National Certification Exam Candidates

 View Only

  • 1.  Practice Test Question

    Posted 11-10-2023 08:39
    I am still studying and planning on taking the test in the spring.

    I came across this practice test question:

    Which statement is accurate relative to human papillomavirus infections?
    1. Untreated infections may produce pelvic inflammatory disease
    2. 10% of females with infections will develop cervical cancer
    3. Discharge is typically thick and greenish-yellow in color
    4. A pap smear cannot detect this infection

    I didn't choose answer 2 because it is clearly stated in the book that "15% of infected females will develop cervical cancer." However, this was listed as the correct answer. 

    Now I will be second-guessing my answers if the numbers don't line up.  According to the NIH, HPV can be associated with PID so I chose answer #1 since the book listed 15 % vs 10% with the cervical cancer answer. 


    Any thoughts? 

    --
    Thanks~

    Kelly

    Kelly Thomas, RN, BSN
    Lead Nurse for PCSD
    Platte Purchase Middle School
    Phone: 816-436-1433 ext. 3404
    Fax: 816-710-5127


    It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. 



  • 2.  RE: Practice Test Question

    Posted 11-10-2023 10:00

    Kelly, can you tell me which test which question that is so I can check it. We are in the process of reviewing and revising these questions, but I will say that you will find that numbers vary from reference to reference and you can see that this is a different reference than the book. But the main idea behind the question is that #2 could be the only correct answer.

     

    #1 There is no treatment for HPV itself         

    #3 HPV does not have symptoms (i.e. drainage)

    #4 HPV does cause an abnormal pap smear

     

    Since all those answers are incorrect and you find that 15% of women with HPV will develop cervical cancer then it is also true that 10% of women will develop cervical cancer.  

     

    I know that candidates don't like to hear that explanation, but we can only check questions and references every 4-5 years and as I said we are checking them now. They were last checked in 2019.

     

    One thing about numbers is that they change over time. When taking the test, read all the answers and eliminate the incorrect ones. If you come across one with a number and you know the correct # is higher than the choice, the number choice may still be correct.

     

    Warm regards,

     

    Pat

     

    Pat Krin, MSN, MS, RN, FNP-BC-Retired, NCSN-E, FNASN

    Executive Director

    NBCSN

    nbcsnexec@nbcsn.org

    www.nbcsn.org

     




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Practice Test Question

    Posted 11-10-2023 10:27
    Thank you for the clarification.

    I'm sure I'm reading too much into it because you can have cryotherapy to treat HPV so that is why I choose answer #1.  

    The question is from the review book - chapter 5, question #2 on page 185.

    Page 173, #10 under the disease overview is where it mentions that 15% of infected females will develop cervical cancer. 

    --
    Thanks~

    Kelly

    Kelly Thomas, RN, BSN
    Lead Nurse for PCSD
    Platte Purchase Middle School
    Phone: 816-436-1433 ext. 3404
    Fax: 816-710-5127


    It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. 




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Practice Test Question

    Posted 11-10-2023 11:22
    I am guilty of reading too much into test questions, too. But, I am also not good at remembering statistics, or numbers in general, so this probably helped me with this question. 

    When I read the answers, I blocked out the 10% and picked the answer with the disease that is of greatest concern. My thought process was that although HPV infections can lead to PID, it's not what I've dealt with over the years as the most common cause of PID. I associate PID with untreated or repeated chlamydia and gonorrheal infections. 

    The thought process of what is the biggest issue with HPV led me to choose cervical cancer.

    Try not to think too much and get caught up on numbers especially when they are that close in value...go with common associations. Do you commonly associate HPV with cervical cancer or PID? I hope this helps.

    --
    Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN
    School Nurse 
    Grenada Middle School
    28 Jones Road
    Grenada, MS 38901
    Phone: 662-226-5135
    Fax: 662-307-4540
    The foregoing electronic message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended only for the use of the intended recipient named above. This communication may contain material protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). If you are not the intended recipient, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this electronic message in error, please notify us immediately at 662-226-5135 or scoker@grenadak12.com and do not forward, print, copy, or share this information.







    Original Message