Pre-nursing: How to answer NCLEX q's before RN school (or mastering them)

[Beldar_the_Cenobite]

Hello, all!

I am a semester away from applying for nursing school, and I am concerned as to how I am going to be able to answer NCLEX style questions which I'm sure are on exams, yes or no?

Does anyone have advice as to what a prereq/pre-nursing student should do to prepare for these or where they can go to learn about NCLEX style questions? Like a crash course? Somewhere you can go to learn about the first things nursing students learn in nursing school and how to prepare for NCLEX style questions. For example, I don't know what the ABCs are and how to apply them to the questions.

I have read an NCLEX style question. For example, an active shooter is in a hospital, a baby was shot in the head (Glasgow coma III), two people were shot in the legs, and then the shooter was shot in the abdomen by police, and then out of those shot at, who was the first to be seen by the nurse? Ans: Shooter. I thought about that question, and it made me think "Start in the center of the body and work your way out in levels of importance, the center being the most important." I don't know if that's a good way to look at it, but it seems the sky is the number of questions possible. Is there a way to narrow every NCLEX question you're thrown at or should I have to worry about NCLEX questions in nursing school and do they teach you NCLEX questions and how to answer them? Is there practice?

So many questions!!!! Good, educational answers can help remove the plaque of anxiety caked into my cortex!!!!!! :)

Ps. I didn't even know what a Glasgow coma III was...but I thought it was the baby being most important, until the nursing students that were helping the other student answer the question said Glasgow coma III means the baby is brain dead or literally dead and it's pointless to try and save it. The shooter was shot in the organs which is more vital than the legs (where the other two were shot at).

Also, another scenario that I always complained about how to answer NCLEX was I would ask my fellow friends who were/knew nurses things like "How do I know what is most important to answer if I'm giving a question where a patient has a sprained ankle, bruising, and problems breathing, which would be more important?" And they said breathing would be more important. Also, I think someone on here was once told "You can live with pain, not without oxygen".

But this information that I'm starting to get isn't nearly enough for nursing school, is it?

I am also taking a class for the BSN program called nutritional development across the lifespan and it's online, teacher doesn't teach, power points have voice overs from a previous instructor that use to work there so they're unchanged, and there is no tutoring for it. Exams are somewhat NCLEX style. All you can do is read from the book and power points. There's a file we were given on the first day of class that had advice from students in the past that took the class on how to succeed. They mentioned using Quizlet, but the wording wasn't "use it for the exams". I use quizlet for flash cards, but when I take the test, I see the questions from there so I think why don't I just use quizlet for the exam questions? I don't want to but the book is very vague with typos and it's very dificult to comprehend. Plus, I'm not even in nursing school yet, this is just required for the program.

I hate the habit of using google for answers on an online test, but I still read my book and power points out of integrity of trying to be a good student and learn the material. 2 nursing students who graduated the same program I"m trying to get into and took this class and advised Quizlet but for the exams, unlike the sheet of advice that didn't specify to use them for the exam.

These questions on the exam are NCLEX style, but maybe I'm not reading enough or studying enough, but I don't want bad habits not know a better choice.

Trying to retain the information from the books is difficult. There's practice questions, over 250 of them, and I don't know if they're helpful. Fellow students say they don't help the exam. All I have left is A&P II, so is worrying about NCLEX style questions a big deal now or is pre-reqs more important? Do nursing schools give you a lot of resources on how to answer NCLEX questions? Or is it pretty much "Here's your wings, now go fly"?

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Please talk to your professor! Why would you get in trouble? Most professors are happy to coach students and give them advice on studying.

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Quote from you: "I can show maturity in class if I feel conscious about the class I'm in, I like being in it, and I want to learn and feel comfortable and competent. If I don't feel any of those, I get lazy, distracted, hypocritical, and dependent. That's what I meant by "environment". If I feel good and comfortable about the class I'm in, I'm fully independent. My home life plays a large role in environment too. Once I'm physically in nursing both by paper and in classrooms wearing scrubs or whatever, I'll feel more competent and conscious with being able to manage my time and not being distracted while the instructor is teaching."

If everything has to be perfect in order for you to learn, then you will not make it through nursing school and you certainly won't be able to cut it as a nurse.

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Your NCLEX worries will be addressed in nursing school. Many, many people here have told you that! Once you finish nursing school, there are many NCLEX review books, in person classes, online classes, etc to help you pass the NCLEX. Don't worry about it right now.

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Excuse me? And what are those pre-nursing classes that I had so many complaints and harsh comments about? As of today, I made an A- in A&P 1, A- in Micro, A in required math class for the program, so what other pre-nursing classes did I mention? All I have left is A&P II. This is my first nursing class required for applying in the program. Everything else was non-nursing related and I've done well in all of them. Why would I complain and have so many harsh comments about classes I've done well in?

I'm going to try out nursing school and if it doesn't work out then oh well, screw it.

Well, you didn't say if nursing school sucked, but "if it doesn't work out then oh well, screw it." Not a good sign.

I don't know why you keep going around and around on how to study. Do you have OCD? Or are you trying to avoid focusing on the tasks you have at hand?

Here is the answer:

1. You cannot use any outside resources on a TEST unless it is an open book test.

2. However, if you are studying, you can use whatever resources you wish! Quizlet, youtube, etc. No one cares as long as you get the right info. If you are writing a paper or it is a take home exam, then you must cite your sources properly.

