How to Take an NCLEX Style Test

If you are a nursing student, you know all about the dreaded NCLEX style tests. How many times have you looked at those multiple choice questions and swore there was more than one answer? As a nursing student with one more semester to go, I completely understand and sympathize with your dilemma over NCLEX style tests. This article will assist you in interpreting NCLEX style questions and give you tips on how to help select the correct answer.

Remember Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Psychologist Abraham Maslow developed his Hierarchy of Needs as a ranking of human needs essential for survival. The most basic needs were physiologic like air, food, and water. These needs must be met before any others can be addressed. With an NCLEX style test, a typical question may ask you what you do first for your patient or what is the priority for your patient. If any of the answers involve meeting a basic need such as checking the airway or providing oxygen, this is frequently the correct answer.

Everything hinges on one or two words

Make sure you read every question word by word carefully when taking an NCLEX style test. Signs and symptoms can vary based on how long a person has been sick and what phase of recovery he is in. What is normal one day postoperative any procedure may be a serious complication if the patient is two or three days postoperative. And I guarantee you will see two or more 'correct' answers to choose from. Go over the original question and make sure you know exactly what it is asking.

Know thy meds!

Students who have recently taken their NCLEX license test have noticed that medication questions are in abundance. It's impossible to know ever single drug on the market, but know the ones that make frequent appearances on NCLEX style tests: Coumadin, Digoxin, Lithium, Atropine, Dopamine. Also, learn to group medications for faster recognition. For example, drugs that end with '-olol' tend to be beta blockers that are used to treat hypertension.

Know your role as an RN

Delegation questions are common on NCLEX style tests. There are responsibilities that only a licensed RN can do such as assess, teach, plan care, and evaluate the outcomes of care . So when an NCLEX style test asks you which of the following you can delegate to an LPN or nurse's aide, avoid the answers that contain your responsibilities.

Avoid the extremes

It's almost a rule of thumb when taking an NCLEX style test that any answer using words such as all, every time, always, never is not a correct answer. Most things in life have exceptions, especially in health care and nursing, so rarely will an answer reflect something so absolute.

Study!!!!

You can apply all the tips and tricks in the world when taking an NCLEX style test but in the end, you still need to know your material. Remember, there is no substitute for good old fashioned reading and studying.

Sources:

Personal experience