General Test Taking Tips

diana2520 · May 10, 2012

I remember those exams and hated them with passion. i hated ATI ..THEN.we had to do Hesi exist and make an 850....make it worse it counted as a grade for us . i just took it as any other exam and i did well. Always take a deep breath before your exam, i get really nervous with exams and sometimes if i feel like iam not concentration i stopped for a second and just relax...then start again

kridanpiper, BSN · May 10, 2012

I always say a prayer once I'm in my testing seat. I pray for a clear head & clear thinking. It is so easy to get frazzled if you hit a question that throws you off. I've noticed that if I get hung up on one question, I start to get antsy and feel like I'm going to blow the whole test; my mind starts spouting in a million different directions. So each time that happens, I take my attention away from the test momentarily, clear my head and the stress over the question and regain my composure by realizing that it's just one question... When you place yourself above the test go ahead and refocus on your test, reread the question and pick the best answer that you can.

Composure is key! I feel that this has contributed to my success with tests. And most importantly, don't forget to apply basic nursing principles to the question... ABCs, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Safety is always first, Nursing Process and answering the question that is being asked. One last little thing that helps me sometimes is to read the last sentence of the question first, to see what the question is asking for. It helps me to pick through the fluff of the question, and it also helps me to feel like I have a one up on the question by reading that first, then going into the usually detailed scenario the question presents.

Good luck & remember... Take the test, don't let it take you :rolleyes:

pghnurse527 · May 10, 2012

Take deep breaths in an out. I know it sounds cliche, but it really does help to calm you down. Say a prayer, put the headphones on they will cancel out some of the noise, and take your time. The room I was in was VERY quiet, I could barely tell anyone else was in there with me. Remember ABCs. Read each question carefully and figure out if you are looking for a positive or negative response, read EVERY answer, and eliminate as many options as you can. Good luck!!

MissRnToYou · Jun 1, 2012

Thanks so much Everyone!!!!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2012

i taught the kaplan nclex reviews for years, and this is what we taught, to great success.

nclex items are developed in part from knowing what errors new grads make and how. they tend to be of two kinds: inadequate information, and lack of knowledge (these are not the same thing). the goal of nclex-type tests is to pass candidates who will be acceptably safe in practice as nurses. so-- they want to know what the prudent nurse will do.

1) when confronted c 4 answers, you can usually discard 2 out of hand. of the remaining two,

-- always choose the answer that (in priority order) makes the patient safer or gets you more information. "can you tell me more about that?" "what do you know about your medication?" "what was the patient's lab result?"

-- never choose the answer that has you turf the situation to another discipline-- chaplain, dietary, md, social work, etc. it's often tempting, but they want to know about what the nurse would do. see "always..." above.

2) "safer" might mean airway, breathing, circulation; it might mean pull the bed out of the room and away from the fire; it might mean pressure ulcer prevention; or improving nutrition; or teaching about loose scatter rugs ... keep your mind open.

3) read carefully. if they ask you for a nursing intervention answer, they aren't asking for an associated task or action which requires a physician plan of care. so in a scenario involving a medication, the answer would not be to hang the iv, regulate it, or chart it; it would not be to observe for complications. it would be to assess pt knowledge of the med/tx plan and derive an appropriate patient teaching plan. only that last one is nursing-independent and a nursing intervention.

again, they want nursing here.

4) the day before the test, do not study. research shows that your brain does not retain crap you stuff into it at the last minute-- musicians learning a new piece play the first part on monday, the second part on tuesday, and the third part on weds. then they do something else entirely on thursday; meanwhile, behind the scenes, the brain is organizing the new info into familiar cubbyholes already stuffed with music, putting it ready for easy access. on friday, the whole piece works much better.

what this translates for in test-taking land is this: the day before the test, you go to a museum or a concert, go take a hike, read a trashy novel, make a ragout, do something else entirely. take a small glass of wine, soak in a nice hot bath in a darkened tub with a few candles on the sink, get a nice night's sleep.

5) read the mayonnaise jar and do what it says: keep cool, do not freeze.

five_apples · Jun 1, 2012

I'm taking the exam in less than a week - next Thursday.

For me, this is my plan for relaxing in the time left, a day before, the day of and during:

1. I go to a yoga class every other day this week. Helps get my mind off studying for an hour or so, promotes concentration, relaxation and deep breathing.

2. For the days I don't do yoga, I go for a long walk with my dear husband. We talk about whatever, but try not to obsess about the exam - "Que sera, sera".

3. The day before, I'm planning on starting my day with reading the notes I took while practicing (every time I got a question wrong, I looked it up and wrote a short sentence about it).

4. After reviewing my notes, I'll get my ATT an ID ready, along with anything else I need (directions to get to the text center, etc.) Then I plan to do the following: go to the mall - get a pedicure, get a massage, do some shopping.

5. In the evening, taking a good long bath with relaxing music. Maybe watch a chick flick w/ a glass of good red wine. Meditate & go to bed early.

6. On the day of the exam - my exam in on 12pm and I have about 45-60 min. drive up to the test center, plus you need to be there 30 min early. I plan to wake up so I have an hour to spend at home before having to leave for the exam. Take a shower, eat a nutritional, but not heavy, breakfast. Take some snacks & drinks for the road and just before the exam.

7. After checking in to the test center - find my seat. Sit with my eyes closed, take a deep breath and say to my self - I can do this!

8. Each time I'm not sure about something - do the same. breath-breath-breath. And keep a SMILE on my face. It projects a certain mood and self confidence.

o... I have a plan :) In a few days I could tell you how it worked for me ;-)