Through continued ATI reflection, I got much better at taking my time with questions and scheduling breaks during the exam, which for me normally stopping after 10 questions. For my first ATI exam I think I averaged about 8 seconds per question, which meant I had plenty of time to slow down. I still think I move through the questions pretty quickly, but part of that is I try not to change my answers too much and part of my strategy for that is not to give myself too much time to go back and change my answers.
I think I got better at answering ATI/nclex style questions as a whole, and used overarching themes to better over time. Like the answer for most questions after getting information about a patient is to assess them. There are certain ways tasks are described to APs, regardless of what that task is. I would notice that I may get a similar question wrong multiple times, either through the practice or through the adaptive exams and the repetition allowed me to do better. Normally by the second time I would be between two answers and by the third I would have it down pat.
Normally I try to be active by going to the gym or for a run. I got most of my activity done with the rugby team Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I didn’t have much time (aka I didn’t prioritize) stuff outside of rugby but I was definitely much better about hanging out with friends as a stress reliever. Taking some time to vent to my nursing friends or just distract myself definitely helped get in a balance. It also had the added benefit of being something I could do at school or at home while I was doing work and I could easily transition back without needing to drive to the gym and then back home.
Using the skills and knowledge I worked on this semester I will be better able to answer NCLEX style questions, which is something I will continue to practice right up until I take the NCLEX. My self care skills will continuously be used both as I work to transition into a nursing role and in the future as a nurse.
