Critical thinking in the NCLEX exam will go a long way!

[JBET]

I sat my NCLEX on March 30 (I have been nurse for 13 years in UK but have been an Enterostomal therapy nurse for 10 so no general nursing since then) I have 2 children under the age of 4 and found studying a challenge.

Well I passed (computer shut off at 90) but I have to tell you that many of the questions I did not automatically know, but used critical thinking to try to get to the answer.

For those of you new to nursing, critical thinking is one of the primary, most important aspects of your practice and you will use it often, well the NCLEX exam is no different, if you use your powers of critical thinking you will succeed.

For example, eliminate the questions that you are SURE are not correct then look at the remaining. If its a medication question and you don't know what it is look at the last few letters of the drug, it can sometimes give you a clue as to what class of medication that is from, and then look at the question again for clues.

So, to summarize, don't just guess if you don't know the answer, take your time (you have 6 hours!) look at the question, read it twice, use the process of elimination, then look at the remaining and use critical thinking rather than guessing. You will get more of the questions you don't know right this way.

Good luck to everyone sitting the NCLEX

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

Congrats on passing your exam!

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

Congrats!!! And yes I think that understanding of the material will pull you thru some questions that you're not sure of, making educated guesses!

[crazyfists]

i took d exam on july 2 09 and failed,,i wud use ur good advise wen i take d exam d 2nd time around..wish me luck bro...i realy fel depresd ryt now...hop 2 read ur mor advises....i hav a question,,once u read d nclex question wat comes into ur mind first? or effective strategies dat r helpful on getting d ryt 1...pls reply

[nkara, CNA]

If its a medication question and you don't know what it is look at the last few letters of the drug,

do you have a list of these suffixes to know? I worked with a nurse who gave me a brief explanation but I don't remember what she said.

[suzi-Q]

i took d exam on july 2 09 and failed,,i wud use ur good advise wen i take d exam d 2nd time around..wish me luck bro...i realy fel depresd ryt now...hop 2 read ur mor advises....i hav a question,,once u read d nclex question wat comes into ur mind first? or effective strategies dat r helpful on getting d ryt 1...pls reply

Use the Kaplan books. They give wonderful strategies. Although learning them is a whole other "learning process" added on to all your nursing knowledge. Give it a shot and good luck.

[crazyfists]

thank you very much...