Help 1st year RN student WITH TEST TAKING SKILLS

[Russian-SN]

O.k. Long story short i have spent hours for studying for this test trying to memorize the facts and get an understanding of the material, basically everything that was NOT on the test. When i got my test they were questions that were "check all that apply". Can you give me some test taking skills that has helped you get through nursing classes. THANK YOU

[DoeRN]

I bought a Saunders NCLEX book and this a test taking section in there that worked very well for me.

[Cherry2000]

Try Test Success - Test taking techniques for Beginning Nursing Students by Patricia M. Nugent and Barbara A. Vitale

[Gravysgal]

Something that helped me TREMENDOUSLY is

covering up the answers.

I use my scantron to hide the answers while I read the question.

Then I jot down what answer first comes to mind,

then I look at the answers.

[MB37]

First semester I literally had to train myself to answer test questions. We were always given a piece of scrap paper, so I'd use it to cover the answer choices as I read the question. I'd underline key words, make notes in the margin (say, to remember the effects of ACE inhibitors on K - I'd figure out what ACE does, and then what an inhibitor would do), and even write out a few possible answers. Then I'd uncover one answer choice at a time. It would be yes (put a dot next to it), no (cross it out and move on), or maybe (leave it, look at the next one). It forced me to slow down and think about what I was doing on every question, and helped me not miss phrases like, "the client would need ADDITIONAL TEACHING if she stated..." meaning that I was looking for a false answer choice. I really recommend the Kaplan NCLEX-RN strategies for success book - we were required to buy it and a Saunders strategy book (not the big Saunders review book, this was a book on strategy alone with no review or questions), I thought Kaplan was much better. The Saunders strategy book was basically a longer version of the same chapter that's in every other Saunders book on NCLEX strategy, and not worth the extra money. Hope that helped! Also, don't waste time memorizing info - we usually got tested more on broad concepts, and what the best nursing intervention would be in various situations. We rarely if ever got asked anything factual about a disease process.

[jjjoy, LPN]

Also, don't waste time memorizing info - we usually got tested more on broad concepts, and what the best nursing intervention would be in various situations. We rarely if ever got asked anything factual about a disease process.

That seemed to be the case with most tests I took in school as well.

[Feels Like JD]

That seemed to be the case with most tests I took in school as well.

+1

Once I gave up memorizing facts and committed to understand concepts/patho my scores increased big time. Can't speak to the study guides but I can say this: Read everything in question slowly and at least twice. The number of times I got a question wrong because I read always instead of never or does instead of doesn't, huh, I wish I could all those back.