What was the question? Identifying keywords helps to answer the question

There are 2 main reasons that students incorrectly answer a test question. First, they don't know the information or the answer. The second is they don't read the test question correctly. This article provides some tips on how to read test questions.

First, exam questions contain 2 parts: the stem which usually ends in a question mark and the options or potential answers. The stem contains keywords and these keywords can help you determine what the question is asking. For instance, almost every question related to pediatrics will have the age of the child in the question. Why is this? Because the growth and development of a child at a given age can predict their response to a given illness.

It is also significant when the examiner includes the number of weeks gestation or whether the patient is a prenatal, intrapartal, or postpartal patient in a maternity nursing question.

Often when the exam question contains the name of a drug or the name of a disease process that is a keyword. For example.. a 3 month old is diagnosed with meningitis. Which of the following assessment findings would support this diagnosis? Another example would be: A patient is receiving coumadin.. Which of the following assessment findings would indicate this patient is experiencing a serious side effect? For this example the word "serious" is also a keyword. There can be many side effects to coumadin, but which one is "serious"?

Does the question include a part of the nursing process.. such as " what is the nursing intervention" or " what is the correct " nursing diagnosis"? Usually these are keywords in the exam question.

Passing the RN NCLEX - when to work and when to wait

When should you start working at your first professional job? Many graduate nurses start right after school falsely thinking that their experience on the job will help them answer the NCLEX test questions. Consider the following points.

When you start a new job there is a certain amount of stress and information overload. This may interfere with your ability to study for the NCLEX.

Health professionals don't always do what is best for the patient. Some of them do the wrong thing. If you are depending on what you see at work to help you correctly answer NCLEX test questions, think again.

Graduate nurses often start on day shift, but eventually work an evening or night shift. When will you start to work a different shift? Will this make it harder for you to study?

What about those graduates that are on contract to work immediately after they finish school or have big bills to pay?? Ask your employer if you can have some time off before the NCLEX. It will benefit both of you.

NCLEX Anxiety - how to beat it!

Anxiety. A common emotion as one thinks of the NCLEX. So.. how do you beat it so you can think clearly for the test. Here are a few tips.

Be prepared. Your anxiety will decrease if you feel you know the information you are likely to be tested on. Positive feedback from correctly answering a variety of questions in NCLEX review books will also decrease your anxiety. Familiarize yourself with the alternative format questions using your computer disk.

Know where to go. Drive by the testing center a day or so before you are to be tested. Make sure you have all the required documents in your car the night before.

Watch what you eat. While caffeine in small amounts can help wake you up, too much can make a person anxious.

If possible, wait to start a job as a graduate nurse until you take the NCLEX. It can be very stressful to deal with all of the information you receive on your new job and study for the NCLEX at the same time. Many new graduates think that working as an RN will increase their ability to pass the NCLEX. However, the information overload can be a serious deterent to passing the exam.

Consider whether discussing the exam with those who have taken it will be helpful. It is the rare person who says the exam was "a breeze". Most talk about how difficult it was and that can increase your anxiety.

Lastly, consider medical help or hypnosis if your anxiety is out of control.

What are characteristics of a good RN NCLEX review book

Many of you are out there right now, trying to figure out what NCLEX review book to buy, how you can afford 1 or 2 or 3 and which one will give you the most for your dollar. Here are some tips.

First, you don't have to buy a book. Many college or university libraries may have several. I just ordered several for our library. You may or may not be able to check these books out, but you can try most of them out at the library. You can also get with your buddies and share books. Someone from last year's class may be willing to give away or sell a book cheap. Also, you can buy a book and have unlimited access.

Here are some characteristics to look for when picking a good NCLEX book.

1. current copyright. Anything more than 2 years old may not give you the most up to date question formats.

2. a CD or DVD disk. This disk should simulate what the experience of taking the test is like. In other words, how will it look on the screen, how will you need to use your mouse. This will also decrease your anxiety because you will be familiar with it when you take the exam.

3. study tips. A good book gives you study tips and suggestions on how to best use their book.

4. a variety of questions using the various formats.

5. rationales for the answers and why the distractors are not correct.

Good luck!! Practice completing many questions. It is always best to do at least a few a day.

Write in and let the rest of us know what books worked for you.