Testing Strategies

284 Posts

First of all, I want to say that YOU CAN DO IT! THINK POSITIVE!!!!!! If you weren't already a "minimum competency nurse" then you wouldn't have made it this far. Believe in yourself and just "get more right than wrong...not trying to make 100"

Secondly, I found some strategies that may or may not be taught in the HURST Review :whistling:These points need to be running through your mind as you answer questions. Make them your mantra!

* Pick least Invasive First

* Pain never killed anyone

* Never release traction UNLESS you have an order from the MD to do so

* Polyuria--Think shock first

* If you have never heard of it.... Don't pick it!

* Anytime you see fluid retention... Think heart problems first

* Stay away from restraints as long as you can... Remember the NCLEX is a perfect world.

* Do not pick an answer that delays care or treatment.

* Never pick an answer that does not allow your patient to speak.

* Select a "patient focused" answer.

* With priority questions... Remember you can only send one message to the NCLEX lady... so you must pick the "killer" answer

* ADH--Think H2O

* Aldosterone--Think sodium AND water

* With SIADH--TOO many letters TOO much WATER

* More Volume--More Pressure

* Less Volume--Less Pressure

* Anytime you see the words "assessment" or "evaluation" think pertinent signs and symptoms

* There will not be a test questions unless there is something to WORRY about...

* Assume the WORST

* If there is something you can do about the problem first... do that before calling the doctor

* Hypoxia may be the first sign of respiratory acidosis

* With restless patient... think hypoxia first

* Limit protein in kidney patients EXCEPT with Nephrotic syndrome

* Like illness can be put in the same room together

* If there are any long term consequences to your patient with the answer you pick, you should not pick that answer.

* Assess before implementing

* If you have a fluid problem you have a Na problem too

* If you have a fluid problem... you will do I&O and daily weights

* "Always" and "whenever" are TOO definite

* Read the questions.... Then decide what you are WORRIED about... then pick an answer that you can do to

SOLVE the problem

* If you see words like "assessment" or "evaluation" in the stem of the question.... Think pertainate signs and symptoms. The presents or absence of the signs or symptoms.

* You can't use medical dx in a nursing diagnosis

* You will report something "new" or different" or "possible" to the next shift nurse.

Hurst Review Services 2

* If you can narrow the answers down to 2 answers... pick the more life threatening answer.

* Anytime you have a magnesium or calcium question... think muscles first.

* Digoxin + hypokalemia= toxicity

* You elevate veins and dangle arteries.

* Always worry if the rate decreased with a pacemaker

* Never pick an answer that puts your work off on anyone else

* Never pick an answer that does not allow your patient to speak

* Never pick an answer that ignores or brushes off the patient's compliant.

* If the answer is not applicable to the situation... don't pick it.