Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students

Rating:
Summary: Proceed with caution. . . .
Review: For a lot of nursing students this book may be helpful, however I really recommend reading it before you get into school because I have seen too many of my fellow classmates hitting this (and other study aides) rather than focusing on their textbooks and subsequently flunking out of nursing school. There are some good pointers here but any book that focuses on trying to teach "how to take a test" needs to be approached with caution. Critical thinking skills (as you may know) are important in nursing, however, as a former educator that decided to attend nursing school later in life, I can honestly say that you don't pick up those skills simply by reading a book on the topic, it takes time (years, not days) to learn how to think like a nurse. I once sat down with a group of my fellow nursing students, the ones making A's on just about everything and I asked them what they were doing to make such great grades. . . Their answer: sticking to the textbook and lecture notes and approaching the material in different modes of thought. They never used any study aides, no CD's, no practice exams. etc. I would recommend trying the same thing, especially during your foundation class. Stick with the textbook. When you come upon something that is hard to comprehend go to the library and read the same material from a different textbook. I've found some textbooks are far superior to others in explaining the material. Next, go to your professor and discuss the material one on one. I suppose the main thing I need to say is just be careful with any type of study aide because it may actually distract you from the main content. Most study aides simplify the material way too much and that is going to do you absolutely no good in nursing school.

Rating:
Summary: Test Success!
Review: I have reviewed and used as a resource, Test Success; Test-taking Strategies for Beginning Nursing Students, 2000 (3rd Ed.). I found this text invaluable in my work with Junior-level BSN students.

This text incorporates the theory background, how to read questions, how to analyze questions, and then provides a wealth of practice questions relating to fundamental nursing skills.

This book begins with the mental and physical conditions for successful test-taking -- things students forget about. Positive mental attitudes, getting enough sleep before a test, and relaxation are a few of the "openers". The focus of this book is on the individual's success and the introductory chapters demonstrate this focus.

The text goes into critical thinking -- and expectations of thinking in nursing school. An indepth review of how to study is covered. This has helped raise a few test scores in my course. Most students never learn how to study. They get by fairly well, but when the assigned reading covers 100 pages of indepth material, they don't know how to organize it or plan for it. This book assists them in organizing the workload of reading and studying.

Test-taking strategies are complete, thorough, and have examples along the way. Once through the materials, students have multiple practice exams (written for Fundamentals students) that allow them to practice their new test-taking skills.

I recommend this book for all beginning nursing students -- LPN, ADN, and BSN!

Rating:
Summary: Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques
Review: Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students 3rd ed. by Particia M. Nugent and Barbara A. Vitale
This book is designed for fundamentals of nursing. It introduces techniques for developing a positive mental attitude, critical thinking skills, and study techniques. It teaches specific and general test-taking techniques. It identifies the nursing process as a form of problem solving. The book emphasizes multiple-choice questions but also addresses structured response, restricted response, extended essay questions and performance appraisal as well as computer applications in education and evaluation. It facilitates active participation in learning by displaying over 700 questions with accompanying correct answers and rationale. There are three simulated tests of equal difficulty intended as a pretest, test after chapter eight, and a posttest in chapter 10. It is recommended that questions for specific categories in chapter 10 be answered after that content in discussed in class. Practice questions are in the following categories: the world of the patient and nurse, common theories related to meeting patient's basic human needs, communications and meeting patient's emotional needs, physical assessment, meeting patient's physical safety and mobility needs, hygiene and comfort needs, fluid and nutritional needs, elimination needs, oxygen needs, perioperative needs, microbiological safety needs, needs of the patient in the community setting, administration of medications and pharmacology. This is an excellent book for beginning nursing students to learn techniques of test success and to practice questions related to fundamentals of nursing.