Test taking strategies for Nursing Students Caralee Bromme’, RN , MSN CCRN

Seminars Objectives At the end of this session the student will Define critical thinking and it’s application to the nursing process. Understand Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in relationship to the nursing process. Identify the components of a test question. Be able to identify question and answer distracters and qualifiers.

At the end of this session the student will

Define critical thinking and it’s application to the nursing process.

Understand Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in relationship to the nursing process.

Identify the components of a test question.

Be able to identify question and answer distracters and qualifiers.

Critical thinking Critical thinking is the cornerstone of one's ability to function in today's society. According to Scriven & Paul (n.d.) , it...can be seen as having two components: a set of skills to process and generate information and beliefs, and the habit, based on intellectual commitment, of using those skills to guide behavior. ( Scriven & Paul, nd: http://www.criticalthinking.org/University/univclass/Defining.html )

Critical thinking is the cornerstone of one's ability to function in today's society. According to Scriven & Paul (n.d.) ,

it...can be seen as having two components:

a set of skills to process and generate information and beliefs, and

the habit, based on intellectual commitment, of using those skills to guide behavior.

( Scriven & Paul, nd: http://www.criticalthinking.org/University/univclass/Defining.html )

Test Preparation… the most important step Read the material prior to lecture At the minimum, skim the chapter summaries, key word definitions and tables. Identify what the instructor’s going to talk about. Take outline notes Star concepts you don’t understand for further study. Use a spiral notebook one page for lecture. Then add info from the book on the opposite page *note all page numbers for open book tests. Flag or Tab your notes and book for open book test with consistent system Blue-tables, red-disease ( Mark disease name on tab), green- nursing care plan “ Remember it’s all about understanding and application of the concept “

Read the material prior to lecture

At the minimum, skim the chapter summaries, key word definitions and tables. Identify what the instructor’s going to talk about.

Take outline notes

Star concepts you don’t understand for further study. Use a spiral notebook one page for lecture. Then add info from the book on the opposite page *note all page numbers for open book tests.

Flag or Tab your notes and book for open book test with consistent system

Blue-tables, red-disease ( Mark disease name on tab), green- nursing care plan

“ Remember it’s all about understanding and application of the concept “

Test taking strategies Outline your notes to each disease With info from lecture and book Pathophysiology of disease/ system Signs and symptoms (including labs) Highlight special S&S such as RLQ pain for appy Nursing Diagnosis Goals Specific Implementation plans Patient teaching

Outline your notes to each disease

With info from lecture and book

Pathophysiology of disease/ system

Signs and symptoms (including labs)

Highlight special S&S

such as RLQ pain for appy

Nursing Diagnosis

Goals

Specific Implementation plans

Patient teaching

Types of questions Knowledge Recall or remembered information Comprehension questions Need to understand the information Application Questions Show, solve, use or manipulate information Analysis Interpret data, recognize commonalties, differences, interrelationships among presented ideas

Knowledge

Recall or remembered information

Comprehension questions

Need to understand the information

Application Questions

Show, solve, use or manipulate information

Analysis

Interpret data, recognize commonalties, differences, interrelationships among presented ideas

Now critical thinking and the nursing process.. Assessment Collect data, communicate information about assessments Analysis/ Nursing Diagnosis Clustering and interpreting data, identifying and communicating nursing diagnosis Planning Identifying goals, projecting outcomes, setting priorities, identifying interventions Implementation Implementing nursing care Evaluation Identifying patient responses, comparing outcomes to goals, modifying plan of care. “ This is process of how we think about patients” Now let’s apply the same process to tests

Assessment

Collect data, communicate information about assessments

Analysis/ Nursing Diagnosis

Clustering and interpreting data, identifying and communicating nursing diagnosis

Planning

Identifying goals, projecting outcomes, setting priorities, identifying interventions

Implementation

Implementing nursing care

Evaluation

Identifying patient responses, comparing outcomes to goals, modifying plan of care.

“ This is process of how we think about patients”

Now let’s apply the same process to tests

Test taking strategies Prioritization Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Biological Safety Belonging and love Esteem needs Self actualization

Prioritization

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Biological

Safety

Belonging and love

Esteem needs

Self actualization

Test taking strategies If you have to guess think physiological needs first… Think.. Airway Breathing Circulation Disability Safety second Communication Also do not forget the nursing process

If you have to guess think physiological needs first…

Think..

Airway

Breathing

Circulation

Disability

Safety second

Communication

Also do not forget the nursing process

Test taking strategies Questions are based on the nursing process… The components include The stem Correct response Distracters

Questions are based on the nursing process…

The components include

The stem

Correct response

Distracters

Test taking strategies The client has a red, raised skin rash. During the bath, the priority action of the nurse is to: a. Assess for further inflammatory reactions b. Discuss the body-image problems created by the presence of the rash c. Wash the skin thoroughly with hot water and soap d. Moisturize the skin to prevent drying.

The client has a red, raised skin rash. During the bath, the priority action of the nurse is to:

a. Assess for further inflammatory reactions

b. Discuss the body-image problems created by the presence of the rash

c. Wash the skin thoroughly with hot water and soap

d. Moisturize the skin to prevent drying.

Test taking strategies A 61-year-old client recently had left-sided paralysis from a cerebrovascular accident (stroke). In planning care for this client, the nurse implements which one of the following as an appropriate intervention? a. Encourage an even gait when walking in place. b. Assess the extremities for unilateral swelling and muscle atrophy. c. Encourage holding the breath frequently to hyperinflation his lungs. d. Teach the use of a two-point crutch technique for ambulation .

