The Nursing Prof
Your initial thought on certification exams is usually correct. You may have heard it before as “going with your gut.” Instead, you are going with your initial impression of the material and the question. If you read the question carefully, then your first response should be correct. As nurses, we were taught to collect data …
Students often refer to trick questions. While writing exam questions, faculty do not refer to some items as trick questions but rather to some questions as difficult. Why are difficult questions perceived as being trick questions? The answer lies in individual perception. In many cases, the exam writer will include answers that are almost correct …
Multiple-choice exam questions will be randomized and presented in no particular order. That means that you could be answering a question on professional caring and ethical practice with the next question about the treatment of heart failure. To answer the question on professional caring, you thought of all the rules of ethics and caring. Now …
Certification exams can be perceived as a method to judge your nursing care. Failure on the exam is perceived as a failure in your ability to provide quality care. Detaching the exam from bedside competence is an essential step toward success. The more you project personal skill on the exam, the higher the level of …
Read the entire certification question before looking at any of the answers. This practice allows you time to think about what the question is asking prior to answering. Use a piece of paper or your hand to cover the answers. Now, read the question and formulate an answer in your mind prior to selecting an …
Consider Pulmonary Embolism. In any patient who develops an unexplained tachycardia and is on bed rest, look for Virchow’s triad of risk factors for pulmonary embolism. These include venous stasis, blood vessel injury, and alterations in coagulation. (PE is part of the CCRN curriculum) Virchow’s triad of risk factors occurs many times in our patients. …
Atelectasis is a common complication of bed rest. Diminished breath sounds in the bases of the lungs are not normal findings — plan interventions to avoid atelectasis in your patients. Atelectasis is a natural phenomenon because patients are immobile. If the patient is not moving around, they’re in bed, and they have the head of …
Recognize that you are a nursing professional and not “just a nurse.” Your licensure as an RN or licensed practical nurse is not JAN – just a nurse. Whether or not you’re happy and prosperous in your nursing career is your choice. If you put forth the effort to stay up to date, to remain …
