Nclex Hints : Introduction to Testing and the NCLEX-RN Exam

Introduction to Testing and the NCLEX-RN Exam  Most questions are written in a positive style.  Negative style questions will contain key words that denote the negative style. Examples: 1. “Which response indicates ...

Introduction to Testing and the NCLEX-RN Exam  Most questions are written in a positive style.  Negative style questions will contain key words that denote the negative style. Examples: 1. “Which response indicates to the nurse a need to re-teach the client about…?” (Which information/understanding by the client is incorrect?) 2. “Which prescription (order) should the nurse question?” (Which prescription is unsafe, not beneficial, inappropriate to this client situation, etc…?)  The council want to make sure that the exam measures current entry-level nursing behavior. For this reason, job analysis studies are conducted every 3 years. These studies determine how frequently various type of nursing activities are performed, how often they are delegated, and how critical they are to client safety with criticality given more value than frequency.  A nursing diagnosis is not a medical diagnosis. It must be subject to oversight by nursing management. The cause may or may not arise from medical diagnosis.  Answering NCLEX-RN questions correctly often depends on setting priorities properly, on making judgments about priorities, and on analyzing the case and formulating a decision about care (or the correct response) based on priorities. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can help you to set priorities.  One or more of the choices are likely to be very wrong. You will usually be able to rule out two of the four choices rather quickly. Reread the question choices again if necessary. Ask yourself which choice answers the question being asked. Even if you have absolutely no idea what the answer is you have a 50/50 chance of getting the right answer if you follow this process. Your first response will provide an educated guess and will usually be the correct answer. Go with your gut response! Pace yourself from the beginning of the test. Allow yourself 1.5 minutes per question.  The night before taking the NCLEX-RN \, allow only 30 minutes of study time. This 30- minute period should be designated for review of test-taking strategies only. Practice these strategies with various practice test items if you wish (for 30 minutes only; do not take an entire test).Spend the night before the exam doing something you enjoy, something that promotes stress reduction, something that does not involve alcohol or other mind-altering drugs. Only you can identify the special something that will work for you. Remember, you can be successful.