[TriChick]

Many of us who have "counterconstructive responses" have them not because we have short attention spans, rather because we have actually taken the time to read MANY of the posts and threads you have had. I, for one, paid enough attention to your posts over the last few months that I offered a VERY long and detailed post addressing your anxiety and suggesting you find the underlying issue. The people who I see getting frustrated are the ones who have offered you a lot of advice in the past that you have blown off because we might have asked questions you didn't like or were critical of the way you were speaking about other individuals (instructors, a girl who wasn't interested in a romantic relationship, etc.). I have a feeling, just based on how in-the-weeds you get with things, that you are risking burning out those in real life who want to help you and share their experiences. While I'm sure people are willing to help (contrary to your opinion at times), if you are asking things like what exact text string to Google to find information, I can understand why you feel "blown off". A lot of these things you will likely have to figure out on your own, unfortunately, like most other nursing students have to. We are responsible for our own success and sometimes have to fill in the blanks on our own. I start nursing school next month (a direct-entry MSN program for non-nurses) and I have no false expectations that any of my instructors are going to hold my hand, tailor their teaching methods to accommodate me, or hand me 100% of what I will need to know. In that regard, it ISN'T much different than the military and it might be beneficial to view it similar to training to a certain extent.

Truth be told, I AM curious why you have such severe anxiety regarding studying, classes, etc. if you have gotten such good grades so far.

[TriChick]

And obviously, don't use Quizlet for exams. Quizlet cards are often created in a roundabout way from test question banks. If you are needing to use Quizlet to answer an exam question, it's because you don't know the material and you aren't learning it. Not only is it a bad habit to get into, but it's likely considered cheating by your school.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

Quote from you: "I can show maturity in class if I feel conscious about the class I'm in, I like being in it, and I want to learn and feel comfortable and competent. If I don't feel any of those, I get lazy, distracted, hypocritical, and dependent. That's what I meant by "environment". If I feel good and comfortable about the class I'm in, I'm fully independent. My home life plays a large role in environment too. Once I'm physically in nursing both by paper and in classrooms wearing scrubs or whatever, I'll feel more competent and conscious with being able to manage my time and not being distracted while the instructor is teaching."

If everything has to be perfect in order for you to learn, then you will not make it through nursing school and you certainly won't be able to cut it as a nurse.[/quote

Agreed.

And sadly, some of my nursing instructors were just as infuriating. You're going to have good instructors and poor ones. Ones that you're going to want to throw a hissy fit over ... but we don't because we are grown ups.

Atomic, your posts are exhausting to read. I can't imagine how exhausting it must be to be you ... and you're bringing that down on yourself.

As for the NCLEX, no worries ... you will be beaten to death with these type of questions in school. You will not escape.

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

Well, you didn't say if nursing school sucked, but "if it doesn't work out then oh well, screw it." Not a good sign.

I don't know why you keep going around and around on how to study. Do you have OCD? Or are you trying to avoid focusing on the tasks you have at hand?

Here is the answer:

1. You cannot use any outside resources on a TEST unless it is an open book test.

2. However, if you are studying, you can use whatever resources you wish! Quizlet, youtube, etc. No one cares as long as you get the right info. If you are writing a paper or it is a take home exam, then you must cite your sources properly.

Yes, this class is ALL take home exam. The exams are ONLINE. NOT IN PERSON. We were given a handout that had advice from previous students who took the class. At the VERY BOTTOM, it states "use quizlet", just wasn't specific on how to use it.

And obviously, don't use Quizlet for exams. Quizlet cards are often created in a roundabout way from test question banks. If you are needing to use Quizlet to answer an exam question, it's because you don't know the material and you aren't learning it. Not only is it a bad habit to get into, but it's likely considered cheating by your school.

Two students who graduated from the program I'm applying for said I could use Quizlet for all take home exams (online exams, examination NOT in person or a testing center, you literally could take the exam at another school if you wanted to). And they both didn't graduate at the same time nor did they know each other. I asked them both. It wasn't until later when they both were graduated and met each other at a BBQ party.

That is why I said what I said about quizlet. Would they give me poor advice? I don't know, one (the guy, not the girl) of the two was more resourceful than the other about everything else.

[Guest123456788, MSN, RN]

I think you are missing the larger message here- if you aren't able to handle a class not being perfectly set up to suit your learning style, do not waste your time (or take a spot that could be filled by someone who won't say "if it doesn't work out screw it") going to nursing school

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Why don't you just ask the instructor? That is always the best way. If it is an online take home exam you can use whatever resources you want, usually. But if you are not sure, go straight to the source and ask the instructor! You keep going around and around on this.

[TriChick]

If you are nervous about asking the instructor because you are worried you will get in trouble, that should tell you something. It's your call if you want to use online flashcards created by other students to complete an exam, or if you want to use your own knowledge to answer the questions. That's the way you should be looking at it, in my opinion.

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

If you are nervous about asking the instructor because you are worried you will get in trouble, that should tell you something. It's your call if you want to use online flashcards created by other students to complete an exam, or if you want to use your own knowledge to answer the questions. That's the way you should be looking at it, in my opinion.

I'm more worried about asking her for help on material I don't understand. I did once back when the class first started and she kind of had this "just read the material or google what you don't understand" type attitude as if the material was easy and I was in her office with the blue book that I mentioned was difficult to comprehend. It was as if asking for help bothered her. I was really interested in the material and I was asking questions about things I've never heard before like "People born before 1940 experienced the greatest changes in how health is defined, as medicine and health promotion was non-existent. Because infectious diseases claimed the lives of many children and young adults at that time, health was viewed as the absence of disease". I was very confused by the word "absence of disease" because the idea or meaning of it didn't exactly click, so I went to her along with a few other questions and she just had a short fuse. 40+ years in nursing I guess does that to you. She was a research based nurse.