Nursing TEST TAKING STRATEGY I: How to Avoid Reading into the Question

TEST TAKING STRATEGY I: How to Avoid Reading into the Question

B) The parts of a question.

1. The question will consist of a case situation, question stem, and the option ( a fill in the blank question will not contain options).

2. The case situation provides you with the information about the client and the information that you need to consider in answering the question.

3. The question stem asks something specific about the case situation.

4.The options are all of the answers.

5. A multiple-choice question will have four options, and you must select one; read every option carefully, and always use the process of elimination.

6. A multiple-response question will have a several options, and you must select all options that apply to the situation in the question; read each option carefully, visualize the situation, and use your nursing knowledge to answer the question; read each option carefully, visualize the situation, and use your nursing knowledge to answer the question.

7. In prioritizing (ordered response) question, you will be required to list in order of priority certain nursing interventions; visualize the situation, and use your nursing knowledge to answer the question.

Multiple Choice Question: Case Situation, Question Stem and Options. Case situation: The nurse is monitoring a child for bleeding following surgery for removal of a brain tumor. The nurse checks the head dressing for the presence of blood and notes a colorless drainage on the back of the dressing. Question stem: Which of the following would be the most appropriate nursing intervention? Options Circle the area of drainage and continue to monitor. Reinforce the dressing. Notify the physician. Document the findings and continue to monitor.

Nursing TEST TAKING STRATEGY I: How to Avoid Reading into the Question

TEST TAKING STRATEGY I: How to Avoid Reading into the Question

How to Avoid Reading into the Question

Read the question and every option thoroughly and carefully. Ask yourself, “ What is the question specifically asking?” Be alert to key words and true and false response questions Eliminate the incorrect options. Use all of your nursing knowledge, your clinical experiences, and your test-taking skills and strategies to answer the question.

A)

2. Read every word in the question and specifically determine what the question is asking.
3. Focus only on the information in the question and avoid asking yourself, “ Well, what if….?”

4. Look for the key words in the question, such as early signs or late signs.

5. In multiple-choice questions, multiple-response questions, or questions that require you to number in order of priority, read every choice or option presented.

6. Use the process of elimination when choices or options are presented; reread the question and what the question is asking specifically to assist you in determining your final choice or choices.

7. With the question that require you to fill in the blank, focus on the information in the question and determine what the question is asking; if the questions requires you to calculate a medication dose or intake and output amounts, recheck your work in calculating to verify the answer.

8. Remember, focus on the information in the question and specifically what the question is asking.

PRACTICE QUESTION: Avoid Reading into the Question A client with metastatic cancer is receiving a continuous intravenous infusion of morphine sulfate to alleviate pain. The nurse monitors the client for which adverse or toxic effects of the medication? 1. Dizziness 2. Sedation 3. Skeletal muscle flaccidity 4. Nausea Answer: 3 Test-Taking Strategy: Read every word in the question and specifically determine what the question is asking. The question is asking about the adverse or toxic effect of morphine sulfate. Dizziness, sedation, and nausea are side effects of morphine sulphate that the client may experience but are not toxic effects. Remember, focus on the information in the question and what the question is asking.