What if four resolutions could reduce your anxiety and give you the boost you need to pass your NCLEX? I believe these four just might. Read and reply with your suggestions so we all can kick off the new year right 🙂
Create a clear step by step plan for both studying and while taking the NCLEX exam.
One example:
Identify a study program that can help me pass the NCLEX and purchase it by January 4.
Take a practice test within 1 week of getting the study program and use the results to identify areas I need to prioritize during my studying.
Study at least 4 days a week for a minimum of 3 hours each day IE: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Study for 3 weeks then assess my readiness for the exam by taking a practice test I haven’t previously taken. If score is high enough to indicate success then schedule test within 3 weeks. If not adjust my study priorities to address my problem areas and study for another 3 weeks.
Create and practice a test taking routine that I can use during every practice test and the real test to help the test feel familiar and help me relax and focus. IE
A) Take a few deep breathes, say a prayer
B) Write down the top four acronyms which help me remember proper treatments and assessments on the note board or paper.
C) Remind myself that having passed RN school and all the tests it took proves I can learn so I have good reason to be confident (see resolution #2)
D) Use my relaxation trigger for 30 secs to 1 minute (see resolution #3)
E) Start test.
Increase my confidence by reviewing my progress
Write out a short summary of what I knew about nursing procedures and assessments before starting the RN program and compare that to my current knowledge. Remind myself that progress demonstrates proof I can learn and if I can learn then passing the NCLEX is inevitable so long as I don’t quit (see resolution #4) whenever I start to feel overwhelmed and not smart enough.
Bonus for Christians – remind myself that I am created in the image of God and am designed to learn so I can expect to be capable of passing the NCLEX
Build a calm focus routine I can use during my exam
Pick a simple relaxation method to regularly practice for at least 4 weeks before I take the exam. During the 4 weeks I will use it before starting every study session and before every practice test so I can create a relaxation trigger strong enough to use during the exam.
One suggested method:
Focus on letting your jaw and wrists be totally loose and relaxed. Yes, your jaw can drop open 🙂 (the relaxation tends spread to the rest of your body if those parts are loose and relaxed)
Then close your eyes and focus on the feeling of your breath going in and out your nose / mouth. Don't try to breathe slower or change how you are breathing just focus on the sensation of the air moving in and out and relax.
As other thoughts... questions about the exam, worry about not passing, etc pop into your head, just mentally return to the feeling of your loose relaxed jaw and wrists and the sensations of your breath.
Do this loose jaw breath focus exercise for 5 to 15 minutes at a time. Setting an alarm allows you to concentrate on the exercise without having to think about checking the time. Practice this 3-5 times a day for 4 weeks and you will likely build an on demand relaxation response that can give you near instant calm during your exam.
As soon as you notice your anxiety creeping up during your practice exams use the loose jaw breath focus exercise for 30 seconds to 1 minute. That will likely be enough to calm your anxiety and "reset" your brain and body so you can calmly focus again on the next questions. When you take your actual exam, simply follow the same routine. Not only will the method create a relaxation trigger, but by following the exact same routine during the exam, familiarity will add to the relaxation effect and make focusing much easier.
Advanced method: Choose a single word such as “calm” or “relaxed” and repeat it several times during your practices. Eventually, your brain will associate the whole exercise with that one word. Then during the test you can just relax and mentally repeat that relaxation trigger word to yourself a few times for near instant relaxation on demand.
Make an absolute decision to pass
I am making a final irreversible decision to do whatever it takes (within the limits of legality and ethics) to pass my NCLEX exam. Even if that means I have to take it 10 times, buy and use 5 different study programs, hire a personal coach, block off 3 months from work and family to study or anything else it takes, before I pass.
Whatever it takes, I am willing and committed to do it.
When you deeply accept that you may have to do more than others and are 100% willing to do whatever it takes, then you can have the confidence that passing becomes inevitable. You have decided not to quit for any reason. You already know by personal experience (see #2) you have the built in ability to learn, so while you may have detours and challenges that make the process longer, there is simply is no reason you won’t eventually succeed.
The only way failure is possible with such a commitment is that you permanently lose your ability to learn, or you die before you pass. Once quitting for any reason is off the table, passing is the only reasonable result. It is just a matter of how many tries and how long it takes.
With such a mindset, temporary failure (an opportunity to learn more about what you need to pass) is just not so scary. It is just a delay, not terminal defeat. You can face your exam knowing the worst possible outcome is a delay. Not a happy result but nothing worth stressing about 🙂
