Review Tips for the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam, Part III

Only a few days to go before the Nursing Board Exam and if you are going to take the nurse licensure examination this July, do not wrap up your review just yet.  There might be some topics, especially on Maternal and Child Health Nursing that you haven't covered yet.

Questions on maternal and child health nursing are commonly asked during the nursing board exam. So it will be prudent for you to cover it thoroughly if you want to up your chances of doing good in the exam this July.  Below is a list of topics that we have picked for you, so check if you have mastered or at least covered everything.

 

• Phases of the Menstrual Cycle with emphasis on the definitions and characteristics of each phase
• Presumptive, Probable, and Positive Signs of Pregnancy
• Physiologic and Psychologic Changes During Pregnancy, take note of what happens per system and the different signs (Chadwick's, Goodell's, Hegar's)
• Danger Signs of Pregnancy, including complications of pregnancy during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester like placenta previa, abortion, incompetent cervix,ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole,abruptio placenta, PIH, eclampsia, preeclampsia
• Stages of Fetal Development, including screening tests conducted to ensure and assess fetal well-being and fetal circulation
• Nagele's Rule
• Leopold's Maneuver
• Labor and Delivery, including the signs of true/false labor, mechanisms of labor, stages of labor, 5 factors of Labor, complications of labor and delivery like dystocia, PROM, cord prolapse,
• Puerperium and the postpartum period, with emphasis on the complications of the postpartum period
• Newborn Care, including APGAR Scoring, Physical Assessment
• Growth and Development, including theories and developmental Milestones
• Immunization schedule
• Genetic disorders
• Interventions in cases of dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, poisoning, accidents
• Hydrocephalus, Cerebral Palsy, Reye's syndrome
• Otitis Media
• Rheumatic fever,Congenital Heart Disease
• Iron Deficiency Anemia, Hemophilia, and Sickle Cell Anemia
• Croup, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Aspiration  of a Foreign Object
• Cleft lip and Palate, Hirschsprung's Disease, Intussusception, and Appendicitis
• Burns, Impetigo, Ringworm, Head lice, Scabies
• Leukemia, Wilms' Tumor
• Methods of Birth Control, including nursing interventions in fertility control

When answering questions on Maternal and Child Health Nursing in the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam, remember that the questions are designed to determine if you have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to care for childbearing mothers and children.  Therefore, you need to remember that you don't only address your client's physiologic needs but also have to take into consideration the cultural, psychological, and developmental aspects of client care as well.

Review Tips for the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam, Part II

Psychiatric or Mental Health Nursing is a favorite topic among nursing lecturers.  In nursing review centers, the pyschiatric nursing sessions are the most anticipated and the most popular in terms of attendance. Why?  The topics in Pyschiatric Nursing are very interesting, often resulting in very lively discussion between the the lecturer and the reviewees.  And, more often than not, a good percentage of the questions asked in the nursing board exam are on Psychiatric Nursing.

However, candidates need to give particular attention to specific Pyschiatric Nursing topics when reviewing for the nursing board exam this July.  These topics are often labeled as common board questions (CBQ) because they are often asked in the Nurse Licensure Examination.

Below is the list of specific topics on Psychiatric Nursing you need to cover thoroughly for the nursing board exam:

