XIII.

HOW TO PASS

You are NOT SUPPOSED to know everything right now.

You have everything you need to pass if you study the information properly.

When a question comes up on the screen at the testing center this is what you need to
be thinking to answer correctly:
I know my core content and nothing is going to change my mind about it.
I am going to think like a brand new nurse with 2 weeks of vast nursing
knowledge.
I will think NCLEXY; I will assume the worst, fix the problem, and not be
a killer nurse.

You do not have to go back and study all of your notes from school or read your MedSurg book.

Nobody can KNOW that much information.

YOU do not have to know that volume of material because the NCLEX people know
you are a BRAND NEW NURSE.

But you better know this material and I mean ALL OF IT!
Ways to study:

1. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition

How To Pass

2. Once you think you know a topic (like FVE) write out skimpy notes with just cue
words on it and see if you can lecture.
-When you are looking at your cue words is anything coming to
mind?
-Nothing coming into your mind.. you need to study more!

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Example:
Fluid Volume Excess
-Another word for it?
-What is it?
-CHF?
-Renal Failure?
-Aldosterone?
-If you cannot look at these words one at a time and hold your head up and lecture
on it OUT LOUD, then you need to study more.

3. Record yourself lecturing on one topic at a time.

-Listen to self ____________; Listen for your ______________
-Check yourself against your notes to see what you are leaving out
-If you can ________ it, you can _________ it!
-I have said things a CERTAIN way on PURPOSEyou need to say it
that way too!

4. The Why? question

-Do you know the Whys behind S/S, causes, interventions?

5. Study at least the Med-Surg with a friend who has taken the Hurst course with you.

-RULE: If you learn this information the way we are telling you, then you
will be able to pass the first time.
Lets practice
-Tell your friend, How CHF causes FVE
-Tell your friend how aldosterone can cause shock?

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167

How To Pass

6. Study practice

7. Review your Resource Docuements through your online account at

www.hurstreview.com. Do not try to memorize all the documents but use them to
refresh your memory on things you know that you are weak in. We just made these
documents available so you wouldnt have to look it up!
-This is the icing on the cake
-There is a LOT of information hereyou do not have to print out every
document unless you want to.
-Study the Pharmacology handout as you study the core content. If you are
studying cardiac content, study the handout section on cardiac at the same
time.
-Be sure to watch the OB, High-risk OB, Pediatric lecture and the
Management and Delegation lecture and fill in your student pages in this
book.

8. Take your Q-Review test when you know your core content material without a doubt
and hesitation. You only have six so dont take them until you are prepared.
-Dont get caught up on what percentage score do I need to make on the
Q Test, because remember that is not how the NCLEX is graded. Just do
your best and review the questions so you will know why you missed the
ones you did.
-There is no percentage that says you will pass or fail, this is practice!
-We are not a question based review; we are a core content based review.
Dont put too much emphasis on taking more and more tests.

9. Are you going to get questions on topics youve never heard of before?
How To Pass

-Can I still pass?

-If I havent heard of it.nobody else has either!

10. If I purchase every NCLEX question book in the world, will I have all of the
questions?

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11. When I select an answer will I feel confident I got it right?

-You must not get upset if you are not feeling confident.

12. If you study properly the higher the level of questions you will get, the worse you
will feel, and the better youll do on the test!
-If all the answers look right you either havent studied or you are in the
higher level questions.

13. Studying properly will keep you out of the low level questions.
-Low level does not mean easy.
-These are the hardest ones because they are memorized facts.

14. The test is testing for MINIMUM competency?

-In other words, the absolute minimum you must be before they will turn
you loose on the general public.
-You do not want to be just minimum!!

15. You will never be more motivated than you are right now to pass.
-Have a new job
-Have a new car note
-Your family is excited for you

16. Major life events

17. You will have a wide range of emotions when you come out of the test mad,
depressed, sick (some are in a trance-like, catatonic state.approach with caution!)

18. Alternate format items; Innovative items

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169

How To Pass

-If you are getting married, divorced; if there is a death or sickness, then
these are distracters. (Many unpreventable)

Alternate item formats may include:

o Multiple-response items (Select all that apply) require a candidate to select a
minimum of two correct options from a list of five to six options. The final
answer is either correct or incorrect, NO partial credit given.
o Fill-inthe-blank items require a candidate to type in number(s) in a calculation
item;
o Hot spot items ask a candidate to identify one or more area(s) on a picture or
graphic;
o Chart/exhibit format (Figure 4a and 4b) where candidates will be presented
with a problem and will need to read the information in the chart/exhibit to
answer the problem; You do not have to read all the exhibits but remember if the
data is there it is important to answering the question.
o Audio item format (Figure 5) where the candidate is presented an audio clip
and uses headphones to listen and select the option that applies.
o Graphic Options (Figure 6) presents the candidate with graphics instead of text
for the answer options. You will be required to select the appropriate graphic
answer.
o Any item format, including standard multiple-choice items, may
include multimedia, charts, tables or graphic images.
-However, _________ questions on your test will be pilot questions- this
is for the RN (these do not count for you or against you and you will not
know which ones are pilot).
-The LPN will have 25 pilot questions.

