F - eel more confident O - mit doubts on your ability to pass your test C - oncentrate on the most commonly asked

concepts in the board exam U - se your common sense S - elf-reliant in your quest to pass the board exam

GENERAL STUDY TIPS

       

Make a timetable Set the best time for studying. Write and post your schedule. Choose a place conducive for studying. Make flashcards and other visual aids. Device Mnemonics. Stick your schedule. REWARD YOURSELF.

TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES

1. Read each question/ case carefully and determine the key elements in the question (patient,age,sex martial status).

2. Pay particular attention to words such as best, most, first,and not when reading the question.

3. Do not add to the questions.

4. Reread the question and understand what is being asked.

5. Try to predict the correct answer before making the choice.

6. Avoid choices with answers all,always,never or none.

7. Look for the answers that appear different from the rest.

8. follow your first intuition.

9. When faced with a question that focuses on unfamiliar topic, remain calm and try to recall clients with problems similar to that in question.

10. Take the necessary time each question without spending to much on any one item.

11. Don't pay attention to how quickly other candidates complete their exaM

JOSIE QUIAMBAO-UDAN TIPS AND TRICKS

1. Your answers must be the "IDEAL" practice of nursing based on textbooks and theories not on experiences.

2. For beside nursing, imagine that you are actually taking care of the patient as you go about answering each question.

3. Utilize the nursing process when determining the correct response to the situation.

4. Care of the patient is always priority over equipment.

5. Avoid passing the buck. Consider all other options before making any referral .

6. Be familiar with normal laboratory values.

7. When dealing with questions regarding Therapeutic Communication:

     

ELIMINATE choices that evoke authoritarian response questions answerable by "yes" or "no" "why questions" questions that probe don't worry response nurse- centered responses.

8. With questions regarding positioning, ask yourself the question' "is this prevention or promotion?" Consider anatomy and physiology next.

9. In prioritization questions, use Maslow's Hierachy first. Then consider the use of ABC's.

10. Do not delegate assessment, teaching, judgment, or evaluation.

11. Learn to recognize expected outcome.

12. Pay close attention to words such as "first," "initial," "best"

Priority Setting

   

What action takes priority? What should the nurse do first? What should the nurse do initially? What is essential for the nurse to do?

Physiologic needs are first, followed by safety needs, then love and belonging, self-esteem and self-actualization. The first step of the nursing process is assessment! When the stem of a question asks for the initial nursing action always look to see if there is a relevant assessment answer. The nurse will take an action only when there is enough data to act. Call the physician only when there is not a nursing action that should be taken first. The stem of the question may ask for a nursing action and the correct answer may be to assess. When the stem of the question asks what is essential for the nurse to do, think safety. Remember many of the test questions are safety questions.

What is the Time Frame? Whenever a specific time frame is indicated in a question it is very important. Pay attention to it. Time related words may be like early or late in relation in symptoms, pre operative or post operative, care on the day of surgery or later postoperative care. Repeated WordsWords from the question are repeated in the answer. Frequently the same word or a synonym will be in both the question and the answer. OppositesWhen two answers are opposite such as high blood pressure and low blood pressure or increase the drip rate and stop the IV, or turn on the right side and turn on the left side, the answer is usually one of the two. Same AnswerIf two or three answers say the same thing in different words none can be correct. If the answers are too alike, then neither one is correct. Odd Answer WinsThe answer that is different from the others is apt to be the correct answer. It may be the longest or the shortest or simply very different in content or style. Umbrella AnswerOne answer includes the others. There may be more than one correct answer. One answer is better than all the others because it includes them.

Choosing between the two best options After eliminating the incorrect options and you are having difficulty choosing between two seemingly correct responses, use the following strategies:

  

Eliminate Similar Distracters - If two options are essentially saying the same thing or include the same idea, then neither of them can be the answer. The answer has to be the option that is different. Reread two seemingly correct options Look for a global response If two options seem equally correct, reread them carefully; there must be some difference between them. Reread the stem; yo u may notice something you missed before. A more general statement may also include correct ideas from other options.

10 Things to Remember on the day of the examination: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Get up early. Wear comfortable clothes. Check your things. (pencils, pens, etc.) Eat breakfast. Leave early so you will arrive early. Do NOT study while you wait for your examination.

7. 8. 9.

Read, listen to music, relax. Leave notes and books at home. Listen carefully to the instructions given by the test administrators.

10. Say a little Prayer before you begin.

PRAYER IS THE BEST KEY ..........................................!!!