Many a tear has fallen over the past few weeks. Tassels have been tweaked, robes have been ironed, and bouquets of beautiful flowers have exchanged hands. Following all of your hard work, determination, and long, sleepless nights, many of you just graduated from nursing school. Now, you have a diploma, a new sense of self, and . . . a nice, big test to take. Along with warm temperatures and budding flowers, the NCLEX is staring many of you in the face. Hey, don’t sweat it! We’re here to help.

Stressed Out About the NCLEX-RN® isn’t your run-of-the-mill test prep book. Sure, there are those heavy tome-like books that go through question after question, but why not try something different? This one provides studying tips and strategies, helps relieve stress, and boosts your confidence. Here’s an excerpt:

Is it any wonder that you feel stressed? You’ve been working toward becoming a nurse for so long. And now, just one test stands between you and your goal.

If you have a lot of stress in your life already, the looming NCLEX is only going to add more stress. This means you risk becoming overwhelmed and making everything more difficult than it ought to be. Getting a handle on your stress is the first problem you should tackle.

When you are under stress, your breaths become shallow and rapid. Your response to stressful questions is similar to the “fight or flight” response when you are in danger. Yes, when you are running away from a lion you need the response that is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. But when you are studying, you want your breathing to be well modulated so that adequate oxygen is getting to the cells of your body. You want to be able to think through your ideas, use critical-thinking skills, and solve the problem at hand.

Pay attention to how you are breathing when you are faced with a difficult question. A simple start is to get control of your breathing to calm your body and mind. Remember this technique when you are sitting in the exam room taking the NCLEX.

Those of you who practice yoga will already be familiar with the benefits of breathing deeply and more regularly. Filling your lungs completely dissipates tiredness and restores your mental balance. So, take advantage of this free brain refresher. After all, you always have it with you.

Here’s a technique you can use to beat the stress and relax:

• Exhale completely.
• Expand your abdomen as you inhale deeply.
• Expand your chest as you continue to inhale.
• Now keep inhaling as your shoulders rise.
• Hold the breath for a few seconds.
• Exhale by relaxing your shoulders.
• Continue to exhale while you relax your chest.
• Exhale while you contract your abdomen.
• Repeat this exercise several times.

Don’t wait until you are taking the test to practice this breathing sequence. Practice it frequently as you prepare for the NCLEX. Breathing will open your mind to learning and focusing on your study material.

Editor’s note: For more information on this book, please click on the cover on the left side of this page.