Sunday, November 22, 2009

Message To My Friends

You are about to take the next step towards professional development: Nursing Licensure Examination.  I know a lot of you are now having several types of anxiety manifestations. I know of one who is very good at denial suppression.  She once said that she's not having any problems at all with the upcoming board exam.  Yup, she seems that way.  Always laughing over the littlest things... forgetting something that she should be doing... blabbering about this and that but it's like she's giving you word salad... she would eat and go straight to the comfort room afterwards... and she even had a dream about the upcoming board exam.  Yup, she's definitely feeling no anxiety for the coming board exam.



Kidding aside, if you're experiencing any, some, or all of those manifestations, you are indeed suffering from acute anxiety.  I wish I could say that you will pass the board exam 100%.  But if that be the case, then no one should be failing the board exam.  The major enemy of board examinees is FEAR.  Letting that very disturbance disturb you during your exam would definitely lower your chance in passing the board exam.  What should you do?

  • Pray: praying really does help you conquer your board exam.  If you want a scientific explanation how, here it is.  When you pray, you are in a state where your brain waves gradually reach the alpha state.  When your brain is in the alpha state, your perception is heightened.  Which is why those who pray say they are enlightened afterwards for the mind is now open and the solution is there for you to see.  For the faithful, having their link with God gives them a sense of security and confidence that makes them calm during the board exam.
  • Do not open your test booklet immediately: why you ask.  You're not calm yet!  Believe it or not, the moment the proctor enters the room you're already tachycardic and tachypnic.  Your anxiety level is increased, and when you open that test booklet while you are moderately anxious will be your downfall.  Take 3, slow, deep breaths, and then open your exam.  Don't do too much for hyperoxigenation will only make you light-headed and dizzy.  Calm your senses first.
  • Take one question at a time: Once you finished answering a question, go on to the next.  Do not go back and say "teka mali yata sagot ko dito" or "tama ba sagot ko don, hindi ba dapat..." while you're tackling the other questions.  The time to review your answers will come later on.  If notice yourself reading the question over and over again for 20secs and you cannot seem to understand it, skip on to the next.  Believe it or not, when you go back to it after the rest of the questions have been answered, you will finally understand what the question is about.
Remember to always keep your mind present when you take the board exam.  I know some of you are now crying and praying constantly for guidance.  Do not be ashamed when you are scared or afraid.  Talk to someone who will understand you so that at least some of your anxiety will be lessened by the time you take your board exam.  Good luck to you, my future co-leagues.  I will pray for all of you.  You will pass the board exam, that is already a given for you had such a long time to prepare.  All you have to do is stop being afraid and let the Lord guide you in your exam.
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