• Ego Defense Mechanisms, including definitions and examples
• Therapeutic Communication, with emphasis on the different techniques, description, and examples
• Structure of Personality- the id, ego, and superego and the principles by which the three operate
• Freud's Psychosexual Theory of Development, including the tasks need to be accomplished in each of the 5 stages
• Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Development
• Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
• Jean Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
• The role of neurotransmitters in Psychiatric Disorders (Dopamine, Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin ,Histamine, GABA)
• Psychopharmacology, with emphasis on therapeutic levels and nursing considerations when administering Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, Anxiolytics, anti-EPS, and drugs prescribed to patients with Alzheimer's Disease.
• Crisis and Crisis Intervention
• Anxiety and levels of Anxiety, including nursing interventions that reduce anxiety
• Anxiety Disorders, and nursing management for patients with these disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression, with emphasis on nursing diagnosis, nursing considerations, and medication regimen
• Schizophrenia, including the types of Schizophrenia, Bleuler' 4As, positive and negative symptoms, and nursing interventions according to symptom
• Personality Disorders (Paranoid,Schizoid,Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Avoidant, Obsessive-Compulsive, Dependent,Narcissistic), including patient's characteristics and nursing considerations when caring for patients with Personality Disorders
• Alcoholism and Alcohol Withdrawal, including symptoms, effects, nursing management and use of Disulfiram (Antabuse)
• Other Substance-related Disorders- focus on the effects and withdrawal symptoms of the use of Opiates, Amphetamines, Hallucinogens,Cocaine.
• Alzheimers Disease, including stages, 4As (symptoms), medications, nursing considerations, nursing diagnoses
• Anorexia Nervosa and Bulima Nervosa, with emphasis on signs and symptoms and nursing management
• Mental Retardation, including the types
• ADHD
• Abuse and Violence, including domestic violence, laws covering domestic violence, signs of child abuse
• Electroconvulsive Therapy, with emphasis on nursing considerations
• Milieu Therapy, its goals and the nurse's role
• Sleep Disorders

Furthermore, when reviewing on Pyschiatric Nursing for the nursing board exam, remember that aside from administering psychotropic medications and other forms of therapy and dealing with a client with very challenging symptoms, the role of a nurse is to establish a therapeutic relationship with clients. Thus,  it is also prudent that when preparing for the nursing board exam this July, candidates expect a number of questions that gauges his or her ability to collaborate with a client so that the latter may achieve the goals of therapy.

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Five Ways to Boost Your Memory When Reviewing for Nursing Exams

You were reviewing for your foreign nursing exams when you came across a question on the management of a patient manifesting the Homan's sign. Immediately, you stress out because you don't remember what the Homan's sign is and yet you are very sure you read on it just a couple of days ago. As a result, you lose focus and can't concentrate on your nursing review.

At work, you forget to do certain tasks or fail to remember things a staff nurse normally knows by heart like common medical abbreviations or normal laboratory values. You forgot what NIDDM stands for or what a blood potassium level of 5.0 means. You have these little meltdowns that you are convinced that you might have a serious memory decline.

Before you freak out, remember that forgetting things doesn't automatically mean you are suffering from memory loss. Keep in mind that the brain functions like a muscle and you need to take care of it for it to function properly and prevent memory decline. Here's how:

1. Learn new things. Your job as a staff nurse at the ward can be quite routinary. Go stimulate your brain by learning new things that are entirely different from what you do everyday. Being introduced to new and exciting things regularly like reading a book, pursuing a new hobby, or going on educational trips will improve brain activity and is vital to preventing memory loss.

2. Watch what you eat. You need to consume food that increases blood flow to the brain, stimulate brain activity, improve cognitive function, and enhance information processing. Food known to improve brain function include tuna, boiled peanuts, fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat crackers as these are packed in vitamins and antioxidants and will help maintain glucose levels without the risk of damaging your arteries.

3. Pay attention to details. Making the extra effort to pay attention to little details is one way of enhancing your memory and preventing memory loss. Remember, it takes practice to finally do something right. Simple memory exercises such as reciting a person's name minutes after he or she was introduced to you, observing your immediate environment, or even remembering what your friend wore when you saw her yesterday will help maintain cognitive function and prevent memory loss.

4. Manage your environment. When studying for your nursing exams, be it the NCLEX, the CGFNS, the NLE, or the CRNE, make sure that your study area is quiet and devoid of any distractions like facebook or a television set. This way, you will be able to focus on your study material and be able to review what you have covered with fewer interference.

5. Have plenty of rest and sleep. Sleep is the body's way to achieve relaxation. So when learning something new, make sure you get enough rest and sleep for optimum brain function. When reviewing for nursing board exams or when about to do tasks requiring concentration, a good night's sleep will help you remember the details you need to remember the next day.

