Help! Need Tips in fundamentals of nursing

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2007

I'm guessing you mean a multiple choice question with 4 correct answers? You need to choose the "most right" and get used to it! The NCLEX is the same way.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 29, 2007

Most questions will be in scenerios...not many are fact based, and, there may be more than one answer, now. They may place a scenerio, and then say pick ALL that apply...with about 6 choices. If you are off by one or add more than what is necessary, they may give you half credit in school, but for NCLEX, it is WRONG. I would purchase Saunders Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-PN to study from in addition to whatever text they mandate you to purchase, because it will get more to the main points rather than alot of fluff, and those points are what they are usually looking for. Start getting into the habit of answering NCLEX style questions, because the earlier you get a jump, the better prepared you will be for the actual state boards. Saunders has a CD that has over 3000 questions and that will be what you need to practice. Just study the subjects they are currently discussing, and answer NCLEX style questions from the CDs. Good luck!

josinda421 · Apr 29, 2007

thanks for your reply. Now is this what you did to prepare for exams? And how much of the time did it help. And is there any other exam preparation tips you have?

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 29, 2007

thanks for your reply. Now is this what you did to prepare for exams? And how much of the time did it help. And is there any other exam preparation tips you have?

Yes, this is what I did to prepare for exams, and I would say that it helped because I graduated valedictorian of the class and passed NCLEX with the minimum of 85 questions in 45 minutes (not bragging...that was not my intent...I just wanted to pass the course and the state boards). Don't be afraid to mark up your textbook, or if that bothers you, purchase post-its and place some of the difficult material in your own words so that you will remember. I would also post a list of questions to ask the professors at another time for clarity. Also, consider using a bright colored highlighter (yellow is the best) and red pens for rewriting your notes. Somehow, that stands out. You may have other methods...maybe you like orange highlighters instead, for example that you can incorporate. Flash cards are also helpful...ones that you make up yourself. If you read a question that seems complicated, try changing it into your own words to get the point. There is a book called "Test Success for Nursing" (something like that) which gives test hints, such as if out of four choices, three are related, then, choose the "odd man out"...the answer that is different. Also, Helen Feuer Nursing Review sells CDs that prepare for NCLEX, but I had MANY friends that used them to listen to in order to pass the nursing course, and that is for BOTH, LPN and RN. They break concepts down so simple that you can't help but to remember them. I wish I had them during school but my friend loaned me hers for preparing for NCLEX and it was great!! Just type in your browser Helen Feuer Nursing Review. The CDs are expensive, but, it is worth it in the long run. They also sell a set for Pharmacology, another difficult course to grasp. Best wishes!!

josinda421 · Apr 29, 2007

thanks, Pagandeva2000, that does help alot. I have a test on monday, and working today-sunday 7a-7p, so I don't have a lot of time to study. But I'm trying a new way of studying which is studing by listening to lecture tapes and seeing if that would work. if you remember anything else let me know. Thanks again.

Lorie P. · Apr 29, 2007

hiliters were my best friends in nursing school. i would use a yellow one to high lite while the instructor was talking , a green one for anything she said you might want to remember that and a purple one for stuff i knew that i needed to focus on.

also once i would get home from class, i would take a break for about 3-4 hours. then i would sit down at my computer with my notes and books and type my notes and but a * beside things i knew i was weak in.

also i bought the saunders comprehensive question and answers for pn review and did only the questions that went with the topic we were studying at the time.

i believed in writing, and highliting my nursing books and they look like rainbows, but i passed and graduated with honors, took boards stopped at 85 questions in less than an hour.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 29, 2007

hiliters were my best friends in nursing school. i would use a yellow one to high lite while the instructor was talking , a green one for anything she said you might want to remember that and a purple one for stuff i knew that i needed to focus on.
also once i would get home from class, i would take a break for about 3-4 hours. then i would sit down at my computer with my notes and books and type my notes and but a * beside things i knew i was weak in.
also i bought the saunders comprehensive question and answers for pn review and did only the questions that went with the topic we were studying at the time.
i believed in writing, and highliting my nursing books and they look like rainbows, but i passed and graduated with honors, took boards stopped at 85 questions in less than an hour.

my texts looked like a rainbow as well, with the license being the pot of gold at the end of the road...lol...and yes, i only dealt with the nclex style questions that were currently being studied...i tried not to go ahead to decrease my anxiety and confusion.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 29, 2007

thanks, Pagandeva2000, that does help alot. I have a test on monday, and working today-sunday 7a-7p, so I don't have a lot of time to study. But I'm trying a new way of studying which is studing by listening to lecture tapes and seeing if that would work. if you remember anything else let me know. Thanks again.

Can't think of much right now, but I wish you the very best. I didn't listen to my lecture tapes, unfortunately, because most of my professors were wackos and the comments made by my classmates were too annoying and distracting for me. But, many people were successful with listening to their lectures because you can play them as often as you like until you get the point.

One thing I will say is don't just focus on what the professor mentioned in class. I say this because my professors were FAMOUS for telling us the focus, or even going as far as to write the blueprint of the exam, only to go in a totally different direction just to fool us. Oh, and if there are study guides that accompany your textbooks, get them. Usually, there are nice exercises that you can fill in that go over the main points of certain things. I had a professor who would actually ask some questions from the study guide just to see if any of us purchased it on our own.

jsmwalk · May 2, 2007

Is anyone in a LPN program and is taking fundamentals? Please help. Any tips on taking these exam type questions your not used to? How do you prepare for those question type scenerio? By the way I live in Maryland and go to school in D.C. All suggestions are wellcomed.

THERE IS A GREAT BOOK CALLED TEST SUCCESS 9TH EDITION IT COVERS EVERY QUESTION YOU CAN ASK ABOUT TEST TAKING AND EVERYTHING THAT IS TAUGHT IN FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING YOU CAN GET IT AT BORDERS IT COST 29.99 BUT IT'S WORTH IT IT HELPED ME OU ALOT. GOOD LUCK

chinaka · May 2, 2007

You could get a book titled Fundamentals Success and also when you get to Med Surg you can a Med Surg Success book.

Use all the tools that you can, I don't ever think that you can't fully get used to the NCLEX questions per se but you can make them easier to deal with.

Wishing you all the BEST!

A.

jaacosmom · May 5, 2007

Take a nap after studying, sleep helps to process the information and it will stick with you longer.