First RN test today...need to vent

[dee78]

I graduated from LPN school in December and applied for the LPN-RN program at my school, got in!!! I made all As except 1 B (0.1 pt away from an A!!!). The transition program at my school has a summer transition class then we join the senior RN class.

So today was the first test and I made an 80. After taking it I am thankful that I did that good, I thought I may have made a 70. I studied ALOT. I reviewed the powerpoints, listened to lectures they recorded, did all of the questions in the book and online, and skimmed through the chapters. I was ready...knowledge wise.

The issue was in the wording of the questions. I know that critical thinking questions always leave 2 good answers and you have to figure out the best answer. I thought that I successfully deduced most of them but there were some that seriously could have gone either way and I could rationalize why the answer I chose was the best one based on what I studied but it wasn't the answer they wanted.

I studied smart, I spread it out and didn't cram the night before. I used different methods. But ultimately it was the wording of the questions that got me more than anything. There were a few that I missed because I didn't read the answers good enough and picked B without looking at C more closely. So I know where I can improve as far as my test taking goes.

All I can do is move on from here and do better on the next test but I will gladly take any advice. Thanks!!

[anonymousstudent]

Have you seen the Davis's Q&A Success Series? They are WONDERFUL. You get a good mix of questions with rationales and tips on how to pick the right answer if you don't know it. I would highly recommend them. :) Good luck. You'll get the hang of it.

[Always_Learning, BSN, RN]

One trick I was taught to pick between two right answers is to tell yourself you can only do ONE action, and if you do that, you WILL NOT do the others. For example, on a safety question, they might ask a question such as "What is the best action when caring for a fearful patient?" with answers such as "answer the patient's call light quickly" and "use therapeutic communication."

Well, both are good, but look at it this way:

1) I will answer the call light right away EVERY TIME, but I will NOT use therapeutic communication with this patient.

2) I will use therapeutic communication with this patient EVERY TIME, but I will NOT answer the call light when they call.

Well, obviously, most of us would not feel comfortable saying #2, so you are left with the first option as an answer. I won't say that this works 100% of the time, but as a general tool, it has helped me immensely.

Also, as a brand-spanking new RN, I KNOW these questions are ridiculously frustrating, but NCLEX really is like that! So embrace the madness (LOL) and you will get better at these nursing questions over time.

[JamieJCST]

One trick I was taught to pick between two right answers is to tell yourself you can only do ONE action, and if you do that, you WILL NOT do the others. For example, on a safety question, they might ask a question such as "What is the best action when caring for a fearful patient?" with answers such as "answer the patient's call light quickly" and "use therapeutic communication."

Well, both are good, but look at it this way:

1) I will answer the call light right away EVERY TIME, but I will NOT use therapeutic communication with this patient.

2) I will use therapeutic communication with this patient EVERY TIME, but I will NOT answer the call light when they call.

Well, obviously, most of us would not feel comfortable saying #2, so you are left with the first option as an answer. I won't say that this works 100% of the time, but as a general tool, it has helped me immensely.

Also, as a brand-spanking new RN, I KNOW these questions are ridiculously frustrating, but NCLEX really is like that! So embrace the madness (LOL) and you will get better at these nursing questions over time.

This is a great strategy and I plan on using it for my seconde year.

Thanks!