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Test Success
Guidelines to Test Taking
Multiple Choice Questions
• Most commonly used
• Optimize your selection
Strategy 1
• Read the client
information, question stem
and answers carefully
Strategy 2
• Treat each question
individually
Strategy 3
• Monitor the time
Strategy 4
• An educated guess is
better than no answer at
all
Strategy 5
• Use the process of
elimination in selecting the
correct answer
Strategy 6
• Look for the answer that
has the broader focus
(Umbrella options)
Example Umbrella Type Questions
• The nurse suspects that a client
is having an anaphylactic-type
allergic reaction to an IV
antibiotic just received. Which
symptoms, manifested by the
client, would most likely lead
the nurse to this conclusions?
• A. Nausea and vomiting
• B. Itchy rash and hives
• C. Hypertension and
tachycardia
• D. Sudden wheezing and
urticaria
Strategy 7
• Trust intuition
Strategy 8
• Look for qualifying words in the
question stem
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FIRST
BEST
MOST
INITIAL
BETTER
HIGHEST
PRIORITY
Example Priority-Type Question
A 62 year-old client has a history of
coronary heart disease and is brought
into the ER complaining of chest pain.
What initial action should be taken by
the nurse?
a. Give the client NTG gr 1/150 SL
now
b. Call the client’s cardiologist about
admission
c. Place the client in a high-Fowler’s
position after loosening the shirt
d. Check BP and note the location
and degree of the chest pain.
Strategy 9
• Look for negatives in the
question stem
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NOT
LEAST
UNLIKELY
INAPPROPRIATE
UNREALISTIC
LOWEST PRIORITY
CONTRAINDICATED
FALSE
EXCEPT
INCONSISTENT
UNTOWARD
ALL BUT
ATYPICAL
INCORRECT
Example Negative Question
A client, after being admitted to
the Medical Unit, is still having
some mild chest pain. Select
the medication that is
inappropriate for the relief of
chest pain.
a. Diltiazem (Cardizem)
b. Propranolol (Inderal)
c. Digoxin (Lanoxin)
d. Meperidine (Demerol)
Strategy 10
• Avoid selecting answers
that have absolutes in
them
ALWAYS
EVERY
ONLY
ALL
NEVER
NONE
Example Absolute Question
When assessing the chest pain of
a client with cardiovascular
disease, what may be
considered?
a. This pain is always caused by
constriction or blockage of
the coronary arteries by fat
plaques or blood clots
b. True cardiac pain is never
relieved without treatment
c. This type of pain is only
relieved by NTG
d. Clients often attribute the pain
to indigestion
Strategy 11
• The answer that is
presented differently is
usually the incorrect
answer
Example Differently Presented
Question
A client has developed heart failure.
Identify the correct dosage for a
loading dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) for
an adult client.
a.
b.
c.
d.
0.75 mg divided into three doses q 8
hours
0.75 Gm divided into four doses q 8
hours
10 mg – the client is a very large
person with a Native American
backgroud which causes slow
absorption of the medication
0.25 mg
Strategy 12
• Avoid selecting answers
that pass the decision to
the physician
Strategy 13
• Avoid looking for a pattern
in the selection of answers
Strategy 14
• DO NOT PANIC if a totally
unfamiliar question is
encountered
Example Totally Unfamiliar
Question
A 33-year-old client has been
diagnosed as having a
pheochromocytoma. Select the
appropriate initial nursing activity.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Administering large doses of
xylometazoline (Otrivin) to help control
the symptoms of the disease.
Monitoring the client’s vital signs closely,
particularly the blood pressure.
Preparing the client and family for
imminent death.
Having the family discuss the condition
with the physician before informing the
client about the disease because of the
protracted recovery period after
treatment.
Strategy 15
• Do not choose answers
that make the client seem
unworthy or ignorant
Strategy 16
• Look for the proper
sequence of actions
Strategy 17
• If there is a lengthy nursing
situation or case study,
read the stem of the
question first.
Strategy 18
• Choose answers that
acknowledge the client,
communicate
acceptance, are openended and encourage
discussion and expression
of feelings.
Strategy 19
• Be positive about the
examination!
Other study suggestions
• Prepare
• “If I don’t know it by now, I
never will”
• Directed study and
preparation
Review books should cover
• Names of Common
Medications
• Lethal and Therapeutic Doses
and Antidotes
• Common Adverse Effects of
Medications
• Lab Values and Implications
• Growth and Development
• Diet Therapy
• Basic Anatomy and Physiology
• The Stages of the Nursing
Process
Group Study Rules
• Be very selective of the
members of the study
group
• Have each individual
prepare a particular
section for each group
study session
• Limit the length of the
study session
Individual Study
• Review Book
• Practice answering
questions
Steps to Take night prior to test
• Plan to arrive on time
• Review information
(formulas, names of
common medications,
etc.)
• Go to bed at a reasonable
hour
• Use a relaxation exercise
• Look forward to the test
Day of Examination
• Avoid excessive oral intake of
diuretics: coffee, tea, soft
drinks, etc.
• Support your usual habit, but do
not overdo it.
• Wear comfortable clothing
• Relaxation techniques
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Posture
Breathing
Picture (visualization)
Relaxation word (Key word)
Breathing
Relaxation Techniques
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Posture
Breathing
Picture (visualization)
Relaxation word (key
word)
• Breathing
Evaluation
• 1. What should the nurse
do immediately before
performing any
procedure?
1. Shut the door
B. Wash the hands
C. Close the curtain
D. Drape the patient
• 2. When providing care to
a patient with a
nasogastric tube, the nurse
recognizes that the tube
goes into the:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Stomach
Bronchi
Trachea
Duodenum
• 3. What should be the first
action of the nurse when a
fire alarm rings in a healthcare facility?
A. Close all doors on the unit.
B. Take an extinguisher to the
fire scene.
C. Move patients laterally
toward the stairs.
D. Determine if it is a fire drill or
a real fire.
• 4. What is the most common
reason why older adults
become incontinent of urine?
A. The muscles that control urination
become weak.
B. Their increase in weight places
pressure on the bladder.
C. They use incontinence to
manipulate and control others
D. Older adults tend to drink less fluid
than younger patients.
• 5. To best understand what
a patient is saying, the
nurse should:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Demonstrate interest
Listen carefully
Remain silent
Employ touch
• 6. When assisting a female
patient with dementia to
groom her hair, the nurse
should:
A. Offer constant support and
encouragement
B. Set time aside for a long teaching
session
C. Alternate using a brush and a
comb
D. Teach her how to braid her hair
• 7. An older adult who is dying
starts to cry and says, “I was
always concerned about
myself first and I hurt many
people during my life.” What is
the underlying feeling being
expressed by the patient?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ambivalence
Sadness
Anger
Guilt
• 8. Range-of-motion (ROM)
exercises should NOT be
done:
A. For comatose patients
B. On limbs that are paralyzed
C. Beyond the point of
resistance
D. For patients with chronic
joint disease
• 9. On what part of the
body should the nurse
avoid using sop when
bathing a patient?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Eyes
Back
Under the breasts
Glans of the penis
• 10. What position would be
contraindicated for the
patient who has dyspnea?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Supine
Contour
Fowler’s
Orthopneic