Test Taking Tips for Nursing Students

Sue Barnes was kind enough to put together some helpful tips for test taking. Here they are.

Test-taking tips for nursing students

· The key is to move quickly but carefully through each question. If you miss one important word, the whole meaning of the question could be changed.
· Don't spend too much time on any one question -- skip the hard questions (or take a guess, and mark them) and then come back, if you have the time.
· Before you look at the answer choices, try to understand what the question is asking – is it an assessment question? Does it relate to another stage in the nursing process? Is patient safety an issue? Indentify key words in the stem that may set a priority, indicate negative polarity, etc.
· Also – before looking at your choices – try to think of what YOU would do, THEN look at them. Maybe the one you thought of is there.
· There are many people who will advise that your first choice is usually right. If you find that you're second-guessing yourself, and going back to change answers, only to discover that you've changed to the wrong choice, this one may apply to you!
· Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a good guideline, where basic physiological needs come first.
· Remember your ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation). Anything related to oxygenation is usually the #1 priority.
· Positioning can be big, too. Especially if the patient is at risk for aspiration.
· Therapeutic communication is also an area you'll encounter again and again. Be sure you recognize the hallmarks of therapeutic communication. The answers that sound client-centered, respectful, and promote maximum client independence are usually your best bet.
· Practice doing NCLEX-style questions every day (Bonnie Boss recommends a minimum of 10 a day). For starters, do the questions in your textbook, accompanying study guide and using online resources from the publisher that relate to the chapters you're studying.

Other good resources for test-taking:
· Test Success – Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students (authors: Patricia M. Nugent and Barbara A. Vitale). The whole book is good, but Chapter 7 (Test-taking techniques) is especially good for helping you to analyze questions.
· Top Ten Test-Taking Tips (Evolve student development videos) with Linda Anne Silvestri
http://evolve.elsevier.com/staticPages/s_student_development.html

· MEDS Successful Problem Solving and Test-Taking for Beginning Nursing Students
(This tutorial software is available on the medspub.com site or free in the computer lab)

Helpful Hints from the Student Nurses' Association meeting

Here are the meeting minutes from the Survival Tips SNA Meeting


SNA Meeting Minutes for March 24th

Meeting began at 1305
I. Continued research on fundraising and community service projects
II. NSSP – Robin Shum and LaShonna Parker–
a. Stress Management – time is a big factor
i. I’M SOR
1. Identify goals in life, what do you like? (*if you enjoy what you are doing, your stress will be lower. Have a positive attitude!)
a. Don’t get too worried about details. Look at big picture.
b. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete assignments/study.
2. Modify
3. Simplify
4. Organize – split up your time accordingly
a. Planner
b. Look at one week. How much time did you spend on different activities? Analyze it.
c. Modify your lifestyle to make best use of your time and reduce stress.
i. Grocery stores not as full at night (time saver!)
ii. There is always a solution to things that happen in life. Don’t let stress affect your health. J
iii. Planning doesn’t mean anything unless you take action.
5. Recognize
**I LIKE NURSING!!
**Knowing and not doing is like not knowing. (I like that!)
ii. Relaxation and Health
1. eating habits – eat breakfast
2. get exercise
3. emotional health is important
4. schedule time for yourself to sit still or do something you enjoy
5. relaxing music
III. Danielle Mathias-Lamb
a. Don’t study more, study smarter
b. Nursing 4 very important!!
c. Know how theory applies to real world
i. Ask questions to instructors and nurses
d. Keep pamphlets that can and will come up again in later classes
i. Organized into body systems or what will work for you
e. grasp the concepts, everything else will follow
f. Books that helped Danielle
i. Critical Care Nursing Care Plan, 2nd Ed. - Delmar
ii. Study guide for Medical-surgical Nursing; Critical thinking in client Care, 3rd ed. – Lemone/Burke
iii. Nursing Diagnoses reference manual, 5th ed. – sparks/taylor
iv. Illustrated Study guide for the NCLEX – RN exam, 6th ed - Mosby
v. Memory notecards – pathophysiology and fluids and electrolytes (Mosby’s)
IV. Erin Shelby
a. Use your resources/study guides!!
b. It is very beneficial to study in groups
c. Prioritize
d. DON’T STRESS!!
e. Theory is only a few hours a week vs 12-20 hours of clinicals.
i. Get through theory and focus your learning on clinicals.
V. Ana Hernandez
a. Study smart!! – article, “Undergraduate Medical Education is NOT Rocket Science: But that does NOT mean it’s easy!
VI. Questions
a. Nursing 4?
i. Romena’s lectures follow the textbook
ii. Use study guide that goes with Lewis textbook.
1. It is a guideline for what to study
2. Why are the answers in the study guide wrong (not just right)
3. You may not get to all reading, doing questions, look at tables is good
4. Taking tests in nursing skills lab
b. don’t wait until you are failing to speak with the Nursing Student Success program
c. Everyone learns different, so find the person who learns how you learn.
VII. Nominations for SNA Leadership Award
a. Majority vote for Danielle Mathias-Lamb and Nicole Porter to be given award
VIII. Raffle
IX. 4th semester students, Nicole Porter and Danielle Mathias-Lamb requested funds from SNA for graduation flowers. TBD at next SNA meeting
Meeting adjourned at 1435

Risk of losing the Welcome TEA

I know that all of you are extremely busy. The first semester is a time of change and stress, but I am very disappointed at the lack of response that I have received in regards to help for planning next semester's Welcome Reception.

The TEA is a student ran reception that has been a tradition for many years. It is a chance for all of you to Welcome the incoming nursing students as we welcomed you. It is time to return the favor. If we do not have participation in this planning, it is at risk of dying off.

Thank you to Stacey Boyd and Ogechi Achunine for offering their time, but I am still looking for someone to chair this reception. I can be a resource for the planning if there are questions, and I have a binder that takes you step by step through the process up until the day of the TEA. And remember, you have all summer to plan as well.

This is an important part of Delta College's Nursing Program, don't let it die with this class.