Success to Answering Questions

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time and time again i've been told you can study so much but its truly not about what you know its about how you answer the questions. what are some successful tips for answering hesi and nclex questions? i've heard some talk about stem and kaplan decision tree, etc.

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Specializes in ICCU - cardiac.
time and time again i've been told you can study so much but its truly not about what you know its about how you answer the questions. what are some successful tips for answering hesi and nclex questions? i've heard some talk about stem and kaplan decision tree, etc.

i would buy an nclex book so you can see how they frame the questions, which are alot like school tests. also the nclex gives the rationale to why the right one is right and why the others are wrong. it's usually a choice between 2 answers which are both right but one is the 'best.' this helped me alot.

you can also rely on nursing role, responsibilities and judgment to help answer. don't fret so much on learning alot of the clinical terms, stuff that is outside of the nurse's role. definitely know s/s , lab values and patho tho. i underline cue words such as 'initially,' 'first,' 'priority' to help hone in on what the question is asking without reading into it. i think half the battle for success in ns is knowing how to take the tests.

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What are some ways that you guys study for the Hesi and Nclex?

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HESI requires much different preparation than the NCLEX, completely different type of exam.

First tip of my program at the top of this forum works quite nicely for the Exit HESI.

Best of luck to you on your exams.

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Use saunders, Kaplan for strategy

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What exactly am I looking for suzanne on the top of the forum. I don't see where to find your tips

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At the top of this page, there is a group of threads that are always there, no matter which page that you are on, they will always be in the same place. And there is one there called the 07/08 revised first tip. That is what you are looking for, it is on the NCLEX Forum, just at the top of the threads here.

Just below the button that you clicked on to start the new thread.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I recommend that my students begin practicing first semester. Take a few questions on a regular basis. Slowly build the number of questions you take, and when you miss them, try to understand why. Also review test-taking strategies, and take as many computerized practice tests as possible. A good review such as Kaplan also helps. And plan something fun with a friend or significant other for the day before the test, so you don't just sit around and panic the entire time. Take a walk, see a movie, get a massage, do something you like!

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Thank you very much!! I will start doing the quizes. I will be taking the Exit Hesi this Fall. If I start now will it be good enough to do your program. Does is help for the hesi or just the nclex

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I think Lippincotts is also helpful

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The first tip is all that you need for the HESI.

Preparation for the actual NCLEX exam is much more involved.

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time and time again i've been told you can study so much but its truly not about what you know its about how you answer the questions. what are some successful tips for answering hesi and nclex questions? i've heard some talk about stem and kaplan decision tree, etc.

hi! several of my original nursing school mates just graduated last semester. several of the ones who passed the nclex used a combination of the hurst review and the saunders cd. they all said that the nclex was easy compared to the questions on saunders...so i would think that would make for a good prep tool. i helped my friend study for it and one thing i liked about saunders was that it gave very good rationales, has over 4k questions, evaluates your strengths/weaknesses, etc.

a problem that my friend was having (she passed) was that when we were studying together for her to pass the nclex, she would read the questions too quickly. she would miss key parts of the questions such as "which order should the nurse question" or "what statement, if made by the patient, would indicate a need for additional teaching". reword the question in your own words so that you completely understand what they are asking you.

always go for the least invasive methods first. don't go running to the med cart if the patient is anxious, try something else first. don't give a manic patient their prn meds if they can engage in a safe physical activity to burn off some energy.

when dealing with communication--allow the patient a chance to respond. don't just make a statement to them. the goal is to get them to think about their situation and have them come up with ways in which they can identify stressors, coping mechanisms, etc.

knowing lab values is important because if you are given four answers and you have to pick one of them (each with a different lab value), you can pick the right answer by simply knowing what lab value is wrong.

99.99% of the time, "check on the patient in 15 minutes" is not the answer.

when asked priority questions--that means "what do i need to do right now to make sure my patient does not die".

pain sucks, but it doesn't kill you. if you have a question where you have to decide which patient to see first, pain guy can wait. i know that sounds mean...but there could be (and probably is) a patient who is more likely to die/be inured than pain guy.

i hope some of this helped in some small way, lol. :nurse:

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