NCLEX Questions

Question parts

- Background statement (tells the clinical story)- Stem- Options

o 3 distractors & 1 correct responseo Must be TOTALLY correct, not partially

- Identify the stem & then carefully ask yourself “what are they asking me?”- Paraphrase the stem- Identify key words- Don’t what if the question- Reduce your options

Identify priorities

- ABC- Maslow- Safety is important- What would the nurse do first?- What is the initial nursing action?

Answers questions objectively

- Select all that apply (treat as T/F)- Select the answers that encourage expression of feeling without implying judgment by the nurse

o Therapeutic communicationo Which of these response will encourage the client to express themselves

Remember the scope of nursing practice

- Do not give away your role as a nurse to another healthcare provider- Nursing process is a KEY part of education that separates the LPN from the RN role (ADPIE)- Also consider if there is any critical thinking involved- LPNs can take care of stable, predictable patients.

Trust your GLIMMER!!! (Your first instinct)

These are the helpful hints Leia gave us Wed.

1) Typically when the question is asking about hypo vs hypertonic solutions, it refers to the vascular space since that’s where IVs are placed in to. So infiltration moves the solution into the cellular space.

2) Hypertonic SUCKS the water of cells 3) Labs values are for the vascular space. So when referring to where too much/little something is,

its in the blood.

These are for the lab values and hypo vs hyper

1) With each electrolytes signs/symptoms, think of the key words in determining what they would be. (She said this would be easier than remembering all the signs of each one)

a. Potassium: It’s a neuromuscular conductor (especially the heart) i. Hyper: Does take as much action potential to get started

ii. Hypo: Needs more energy to do thingsiii. Also remember that Kayexalate is given for hyperkalemia b/c it bind w/ the

Potassium in the GI tract (*remember it begins with a K)b. Calcium: it’s a nerve cell sedative

i. Hyper: too much sedative ii. Hypo: Not enough sedative, everything is excited/irritable

iii. Calcium & magnesium are very similarc. Phosphate: nerve stimulator (works opposite of Calcium)

i. Hyper: too much stimulantii. Hypo: Similar to no “caffeine”

d. Magnesium: Electrical stabilizeri. Hyper: things get lazy

ii. Hypo: Less stabilization (things go crazy)e. Sodium: She didn’t give us anything for Sodium Wed. so I’m going to try and ask her this

week. I don’t know if I will be able to get there early on Monday for the session or not. (730 is too early for me lol)