Is This True About Nclex?

[MERCEDES674, MSN, RN]

While in a NCLEX review one of the instructors said that as long as you don't pick an answer that would "kill" your patient you have a great chance of staying in the high level questions even if the answer that you pick isn't right? example ( in a given situation) : if the answers are between A. check the vital signs or B. call the MD. Neither of these would kill the patient so even if you pick the wrong one would you still be in the high level questions?

[anne74]

I have no idea what you're talking about (or what your NCLEX instructor is talking about). I know that if you answer the harder questions correctly, you will get fewer in that category. If you get the harder questions wrong, they will give you "easier" questions, but more of them.

I took the NCLEX 3 months ago, (and passed first time, thank God) and it goes by how many questions you answer correctly. The big things to remember are always go in order of the ABC's (airway, breathing, circulation) and know how NCLEX prioritizes things - think of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - physical needs before psychosocial, etc. Just do a ton of practice questions and then read their rationale for the correct answer. NCLEX is basically ridiculous and often not reflective of real life. So don't go by what you've seen done in the hospital. So silly!

[suzanne4, RN]

While in a NCLEX review one of the instructors said that as long as you don't pick an answer that would "kill" your patient you have a great chance of staying in the high level questions even if the answer that you pick isn't right? example ( in a given situation) : if the answers are between A. check the vital signs or B. call the MD. Neither of these would kill the patient so even if you pick the wrong one would you still be in the high level questions?

Definitely do not agree with your instructor. There is only one correct answer wanted for each question, unless it is one of the newer ones that has multiple answers, and it will state that.

Wrong information. Anyone can read as much into as they want, but that makes no sense at all.

[maolin]

I don't know if there is truth to this, but wanted to let you know you aren't the only one that has heard this. I have as well. It was posed as: A is the correct answer, B & C are definately wrong (dangerous, kill your pt, delay tx, etc). D isn't the best answer, it isn't the correct answer, but isn't a wrong answer either, so if you were to choose D, the next test question will be of same difficulty. It doesn't knock you down, but doesn't bump you up.

As I said, don't know if its fact, but I've heard this NCLEX tale as well.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Not true, as Suzanne said. Check out page 16 of the 2006 Candidate Bulletin at www.ncsbn.org , where it talks about no partial credit.