Published Aug 17, 2011
my4helpers
355 Posts
Have any of you nursing students had to attend any type of good thinking workshop? We have to on Friday and it's an all day thing. It is supposed to help us with our test taking skills in Nursing. With everything that I have read about how the tests are so different in nursing school, I am wondering if this workshop will really help?
Nurse2b7337
1,154 Posts
Wow that seems like a great idea. I would take it if it were offered at my school. :) please fill us in on it when you're done.
MammaNurse2Be
247 Posts
Hopefully you will glean at least one new skill to add to your orificenal of study habits. I have an idea... What if you take notes and share your top three favorite tips? When I know I have to report back to someone, it enhances my focus and the time goes by faster. :) plus, I have loved reading all of the great notes people have been sharing lately. I am a printing crazy person!
This workshop is mandatory. We were told that if we didn't go we would be sorry; we would be given extra work or something....I don't know. Anyway, I will take notes and report back. Here is our schedule for Friday:
GOOD THINKING!
A Workshop for
Enhancing Test Performance
in Nursing Students
SCHEDULE
9:00am - 10:00am Test-Taking Strategies for Multiple Choice Nursing Exams
10:00am -10:15am Effective Test Preparation
10:15am -10:30am Break
10:30am -11:00am Taxonomy of Thinking
Knowledge vs. Application
11:00am -12:00pm Review of Sample Questions: A Problem Solving Approach
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm - 1:45pm Review of Sample Questions (continued)
1:45pm - 2:30pm Cognitive Restructuring and Behavioral Techniques to Enhance Test-Taking Performance
2:30pm - 3:00pm Developing an Individualized Plan for Test-Taking Success
Workshop Description
The focus of this one-day workshop is to help the participant achieve success on nursing exams. Participants will be assisted in identifying their strengths and weaknesses as a test taker and test-taking strategies and test-preparation skills will be discussed.
Emphasis will be placed on problem-solving within the nursing process framework by reviewing and analyzing sample nursing exam practice questions. Cognitive and behavioral techniques to reduce test anxiety and increase critical thinking will also be discussed as components of successful exam preparation.
Workshop Objectives
As a result of this presentation, the learner will:
* Begin to apply basic test-taking and problem solving skills learned during this workshop in preparing for nursing exams.
* Increase self-confidence in the ability to succeed through cognitive restructuring and use of behavioral techniques for anxiety reduction.
Begin to identify one's own strengths and weaknesses in order to develop an individualized plan for enhanced testing performance
This may seem like a bummer you now but you will be glad you took it the further you get in your program. I for one would love it.
jjjoy, LPN
2,801 Posts
I'd call it "test-taking strategies" or "prep for nursing exams" as opposed to "good thinking."
In my experience, "good thinking" (or real critical thinking) sometimes seemed to make it *more* difficult to choose the "best" answer. Nursing test questions can be worded oddly, so easily misinterpretted, especially if you "over-think" it. And even worse, in my opinion, there are those questions where NONE of the answers is really accurate and you're supposed to choose the "best" from the selection of not-quite-right choices... as if that's totally objective.
So having any kind of prep for these test questions before going into the first test will probably be a good thing. : )
nurse4forever
140 Posts
We were told at orientation that we have to take a good thinking workshop too... but there were no other details. It sounds like a pretty good workshop to help you think more critically. I wonder how ours will be like. Have fun and enjoy it!!!