Studying/Testing
Here are some videos and other resources that give tips about how to answer nursing school/HESI/NCLEX questions. There are also some videos about study strategies.
HOW TO STUDY
I like this lady a lot, her advice is to the point and relevant from someone who has 'been there':
She has a very nice blog with more test-taking strategies and other tips
Tips from a long-time nursing school professor:
TEST TAKING STRATEGIES
My worst habit was rushing through tests. Read each question three times. Once to get a general idea of what they are asking, once to look for key words and once to formulate your answer. Cover the answers and think what your reply to the question would be.
More from the nursing school professor:
General Strategies
Some Specific strategies:
THE DREADED SELECT ALL THAT APPLY
The first test I took in ADH1 had ELEVEN select all that apply questions. For me that was almost an automatic fail. That brings you down to a 78 right there. I passed that test, so I must have 'guessed all that apply' correctly a couple of times. There ARE strategies for approaching these questions. Ms. V told me to think of each statement in terms of 'true or false' and to read each line by itself without being overwhelmed by the rest of the information. They look daunting and scary. Go slowly. Remember when studying if there is a list in a slide or a study guide given to you by a teacher, that is a hint it could be a select all that apply question.
I feel like this about nursing school exams:
But here are some ideas about how to approach them:
YOU FAILED, NOW WHAT?
Yes, it happens, no matter how hard you studied sometimes you fail. Go to the test review and ask questions, review the material you did not understand. Figure out what you missed in the questions-did you miss a key word, answer a negative question as though it was positive, not know your lab values? Make an appointment to talk to your teacher. Ask your classmates what their strategy was.
Here is another video from the nursing school instructor about why people fail nursing school tests:
And practice, practice, practice. Nursing school questions are like no other test questions you've taken before. You have to learn the vocab ("further teaching" ring a bell?).
Failing a test gave me motivation to do better. I'm not encouraging anyone to fail a test, but when I failed it kicked me into gear.
ReplyDeleteI agree with slowing down to take a test, or a HESI. The 1st time I read a question, I may be like "What the heck are they even asking???" I then read it again. I took almost all 4 hours for the exit HESI (2nd time taking the exit) and passed. It may seem trivial, but taking it slow helps.