I dont get it! Critical thinking questions are whipping me.

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I AM A NEW LPN STUDENT AND HAVING TROUBLE WITH NURSING FUNDAMENTALS. I READ AND DO MY STUDIES FOR HOURS ON END EVERYDAY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MY TEST I FAIL. I ALWAYS LEAVE THE TEST FEELING REAL GOOD ABOUT IT, BUT IM WRONG. THE CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS GET ME. I KNOW THE MATERIAL BUT I ALWAYS PICK THE WRONG ANSWER. ANY POINTERS ON HOW TO DISECT A QUESTION? WHATS THE TRICK? IM SO UPSET. IF SOMEONE WAS TO ASK ME A QUESTION ABOUT THE MATERIAL I COULD TELL THEM THE CORRECT ANSWER, I DONT UNDERSTAND. PLEEEEAAAASE HELP.:cry::bugeyes:

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Specializes in Tele/New Grad.

The way the test questions are designed in nursing school is different and takes a little time to understand. Trust me, it isn't just you that got thrown through a loop with the first nursing test.

The best thing you could do is get an NCLEX review book (I like Saunders Comprehensive Review). Do the practice questions and review the rationale. Make sure you understand why the right answer is the best right answer. In the beginning of most review books there is also a section about reading the question and how to take tests. Review your test questions at the review session and figure out what you are doing wrong.

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the way the test questions are designed in nursing school is different and takes a little time to understand. Trust me, it isn't just you that got thrown through a loop with the first nursing test.

The best thing you could do is get an nclex review book (i like saunders comprehensive review). Do the practice questions and review the rationale. Make sure you understand why the right answer is the best right answer. In the beginning of most review books there is also a section about reading the question and how to take tests. Review your test questions at the review session and figure out what you are doing wrong.

thank you. I will definetly do that. Im grateful for your response.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

the basic strategy for answering critical thinking (application type) questions is as follows, you must:

  • know and consider the normal anatomy and physiology
  • know and consider abnormal anatomy for the disease in question
  • know and consider the resulting signs and symptoms when the disease occurs and how they proceed from mild to fatal - each sign and symptom can be related back to the pathophysiology of the disease
  • know and consider how the doctor diagnoses and treats the disease in question
  • know nursing interventions for the signs and symptoms you are being asked about
  • know the steps of the nursing process and what goes on in each of the steps and consider how they are affecting the question you are being asked
  • know the sequence of priorities of needs as per a guideline such as maslow's hierarchy of needs
  • know and consider the principles behind the actions being done - there are many kinds of principles: principles of nursing, principles of biology, principles of chemistry, principles of physics, etc.
  • read the stem of the question carefully and answer that because the test makers try to trip you up by distracting you with conflicting information they give you in the answer choices that sounds good but has no relationship to what the question is asking for
  • ask yourself "why" a patient is experiencing some sign or symptoms to get at the underlying problem. nursing like other disciplines treats the problem/signs and symptoms.

you should review the information and links in this thread as well:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/looking-test-taking-224581.html - looking for test taking strategies (on the nursing student discussion forum)

here are examples of application type test questions that have been asked and discussed on allnurses. when i have answered them i will give the critical thinking rationale.

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Don't forget your ABC's. Airway, breathing, circulation. Ask yourself what would be the outcome if I did... Remember to take your time and don't make up a story. Have you ever heard of Kapan? We used this as part of our nursing classes and it really helped. They have books available and they are great. Also the NCLEX for dummies. Both are well written and have practice questions.

I sugest practice, practice, practice. Your questions from here on out will most likely be critical thinking, I would be shocked if any of your questions were knowledge based.

Good luck, I am sure you will get the hang of it.

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don't forget your abc's. Airway, breathing, circulation. Ask yourself what would be the outcome if i did... Remember to take your time and don't make up a story. Have you ever heard of kapan? We used this as part of our nursing classes and it really helped. They have books available and they are great. Also the nclex for dummies. Both are well written and have practice questions.