Memory and other cognitive functions may be improved by simple lifestyle changes like the ones mentioned in this article. By watching what you eat, engaging in stimulating activities, and having enough rest and sleep in a relaxing environment, you will be able to maintain a sharp memory even as you age.

Basic Test Taking Strategies for the November 2009 Nursing Board Exam

With a few weeks left before the nursing board exams, here are a few practical tips for our future nurse colleagues. This is part of Pinoy R.N.'s continuing commitment to assist examinees prepare for the November 2009 Nursing Board Exam. These tips may be basic but has proven to be very useful test-taking techniques:

• Cover the choices when reading the question. This way, your thought process will not be influenced by the choices.
• Before looking at the choices, try formulating your answer then look at the available choices. Choose the choice closest to your own answer.
• Always read all of the choices before choosing your final answer.
• Use the process of elimination. Write an X mark beside choices that are obviously wrong.
• Answer the easier questions first. However, mark the numbers that you skipped to make sure you don't miss answering them later.
• Only change your answer when you are absolutely sure of your new answer.
• Between positive and negative answers, the positive choice is more likely the correct answer.
• The choice that is grammatically consistent with the question is more likely the correct answer.
• The answer containing the most information is more likely the correct answer.
• When "All of the Above" is included in the choices and you find two more correct choices, "All of the above" is more likely the correct answer.
• When you find two choices that completely negate each other, chances are one of them is the correct answer.
• If you find all choices to be correct, remember that you are looking for the best answer.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Other updates such as PRC room assignments, last-minute announcements, nursing board exam tips and complete exam results for the November 2009 Nursing Board Exam will be posted here at Pinoy R.N. and at our affiliate site, Ward Class, as it becomes available.

Examinees to the November 2009 PRC Nurse Licensure Examination may also opt to receive nursing board exam tips and updates via e-mail by submitting a valid e-mail address below.

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• Last-Minute Reminders for Nursing Board Examinees
• Nurse Licensure Examination Tips: How to Study Effectively
• Coverage of the Nurse Licensure Examination

June 2009 Nursing Board Exam Tips: Maximizing Nursing Review Classes

Those who will be taking the Nurse Licensure Examination on June 6 & 7 are surely intensifying their review for the nursing board exams right now. As the exam date draws near, nursing review classes are longer and more rigorous as everybody tries to cover more nursing topics to better prepare for the June 2009 Nursing Board Exam.

While a good nursing review program with a reputable nursing review center will help greatly in the exam preparation process, nursing board examinees must effectively manage the time they spend attending review classes in order to increase their chances of performing well in the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination.

A structured and comprehensive nursing review program will only be effective if examinees adhere to it conscientiously and use it to their best advantage. Here’s how:

Take good notes. Take note of basic nursing concepts, key terms, definitions, and examples. Take note of the points emphasized by nursing lecturers like CBQs (Common Board Questions) and nursing bullets. Make sure you know what nursing topics your lecturers spent a lot of time discussing and keep your notes organized and legible. Also ask if you can record nursing lectures. Listening to nursing lectures at home or during a long commute will help you greatly in your review.

Mind where you sit. Sit in the front row so you can hear the lectures well. Sitting where your nursing lecturer can see you will help you be more attentive in your nursing review class. This will also discourage you from engaging in useless chatter or sleeping in class.

Read any lecture hand-outs given to you in advance. Highlight or mark any topics you feel you need to focus on and do some further reading at home. This will also give you the opportunity to prepare questions on topics that you find difficult to grasp.

Ask questions. You may have encountered nursing questions during your supplemental review that you need help on so do not hesitate to seek your lecturer’s assistance especially if the topic is his or her area of expertise.

After each review session, read your notes. Reciting or reading your notes aloud will help you remember the nursing topics you have covered.

Stick to your review schedule. Even if you feel you already know the specific concept scheduled for the day, attend your review classes because the whole point of attending review classes is to be refreshed on nursing topics you have previously learned or mastered in nursing school. And if you have to miss a review session, make sure to ask your classmates (and lecturer) about what topics you have missed and go over their notes if you can.

