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.