This may seem like a dumb question, but they always say there is none

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I am currently in Fundamentals and I've been getting acceptable grades usually (low Bs). I want to know how do you learn to critical think, especially when taking tests? We have a lot of questions where there are scenarios and we have to chose the answer that best fits and I always seem to narrow it down to 2 answers and I really would not have that happen to me over and over again. Most times I pick the wrong answer, but it's only after I've second guessed myself at least 10 times. Select all that apply questions really, really, really throw me for a loop! Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :balloons:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Most colleges offer classes and coaching for students for students on how to improve their study skills and test-taking skills. It might be well worth your time to look into what is available in your area. You would have lots to gain by improving those skills while still a "beginner" in school.

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currently taking Fundamentals also, and I agree that those questions are always the trickiest ones! My teacher gives us at the end of each chapter some review ones though so we will become more familiar with choosing the BEST answer. I know there are books out there that give u practice questions like that, which is also preparation for the NCLEX. While I agree that it is something that should be improved early on,I also think that it is something that comes with practice and experience.

Also, try not to second guess yourself too much. I find that when I do that I often change the right answer to the wrong one!

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

Go to your library at school and the public library and check out any N-CLEX books there. The practice questions will also have the rationale included, and will help you start to connect the dots to why an answer is more correct or BEST or First Thing You Do. As stated above, you will start to think critically with practice.

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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 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:

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I recommend that you go out and buy/check out the Kaplan NCLEX strategy book. I loved that book and wish I had it during nursing school. It teaches you how to eliminate the incorrect answers and gives you tips on how to select the most correct answer from what is left. Right now it sounds like you are guessing when you get to the last 2 answers, which means that you have a 50/50 shot at getting it right. The Kaplan Strategies book gives you little tips that help get the odds more in your favor.

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This may seem really simplistic, but our Professor recommended this little tip and it has helped me...

When you take the test, cover up all of the answers with your hand (or the scantron sheet if you use one). Read the question, and then try to think of the answer first in your head. Then, look at each answer one at a time, and judge each one on its own before starting to compare answers. I know this sounds silly, but it has helped me. Often I do get down to two and they both seem 'right'. I think if you narrow down too fast, it interrupts the thought process somehow. When I cover up and look at just one at a time, one usually jumps out at me.

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This may seem really simplistic, but our Professor recommended this little tip and it has helped me...

When you take the test, cover up all of the answers with your hand (or the scantron sheet if you use one). Read the question, and then try to think of the answer first in your head. Then, look at each answer one at a time, and judge each one on its own before starting to compare answers. I know this sounds silly, but it has helped me. Often I do get down to two and they both seem 'right'. I think if you narrow down too fast, it interrupts the thought process somehow. When I cover up and look at just one at a time, one usually jumps out at me.

This is what I do on multiple choice tests, albeit I take it a step further: I cover up the answers with my hand, then jot down what I think the answer is before I look at the options. I often find exactly what I'm looking for. I'll still go back and think of reasons to eliminate the other options. If I'm down to two choices, I'll go with that original "gut" choice.

A suggestion for the OP: Does your fundamentals text book come with a CD-rom, web site or study guide? I'd try using them before I bought an NCLEX book. If your professor is pulling questions from a test bank generated by the text book's authors, you might see some of those same practice questions on your text. You'll also (often) have the benefit of rationales that explain why each answer is right or wrong.

I also benefit greatly from my study group. We'll go over all of these practice questions together. We'll discuss why each and every option is right or wrong. We essentially do our critical thinking out loud and learn from each other.

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that also happened to me when i first started... the teachers just always said.. "the answer is on the page" ok.. well duh... i would always get it down to 2 and 8 out of 10 times pick the wrong one... it was hard to me... but it has taken me several semesters... but i try not to think TOO much into it... and what helps me is not to think about situations i have experienced.. like oh yea we had a patient the other day and this is what we did with him... because just like with the nclex... it's the perfect graduate rn world... do what you are supposed to do.. no short cut's always keep patient in mind first... the patient that is the most critical... remember your ABC's. hmmm... i often often often thought too much into the questions let me see if i can explain one of the questions and my rationale:

Something along the lines of:

A patient was getting prepared for a procedure.. as a floor nurse which of the following would be your job to complete:

1. Give the patient all the information and details of the procedure and ask if there are any questions.

2. Set up the room, getting all the supplies needed for the surgery

3. obtain signed consent form

4. assist the pt. to the side lying position.

The correct answer is 3. I just knew it wasn't. they stress and stress how important it is that the doctor is supposed to get it signed. bla bla... the teachers stated that in this question that it meant just to get the paper from the patient and ensure that it was signed... bla

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Something along the lines of:

A patient was getting prepared for a procedure.. as a floor nurse which of the following would be your job to complete:

1. Give the patient all the information and details of the procedure and ask if there are any questions.

2. Set up the room, getting all the supplies needed for the surgery

3. obtain signed consent form

4. assist the pt. to the side lying position.

The correct answer is 3. I just knew it wasn't. they stress and stress how important it is that the doctor is supposed to get it signed. bla bla... the teachers stated that in this question that it meant just to get the paper from the patient and ensure that it was signed... bla

Actually, since you are the "floor nurse," you could eliminate 2 and 4 right away...that would actually happen in the OR. For the two remaining answers, it would be the Floor nurse to get the consent signed,as it would be the doctor (surgeon) who would be able to give ALL the information and details of the procedure.

The actual getting the patient to sign the consent would fall to the nurse.

Kris

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Actually, since you are the "floor nurse," you could eliminate 2 and 4 right away...that would actually happen in the OR. For the two remaining answers, it would be the Floor nurse to get the consent signed,as it would be the doctor (surgeon) who would be able to give ALL the information and details of the procedure.

The actual getting the patient to sign the consent would fall to the nurse.

Kris

Student here. I don't understand: I thought only the person who performs a procedure can obtain informed consent. No?

I would have gone for option 3, although I see your point about the floor nurse. But why couldn't/wouldn't the patient necessarily be put in a side-lying position prior to the procedure, say to receive a med?

I'm turning this over in my mind as I had an exam question today on informed consent. Thanks for your help.

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Student here. I don't understand: I thought only the person who performs a procedure can obtain informed consent. No?

I would have gone for option 3, although I see your point about the floor nurse. But why couldn't/wouldn't the patient necessarily be put in a side-lying position prior to the procedure, say to receive a med?

I'm turning this over in my mind as I had an exam question today on informed consent. Thanks for your help.

Informed consent would equal written consent, which the nurse could do.

In regards to the side-lying position...you are reading things into it...it says nothing about administering a medication or anything along that lines. This could very well be a position may need to be in for surgery, which would be done in the OR.

The biggest thing to be careful about is reading too mention into the questions/answer choices.

Kris

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