The December 2010 NLE last December 19 & 20 was very difficult period. It may sound defeatist, but my heart and mind couldn't lie. I am really hoping and praying I can pass it. When I left the room to join my college friends outside their testing rooms, I was so disappointed I have countless answers that were products of stupidity! What was i thinking?! There were a lot of questions that I could not classify under nursing jurisprudence and professional development. They were more of hospital and unit management which I deduced subjects from the graduate class. The choices were also very tricky, listing all possible general choices that match the concerned topic. When I went home the 2nd day, papa urged me to go along with my friends who were having an afterparty with our review center. I told him i cannot go. He replied in Visayan, sometimes I should also learn how to get drunk! So I reached a bottle of Tanduay Ice from our supply box and got groggy after nearly finishing a whole bottle. That, and easy A made things bearable that day, but please underline the former.
For me to list what I learned during my 6 months review, I answered a looooot of test questions from the past board examinations and NCLEX reviewers (both in print and CD-rom) from Saunders, Lippincott, Mosby's, Delmar, Kaplan, Springhouse, Pilliteri, and chapter questions from Kozier, Lemone and Burke and Videbeck. Trust me, it made no difference in the actual seating. Or even if it did engineer how you would feel before jumping in ice, it made no difference as to how the exam would make you feel after you left the school gate and fixed your gaze towards the sky in a hopeful note that you can still make it through.
1. Look at the commonality of options
2. Look at the CUES in each question. Over-confidence enables us to read through @ torpedo speed neglecting the BASIC principles we have to remember. Sometimes, the cues point to answers in choices that are tricky.
3. Convert necessary values.
4. Never stereotype (another flaw of over-confidence) questions and options. Its more likely a bait and you have to recognize it before getting trapped by your own stupidity. Read the question. Do not make unintelligent assumptions. Stop. Read the question again and interpret it as it is. Think hard.
5. Do not readily eliminate options. Give them equal chances to survive your counterpoints. Systematically argue with them within the boundaries of scientific logic.
6. Look at the consequences produced by each option.
7. Do not try to fit the rationale of the supposed answer to a favored option.
8. Adverse effects are to be reported. Side effects are, under in normal conditions, expected.
9. Pay attention to these cues well: before, during, after
10. Beware of options that are seemingly right, but require doctor's order.
11. There is always a logical explanation for each answer. Make sure it is defensible in a debate.
12. Don't just reread items mindlessly.
13. For incorrect options, it either: there's 1 word making it incorrect or its irrelevant
14. If you have problems identifying the answer, refer back to the situation and identify cues that could narrow your options.
15. When answering questions, always be client-centered, prioritize according to needs, and Maslow's hierarchy. When choosing implementation options, answer these questions first: is it safe? is it relevant to the situation and to the kind of patient served?
16. The wrong answers are interspersed by right answers that are seemingly believable (I call them Trojan Horses). Do the extra mile of thinking beyond what is obvious and there you'll see what makes it wrong.
17. It may sound like it but think twice! The other may indirectly sound like it too and surprise surprise, its the right option!
No comments:
Post a Comment