How To Pass

-All of these may be innovative items which would make you think you
had 17 of these types of questions.
-Remember just because a question has a chart or graph that does not
mean it is an alternate format item.
-Charts and graphs have been on the test forever.
-Now, you may not get an innovative question at ALL.that does not
mean you did not do well on the testthat just means you were lucky
and did not get one of those types of questions.
-You can review examples of these questions at www.ncsbn.org
-Your priority question is __________ _______________.
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19. Is it true that every so many people that come through the doors of the testing center
will get the whole test?
-The ________________ of questions you get depends on how you are
answering the questions.

20. Will my friends be encouraging to me after they take their test?

21. Im on 180 and I only have 5 minutes left..what do I do?
a. Start clicking C like I did on the ACT
b. Slow down
Obviously you must have been doing ok or the computer would have ALREADY cut
off.
For the computer to still be ticking along you were still in the ballgame and CLOSE
to passing.
You just needed to get a few more right at that point.

22. What if my computer goes past the minimum number in other words, what if it
doesnt cut off at 75 for RN or 85 for PN..what should you tell yourself?
-For every additional question you get past 75 (85, if you are a LPN) you
are still in it even if it goes all the way to 265 (205, if you are a LPN)

23. What if I take the whole testcan I pass?

Deficit!!!!!
On the next few pages you have Hurst Strategies. We have divided them into
two categoriesCore Content Strategies and Testing Strategies.
If you want something to read the day before you take the test, these things are good
tips for you to remember.

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How To Pass

24. What is the #1 reason people fail boards (and it is NOT testing anxiety)? Knowledge

Hurst Review Strategies

Testing Strategies:

1. If it is an option in the question, I have an order for it.

2. The NCLEX hospital is perfect and you have to care for only one client.the one on
the screen.

3. Drug calculation problems or fill in the blanks will tell you exactly how many spaces
past the decimal point that they want. All you must remember is to round off at the
end.

4. There is no fluff content in a question; if data is there you need to know it to answer
the question or it would not be there.

5. Least invasive first.

6. If you have never heard it, dont pick it.
7. Do not pick an answer that delays care or treatment.
8. Never pick an answer that does not allow your client to speak.

How To Pass

9. Select a client focused answer.

10. With priority questionsRemember you can only send one message to the NCLEX
ladyso you must pick the killer answer.

11. There will not be a test question unless there is something to WORRY about.
12. Assume the WORST.
13. Only call the physician if there is NOT something that you can do about the problem
as a nurse.
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14. Like illnesses can be put in the same room together.

15. If there are any long term consequences to your client with the answer you pick, you
should not pick it.

16. If you see words like assessment or evaluation in the stem of the questionthink
signs and symptoms.

17. You cant use a medical diagnosis in a nursing diagnosis.

18. You will report something new or different or possible to the next shift nurse.
19. If you can narrow the answers down to 2 answerspick the most life threatening
answer.

20. Never pick an answer that puts off work on someone else.
21. Never pick an answer that ignores or brushes off the clients complaint.
22. If the answer is not applicable to the situation, dont pick it. Airway may not be
appropriate to the situation!!!

23. When answering select all that apply questions look at each option as a true false
questionIf the answer is true then select as a correct answer.

How To Pass

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173

Core Content Strategies:

1. Pain never killed anybody.

2. Never release traction UNLESS you have an order from the physician to do so.
3. Polyuria- think shock first
4. Anytime you see fluid retentionthink heart problems first
5. ADH- Think H2O
6. Aldosterone- Think sodium and water
7. With SIADH- TOO many letters TOO much WATER
8. More Volume- More Pressure
9. Less Volume- Less Pressure
10. Hypoxia may be the first sign of respiratory acidosis
11. With restless client.think hypoxia first
12. Limit protein in kidney clients EXCEPT with nephrotic syndrome

How To Pass

13. If you have a fluid problem you will do I&O and daily weights
14. Anytime you have a magnesium or calcium question think muscles first
15. Digoxin + hypokalemia= toxicity
16. You elevate veins and dangle arteries
17. Always worry if the rate decreases below the set rate with a pacemaker

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