Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Easy and Effective Test Taking Strategies for Board Exams RULE 3

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RECOGNIZE AND SPOT THE KEY WORDS in the stem or background information. Be alert that those keywords can sometimes be overlook at the stem of the question or may possibly placed at the choices.

a. Specific determiners or Clang Association between the stem and the choices or options. Clang association is the repetitious use of a word in the stem and choice. Repetitious words are specific determiners towards the right answer.

When the options of a test item consists words that are identical or similar to words in the stem, the attentive test taker distinguishes the stimulus as clues about the possible answer to the question. The stem word that clues you to a similar word in the option or that limits possible options is identified as a specific determiner.

Example 3:

To meet a client’s physical needs, the nurse will:

a. Pull the curtains when providing care

b. Answer call bell immediately

c. Administer physical hygiene

d. Obtain vital signs

Answer: C. The word physical is the key word in the stem. It appeared again in Choice C. Administer physical hygiene.

Example 4:

When providing perineal care in patients, nurses can most appropriately protect themselves from microorganisms by:

a. Washing hands prior to giving care

b. Wearing clean gloves during perineal care

c. Discarding contaminated water in the toilet

d. Encourage patients

Answer: B. The key word in the stem and choices is the word perineal.

Example 5:

The government agency responsible for administering the nursing practice act in each state is the:

a. Board of Regents

b. Board of Nursing

c. Philippine Nurses’ Association

d. American Hospital Association

Answer: B. Options b and c contain the closely related words nurse and nursing. The word nursing, used both in the stem and in option 2, is a clue to the correct answers.

b. Key words such as: best, most, correct, most appropriate, does not need further intervention, needs further intervention, and needs attention, critical and others which qualify the answer.

c. If the options in an item do not seem to make sense because more than one option is correct, reread the questions; you may have missed one of the key words in the stem. Also be on guard when you see one of the key words in an option; it may limit the context in which such an option would be correct.

Example 6:

The nurse would most likely assess all but which one of the following signs of dehydration in a preschooler?

a. Tenting of the skin

b. Sunken eyeballs

c. Depressed fontanel

d. Lack of tears

All choices above are correct about dehydration. The key word is pre-schooler. Choice C cannot be assessed in a preschooler. Answer is C.

Easy and Effective Test Taking Strategies for Board Exams Rule 2

7:39 PM conceptualz.blogspot.com No comments

& Easy and Effective Test Taking Strategies for Board Exams RULE 2:

CAREFUL READING IN EVERY QUESTION

CAUTIOUSLY READ THE OPTIONS AND BE AWARE TO SPECIF DETAILS. Focus on “What exactly is being asked?” A well formed multiple-choice question is purposely stated, given that only information required making the question or problem clear and detailed. Careful reading of details in the stem can offer important clues to the right option.

Scores on tests are sturdily affected by reading ability. In answering a test item, you must begin by cautiously reading the stem and then asking yourself the following questions:

« What is the question actually asking?

« What information appropriate to answering this question is incorporated in the stem?

« How would I ask this question in my own words?

Deal with the question as it is stated, with no reading anything into it or making guess about it. Answer the question in conditions of what is accurately being asked, not the one you would like to answer. For easy recall items the self-questioning procedure will typically be accomplished rapidly. For more compound items the self-questioning procedure may take longer, however it may help you in clarifying the item and choose the best answer.

Ask yourself the following questions:

“Is there an option that is similar to the one I thought of?”

“Is this option the best, most complete answer to the question? “

For each option, answer “YES” or “NO” according to whether it fits or answers the question in the stem.

Example 1:

A male client is told that he will no longer be able to ingest alcohol if he wants to live. To effect a change in his behavior while he is in the hospital, the nurse should attempt to:

a. Help the client set short-term dietary goals.

b. Discuss his hopes and dreams for the future

c. Discuss the pathophysiology of the liver with him.

d. Withhold approval until the client agrees to stop drinking.

The specific clause “to effect a change in his behavior while he is in the hospital”… is crucial. Option a, the correct answer, may perhaps result in an obvious behavioral change while the client is hospitalized; for example, he might define ways attain short-term goals linking to diet and alcohol while in the hospitals.

Option b does not actually relate to his alcoholism. Option c may be part of educating the alcoholic, but you might not expect a behavioral change visible in the hospital to come out from this discussion. Option d rejects the client as well as his behavior instead of only his behavior.

Example 2:

The nurse assessing a client in labor recognizes that the sign most diagnostic of effectiveness of labor is:

a. Rupture of BOW

b. Passage of mucus plug

c. Cervical dilation

d. Increasing intensity of pain

Answer: C. The key word is effectiveness of labor. Choice C answers the questions BEST.

 Easy and Effective Test Taking Strategies for Board Exams RULE 1

6:59 PM conceptualz.blogspot.com No comments

& Easy and Effective Test Taking Strategies for Board Exams RULE 1:

IDENTIFY THE STRUCTURE OF THE QUESTION.

A typical board question is a multiple choice type that consists
of two major parts:

· STEM

· OPTIONS or CHOICES.

The STEM of the question contains:

a. The background statement – is a short situation that gives information that is essential or helpful in answering the question. Nevertheless, the background statement does not constantly give information needed in answering the question. It might be comprised to supply an outline for the stem or to flavor the test with attention and behavior. It perhaps includes determining how successfully you can arrange through the data and choose relevant information. In the above example, for example, offers a background question properly. In developing Easy and Effective Test Taking Strategies for Board Exams, you will learn how to distinguish necessary from supplementary information in the background statement and the stem.

Example:

Mrs. Thomas arrived at the hospital in early labor.

b. The Question - signify what is being asked for or it’s purpose for asking. It can be embodied in the form of a question or an unfinished statement twisted by a subject and a verb (open-ended statement).

Example:

A. purpose in question form:

“Which of the following signs is the best indicator that labor is progressing?”

B. purpose in unfinished statement or open-ended statement:

“The best indicator that labor is progressing is.:”

The OPTIONS – are likely the answers to the question or probable solutions to the problem. The right answer is called the keyed response and the other options are called distracters. The word, option, distracters, response, and answer are used interchangeably in the test. A question is frequently followed by four single option choices. In answering the test question you will choose the option that most excellent completes the question or answers the problem.

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