Test Prep Advice

Getting through nursing school can be a very difficult task for many individuals. There are several strategies that can be implemented to help manage school while also maintaining a social life.

I interviewed a nurse and author of Elsevier's Saunders NCLEX® review nursing books, Linda Anne Silvestri, and have some insight into how to manage all of the time commitments. I also have some ideas to share with you. I will provide Linda Silvestri's suggestions as well as my own, as a senior nursing student.

Nursing examinations, stress and work overload are huge factors for nursing students. I asked Linda if she had any recommendations for reducing stress and managing sufficient study time as well as maintaining work for other classes.

Linda: Planning is a really important component of reducing stress and managing sufficient study time. Time management and a structured study plan will also prevent stress and test anxiety because you will be planning ahead and working on preparing for a test and other assignments well in advance of the scheduled date. You can't procrastinate. Procrastinating places unnecessary pressure on you and this will create stress and the test anxiety or make the test anxiety worse. If you study daily rather than cramming at the last minute you will know the content well enough so that you can recall it even if you are stressed. Preparation will also build your confidence because you will feel more comfortable as far as knowing the material.