting room. It will do no good to let them occupy your mind.
- Be mindful of when to answer the test, but take breaks to relax.
- Remember that there is no reward for being the first to finish. Please do not focus on other students as they begin to finish the test.
- You will know you have finished the test when a screen on your computer states, "Your test is concluded."
Coping with test anxiety after the exam
It's done: The test is finished! Official NCLEX results typically take around six weeks to arrive. But for the time being, all you have to do is:
- Reward yourself by celebrating that you have completed the test.
- Regardless of how the test went, feel proud of yourself for trying your best to control your mind.
- Disconnect and take your time to return to calm slowly.
- Practice self-care and care for your physical and emotional well-being by maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep.
How do you recognize your test anxiety?
While some nervousness before an exam is normal and can help focus your attention, when we live with constant anxiety, feelings of worry and self-doubt can interfere with our day-to-day lives.
Test anxiety is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that interfere with your ability to perform well on tests. Check out these different symptoms to identify your anxiety and improve your performance on any exam.
- Physical symptoms: Headache, nausea, nausea, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and feeling faint. Test anxiety can also cause panic attacks (intense fear or discomfort in which you may feel like you can't breathe).
- Emotional symptoms: Stress, fear, helplessness, disappointment, roaring negative thoughts, blank mind, and racing thoughts.
- Behavioral/cognitive symptoms: difficulty concentrating, negative thinking, comparing yourself to others, and procrastinating on studies or homework.
If you have identified any of these symptoms, a psychologist and certain other mental health professionals can diagnose anxiety and provide counseling, advice, and help.
Wrap up!
Mastering NCLEX test anxiety is crucial for success on the NCLEX-RN exam. You will enhance their performance by implementing effective coping strategies such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, and maintaining a well-structured study plan.
Recognizing and addressing symptoms of test anxiety empowers candidates to approach the exam confidently, ultimately paving the way for a successful outcome. Also, seeking personalized tutoring with Superprof will provide you with the best comprehensive preparation.
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