Take pre-tests and post-tests seriously. Your nursing review center has prepared pre-tests and post-tests for each and every nursing concept included in your review program. Analyze your test results to help you identify which topics you already know and which topics you need to further review on. Take note of the answers to all the questions as there is a likelihood that similar questions will be asked during the actual nursing board exam.

Get enough rest, nutrition, and hydration. Preparing for the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination means that you have to be well-rested and well-nourished in order to keep you alert and boost energy levels throughout your nursing review sessions. You also need to remember to take short breaks in order to invigorate yourself for the long review hours ahead.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Other nursing board exam updates such as PRC room assignments, last-minute announcements, more nursing board exam tips, and complete exam results for the June 2009 Nursing Board Exam will be posted here at Pinoy R.N. and at our affiliate site, Ward Class, as it becomes available.

Examinees to the June 2009 PRC nursing board exam may also opt to receive nursing board exam tips and updates via e-mail by submitting a valid e-mail address below.

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June 2009 Nursing Board Exam Tips: Effective Stress Management Techniques

Those who are reviewing for major exams like the June 2009 Nursing Board Exam are surely experiencing a significant amount of stress. While stress can be positive and motivate examinees to some extent, excessive stress can affect their overall functioning negatively.

Stress, when left unmanaged, can result in alterations in sleep and eating patterns, lowered self-esteem, mood changes, increased anxiety, frequent body aches, decreased ability to complete tasks, decreased concentration, and memory impairment. So to avoid experiencing these symptoms, the task then, for those who are reviewing for the November 2008 Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE), is to manage and maintain stress at healthy levels. Here’s how:

Develop a relaxing ritual. If you are experiencing symptoms of stress, one way of managing it is by starting your day with a relaxing ritual. You can do this by thinking of good memories such as a family outing or your achievements in school, or by simply counting your blessings as soon as you wake up in the morning. This early morning ritual will make you realize that you have accomplished a lot of things and that you have a lot to be thankful for, leaving you with a warm feeling throughout the day.

Breathe deeply. Breathing deeply for 3 to 5 minutes for at least three times a day will help defuse stress. It will help reduce tension and free your mind of distracting thoughts.

Take a walk. When you are feeling stressed out and can’t seem to concentrate on your review for the June 2009 Nursing Board Exam, taking a brisk walk for 15 minutes will help you relax and reduce anxiety. Physical activity such as brisk-walking will also improve your circulation and prevent body aches, a manifestation of stress.

Listen to relaxing music. Whenever you feel tension and anxiety build up, put aside your review materials for a few minutes and give yourself a mental break by listening to relaxing music. Soothing music will help ease tension and will help you focus more as you get on with your review.

Pamper yourself. By now, you probably have spent months reviewing for the Nursing Licensure Examination so you should at least give yourself enough time for rest and relaxation. You can use your free time to catch up on much-needed sleep, meet some friends, attend a family gathering, have a massage, read a book, or even watch a movie. Indulging yourself in these simple pleasures will help reduce stress levels and help prevent burnout.

Surround yourself with cool colors. Come to think of it, colors like green and blue will help calm and relax you. So whenever you get increasingly frustrated after long hours of self-study in preparation for the June 2009 Nursing Board Exam, going to the park or staying in a room with light blue and green interiors will help relieve stress.

Visualize success. One way of relieving stress as you prepare for the June 2009 Nursing Board Exam is by visualizing yourself actually attending the oathtaking ceremony as a registered nurse. Engaging your mind in this relaxing activity will boost your confidence, reduce anxiety, and lower your stress levels significantly.

Talk to a friend or a family member. As the nursing board exam date draws near, you will surely experience increasing levels of stress. One way of defusing stress is by talking to a trusted person who knows how to listen, is impartial, and understands that you just need to vent your frustration. Talking to someone you trust about topics other than the June 2009 Nuursing Board Exam will also keep your mind off the exam for a while and calm your nerves.