A 61-year-old client recently had left-sided paralysis from a cerebrovascular accident (stroke). In planning care for this client, the nurse implements which one of the following as an appropriate intervention?

a. Encourage an even gait when walking in place.

b. Assess the extremities for unilateral swelling and muscle atrophy.

c. Encourage holding the breath frequently to hyperinflation his lungs.

d. Teach the use of a two-point crutch technique for ambulation .

Test taking strategies A client has severe right-sided weakness and is unable to complete bathing and grooming independently. Based on this observation, the nurse identifies a nursing diagnosis of: a. Powerlessness b. Self-care deficit c. Tissue integrity impairment d. Knowledge deficit of hygiene practices

A client has severe right-sided weakness and is unable to complete bathing and grooming independently. Based on this observation, the nurse identifies a nursing diagnosis of:

a. Powerlessness

b. Self-care deficit

c. Tissue integrity impairment

d. Knowledge deficit of hygiene practices

Test taking strategies The client is receiving an epidural opioid infusion for pain relief. A priority nursing intervention when caring for this client is to: a. Use aseptic technique b. Label the port as an epidural catheter c. Monitor vitals signs every 15 minutes d. Avoid supplemental doses of sedatives

The client is receiving an epidural opioid infusion for pain relief. A priority nursing intervention when caring for this client is to:

a. Use aseptic technique

b. Label the port as an epidural catheter

c. Monitor vitals signs every 15 minutes

d. Avoid supplemental doses of sedatives

Test taking strategies After administering an intramuscular injection, the nurse should massage the needle insertion site to: Limit infection Prevent bleeding Reduce comfort Promote absorption

After administering an intramuscular injection, the nurse should massage the needle insertion site to:

Limit infection

Prevent bleeding

Reduce comfort

Promote absorption

Test taking strategies To promote respiratory function in the immobilized client, the nurse should: Change the client’s position q4-8 Encourage deep breathing and coughing every hour Use oxygen and nebulizer treatments regularly Suction the client every hour

To promote respiratory function in the immobilized client, the nurse should:

Change the client’s position q4-8

Encourage deep breathing and coughing every hour

Use oxygen and nebulizer treatments regularly

Suction the client every hour

Test taking strategies The nurse is caring for a client with cirrhosis of the liver with ascites. When instructing nursing assistants in the care of the client, the nurse should emphasize that The client should remain on bed rest in a semi-Fowler's position The client should alternate ambulation with bed rest with legs elevated The client may ambulate and sit in chair as tolerated The client may ambulate as tolerated and remain in semi-Fowlers position in bed

The nurse is caring for a client with cirrhosis of the liver with ascites. When instructing nursing assistants in the care of the client, the nurse should emphasize that

The client should remain on bed rest in a semi-Fowler's position

The client should alternate ambulation with bed rest with legs elevated

The client may ambulate and sit in chair as tolerated

The client may ambulate as tolerated and remain in semi-Fowlers position in bed

Test taking strategies A client has gastroesophageal reflux. Which recommendation made by the nurse would be most helpful to the client? Avoid liquids unless a thickening agent is used Sit upright for at least 1 hour after eating Maintain a diet of soft foods and cooked vegetables Avoid eating 2 hours before going to sleep =

A client has gastroesophageal reflux. Which recommendation made by the nurse would be most helpful to the client?

Avoid liquids unless a thickening agent is used

Sit upright for at least 1 hour after eating

Maintain a diet of soft foods and cooked vegetables

Avoid eating 2 hours before going to sleep

Test taking strategies A 43-year-old client is scheduled to have a gastrectomy. Which of the following is a major preoperative concern? a. The client’s brother had a tonsillectomy at age 11 years b. The client smokes a pack of cigarettes a day c. The presence of an intravenous (IV) infusion d. A history of employment as a computer programmer

A 43-year-old client is scheduled to have a gastrectomy. Which of the following is a major preoperative concern?

a. The client’s brother had a tonsillectomy at age 11 years

b. The client smokes a pack of cigarettes a day

c. The presence of an intravenous (IV) infusion

d. A history of employment as a computer programmer

Test taking strategies The nurse is working in a postoperative care unit in an ambulatory surgery center. Of the following clients that have come to have surgery, the client at the greatest risk during surgery is a: a. 78-year-old taking an analgesic agent b. 43-year-old taking an antihypertensive agent c. 27-year-old taking an anticoagulant agent d. 10-year-old taking an antibiotic agent

The nurse is working in a postoperative care unit in an ambulatory surgery center. Of the following clients that have come to have surgery, the client at the greatest risk during surgery is a:

a. 78-year-old taking an analgesic agent

b. 43-year-old taking an antihypertensive agent

c. 27-year-old taking an anticoagulant agent

d. 10-year-old taking an antibiotic agent

Test taking strategies To provide for the psychosocial needs of an immobilized client, an appropriate statement by the nurse is: a. “The staff will limit your visitors so that you will not be bothered.” b. “A roommate can be a real bother. You’d probably rather have a private room.” c. “ Let’s discuss the routine to see if there are any changes we can make.” d. “I think you should have your hair done and put on some make-up.”

To provide for the psychosocial needs of an immobilized client, an appropriate statement by the nurse is:

a. “The staff will limit your visitors so that you will not be bothered.”

b. “A roommate can be a real bother. You’d probably rather have a private room.”

c. “ Let’s discuss the routine to see if there are any changes we can make.”

d. “I think you should have your hair done and put on some make-up.”

Test taking strategies Conclusion Prepare and learn the concepts Tab and out line your notes Use the ABC’s and Maslow’s Hierarchy For more info…. www,medspub,com Nurse Logic program

Conclusion

Prepare and learn the concepts

Tab and out line your notes

Use the ABC’s and Maslow’s Hierarchy

For more info….

www,medspub,com

Nurse Logic program