title: Strategies for success: preparing for the certification examination.
abstract: Preparing for one of the certification examinations in perianesthesia nursing can be as challenging as taking them. For many, a certification examination will be the first test taken since graduation from a nursing education program. Identifying and practicing successful testing behaviors will assist the candidate in organizing an approach to learning and reviewing for examination. Developing a realistic time frame for a study strategy, along with objectives and completed goals, is imperative. Test anxiety often is a major obstacle to effective test performance. Strategies to deal with anxiety can be learned and used to successfully prepare for and take the examination. A confident approach to the certification examination is the candidate's greatest asset.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mullen
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013732:Test Anxiety Scale