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Top Ten Test Taking Strategies for NCLEX-RN Use Guidelines for Prioritizing
When a question requires prioritization, all options may be correct and you need to determine the correct order of action • Best • Essential • First • Highest priority • Immediate • Vital • Most important • Next • Primary
Guidelines for Prioritizing!
- ABCs (airway, breathing, and circulation)
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory
- Steps of the nursing process
• ABC’s
• Remember the order of priority: airway, breathing, and circulation
• Airway is always the first priority!
The client with a diagnosis of cancer is receiving morphine sulfate for pain.When preparing the plan of care for the client, the nurse includes which priority action?
- Monitor stools
- Monitor the urine output
- Encourage the client to cough and deep breath
- Encourage fluid intake
Second guideline to use for prioritizing:
Physiological needs are the priority. When a physiological need is not addressed in the question or noted in one of the options, continue to use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory as a guide and look for the option that addresses safety.
A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a pregnant client with a diagnosis of sickle cell anemia. Which nursing diagnosis, if stated on the plan of care,
would the nurse select as receiving the highest priority?
- Anxiety
- Ineffective coping
- Disturbed body image
- Deficient Fluid volume
The Steps of the Nursing Process • Remember that assessment is the first step • If an option contains the concept of assessment or the collection of client data, it is best to select that option.
ACCEPTION TO RULE
The Steps of the Nursing Process
• Possible exception to the guideline:
• If the question presents an emergency situation, read carefully; in an emergency situation, an intervention may be the priority!
A hospitalized client with type 1 diabetes mellitus tells the nurse that she feels like she is having a hypoglycemic reaction.
The nurse would first:
- Obtain a blood glucose reading (assessment first)
- Administer 50% dextrose intravenously
- Give the client 4 oz of orange juice
- Administer subcutaneous glucagon hydrochloride
Avoid Reading Into the Question Read the question carefully, identify key words or phrases, and focus on the issue of the question.
What is the question
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