The First Exam of the Semester Stresses

As you are reading this post right now I am in the middle of taking my first exam for the semester. 

From August 21st to this moment I have been studying the material that was covered for this first test, had many moments of doubts, stresses and tears - but now is the time. 

You might have had your first exam already, or your first exam could be coming up soon. Nonetheless, this post is geared toward discussing the fears, nerves, confidence boosters, and motivators that all come with taking an exam in nursing school. 

Personally, when I am really stressed over an exam I turn to Pinterest to look at motivational quotes. Sometimes, all I need is a few motivational words to pump me up and remind me why I am doing what I am doing. I am studying endlessly to take an exam in order to finish nursing school, get hired as a nurse and help sick people in need. When you are stressed and nervous it can be very easy to become overwhelmed and question the reasons why you are putting yourself through torture. 

It will be okay. You're going to pass your class and you are going to become a nurse that saves lives. 

Here is a link to my Pinterest quote board: https://www.pinterest.com/bsnbabe95/quotes/

There are certainly times while studying for an exam where I get very overwhelmed and question whether or not I know the material, and whether or not I will do well on the exam. In these moments I really try and take a step back and breath. 

I do not know everything, there's no way to know everything - but I know what I know, and I have to trust that I know enough to do well on my exam. And if I get tripped up and do not do well, there are always more exams to improve my overall score in the class. 

I always try to get a good night sleep before an exam. I pick a time to stop studying (even if it is 11), double check that my alarm is set on my phone, brush my teeth and go to bed. After a certain hour of the day your brain can no longer accept new information, and in my experience, if you over-study some information might get confused in your memory. It is better to put things aside and rest than overwork and confuse yourself. 

The morning of the exam I always wake up with a clear head and meet my group of friends for a last minute cram session. For the past two semesters it became a tradition that my friend group went out and got breakfast at a local restaurant two to three hours before the exam. This gave us an opportunity to review material while we waited for our food, our bellies were full, and we had time to de-stress by chatting about normal life things. After our meal we would head to campus to go over material that each one of us did not remember or still did not grasp fully, this way the difficult topics would be fresh in our minds before the exam started. 

I would recommend building a routine like this with your nursing school friends before exams. 

 

Think about how great it is going to feel when you are done with your exam. In my school we do online testing and the grades are muted until everyone takes the exam and the teachers go over it afterwards. The math and select all that apply questions that we are given on the exams always need post adjustments completed manually because the computer will automatically deduct partial points, while my program requires full points to be taken away for incorrect answers. 

I have certainly been one of those nursing students that walks out of the testing room already crying because I felt horrible about the performance I just did on the exam. However, when I meet up with my group of friends in the lounge I feel better because I know that I have them by my side throughout this journey, and that I am not alone. I recommend spending the time after your exam, while you are waiting for your score to be posted, with your friends. Go shopping, go get something to eat, or if you are of age - go grab a drink! Make it a well-earned tradition to celebrate the hard work you just poured into your exam, and take your mind of the anxious time period of waiting to get your grade. 

I have tried both options - going straight home after the exam and sitting alone with my overthinking, and going out with my friends and chatting about our lives - the second option is much more fun. 

Believing in yourself and putting in the work is a major component to doing well in nursing school. You might not make the first grade, but it is all about the journey. In my experience in nursing school - no one does well on the first exam. It's new material, a new professor, a new test format. All that matters is that you are able to pick yourself up after you do poorly and come back stronger. Nursing exams are hard but they are preparing you to be fabulous nurses - do not let that reality slip your mind. If you remember the purpose of your journey, and the purpose for the difficulties - you will rise to the occasion much stronger. 

I hope that this post helps ease any anxiety you may have over nursing school exams. They are difficult but you can do it! These are all things that I implement in my own life during the semester, especially when it is an exam week. I look forward to bringing you more nursing school tips as the weeks go on the semester is in full swing!

Thank you so much for reading!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe