After two to four years of lectures, tests, exams, and quizzes, you take the NCLEX. The NCLEX, if you haven’t heard about it, is the test to become a Registered Nurse. Ideally, before the test, I highly suggest studying and not trying to wing it. The exam is expensive and not worth not trying if you’re not ready. With that said, the vast amount of needed information, whether pharmacology, maternity, or medical-surgical, that you might not know. At this point, it’s time to start eliminating the wrong answers.
#1 What is the question?
Read the question and the scenario again, understand what the question asks you. Some questions give you too much information, and the answer you pick is not the one that is requested. Your mind reads through all the information, and the response has to do with the disease process but not the correct answer. Understand what the question is asking.
#2 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Maslow is a constant discussion in the nursing field. The nurse isn’t there to help the disease process but for the person as a whole. The situation will call for different needs based on what the patient has or lacks. Everyone has different needs depending on their position. For example, a homeless patient would need the basics like shelter and food, compared to a child of neglect where they have the shelter and food, but their concern is safety.
#3 Know your ABCs
Ok. Throughout nursing school, the ABCs, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Let’s do a quick review. In an initial assessment of a patient, especially a patient found down, you want first to make sure there is a patent airway, the person is breathing, and has a pulse. Why does this matter when answering questions? Always keep in mind ABCs. If they mention a patient is down or note a lack of any of them.
#4 Read Carefully
Once again, read the question carefully, and understand what the question is asking.
Do you have any tips for tricks taking tests or answering NCLEX?