How nursing students can deal with test anxiety

For nursing students, taking tests is the typical path to becoming an RN. However, for many students, studying and taking rigorous tests (such as the NCLEX) can be too intense an experience, causing nurses to experience test anxiety and fear regarding their grades.

So how do nurses feel when they are overwhelmed before an exam? According to 2023 studyTest anxiety refers to the emotions we feel when we think about the possible consequences of failing a test. However, test anxiety is common among many nurses and even highlights how much importance we place on our future.

If you struggle with test anxiety, you are not alone. Read on to find out what test anxiety looks like for you and what strategies can help you.

What might an anxiety test look like?

Exam anxiety, i.e. exam stress, is different and may have different intensity in everyone, so not everyone experiences the same symptoms. In addition to feeling anxious, this may look like being distracted and unable to recall information while taking a test, and engaging in negative self-talk. Some physical symptoms include sweating, nausea, heart palpitations, and headaches. Procrastination is usually common, so we may wait until the last minute due to the intense stress of the exam.

Why nurses struggle with test anxiety

According to a psychiatric mental health nurse, test anxiety usually stems from nurses feeling a lot of pressure to pass exams successfully and stay on top of the intense workload associated with the program Aneesah Coates, BSN, RN.

“The material they learn is critical to patient care, and learning and remembering it can be overwhelming,” he says. “The competitive nature of nursing programs also increases stress and creates fear of failure.”

Exam stress can also result from other common causessuch as thinking of grades as a measure of validation, feeling helpless about how you will do, or feeling guilty that not preparing for the test “right” means you won’t pass it.

Taking exams in a nursing program is not easy, so knowing that you have taken steps to stop and become aware of your exam anxiety is one step to feeling more at ease.

How to prepare before and after the exam

Here are some ways to better deal with test anxiety. Try one or more methods to see if they work; if so, adapt them to your needs.

Plan your study schedule. Decide how you want to prioritize and plan what you want to study. When do you want to start studying for the exam and for how long? Asking yourself questions like these will help you find a moment to start writing down notes and get into the mindset of learning.

Find study habits that work for you. Coates suggests combining study methods to see which one works for you. For her, using different colored pens when taking notes helped her visually see and remember what she had learned.

Other study tips you can try include:

• Writing down “memory points” containing trigger words and acronyms to help you identify key points as you take the test
• Record yourself reading notes and listening to them while doing other tasks
• Taking advantage of quiet study space where you can concentrate
• Finding study guides or more exam preparation material relevant to your field

Take care of your body. This may seem obvious, but make sure you get enough sleep and are rested on test day. For example, the NCLEX lasts five hours, so bring snacks and water to have enough energy and prevent dehydration.

Understand the material; don’t just memorize. As a future nurse, you want to be prepared for any unexpected situation, so it’s important to understand what you’re learning in the long term. This is also helpful when taking the NCLEX exam because the exam tests how you will apply what you learn in real-world situations. Try to test your knowledge of the material with practice quizzes to determine which areas need improvement.

Discover what motivates you. Revisiting why you enrolled in a nursing program may be the push you need to overcome exam stress.

“Preparing for the NCLEX or any other test can be a challenge, but it’s important to remember that you’ve already come this far and have the knowledge and skills you need to succeed,” says Coates.

Your classmates can also support you when you need a study partner. It’s also helpful to know that other students struggle with exam stress, so focusing on your progress and having confidence in your abilities is a great way to relieve exam anxiety.