Managing Test Anxiety

Do you experience nervousness and anxiety before taking an exam? Do you worry that you might not be able to recall the correct answer in a test environment? If so, you are not alone. Feelings of nervousness and self-doubt are extremely common.

Here are a few tips that can help to alleviate some of the "butterflies" experienced in the run-up to an exam.

Prior to the Exam
1) Visualize yourself taking the exam. Picture the physical space of the exam room in your head. Create an image of yourself at a desk, methodically going through the exam. If possible, determine the test format and the total number of questions prior to the exam day.

2) Give yourself extra travel time on the day of exam. Anticipate traffic or delays in the subway.

3) Arrive to the exam 15 minutes early. Before you enter the classroom, organize yourself by turning off your cell phone, putting away test prep. materials, and readying anything you need for the exam (e.g. #2 pencil).

4) Utilize positive self-talk. In the moments before an exam, it is important to reassure yourself and to focus on positive thoughts. Here are some examples to help you get started: "I prepared to the best of my ability," "I am ready for this exam," "I believe in myself," "I am capable of doing well," and "I am proud of myself for taking on this challenge."

5) Relax your body and clear your mind by breathing in deeply over several seconds and then slowly releasing your breath. Repeat this technique at least three times.

During the Exam
6) As soon as you receive your exam, scan it to get a sense for the types of questions and the total number of questions. Read all instructions.

7) Methodically go through the exam. If your mind goes blank on a question and you feel a sense of panic coming over you, take a deep breath, employ positive self-talk for a moment and then refocus your attention back to the exam.

8) If you cannot recall or identify the answer to a question, make a notation by the question and move on to the next question. In instances were your time may be limited, answer what you are confident in first, and then spend any remaining time on re-examining the more challenging questions.

The best way to build confidence in test taking is to be fully prepared for the exam, which requires significant and effective studying throughout the semester. That said, severe anxiety can still impact a fully-prepared student's performance.

If you feel like anxiety is affecting your academic performance, contact your academic advisor and the Office of Academic Advising & Learning Development immediately. We are here to help and support you!

Lastly, whatever your level of anxiety, take advantage of the counseling services and stress-relief workshops offered by NYU's Student Health & Wellness Center.

A&E II Strategies for Success!

Looking for some tips to succeed in A&E II? Click the links below to a podacst and PPT from our Strategies for Success in Level II Seminar, brought to you by Dr. Anne Marie Mauro.

Podcast

PPT

And always remember to....

Congratulations Graduates!

Let's take a moment to congratulate all of our 2014 College of Nursing graduates! Take this time to congratulate them if you still keep in touch or happen to run into a new grad. Soon it will be your turn too, and you will be walking across that stage waving hello in celebration. 


Three tips for success to our fellow graduates, courtesy of LinkedIn:

1) Think of your career as a series of experiences
2) Spend more time with people than with your laptop
3) Locate mentors who live your desired lifestyles

Good luck graduates! And to our students who are continuing on, we wish you well in your studies.

Happy Nurses Week!

Take time to celebrate Nurses Week! Acknowledge your fellow colleagues and classmates for your hard work and dedication as nurses and nursing students. 

Check out this article from Life Magazine, portraying photographs from the history of the nursing profession:  http://life.time.com/culture/national-nurses-week-time-to-say-thank-you/#1

This is a wonderful time to say thank you to all of our nurses! 

The theme for Nurses Week in 2014 is "Nurses: Leading the Way". Take some time to think about how you're leading the way in the classroom or clinical setting in your work as a nurse or nursing student. Nurses Week begins on 5/6/14 and ends on Florence Nightingale's birthday on 5/12/14. 

Finals Are Approaching....

But Don't Forget to Breathe.

As finals are approaching, it's important to still think about how to take care of yourself during this stressful time, and take a moment to breathe!

Below are some breathing exercises courtesy of health.harvard.edu:

Relaxation techniques: Mini-relaxations

Mini-relaxations can help allay fear and reduce pain while you sit in the dentist’s chair or lie on an examining table. They’re equally helpful in thwarting stress before an important meeting, while stuck in traffic, or when faced with people or situations that annoy you. Here are a few quick relaxation techniques to try.

When you’ve got 1 minute

Place your hand just beneath your navel so you can feel the gentle rise and fall of your belly as you breathe. Breathe in slowly. Pause for a count of three. Breathe out. Pause for a count of three. Continue to breathe deeply for one minute, pausing for a count of three after each inhalation and exhalation.

Or alternatively, while sitting comfortably, take a few slow deep breaths and quietly repeat to yourself “I am” as you breathe in and “at peace” as you breathe out. Repeat slowly two or three times. Then feel your entire body relax into the support of the chair.

When you’ve got 2 minutes

Count down slowly from 10 to zero. With each number, take one complete breath, inhaling and exhaling. For example, breathe in deeply saying “10” to yourself. Breathe out slowly. On your next breath, say “nine,” and so on. If you feel lightheaded, count down more slowly to space your breaths further apart. When you reach zero, you should feel more relaxed. If not, go through the exercise again.

When you’ve got 3 minutes

While sitting down, take a break from whatever you’re doing and check your body for tension. Relax your facial muscles and allow your jaw to fall open slightly. Let your shoulders drop. Let your arms fall to your sides. Allow your hands to loosen so that there are spaces between your fingers. Uncross your legs or ankles. Feel your thighs sink into your chair, letting your legs fall comfortably apart. Feel your shins and calves become heavier and your feet grow roots into the floor. Now breathe in slowly and breathe out slowly. Each time you breathe out, try to relax even more.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2008/July/relaxation_techniques_breath_focus

Final Peer Advising Event Next Week!

Calling all Peer Advisors & Advisees!

Be sure to attend our FINAL peer advising event for the semester next week.

Thursday, April 17th
5:30pm
Atrium Conference Room
726 Broadway, 10th floor

We plan on making cards for veterans as part of a social activity, and dinner will be provided! So please come with your advisor/advisee and join us for this fun end-of-semester event.

We hope to see you there! 

NYUCN Simulation Learning

Why do we use simulation in nursing?

The use of simulation has been found to increase student self confidence, enhance critical thinking, promote teamwork, and improve hands on technical skills. Undergraduate classes focus on the management and intervention of patients with coordination of care. Graduate nursing classes focus on performing a physical exam, diagnosing common health conditions, and developing a treatment plan using a live standardized patient.

Improves Patient Safety

Simulation is a safe environment where mistakes can be made and students learn from those mistakes. On-campus simulation provides nursing students an opportunity for exposure, assessment and implementation of care of simulated patients. Simulation also allows the nursing student practice prioritization and development of critical thinking skills.

Enhances Communication Skills

The simulation learning scenarios provide opportunities for students to practice communication with the nurse educator, clinical nurse manager, health care provider, respiratory therapist, lab personnel, and pharmacy. Opportunities to use communication skill sets such as reporting a patient’s condition and providing patient education are integrated into each simulation experience.

Promotes Practice of Clinical Skills

The old saying “Practice makes perfect” applies to simulation. Students have the ability to practice nursing skills such as medication administration and wound care. Simulation allows students to practice and perfect their skills on a manikin before working with an actual patient.

What do our current students say they like about simulation?

“I like the teamwork, the support, and the hands-on practice.”

“It let me experience patient care without the stress of real patients”

“The simulations seemed like real patient care”