Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
8-4-2025
First Advisor
Sandy King
Second Advisor
Paige Wimberley
Abstract
Many nursing students experience test anxiety (TA) due to the highly stressful learning environment and the high-stakes nature of nursing exams. A community college in Texas has experienced an increase in student attrition from 2018 to 2022, primarily due to course failures, which are linked to TA. Expressive writing (EW) is a proven intervention that allows students to write about their anxieties and fears related to exams, helping them to regulate their emotions and manage TA. This project aimed to develop a policy that implements EW as an intervention and incorporates it into the nursing syllabus. Using the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control’s policy analytical framework, the project developed a TA/EW policy. Applying Lewin’s change theory and the PDSA framework, the policy can be implemented effectively at the project site. Once adopted, faculty can administer EW before each high-stakes exam. The effectiveness of the intervention can be assessed using the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS, see Appendix D) to measure reductions in TA. Data collected through pre- and post-surveys with the WTAS will be analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The key outcome of this project is the creation of a policy. Its significance is considerable, as currently no policies address TA, and testing agencies do not recognize it as a disability, despite its being a significant factor in nursing student attrition. Reducing student attrition and strengthening the nursing workforce represents a valuable contribution to the profession.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Sabu, Jancy J., "Development of Policy Related to Test Anxiety in High-Stakes Environment" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 160.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/160
