Are you writing your CRNE tomorrow and want some last minute pointers? Read below for some practical do and don't tips that might help you get through that day a little smoother.
The Evening Before the Exam:
Get everything ready that you need. Take out the clothes that you will be wearing. We suggest dressing in layers as temperatures can be variable in the exam room. Get a pencil case ready with multiple pencils a couple of erasers and anything else you usually take to the exam (water bottle, kleenex). Wear your watch; it will prevent any unnecessary straining to find a clock in the room, not to mention save valuable time and any suggestion that you are cheating. Ensure you know exactly where the exam is. Have your route mapped out with appropriate transit lines or driving directions.
When this is done, try and relax a little. Read a book for pleasure, take a bath or spend time with your family. Last minute cramming is actually counterproductive at this point as it decreases your ability to critically think and problem solve. When you are ready for to go to sleep, you may want to set two alarms, just in case the first one fails, or have a friend that is writing the exam call to ensure you’re up.
The Day of the Exam
The morning of the exam, carry on with your usual routine, so if that involves walking Fido continue to do so. Ensure you have a wholesome breakfast that includes both carbohydrates and protein. Ensure you have some water in the morning and if you usually have caffeine continue to do so, just don’t consume any more than usual.
What if you’re too worried to eat?
Again, ensure you have water and it would probably be a good idea to drink an electrolyte solution, to prevent hypoglycemia. Something like gatorade/powerade is good. You could even take a meal replacement drink such as enusre. If you can try to eat a meal replacement bar if you can't eat an entire breakfast.
Plan to get to the exam writing centre at least 30 minutes before your exam, so that if you run into problems with traffic you have some leeway. In addition, this time will allow you to get acquainted with your surroundings and use the bathroom. It is vital that you avoid negative influences! If you see some of your classmates there and know that they exude a lot of negative energy before the exam ignore them! Instead, listen to music or stand alone or with a supportive friend while waiting to go in.
During Lunch
Ensure that you eat a balanced lunch and stay hydrated. If you are able to get up and walk around for 10 minutes that would be beneficial to help you relax and clear your head. Again, don’t surround yourself with negative influences, and don’t discuss the questions from the morning session, as it will only provoke anxiety.
After the Exam
Celebrate! Congratulations on finishing your exam. You will probably go over some of the questions with your classmates at this time, but remember not to dwell on the ones you got wrong as we always remember those ones, and not all the questions we answered with confidence.
