Nursing Entrance Test, Test Anxiety and Stress

What is the Nursing Entrance Test? The test evaluates areas that are essential for academic success including basic math skills up to beginning algebra and reading comprehension. The Nursing Entrance Test must be passed with a score that is dictated by the community college or university. Some nursing schools require higher passing scores than others. Also, some of the nursing schools are now beginning to allow only three attempts for passing. The test ranges in price from $25.00 to $40.00 depending on which nursing school you apply.

The Nursing Entrance Test provides a measurement of your scholastic abilities and compares them to mastery levels needed for success in college. The test contains 7 sections administered in this order: (1) Comprehensive Math, (2) Reading Rate, (3) Reading Comprehension, (4) Social Decisions, (5) Stressful Situation, (6) Learning Styles and (7) Test taking Skills. The time allotted for the test is 2 hours and 31 minutes. The only two sections that you are actually graded on for passing are the math and reading comprehension sections of the test.

Consequently, the stress is extremely high for first time test takers and even more so for those who are on their last and third try. This is the highest stress, because these people who are taking the Nursing Entrance Test for the third and last time have to make a decision about going to another nursing school if they fail, and hoping that the other nursing school will allow all of their credits to transfer. No matter how you look at it, the entire nursing program along with the necessary prerequisites takes about three years. Even though students may have finished a year of prerequisites, they cannot get onto the nursing school waiting list until they pass the Nursing Entrance Test, and after they pass there is a one to a two year wait. So, consequently, the stress levels are through the roof.

So what can you do to ease off some of this stress? Well, for starters it helps to be prepared the day of the test. The best advice to achieve successful results would be to get a tutorial that is as close to the Nursing Entrance Test content as possible. Fortunately, this software is available. The NET Study Guide is the most informative tutorial and offers a money back guarantee if you don't pass. The software is set up identical to the Nursing Entrance Test, so the student can practice in the comfort of their own home. The slides are timed for one minute per slide, which is about the amount of time that you want to spend per question. Although the learner has the option of review and evaluation of their results anytime they wish as well as all of the answers with complete explanations in audio and visual format. There is also a hotline number that you can call if you get stuck on a problem. So, you are not alone.

Much of the stress that comes with learning and practicing new material is similar to feeling like being on an island. The NET Study Guide author, Dr. Nancy Lydia Kimmel is committed to giving as much help as possible to those who use the software in order for them to achieve successful results on the Nursing Entrance Test. How about handling stress the day of the test? There are many methods that can be used to enhance test performance and relieve stress. First, there is visual imagery. Visual imagery has to do with imagining your favorite place, putting yourself right in the scene. It is like a waking dream state. Try this simple visual imagery example and see how you feel afterward?

"Ask yourself this question. What is the most relaxing place that you can imagine? Is it in a cozy cabin in the middle of winter with the soft light of logs burning in the fireplace? Maybe you see yourself on a beach, lounging on a hammock, sipping a cold drink, listening to the sound of the soft waves lapping up to the shore, with a warm breeze blowing, and the sun gently caressing your skin. Take a deep breath of the fresh air, hold it in for a second or two, and then gently let it out through pursed lips. As you let the air out, you hear the seagull's distant call. Let's inhale one more time, in through the nose. As you breathe in, feel positive about yourself. You are in charge, you have studied, you know this material and you will do well. Now, let your breath out slowly through pursed lips, taking in the beauty around you. Relax your body, start with your toes, wiggle your toes and let out the tension, next let you legs go limp, relax, now your arms and your shoulders, now your head. Roll your head from side to side, let out all the stress, let go of all the negative energy, you don't need it. Let it drain out through you body. Think positive, you know this material. You will do well."

The above scenario is a type of visual imagery that is not only used for test anxiety but also in nursing, for patients to help them handle chronic pain. Test anxiety can cause approximately a 20-30% error rate. This can be the difference between a passing and failing score. You don't want test anxiety to beat you. At the web site, http://www.thenetstudyguide.com you will be able to purchase test anxiety Audio CD's put to gentle music with a calm quiet voice guiding the listener. You want to listen to this prior to going in to the test.

Stress has many adverse symptoms; it can raise the heart rate and respiration. Stress can cause other physical ailments such as gastric upset, heart palpitations and ulcers. These symptoms can be a very serious handicap to those wanting to learn. Continued stress can leave someone in a state of hopelessness. This is not what you want happening to you. You need to tackle your stress early, and know how to handle what ever comes your way. Always have a plan, and do not get discouraged. Remember, that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. It is very necessary to have a way to relax and focus to avoid crippling test anxiety. There is that stress which some refer to as beneficial stress. That is the stress that you feel good about, like the race that you had to run and practiced for all week. You want to turn negative stress into a positive stress with less emphasis on stress and more on your intellectual prowess.

So your plan of success is simple, get a copy of, The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide, and study, and use the toll free number for help and assistance for some of the math problems. Remember, you are not alone in this. You and thousands of other hopeful nursing school students are going through the same thing. Get your test anxiety CD, relax and listen. Then go and pass the Nursing Entrance Test. You will pass, and that's a guarantee. What ever your choice of study material, may you have much success in your endeavors.

The developer of The N.E.T. Study Guide software, Dr. Nancy Lydia Kimmel devoted much time and effort in making sure that the student is well prepared. In this aspect, Dr. Kimmel has been able to help those aspiring to go to nursing school the advantage of being able to jump the greatest hurtle, passing the Nursing Entrance Test, the first time.