I sugest practice, practice, practice. Your questions from here on out will most likely be critical thinking, i would be shocked if any of your questions were knowledge based.

Good luck, i am sure you will get the hang of it.

thanks. I am going to get these books tommorrow. Im grateful for such helpful people on this site.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

99% of what is in the book is a review of the information you are learning in school. it may or may not help you organize the content of your nursing notes. the test taking strategy is on a few pages of these books. find people who have these different books and ask if they will let you xerox those pages. look at the thread i posted for you above. the weblink to the test taking strategy from the kaplan review and the specific chapter in sylvestri's saunders comprehensive review for the nclex-rn examination is identified.

these three websites also post an application type question weekly. the ncsbn are the people who write the nclex exam and they explain the critical thinking behind the correct answer to their weekly question. if you go to the website each week faithfully, you can build up a nice little set of question and answers with the answer strategy. these are all free.

also check your nursing textbook for an online companion website. many nursing textbooks have these and there are practice questions on these websites. if your textbook has one, you will need an access code to get into these study tools. your instructor or the manager of the school bookstore where you purchased your copy of the textbook will be able to help you get the access code to get into the website. some lpn nursing textbook online companion portals are:

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

You've been given some really, really good info. Here's what I do:

1) does any answer reflect danger to Airway, Breathing or Circulation in a reasonable manner? (a person who breaks his leg probably won't have airway or breathing issues immediately, but you'd better be checking the circulation in his foot)

2) how does the question reflect Maslow? What do you need to address first? If a person's been brought in after an incident of domestic abuse, you're going to need to address "safety" before you address their need for self esteem

3) While pain is the next vital sign, it doesn't kill people (usually). If a person's bleeding and complaining of pain, which is going to kill them first? Bleeding to death, so any answer about assess the wound, reinforcing a dressing, etc., is going to trump asking them about pain on a scale of 1 to 10.

4) Finally, go talk to your teacher. Say you want to understand why you're missing the questions. Sometimes, just having someone explain the answer to you will make the lightbulb go off.

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you've been given some really, really good info. Here's what i do:

1) does any answer reflect danger to airway, breathing or circulation in a reasonable manner? (a person who breaks his leg probably won't have airway or breathing issues immediately, but you'd better be checking the circulation in his foot)

2) how does the question reflect maslow? What do you need to address first? If a person's been brought in after an incident of domestic abuse, you're going to need to address "safety" before you address their need for self esteem

3) while pain is the next vital sign, it doesn't kill people (usually). If a person's bleeding and complaining of pain, which is going to kill them first? Bleeding to death, so any answer about assess the wound, reinforcing a dressing, etc., is going to trump asking them about pain on a scale of 1 to 10.

4) finally, go talk to your teacher. Say you want to understand why you're missing the questions. Sometimes, just having someone explain the answer to you will make the lightbulb go off.

wow. I think you made the light bulb go off. You telling me like that made me see the light. I am going to practice, and then practice some more. Thank you thank you thank you.

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I had the same problem my first rn semester. Ive overcome it by doing this. Highlight what is important/not a normal finding in the question. For example the vital signs, the lab work etc. Focus on what is GIVEN to you dont come up with what if scenarios. Imagine yourself working in the hospital and you have that "patient" in the hospital. What are you going to do for that patient AT THIS TIME? Remember ABCs and what the appropriate nursing interventions are. Hope this helps you best of luck.

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I had the same problem my first rn semester. Ive overcome it by doing this. Highlight what is important/not a normal finding in the question. For example the vital signs, the lab work etc. Focus on what is GIVEN to you dont come up with what if scenarios. Imagine yourself working in the hospital and you have that "patient" in the hospital. What are you going to do for that patient AT THIS TIME? Remember ABCs and what the appropriate nursing interventions are. Hope this helps you best of luck.

thank you. i have a test monday and i will be practicing and will apply that to my studies. thanks again for the help.

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