Critical THinking questions

[chellieB]

I am a first semester student and have found that when I take my tests that I do well on the fact portions, but I need help on the critical thinking part. Does anyone know where I can go to get some practice on these types of questions? Is there books or a website?

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

I think one of the best things to invest in is an NCLEX review book. Lots of good critical thinking questions. Many come with a CD which makes it more interactive. People use different books. I really like Mosby's... many like Saunders. There not too pricey and you can get them at Barnes and Noble or many other book stores.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

nclex review book. ask some of your classmates if they have one and can you see what they look like. or, go to a large bookstore and see if they have any that you can browse through before making any decision to buy one. they all have the strategy for answering application type questions (critical thinking questions) in the first part of the book. i have a copy of saunders comprehensive review for the nclex-rn examination, 3rd edition, by linda anne silvestri that i use as a reference book here at home. it comes with a cd that has over 4000 questions on it. i am not familiar with what the other nclex books have.

the basic strategy for answering critical thinking (application type) questions is as follows, you must:

• know and consider the normal anatomy and physiology
  
• know and consider abnormal anatomy for the disease in question
  
• know and consider the resulting signs and symptoms when the disease occurs and how they proceed from mild to fatal - each sign and symptom can be related back to the pathophysiology of the disease
  
• know and consider how the doctor diagnoses and treats the disease in question
  
• know nursing interventions for the signs and symptoms you are being asked about
  
• know the steps of the nursing process and what goes on in each of the steps and consider how they are affecting the question you are being asked
  
• know and consider the principles behind the actions being done - there are many kinds of principles: principles of nursing, principles of biology, principles of chemistry, principles of physics, etc.
  
• read the stem of the question carefully and answer that because the test makers try to trip you up by distracting you with conflicting information they give you in the answer choices that sounds good but has no relationship to what the question is asking for
  
• ask yourself "why" a patient is experiencing some sign or symptoms to get at the underlying problem. nursing like other disciplines treats the problem/signs and symptoms.

you should review the information and links in this thread as well:

• https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/looking-test-taking-stratagies-224581.html - looking for test taking strategies (on the nursing student discussion forum)