Critical Thinking Techniques HELP!

[futurenurse0310]

I once started the LPN program, failed twice, and dropped out the third time. I REALLY want to become a nurse. Because I got discouraged, I stopped pursuing my dream in 2012. Now I am determined to go back but attempt the RN route. My issue is critical thinking. I'm great at performing the skills and blah blah but it's the testing that I suck at (NCLEX scenario questions). What are some good resources that can help me master this skill?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

((HUGS))

I would get a couple of NCLEX review book ans pay special attention to the rationale of the answer. Look at the question and determine what is really being asked.

[h=3]Prioritize based on patient’s needs

[/h] Questions containing the words initial, first, priority- is asking for your prioritizing skills. The choices are usually all correct but only one should be done first. When prioritizing, you should always remember the following:

• ABC’s
  - use ABC’s (airway, breathing and circulation). Patients with airway problems or interventions to provide airway management are top priority.
  
  
• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
  - remember the hierarchy and from there you will know that physiologic needs come first before safety and security and so on and so forth. This is typically used in patients with multiple problems to be addressed.
  
  
• Nursing process
  - Assessment should always be done before planning anything or instituting interventions. Unless the question already has subjective and objective data about the patient, assessment is at the top of the list
  
  
• Patient first before equipment
  - if a patient is attached to an equipment and sudden removal of the equipment causes problems, primary assessment and interventions should be directed to the patient and not to the equipment.
  
  

The Nursing Show | 7 Tips and Strategies for Taking NCLEX Style Tests