Evaluate your progress each day. Before retiring each night (or day depending on your body clock), evaluate your progress. Most of those who review for major exams like the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination think that they haven’t covered a lot of materials yet. But the thing is, if only they will take time to evaluate their daily progress, then they will know that they actually know more than they think they do. Evaluating your daily progress as a habit that will help you realize that you have reviewed well for the NLE this June and help reduce stress and anxiety in the process.

And lastly, pray. A lot of people read the Bible or recite their favorite Bible verse whenever they are experiencing a lot of stress. If you believe in the power of prayer, then saying the Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino or reading verses from the Bible will have a profound calming effect on you as you review for the June 2009 Nursing Licensure Examination.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Pinoy R.N. and Ward Class will be posting other exclusive nursing review tips, review notes, and last-minute advisories to June 2009 nursing board examinees in the coming days and weeks so be sure to check back regularly.

Conversely, examinees to the June 2009 PRC nursing board exam may also opt to receive nursing board exam tips and updates via e-mail by submitting a valid e-mail address below.

June 2009 Nursing Board Exam Tips:

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• June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination Tips: How to Study Effectively
• Coverage of the Nurse Licensure Examination

Effective Study Techniques for the Nurse Licensure Examination

With the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) fast approaching, those who intend to take the exam on June 6 & 7 need to maximize their review by learning how to study effectively.

As part of Pinoy R.N.'s commitment to help nursing board examinees who are scheduled to take the PRC Nurse Licensure Examination next month, here are some tips on how to study for the nursing board exams effectively:

• Study when you are most alert. Some people study better at daytime while others prefer to study at night or even during the wee hours of the morning. Whatever your preferred time is, it is important to study the most difficult materials of the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination when you are most alert to help you focus more on the topic at hand.
• Choose an appropriate study area. Your study area should be conducive for studying. An appropriate study area is well-lighted, well-ventilated, and free of distractions. You should also have a sturdy desk where you have your reference materials within your reach and a chair that supports good posture.
• Create a Priority List. Barely a month before the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination, you should have identified nursing topics that you know very well and those topics you still need to improve on. Create a task list so you can appropriate more time for in-depth review on nursing topics you find most difficult and keep track of the nursing topics you have covered and those you still need to study on.
• Take short breaks. After long, grueling hours of reviewing for the NLE, you need to take short breaks to recharge yourself. You need to walk around the room, stretch your limbs, and take cleansing breaths to improve your circulation and relax your mind and body.
• Take time to nourish and hydrate yourself. Give particular attention to what you eat and drink during study periods. It is best to eat small meals every 3 to 4 hours to maintain your energy levels and avoid feeling drowsy and sluggish. Also remember to consume lots of fluids to keep you hydrated and refreshed even after hours of studying.
• Have enough rest and sleep. While you need to spend long hours studying for the Nurse Licensure Examination this June, your body needs to rest in order to be in peak operating condition. When you deprive your body of the much-need rest and sleep, you will feel groggy and find it harder to concentrate on your review for the NLE.
• Make use of study tools. When reviewing for the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination, you need all the help you need to maximize your study time. For example, if you have a hard time remembering laboratory values and drug antidotes, why not make cram sheets on these topics? Cram sheets are handy and you can go over them whenever you have the time.
• Join a study group. When you think you have covered all the nursing topics included in the Scope of the Nurse Licensure Examination, one way of supplementing self-study is by joining a study group where you can exchange notes, nursing mnemonics, and tips with other group members. There may be nursing topics you have missed out on and other group members may be able to explain them to you thoroughly.

Remember that in order to succeed in the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination, you have to go beyond just basic studying. It is very important to learn how to study effectively and use valuable study time to your best advantage.


ANNOUNCEMENT:
Pinoy R.N. and Ward Class will be posting more exclusive nursing review tips, review notes, and last-minutes advisories to June 2009 nursing board examinees in the coming days and weeks so be sure to check back regularly.

Alternatively, examinees to the June 2009 PRC nursing board exam may also opt to receive nursing board exam tips and updates via e-mail by submitting a vailid e-mail address below.

June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination Tips:

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