National Certification Exam Candidates

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Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

  • 1.  Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 09-15-2023 05:00

     


    We are moving full-steam ahead in preparation for the upcoming Summer exam window.  It is energizing to see how many school nurses have joined the group and are
    contributing to the ongoing conversation. Thank you to those who have shared your experiences and posted questions.

    Special appreciation to @Pat Krin, MSN, M.S., RN, NCSN-E, FNP-BC-Retired, FNASN

    for your comments and clarification on important questions raised. Your suggestion to share our nursing journeys was wonderful and the contributions from the school nurses have been fascinating to read! Thanks to all who are participating in this group. We are off to a great start!

    Suggested Reading for Week #2, we are digging deeper into Chapter 2 of the Review book. We introduced it last week, but with so much to absorb, we believe that focusing on this Chapter by itself this week will give you all space to review and get used to the pacing of the online study group. We will not be repeating other chapters, it only happens this week as a way to ease you into setting your study time.

    Selekman, Cogan: School Nursing Certification Review book Chapter 2. We give this chapter an extra week of attention because it is the basis of our practice.

    Foundations of Pediatric Nursing Children and Their Families

    I  Growth and Development

    II Foundations of School Nursing Practice

    This comprises 27% of the exam.

    Selekman, Shannon and Yonkaitis School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text 3rd Edition Chapters
    1-4 and 11-13:

    1. Foundations of School Nursing Practice Chapters 1-4
    2. Growth and Development Chapters 11-13

    Recommended contribution to the group for Week #2:  Doesn't that sound better
    than assignment ;).

    Share your outcomes with the group this week.  Comment on what surprised you about the process, what you learned, and what resources you chose to reinforce areas that needed more focused attention. How are you staying motivated this week?

    As promised, here are some test-taking tips specifically geared toward multiple-choice
    Nursing exam questions! (11 Test-Taking Tips & Strategies For Nurses * Nurseslabs)

    1. Read Questions Carefully
    Scores on tests are greatly affected by reading ability. In answering a test item,
    you should begin by carefully reading the stem and then asking yourself the
    following questions:
     What is the question really asking?
     Are there any keywords?
     What is information relevant to answering this question included in the stem?
     How would I ask this question in my own words?
     How would I answer this question in my own words?

    After you have answered these questions, carefully read the options and then ask
    yourself the following questions:
     Is there an option that is similar to my answer?
     Is this option the best, most complete answer to the question?

    Deal with the question as it is stated, without reading anything into it, or
    making assumptions about it. Answer the question asked, not the one you would like to
    answer. For simple recall items, the self-questioning process usually will be completed
    quickly. For more complex items the self-questioning process may take longer, but it
    should assist you in clarifying the item and selecting the best response.

    2. Identify Keywords
    Certain keywords in the stem, the options, or both should alert you to the need
    for caution in choosing your answer. Because few things are absolute without
    exception, avoid selecting answers that include words such as always, never, all, every,
    only, must, no, except, and none. Answers containing these keywords are rarely correct
    because they place special limitations and qualifications on potentially correct answers.

    For example:

    All of the following are services of the National Kidney Foundation except:
    1. Public education programs
    2. Research about kidney disease
    3. Fund-raising affairs for research activities
    4. Identification of potential transplant recipients

    This stem contains two keywords: all and except. They limit the correct answer choice
    to the one option that does not represent a service of the National Kidney Foundation.
    When except, not, or a phrase such as all but one of the following appears in the stem,
    the inappropriate option is the correct answer in this instance, option 4.
    If the options in an item do not seem to make sense because more than one option
    is correct, reread the question; you may have missed one of the keywords in the stem.
    Also, be on guard when you see one of the keywords in an option; it may limit
    the context in which such an option would be correct.

    Here is a free "Test Taking Strategies" course from NurseBuilders: 
    Test Taking Techniques - A Guide For Nursing Certification
    Check out the Exam Prep Materials on www.nbcsn.org.
    Happy digging in and learning! Keep us posted on your progress!​​​



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    Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN
    New Jersey NASN Director
    School Nurse Camden City School District
    Faculty Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 09-20-2023 21:25

    I tend to struggle with some of the specific questions.  Which age for Erickson, the age for the teeth coming in, etc.  has anyone for luck using Quizlet for flash cards?



    ------------------------------
    Neelye Kochanowicz
    BSN
    FT DEFIANCE HIGH
    Staunton, VA United States
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  • 3.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 09-21-2023 09:21
    Quizlet is useful if you are a visual learner.  I'm not, so I find it more useful to write out my own flashcards. 

    --
    Kate Antea, RN, BSN
    School Nurse
    Strive Prep Ruby and Federal
    720-460-2800, ext. 2802 







  • 4.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 09-21-2023 09:36

    I am creating my own flash cards. It is duel purpose. Helpful when I create the card and then reinforce the material when I quiz myself with the flashcards. 



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    Devon Smith
    Arlington, VA United States
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  • 5.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 09-21-2023 09:57

    I also struggle with this and started flashcards but overall I am having trouble diving into the content and finding the motivation to READ this stuff in order to LEARN this content. IT'S HARD TO STAY FOCUSED!



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    Mattie Rood RN, BSN
    Marysville, MI United States
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  • 6.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 09-21-2023 10:53

    Try answering the questions before you read the material.

     

    Warm regards,

     

    Pat

     

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

    Executive Director

    NBCSN

    nbcsnexec@nbcsn.org

    www.nbcsn.org

     






  • 7.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 09-22-2023 07:58

    I am struggling with keeping the developmental theories straight. For example, question 10.  I think I'd go over who is a stranger, but that's not the answer. . . . . 



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    Carol Warmuth RN, BS
    School Nurse
    Brewer Community School
    Brewer, ME United States
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  • 8.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 10-03-2023 15:01

    Make sure you read the rationale and see if that helps 

    Sent from my iPhone

    Pat Krin






  • 9.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 10-03-2023 15:41

    Regarding the question about theories and question 10, go back to page 14 and look at Piaget, then go to the rationale for the question and read it with that in mind.

    Also look at the theories. Erikson is psychosocial, Piaget is cognitive.



    ------------------------------
    Pat Krin, MSN, MSCP, RN, FNP-BC-Retired, NCSN-E, FNASN
    Executive Director
    NBCSN
    nbcsnexec@nbcsn.org
    www.nbcsn.org
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 10-08-2023 05:21

    Thank you.  Re-reading rationales and paying close attention to how a question is asked--as well as grammar differences of the answers --is all very helpful.  I think anxiety about some of the topics that I am not as confident about remembering interferes with all of that when I read the question.  Practice and review should help!!



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    Carol Warmuth RN, BS
    School Nurse
    Brewer Community School
    Brewer, ME United States
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  • 11.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 10-08-2023 13:22





  • 12.  RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group

    Posted 10-08-2023 16:46

    I will look at that.  I had done the other one that was free . . . .

    Thanks.

    Carol



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    Carol Warmuth RN, BS
    School Nurse
    Brewer Community School
    Brewer, ME United States
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