Exam Disaster!

[New 2 iceeYouRN]

So, this is our first quarter in Med Surg and we are about 5 weeks almost 6 into the quarter. We have had 2 exams so far. The first one was okay, but it left us all confused. It was filled with questions that we had no idea where they came from like, what is the number one cause of fires in the home?

So this second exam we all were anticipating to see what kind of random trivia she was going to ask. Fortunately this second exam had no such trivia, however it was filled with nursing priority questions which we have never heard of before. Questions basically asking a scenario and which of the following interventions/assessments etc would you do first? Now, we were not lectured on which action should be done first. Subsequently this last exam had a pass rate of 1 person out of a class total 61 people.

The professor has since had a "lecture" with us telling us test taking strategies but as a class we asked her how are we supposed to know what is of most priority if it is not in the book (Lewis Med/Surg Nursing) and not in our ATI reading. She says it comes with time and that its our job to ask questions if we are unsure. However her lectures still do not cover priorities! How are we supposed to learn this?! Does anyone know of a site/books/CD something that will help me learn nursing priorities?!!! I cannot fail, there has to be a book out there!!

Thanks in advance!!

RnIN2011

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

It sounds like your instructor is trying to prepare her class for NCLEX priority type questions. I would reccommend getting a Saunders NCLEX study book. Several of us in my program used them while in school, and found them to be helpful when it came to getting a graspl on priority questions. Good luck. :redpinkhe

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Ah those good old questions, get used to them. I think it is very hard to teach priorities, you kind of need to know them and critically think yourself to what is a priority.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Always go back to your ABC's

Maslows Heicharchy of needs

And the infamous NURSING PROCESS, you know ADPIE !

I use these three for all of my nursing priority questions as long as its relevant.

[vashtee, RN]

Always go back to your ABC's

Maslows Heicharchy of needs

And the infamous NURSING PROCESS, you know ADPIE !

:yeahthat:

I just took NCLEX-RN, and I had a lot of priority questions, none of which were "taught" in class. You had to go with ABCs and Maslow.

Consider the following: you have a 6 hour post-surgical patient, a patient with O2 sats that fell from 96% to 87%, and a patient with severe pain. You have to think of what you are most worried about, and prioritize accordingly. A post-surgical pt is a bleeding and infection risk, and pain isn't going to kill anyone. Low O2 sats are an oxygenation problem, which would lead you to choose to see that patient first.

[Freedom42]

The company that publishes the Lewis med-surg text books publishes a study guide to go with them. It's packed with practice questions and rationales. Here's a link.

I found the study guide very helpful. I agree with other posters, though: I'd also buy an NCLEX prep book and use the practice CD that comes with it as you go over each chapter in Lewis. It's good preparation. I like Prentice Hall's NCLEX prep book, which goes for around $40 new.

[shann106]

Nursing and nursing school is all about critical thinking. Every test we have is all critical thinking, scenerios with questions like nursing priorities. NCLEX is mostly made up of these types of questions. I agree with what others have said about getting an NCLEX book.

When answering priority questions you have to keep your ABC's in mind (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). Always think what is most likely to kill this patient. For instance if you had a new post op patient you would be more concerned with fluid volume deficit before you worry about infection.

[GeneralJinjur]

Our school had us get the NCLEX 4000 software. You can set it to question you on whatever subject you like. The nursing process section has lots of prioritization questions. I used at least 150 of them before my first exam and feel like I have the process down (at least for first semester, which is good enough for now).

http://www.prenhall.com/kozier also has good sample questions.

Nursing Student 19's breakdown is how I do it, too. It works!

[RNKel, ASN, RN]

Have you not been taught about the nursing process at all?

[New 2 iceeYouRN]

Yes, I've been taught the nursing process, I guess I never made the connection that it was your order for prioritizing. I've got basically the jest of it, practice questions. I have the study guide for the book, in fact a lot of my professors quizes come straight from the study guide. I did recently just purchase Med Surg Success and it's a book full of questions with priorities and rationales. I think I just need to practice my questions before the exam...THANKS!@

[AmberDawn]

Regarding outside resources for nursing school, what should I buy? I am currently finishing my pre-requisites and am just curious.

[cindyloulou]

Ahh, nursing school tests are so different from anything else I had experienced with a previous degree. Criitical thinking and learning to prioritize are key. Going over nclex questions from saunders and reading the rationales did help. With time, these types of questions will become more familiar to you.