You sit down at your chair. The pile of papers sits in front for you, the exam. The endless number of tests in the journey to becoming a nurse ends only with another review, the NCLEX. Typically, schools try to mimic the NCLEX-like question as to prepare the student. There are a few types of items used on the NCLEX which you may also see on exams.
#1 Multiple Choice
These are the most abundant type of question found on tests. Multiple choices are also the most well-liked amongst all the other question types. Multiple choice questions give you four options, and there is one answer. When answering its important to look for keywords. A beautiful part of these types, even if you have no idea what the answer is you have a one in four chance of getting it right.
#2 Select All that Applies
The dreaded Select All. I hate these questions so much. What are these questions, there are four to six options, and the answers could be one or all, or any combination. Then if you miss one or check one that isn’t right the whole question is wrong. An alternative item will ask you to put something in sequential order. Statistically, if you don’t approach these correctly or do not understand the subject being presented, you will get it wrong.
#3 Calculations
The math calculations have always been my favorite, these I usually get correct. Items on these exams fall into dosages and drips. There might be others that get thrown in as well, but dosages and drip rates seem to be more popular. Drip rates, you don’t need to know anything regarding the medication, it’s a simple plug and chug equation. The best strategy is to learn the formula and practice. The dosage calculations can range from easy, the patient needs 7.5 mg, the tablets come as 5 mg, you need 1.5 tablets. The more complicated, the patient is 11 pounds, medication dose is 15 mg per 1.5 kg, the medication comes as 10 mg per 2.5 ml how many milliliters do you need? This example was just me throwing numbers out there. The more complex the dosage rate is the more conversions you will have to perform. A different question asks a reverse dosage that gives you the milliliter, and it asks for the weight of the patient. There are two formulas that you need to know and use, a small amount of mathematics and practice will make all the difference.
#4 Miscellaneous
The Miscellaneous items on the NCLEX include those where you hear something like lung sounds or heart sounds, and you pick out the correct answer. Another miscellaneous is the “hot spot,” where they ask you to point out a specific area. Both of these are new test items since the NCLEX is computerized. A hotspot can also be used on a paper exam, showing a diagram of the body asking you a question and then marking with an “x.”
The questions all have their own methods of answering them. What questions are the hardest for you?
Check out 5 Favorite Tips for Preparing for NCLEX and 5 Tips to get you through the Reading