Help with questions!!

[julimom]

I'm in my 2nd semester of nursing school. If someone could tell me their thinking process as they answer these n-clex style questions. I did well last semester but not this one. I know it's partly because of my teacher but I have to find a way around that and get it myself. What should I be thinking??

[boisern84]

Use ABC's, common sense, and or the safe choice. These will be difficult to choose if you are not familiar with the general content.

[Jonathank]

Carefully read the question stem and all the answers. Underline parts of the stem that you think may be key clues. Eliminate any answers you're sure are wrong. Then consider ABC's, then other physiological needs, then the rest of Maslow's HON to choose the best answer.

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

It is important to think about the Nursing process & ABCs when answering questions. Practice, Practice, Practice. I would suggest either buying an NCLEX book or NCLEX app for your phone (my preference). Practicing NCLEX questions with rationales really helps to understand why the answers chosen are correct. My school also provides us with a program called NCLEX 4000, which is the same thing NCLEX questions with rationales by category.

I love the "Made Incredibly Easy" series. I have the med-surg & pathophysiology, and they have been so helpful for my med-surg 2 class. Got an A on the first exam.

Good luck to you!

[ericka69]

One thing that has helped me recently is looking at what the question is really asking. Pick out the key words. Be grateful that your professors are hitting you hard with nclex questions because it will only help you in the future!

Here is an example:

A 2400-mg sodium diet is prescribed for a patient with chronic HF. the nurse recognizes that additional teaching is necessary when the patient states,

a. "i should limit my milk intake to 2 cups a day"

b. "i can eat fresh fruits and vegetables without worrying about sodium content"

c. "i can eat most foods as long as i do not add salt when cooking or at the table"

d. " i need to to read the labels on prepared foods and medicines for their sodium content"

The key words you would pick out are "2400-mg sodium diet" and "additional teaching when patient states". The correct answer would be C because all foods that are high in sodium should be eliminated in addition to the elimination of salt during cooking. Hope this helps :)

[Missg920]

What material are you going over now in lecture? I like what Kylee had to say- I am in my 4th semester, and for whatever reason, I didn't really start using NCLEX questions until the end of 2nd semester. Not only do they provide you with rationale as to why your answer was right or wrong, but they also provide you with ways to pick out topics that seem to be most important. For example, the more questions I found, I would see a trend in the material the sources were quizzing on. That would help me focus on how to work through groups of questions relating to the material we were going over in lecture. I have the Saunders 5th edition, and it has really helped me out. The book provided rationale, and where to read in the book if you are having trouble answering the question. Not to mention, the CD has tons of questions. Hope this helps!