Testing Strategies
□ Least Invasive First
□ Pain never killed anyone
□ Never release traction UNLESS you have an order from the physician to do so
□ Polyuria—Think shock first
□ If you have never heard of it…. Don’t pick it!
□ Anytime you see fluid retention… Think heart problems first
□ Stay away from restraints as long as you can… Remember the NCLEX® is a perfect world.
□ Do not pick an answer that delays care or treatment.
□ Never pick an answer that does not allow your patient to speak.
□ Select a “patient focused” answer.
□ With priority questions… Remember you can only send one message to the NCLEX lady… so you must pick the “killer” answer
□ ADH—Think H2O
□ Aldosterone—Think sodium AND water
□ With SIADH—TOO many letters TOO much WATER
□ More Volume—More Pressure
□ Less Volume—Less Pressure
□ Anytime you see the words “assessment” or “evaluation” think pertinent signs and symptoms
□ There will not be a test questions unless there is something to WORRY about…
□ Assume the WORST
□ If there is something you can do about the problem first… do that before calling the doctor
□ Hypoxia may be the first sign of respiratory acidosis
□ With restless patient… think hypoxia first
□ Limit protein in kidney patients EXCEPT with Nephrotic syndrome
□ Like illness can be put in the same room together
□ If there are any long term consequences to your patient with the answer you pick, you should not pick that answer.
□ Assess before implementing
□ If you have a fluid problem you have a Na problem too
□ If you have a fluid problem… you will do I&O and daily weights
□ “Always” and “whenever” are TOO definite
□ Read the questions…. Then decide what you are WORRIED about… then pick an answer that you can do to SOLVE the problem
□ If you see words like “assessment” or “evaluation” in the stem of the question…. Think pertinent signs and symptoms. The presence or absence of the signs or symptoms.
□ You can’t use medical dx in a nursing diagnosis
□ You will report something “new” or “different” or “possible” to the next shift nurse.
□ If you can narrow the answers down to 2 answers… pick the more life threatening answer.
□ Anytime you have a magnesium or calcium question… think muscles first.
□ Digoxin + hypokalemia= toxicity
□ You elevate veins and dangle arteries.
□ Always worry if the rate decreased with a pacemaker
□ Never pick an answer that puts your work off on anyone else
□ Never pick an answer that ignores or brushes off the patient’s compliant.
□ If the answer is not applicable to the situation… don’t pick it.
□ I promise that I will be happy if you get more right than wrong… We are not trying to get a 100!
□ When answering “select all that apply” alternative format questions…look at each option as a true and false question… if you answer true then you would select that option as one of your answer.