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Test-taking Strategies
Success!!
Reduce Anxiety
Challenge negative thoughts
Controlled breathing
Desensitize yourself to the fear response
Muscle relaxation Imagery Over prepare Exercise
Test Prep… the most important step
Read the material prior to lecture This is essential to know what the instructor is
going to talk about Tape lecture – listen and
Star concepts on power points you don’t understand for further study
Listen to taped lecture with open book and class notes
Flag or Tab your notes – stay organized
continued
Organize study with pathophysiology of disease/system
Signs and symptoms (including labs) Nursing Diagnosis Goals Specific Implementation plans Patient teaching
Techniques
Concentrate on the simple before the complex.
Make educated guesses. Never leave a question blank.
Maintain a positive attitude. Check your answers and answer sheets.
The Multiple Choice Question
Has 2 parts 1st part: stem – the statement that asks a
question. 2 parts: 1) information about a clinical event,
topic, concept, or theory; 2) asks for a response 2nd part: possible responses called options
Information part – boldresponse part - italicized
When walking, a patient becomes weak and the patient’s knees begin to buckle. What should the nurse do?
Which is an example of a patient goal? Before administering medication for
pain, what should the nurse do first?
When reading the stem:
Underline the important words Do not add information from your own
mind Do not make assumptions (read between
the lines) about the information present in the stem
When reading the options:
Read all the options before choosing the correct answer
Refer back only to the words that you underlines as being important in the stem
Do not add information to an option Relate an option to just what is being asked
in the response part of the stem Do not focus only on your experiences, which
may be too narrow for a point of reference
RACE MODEL
Recognize Ask Critically analyze Eliminate
RACE MODEL
RECOGNIZE what information is in the stem. Recognize key words in the stem. Recognize who the client is in the stem. Recognize what the topic is about.
RACE MODEL
ASK what is the question asking? Ask what are the key words in the stem that
indicate the need for a response. Ask what the question is asking me to do.
RACE MODEL
CRITICALLY analyze the options in relation to the question
asked in the stem. Critically scrutinize each option in relation to
the information in the stem. Critically identify a rationale for each option. Critically compare and contrast the option in
relation to the information in the stem and their relationships to one another
RACE MODEL
ELIMINATE as many options as possible.
Eliminate one option at a time. If any part of the distracter is wrong it is all
wrong.
RULES FOR TEST TAKING
Suggestions for success
Rule #1
Know the parts of a test question. Multiple choice questions.
Item: the entire question Stem: the statement that asks the question Options: possible responses
Options: one is correct, the remaining are distracters. Part of the distracters may be correct.
Rule #2
Read the question carefully before looking at the options:
Identify Key Words in the Stem
Sample
(Stem) Mr. Jones blood pressure is 240/120. The nurse would recognize he is:A. hypertensiveB. hypotensiveC. normalD. likely to have orthostatic hypotension
Rule #3
Identify the Theme of the Item, and base it on information provided in
the stem.
Don’t assume information that is not given.
Rule #4
Answer difficult questions by eliminating the obviously incorrect responses first;
Select the BEST of the remaining options. Cross out incorrect pieces of the
distracters Write rationales
Rule #5
Select Responses that are: Therapeutic Show respect Communicate acceptance
Eliminate Responses that: Are bizarre Inappropriate Punitive
Rule #6
Know the Basic Principles that Guide the practice of Nursing.
Nursing Process Assessment, analysis/Nursing Diagnosis,
Planning, Implementation, Evaluation Maslow’s Hierarchy
Physiological needs first: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability
Safety second Prioritization
Rule #7
Look for patterns in Your Performance and Flaws in Your Thinking.
Analyze your test-taking behaviors, then establish strategies to correct these problem.
Common Errors
Did not recognize or remember information Did not understand subject matter Did not recognize item idea Did not recognize principle or rationale for
correct answer Missed key word
continued
Did not read all distracters carefully Did not understand question Read into question Used incorrect rationale for selecting
response Changed the answer
Rule #8
Manage your time effectively during Test-taking.
Rule #9
Do not change answers without Good reason Sound rationale
Rule #10
Choose options that are within the realm of nursing. Be able to differentiate the need for nursing
judgment from the need for physician judgment.
Techniques
Identify key words in the stem that indicate negative polarity: except, not, never, contraindicated, unacceptable, least, avoid
Identify key words in the stem that set a priority: best, first
continues
Identify clues in the stem (extra explanations)
Identify patient-centered options Identify specific determiners in options
(increased in 2 options, decreased in 2 options)
Some Words to Know
erroneously indicate contraindicate anticipate violate strategies ensure perception rationale determine mandatory disrupted appropriate reveal
SPECIFIC TEST-TAKING TECHNIQUES
Identify opposites in options (hypotensive, hypertensive)
Identify equally plausible or unique options Identify duplicate facts in the options (some
options have one part that is true and another that is false)
IF ANY PART IS WRONG IT IS ALL WRONG!!!!!!
continued
Identify options that deny patient feelings, concerns needs
Use multiple test-taking techniques
COGNITIVE LEVELS OF NURSING QUESTIONS
KNOWLEDGECOMPREHENSIONAPPLICATIONANALYSIS
KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS
Require you to recall and/or remember
What is the normal range of a radial pulse in an adult?
a. 50 to 65 b. 70 to 85 c. 90 to 105 d. 110 to 125 to answer this question correctly, you have
to know the normal range of a radial pulse
COMPRENHENSIVE QUESTIONS
Require you to understand information
Which of the following demonstrates wheelchair safety?
a. pushes the client face forward, ahead of him into the elevator
b. raises the footplate before transferring the client into the wheelchair
c. positions the client as far forward as possible in the wheelchair seat
d. positions the chair ahead of him when going down an inclined ramp
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Require you to use information
To prevent self-injury when lifting a heavy patient higher in bed, the nurse should:
a. keep the knees and ankles straightb. strengthen the knees and bend at the waistc. place the feet together with the knees bentd. position the feet apart with one placed
forward
ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Require you to interpret a variety of data and recognize the commonalties, differences and interrelationships among presented ideas
A patient has dependent edema of the ankles and feet and is overweight. Which diet should
the nurse expect the doctor to order?
a. low salt and high in fat b. low in salt and low in calories c. high in salt and high in protein d. high in salt and low in carbohydrates
You Can Do It!
HAVE CONFIDENCE
KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL YOU MADE IT THIS FAR.
RELAX
ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN YOU NEED IT AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DON’T.